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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/16574-8.txt b/16574-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..7a528fc --- /dev/null +++ b/16574-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,4239 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Twins, by Martin Farquhar Tupper + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Twins + A Domestic Novel + +Author: Martin Farquhar Tupper + +Release Date: August 21, 2005 [EBook #16574] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE TWINS *** + + + + +Produced by Jonathan Ingram, Janet Blenkinship and the +Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + + + + +THE TWINS; + +A DOMESTIC NOVEL. + + +BY + +MARTIN FARQUHAR TUPPER, A.M., F.R.S. + +AUTHOR OF + +PROVERBIAL PHILOSOPHY. + + +HARTFORD: + +PUBLISHED BY SILAS ANDRUS & SON + +1851. + +THE TWINS. + + + + +CHAPTER I. + +PLACE: TIME: CIRCUMSTANCE. + + +BURLEIGH-SINGLETON is a pleasant little watering-place on the southern +coast of England, entirely suitable for those who have small incomes and +good consciences. The latter, to residents especially, are at least as +indispensable as the former: seeing that, however just the reputation of +their growing little town for superior cheapness in matters of meat and +drink, its character in things regarding men and manners is quite as +undeniable for preëminent dullness. + +Not but that it has its varieties of scene, and more or less of +circumstances too: there are, on one flank, the breezy Heights, with +flag-staff and panorama; on the other, broad and level water-meadows, +skirted by the dark-flowing Mullet, running to the sea between its +tortuous banks: for neighbourhood, Pacton Park is one great +attraction--the pretty market-town of Eyemouth another--the everlasting, +never-tiring sea a third; and, at high-summer, when the Devonshire lanes +are not knee-deep in mire, the nevertheless immeasurably filthy, though +picturesque, mud-built village of Oxton. + +Then again (and really as I enumerate these multitudinous advantages, I +begin to relent for having called it dull), you may pick up curious +agate pebbles on the beach, as well as corallines and scarce sea-weeds, +good for gumming on front-parlour windows; you may fish _for_ whitings +in the bay, and occasionally catch them; you may wade in huge caoutchouc +boots among the muddy shallows of the Mullet, and shoot _at_ cormorants +and curlews; you may walk to satiety between high-banked and rather +dirty cross-roads; and, if you will scramble up the hedge-row, may get +now and then peeps of undulated country landscape. + +Moreover, you have free liberty to drop in any where to +"tiffin"--Burleigh being very Indianized, and a guest always welcome; +indeed, so Indianized is it, so populous in jaundiced cheek and ailing +livers, that you may openly assert, without fear of being misunderstood +(if you wish to vary your common phrase of loyalty), that Victoria sits +upon the "musnud" of Great Britain; you may order curry in the smallest +pot-house, and still be sure to get the rice well-cooked; you may call +your house-maid "ayah," without risk of warning for impertinence; you +may vent your wrath against indolent waiters in eloquence of "jaa, +soostee;" and, finally, you may go to the library, and besides the +advantage of the day-before-yesterday's Times, you may behold in bilious +presence an affable, but authoritative, old gentleman, who introduces +himself, "Sir, you see in me the hero of Puttymuddyfudgepoor." + +You may even now see such an one, I say, and hear him too, if you will +but go to Burleigh; seeing he has by this time over-lived the year or so +whereof our tale discourses. He has, by dint of service, attained to the +dignity of General H.E.I.C.S., and--which he was still longer coming +to--the wisdom of being a communicative creature; though possibly, by a +natural rëaction, at present he carries anti-secresy a little too far, +and verges on the gossiping extreme. But, at the time to which we must +look back to commence this right-instructive story, General Tracy was +still drinking "Hodgson's Pale" in India, was so taciturn as to be +considered almost dumb, and had not yet lifted up his yellow visage upon +Albion's white cliffs, nor taken up head-quarters in his final rest of +Burleigh-Singleton. + +Nevertheless, with reference to quartering at Burleigh, a certain +long-neglected wife of his, Mrs. Tracy, had; and that for the period of +at least the twenty-one years preceding: how and wherefore I proceed to +tell. + +A common case and common fate was that of Mrs. Tracy. She had married, +both early and hastily, a gallant lieutenant, John George Julian Tracy, +to wit, the military germ of our future general; their courtship and +acquaintance previous to matrimony extended over the not inconsiderable +space of three whole weeks--commencing with a country ball; and after +marriage, honey-moon inclusive, they lived the life of cooing doves for +three whole months. + +And now came the furlough's end: Mr. Tracy, in his then habitual reserve +(a quiet man was he), had concealed its existence altogether: and, for +aught Jane knew, the hearty invalid was to remain at home for ever: but +months soon slip away; and so it came to pass, that on a certain next +Wednesday he must be on his way back to the Presidency of Madras, +and--if she will not follow him--he must leave her. + +However, there was a certain old relative, one Mrs. Green, a childless +widow--rich, capricious, and infirm--whom Jane Tracy did not wish to +lose sight of: her money was well worth both watching and waiting for; +and the captain, whom a lucky chance had now lifted out of the +lieutenancy, was easily persuaded to forego the pleasure of his wife's +company till the somewhat indefinite period of her old aunt's death. + +How far sundry discoveries made in the unknown regions of each other's +temper reconciled him to this retrograding bachelorship, and her to her +widowhood-bewitched, I will not undertake to say: but I will hazard the +remark, anti-poor-law though it seemeth, that the separation of man and +wife, however convenient, lucrative, or even mutually pleasant, is a +dereliction of duty, which always deserves, and generally meets, its +proper and discriminative punishment. Had the young wife faithfully +performed her Maker's bidding, and left all other ties unstrung to +cleave unto her lord; had she considered a husband's true affections +before all other wealth, and resolved to share his dangers, to solace +his cares, to be his blessing through life, and his partner even unto +death, rather than selfishly to seek her own comfort, and consult her +own interest--the tale of crime and sadness, which it is my lot to tell, +would never have had truth for its foundation. + +Ill-matched for happiness though they were, however well-matched as to +mutual merit, the common man of pleasure and the frivolous woman of +fashion, still the wisest way to fuse their minds to union, the +likeliest receipt for moral good and social comfort, would have been +this course of foreign scenes, of new faces, sprinkled with a seasoning +of adventure, hardship, danger, in a distant land. Gradually would they +have learned to bear and forbear; the petty quarrel would have been +forgotten in the frequent kindness; the rougher edges of temper and +opinion would insensibly have smoothed away; new circumstances would +have brought out better feelings under happier skies; old acquaintances, +false friends forgotten, would have neutralized old feuds: and, by +long-living together, though it were perhaps amid various worries and +many cares, they might still have come to a good old age with more than +average happiness, and more than the common run of love. Patience in +dutiful enduring brings a sure reward: and marriage, however irksome a +constraint to the foolish and the gay, is still so wise an ordinance, +that the most ill-assorted couple imaginable will unconsciously grow +happy, if they only remain true to one another, and will learn the +wisdom always to hope and often to forgive. + +The Tracys, however, overlooked all this, and mutual friends (those +invariable foes to all that is generous and unworldly) smiled upon the +prudence of their temporary separation. The captain was to come home +again on furlough in five years at furthest, even if the aunt held out +so long; and this availed to keep his wife in the rear-guard; therefore, +Mrs. Tracy wiped her eyes, bade adieu to her retreating lord in Plymouth +Sound, and determined to abide, with other expectant dames and Asiatic +invalided heroes, at Burleigh-Singleton, until she might go to him, or +he return to her: for pleasant little Burleigh, besides its contiguity +to arriving Indiamen, was advantageous as being the dwelling-place of +aforesaid Mrs. Green;--that wealthy, widowed aunt, devoutly wished in +heaven: and the considerate old soul had offered her designing niece a +home with her till Tracy could come back. + +During the first year of absence, ship-letters and India-letters arrived +duteously in consecutive succession: but somehow or other, the regular +post, in no long time afterwards, became unfaithful to its trust; and if +Mrs. Jane heard quarterly, which at any rate she did through the agent, +when he remitted her allowance, she consoled herself as to the captain's +well-being: in due course of things, even this became irregular; he was +far up the country, hunting, fighting, surveying, and what not; and no +wonder that letters, if written at all, which I rather doubt, got lost. +Then there came a long period of positive and protracted silence--months +of it--years of it; barring that her checks for cash were honoured still +at Hancock's, though they could tell her nothing of her lord; so that +Mrs. Tracy was at length seriously recommended by her friends to become +a widow; she tried on the cap, and looked into many mirrors; but, after +long inspection, decided upon still remaining a wife, because the weeds +were so clearly unbecoming. Habit, meanwhile, and that still-existing +old aunt, who seemed resolved to live to a hundred, kept her as before +at Burleigh: and, seeing that a few months after the captain's departure +she had presented the world, not to say her truant lord, with twins, she +had always found something to do in the way of, what she considered, +education, and other juvenile amusement: that is to say, when the +gayeties of a circle of fifteen miles in radius left her any time to +spare in such a process. The twins--a brace of boys--were born and bred +at Burleigh, and had attained severally to twenty years of age, just +before their father came home again as brevet-major-general. But both +they, and that arrival, deserve special detail, each in its own chapter. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +THE HEROES. + + +MRS. TRACY'S sons were as unlike each other as it is well possible for +two human beings to be, both in person and character. Julian, whose +forward and bold spirit gained him from the very cradle every +prerogative of eldership (and he did struggle first into life, too, so +he was the first-born), had grown to be a swarthy, strong, big-boned +man, of the Roman-nosed, or, more physiognomically, the Jewish cast of +countenance; with melo-dramatic elf-locks, large whiskers, and +ungovernable passions; loud, fierce, impetuous; cunning, too, for all +his overbearing clamour; and an embodied personification of those choice +essentials to criminal happiness--a hard heart and a good digestion. +Charles, on the contrary (or, as logicians would say, on the +contradictory), was fair-haired, blue-eyed, of Grecian features; slim, +though well enough for inches, and had hitherto (as the commonalty have +it) "enjoyed" weak health: he was gentle and affectionate in heart, pure +and religious in mind, studious and unobtrusive in habits. It was a +wonder to see the strange diversity between those own twin-brothers, +born within the same hour, and, it is superfluous to add, of the same +parents; brought up in all outward things alike, and who had shared +equally in all that might be called advantage or disadvantage, of +circumstance or education. + +Certain is it that minds are different at birth, and require as +different a treatment as Iceland moss from cactuses, or bull-dogs from +bull-finches: certain is it, too, that Julian, early submitted and +resolutely broken in, would have made as great a man, as Charles, +naturally meek, did make a good one; but for the matter of educating her +boys, poor Mrs. Tracy had no more notion of the feat, than of squaring +the circle, or determining the longitude. She kept them both at home, +till the peevish aunt could suffer Julian's noise no longer: the house +was a Pandemonium, and the giant grown too big for that castle of +Otranto; so he must go at any rate; and (as no difference in the +treatment of different characters ever occurred to any body) of course +Charles must go along with him. Away they went to an expensive school, +which Julian's insubordination on the instant could not brook--and, +accordingly, he ran away; without doubt, Charles must be taken away too. +Another school was tried, Julian got expelled this time; and Charles, +in spite of prizes, must, on system, be removed with him: so forth, with +like wisdom, all through the years of adolescence and instruction, those +ill-matched brothers were driven as a pair. Then again, for fashion's +sake, and Aunt Green's whims, the circumspective mother, notwithstanding +all her inconsistencies, gave each of them prettily bound hand-books of +devotion; which the one used upon his knees, and the other lit cigars +withal; both extremes having exceeded her intention: and she proved +similarly overreached when she persisted in treating both exactly alike, +as to liberal allowances, and liberty of will; the result being, that +one of her sons "foolishly" spent his money in a multitude of charitable +hobbies; and that the other was constantly supplied with means for (the +mother was sorry to say it, vulgar) dissipation. By consequence, Charles +did more good, and Julian more evil, than I have time to stop and tell +off. + +If any thing in this life must be personal, peculiar, and specific, it +is education: we take upon ourselves to speak thus dogmatically, not of +mere school-teaching only, _musa_, _musæ_, and so forth; nor yet of +lectures, on relative qualities of carbon and nitrogen in vegetables; +no, nor even of schemes of theology, or codes of morals; but we do speak +of the daily and hourly reining-in, or letting-out, of discouragement in +one appetite, and encouragement in another; of habitual formation of +characters in their diversity; and of shaping their bear's-cub, or that +child-angel, the natural human mind, to its destined ends; that it may +turn out, for good, according to its several natures, to be either the +strong-armed, bold-eyed, rough-hewer of God's grand designs, or the +delicate-fingered polisher of His rarest sculptures. Julian, +well-trained, might have grown to be a Luther; and many a gentle soul +like Charles, has turned out a coxcomb and a sensualist. + +The boys were born, as I have said, in the regulation order of things, a +few months after Captain Tracy sailed away for India some full score of +years, and more, from this present hour, when we have seen him seated as +a general in the library at Burleigh; and, until the last year, they had +never seen their father--scarcely ever heard of him. + +The incidents of their lives had been few and common-place: it would be +easy, but wearisome, to specify the orchards and the bee-hives which +Julian had robbed as a school-boy; the rebellions he had headed; the +monkey tricks he had played upon old fish-women; and the cruel havoc he +made of cats, rats, and other poor tormented creatures, who had +ministered to his wanton and brutalizing joys. In like manner, wearily, +but easily, might I relate how Charles grew up the nurse's darling, +though little of his flaunting mother's; the curly-pated young +book-worm; the sympathizing, innoffensive, gentle heart, whose effort +still it was to countervail his brother's evil: how often, at the risk +of blows, had he interposed to save some drowning puppy: how often paid +the bribe for Julian's impunity, when mulcted for some damage done in +the way of broken windows, upset apple-stalls, and the like: how often +had he screened his bad twin-brother from the flagellatory consequences +of sheer idleness, by doing for him all his school-tasks: how often +striven to guide his insensate conscience to truth, and good, and +wisdom: how often, and how vainly! + +And when the youths grew up, and their good and evil grew up with them, +it were possible to tell you a heart-rending tale of Julian's treachery +to more than one poor village beauty; and many a pleasing trait of +Charles's pure benevolence, and wise zeal to remedy his brother's +mischiefs. The one went about doing ill, and the other doing good: +Julian, on account of obligations, more truly than in spite of them, +hated Charles; and yet one great aim of all Charles's amiabilities +tended continually to Julian's good, and he strove to please him, too, +while he wished to bless him. The one had grown to manhood, full of +unrepented sins, and ripe for darker crime: the other had attained a +like age of what is somewhat satirically called discretion, having +amassed, with Solon of old, "knowledge day by day," having lived a life +of piety and purity, and blest with a cheerful disposition, that teemed +with happy thoughts. + +They had, of course, in the progress of human life, been both laid upon +the bed of sickness, where, with similar contrast, the one lay muttering +discontent, and the other smiling patiently: they had both been in +dangers by land and by sea, where Julian, though not a little lacking to +himself at the moment of peril, was still loudly minacious till it came +too near; while Charles, with all his caution, was more actually +courageous, and in spite of all his gentleness, stood against the worst +undaunted: they had both, with opposite motives and dissimilar modes of +life, passed through various vicissitudes of feeling, scene, society; +and the influence of circumstance on their different characters, +heightened or diminished, bettered or depraved, by the good or evil +principle in each, had produced their different and probable results. + +Thus, strangely dissimilar, the twin-brothers together stand before us: +Julian the strong impersonation of the animal man, as Charles of the +intellectual; Julian, matter; Charles, spirit; Julian, the creature of +this world, tending to a lower and a worse: Charles, though in the +world, not of the world, and reaching to a higher and a better. + +Mrs. Tracy, the mother of this various progeny, had been somewhat of a +beauty in her day, albeit much too large and masculine for the taste of +ordinary mortals; and though now very considerably past forty, the vain +vast female was still ambitious of compliment, and greedy of admiration. +That Julian should be such a woman's favourite will surprise none: she +had, she could have, no sympathies with mild and thoughtful Charles; but +rather dreaded to set her flaunting folly in the light of his wise +glance, and sought to hide her humbled vanity from his pure and keen +perceptions. His very presence was a tacit rebuke to her social +dissipation, and she could not endure the mild radiance of his virtues. +He never fawned and flattered her, as Julian would; but had even +suffered filial presumption (it could not be affection--O dear, no!) to +go so far as gently to expostulate at what he fancied wrong; he never +gave her reason to contrast, with happy self-complacence, her own soul's +state with Charles's, however she could with Julian's: and then, too, +she would indulgently allow her foolish mind--a woman's, though a +parent's--to admire that tall, black, bandit-looking son, above the +slight build, the delicate features, and almost feminine elegance of his +brother: she found Julian always ready to countenance and pamper her +gayest wishes, and was glad to make him her escort every where--at +balls, and fêtes, and races, and archery parties; while as to Charles, +he would be the stay-at-home, the milk-sop, the learned pundit, the +pious prayer-monger, any thing but the ladies' man. Yes: it is little +wonder that Mrs. Tracy's heart clave to Julian, the masculine image of +herself; while it barely tolerated Charles, who was a rarefied and +idealized likeness of the absent and forgotten Tracy. + +But the mother--and there are many silly mothers, almost as many as +silly men and silly maids--in her admiration of the outward form of +manliness, overlooked the true strength, and chivalry, and nobleness of +mind which shone supreme in Charles. How would Julian have acted in such +a case as this?--a sheep had wandered down the cliff's face to a narrow +ledge of rock, whence it could not come back again, for there was no +room to turn: Julian would have pelted it, and set his bull-dog at it, +and rejoiced to have seen the poor animal's frantic leaps from shingly +shelf to shelf, till it would be dashed to pieces. But how did Charles +act? With the utmost courage, and caution, and presence of mind, he +crept down, and, at the risk of his life, dragged the bleating, +unreluctant creature up again; it really seemed as if the ungrateful +poor dumb brute recognised its humane friend, and suffered him to rescue +it without a struggle or a motion that might have endangered both. + +Again: a burly costermonger was belabouring his donkey, and the wretched +beast fell beneath his cudgel: strange to say, Julian and Charles were +walking together that time; and the same sight affected each so +differently, that the one sided with the cruel man, and the other with +his suffering victim: Charles, in momentary indignation, rushed up to +the fellow, wrested the cudgel from his hand, and flung it over the +cliff; while Julian was so base, so cowardly, as to reward such generous +interference, by holding his weaker brother's arms, and inviting the +wrathful costermonger to expend the remainder of his phrensy on unlucky +Charles. Yes, and when at home Mrs. Tracy heard all this, she was silly +enough, wicked enough, to receive her truly noble son with ridicule, and +her other one, the child of her disgrace, with approval. + +"It will teach you, Master Charles, not to meddle with common people and +their donkeys; and you may thank your brother Julian for giving you a +lesson how a gentleman should behave." + +Poor Charles! but poorer Julian, and poorest Mrs. Tracy! + +It would be easy, if need were, to enumerate multiplied examples tending +towards the same end--a large, masculine-featured mother's foolish +preference of the loud, bold, worldly animal, before the meek, kind, +noble, spiritual. And the results of all these many matters were, that +now, at twenty years of age, Charles found himself, as it were, alone in +a strange land, with many common friends indeed abroad, but at home no +nearer, dearer ties to string his heart's dank lyre withal; neither +mother nor brother, nor any other kind familiar face, to look upon his +gentleness in love, or to sympathize with his affections, unapprehended, +unappreciated: so--while Mrs. Tracy was the showy, gay, and vapid thing +she ever had been, and Julian the same impetuous mother's son which his +very nurse could say she knew him--Charles grew up a shy and silent +youth, necessarily reserved, for lack of some one to understand him; +necessarily chilled, for want of somebody to love him. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +THE ARRIVAL. + + +THE young men were thus situated as regards both the world and one +another, and Mrs. Tracy had almost entirely forgotten the fact, that she +possessed a piece of goods so supererogatory as her husband (a property +too which her children had never quite realized), when all on a sudden, +one ordinary morning, the postman's-knock brought to her breakfast-table +at Burleigh-Singleton the following epistle: + + "British Channel, Thursday, March 11th, 1842. + "The Sir William Elphinston, E.I.M. + +"DEAR JANE: You will be surprised to find that you are to see me so +soon, I dare say, especially as it is now some years since you will have +heard from me. The reason is, I have been long in an out-of-the-way part +of India, where there is little communication with Europe, and so you +will excuse my not writing. We hope to find ourselves to-night in +Plymouth roads, where I shall get into a pilot-boat, and so shall see +you to-morrow. You may, therefore, now expect your affectionate husband, + + "J.G.J. TRACY, General H.E.I.C.S. + +"P.S.1.--Remember me to our boy, or boys--which is it? + +"P.S.2.--I bring with me the daughter of a friend in India, who is come +over for a year or two's polish at a first-rate school. Of course you +will be glad to receive her as our guest. + + "J.G.J.T." + +This loving letter was the most startling event that had ever attempted +to unnerve Mrs. Tracy; and she accordingly managed, for effect and +propriety's sake, to grow very faint upon the spot, whether for joy, or +sorrow, or fear of lost liberty, or hope of a restored lord, doth not +appear; she had so long been satisfied with receiving quarterly pay from +the India agents, that she forgot it was an evidence of her husband's +existence; and, lo! here he was returning a general, doubtlessly a +magnificent moustachioed individual, and she was to be Mrs. General! so +that when she came completely to herself, after that feint of a faint, +she was thinking of nothing but court-plumes, oriental pearls, and her +gallant Tracy's uniform. + +The postscripts also had their influence: Charles, naturally +affectionate, and willing to love a hitherto unseen father, felt hurt, +as well he might, at the "boy, or boys;" while Julian, who ridiculed his +brother's sentimentality, was already fancying that the "daughter of a +friend" might be a pleasant addition to the dullness of +Burleigh-Singleton. + +Preparations vast were made at once for the general's reception; from +attic to kitchen was sounded the tocsin of his coming. Julian was all +bustle and excitement, to his mother's joy and pride; while Charles +merited her wrath by too much of his habitual and paternal quietude, +particularly when he withdrew his forces altogether from the loud +domestic fray, by retreating up-stairs to cogitate and muse, perhaps to +make a calming prayer or two about all these matters of importance. As +for Mrs. Tracy herself, she was even now, within the first hour of that +news, busily engaged in collecting cosmetics, trinkets, blonde lace, and +other female finery, resolved to trick herself out like Jezebel, and win +her lord once more; whilst the pernicious old aunt, who still lived on, +notwithstanding all those twenty years of patience, as vivacious as +before, grumbled and scolded so much at this upsetting of her house, +that there was really some risk of her altering the will at last, and +cutting out Jane Tracy after all. + +And the morrow morning came, as if it were no more than an ordinary +Friday, and with it came expectancy; and noon succeeded, and with it +spirits alternately elated and depressed; and evening drew in, with +heart-sickness and chagrin at hopes or prophecies deferred; and night, +and next morning, and still the general came not. So, much weeping at +that vexing disappointment, after so many pains to please, Mrs. Tracy +put aside her numerous aids and appliances, and lay slatternly a-bed, to +nurse a head-ache until noon; and all had well nigh forgotten the +probable arrival, when, to every body's dismay, a dusty chaise and four +suddenly rattled up the terrace, and stopped at our identical number +seven. + +Then was there scuffling up, and getting down, and making preparation in +hot haste; and a stout gentleman with a gamboge face descended from the +chaise, exploding wrath like a bomb-shell, that so important an approach +had made such slight appearance of expectancy: it was disrespectful to +his rank, and he took care to prove he was somebody, by blowing up the +very innocent post-boys. This accomplished, he gallantly handed out +after him a pretty-looking miss in her teens. Poor Mrs. Tracy, _en +papillotes_, looked out at the casement like any one but Jezebel attired +for bewitching, and could have cried for vexation; in fact, she did, +and passed it off for feeling. Aunt Green, whom the general at first +lovingly saluted as his wife (for the poor man had entirely forgotten +the uxorial appearance), was all in a pucker for deafness, blindness, +and evident misapprehension of all things in general, though clearly +pleased, and flattered at her gallant nephew's salutation. Julian, with +what grace of manner he could muster, was already playing the agreeable +to that pretty ward, after having, to the general's great surprise, +introduced himself to him as his son; while Charles, who had rushed into +the room, warm-heartedly to fling himself into his father's arms, was +repelled on the spot for his affection: General Tracy, with a military +air, excused himself from the embrace, extending a finger to the unknown +gentleman, with somewhat of offended dignity. + +At last, down came the wife: our general at once perceived himself +mistaken in the matter of Mrs. Green; and, coldly bowing to the +bedizened dame, acknowledged her pretensions with a courteous-- + +"Mrs. General Tracy, allow me to introduce to you Miss Emily Warren, the +daughter of a very particular friend of mine:--Miss Warren, Mrs. Tracy." + +For other welcomings, mutual astonishment at each other's fat, some +little sorrowful talk of the twenty years ago, and some dull paternal +jest about this dozen feet of sons, made up the chilly meeting: and the +slender thread of sentimentals, which might possibly survive it, was +soon snapt by paying post-boys, orders after luggage, and devouring +tiffin. + +The only persons who felt any thing at all, were Mrs. Tracy, vexed at +her dishabille, and mortified at so cool a reception of, what she hoped, +her still unsullied beauties; and Charles, poor fellow, who ran up to +his studious retreat, and soothed his grief, as best he might, with +philosophic fancies: it was so cold, so heartless, so unkind a greeting. +Romantic youth! how should the father have known him for a son? + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +THE GENERAL AND HIS WARD. + + +IT is surprising what a change twenty years of a tropical sun can make +in the human constitution. The captain went forth a good-looking, +good-tempered man, destitute neither of kind feelings nor masculine +beauty: the general returned bloated, bilious, irascible, entirely +selfish, and decidedly ill-favoured. Such affections as he ever had +seemed to have been left behind in India--that new world, around which +now all his associations and remembrances revolved; and the reserve +(clearly rëproduced in Charles), the habit of silence whereof we took +due notice in the spring-tide of his life, had now grown, perhaps from +some oppressive secret, into a settled, moody, continuous taciturnity, +which made his curious wife more vexed at him than ever; for, +notwithstanding all the news he must have had to tell her, the company +of John George Julian Tracy proved to his long-expectant Jane any thing +but cheering or instructive. His past life, and present feelings, to say +nothing of his future prospects, might all be but a blank, for any thing +the general seemed to care: brandy and tobacco, an easy chair, and an +ordnance map of India, with Emily beside him to talk about old times, +these were all for which he lived: and even the female curiosity of a +wife, duly authorized to ask questions, could extract from him +astonishingly little of his Indian experiences. As to his wealth, +indeed, Mrs. Tracy boldly made direct inquiry; for Julian set her on to +beg for a commission, and Charles also was anxious for a year or two at +college; but the general divulged not much: albeit he vouchsafed to both +his sons a liberally increased allowance. It was only when his wife, +piqued at such reserve, pettishly remarked, + +"At any rate, sir, I may be permitted to hope, that Miss Warren's +friends are kind enough to pay her expenses;" + +That the veteran, in high dudgeon at any imputation on his Indian +acquaintances, sternly answered, + +"You need not be apprehensive, madam; Emily Warren is amply provided +for." Words which sank deep into the prudent mother's mind. + +But we must not too long let dock-leaves hide a violet; it is high time, +and barely courteous now, to introduce that beautiful exotic, Emily +Warren. Her own history, as she will tell it to Charles hereafter, was +so obscure, that she knew little of it certainly herself, and could +barely gather probabilities from scattered fragments. At present, we +have only to survey results in a superficial manner: in their due +season, we will dig up all the roots. + +No heroine can probably engage our interest or sympathy who possesses +the infirmity of ugliness: it is not in human nature to admire her, and +human nature is a thing very much to be consulted. Moreover, no one ever +yet saw an amiable personage, who was not so far pleasing, or, in other +parlance, so far pretty. I cannot help the common course of things; and +however hackneyed be the thought, however common-place the phrase, it is +true, nevertheless, that beauty, singular beauty, would be the first +idea of any rational creature, who caught but a glimpse of Emily Warren; +and I should account it little wonder if, upon a calmer gaze, that +beauty were found to have its deepest, clearest fountain in those large +dark eyes of heir's. + +Aware as I may be, that "large dark eyes" are no novelty in tales like +this; and famous for rare originality as my pen (not to say genius) +would become, if an attempt were herein made to interest the world in a +pink-eyed heroine, still I prefer plodding on in the well-worn path of +pleasant beauty; and so long as Nature's bounty continues to supply so +well the world we live in with large dark eyes, and other feminine +perfections, our Emily, at any rate, remains in fashion; and if she has +many pretty peers, let us at least not peevishly complain of them. A +graceful shape is, luckily, almost the common prerogative of female +youthfulness; a dimpled smile, a cheerful, winning manner, regular +features, and a mass of luxuriant brown hair--these all heroines +have--and so has our's. + +But no heroine ever had yet Emily Warren's eyes; not identically only, +which few can well deny; but similarly also, which the many must be good +enough to grant: and very few heroes, indeed, ever saw their equal; +though, if any hereabouts object, I will not be so cruel or unreasonable +as to hope they will admit it. At first, full of soft light, gentle and +alluring, they brighten up to blaze upon you lustrously, and fascinate +the gazer's dazzled glance: there are depths in them that tell of the +unfathomable soul, heights in them that speak of the spirit's +aspirations. It is gentleness and purity, no less than sensibility and +passion, that look forth in such strange power from those windows of the +mind: it is not the mere beautiful machine, fair form, and pleasing +colours, but the heaven-born light of tenderness and truth, streaming +through the lens, that takes the fond heart captive. Charles, for one, +could not help looking long and keenly into Emily Warren's eyes; they +magnetized him, so that he might not turn away from them: entranced him, +that he would not break their charm, had he been able: and then the long +tufted eyelashes droop so softly over those blazing suns--that I do not +in the least wonder at Charles's impolite, perhaps, but still natural +involuntary stare, and his mute abstracted admiration: the poor youth is +caught at once, a most willing captive--the moth has burnt its wings, +and flutters still happily around that pleasant warming radiance. How +his heart yearned for something to love, some being worthy of his own +most pure affections: and lo! these beauteous eyes, true witnesses of +this sweet mind, have filled him for ever and a day with love at first +sight. + +But gentle Charles was not the only conquest: the fiery Julian, too, +acknowledged her supremacy, bowed his stubborn neck, and yoked himself +at once, another and more rugged captive, to the chariot of her charms. +It was Caliban, as well as Ferdinand, courting fair Miranda. In his +lower grade, he loved--fiercely, coarsely: and the same passion, which +filled his brother's heart with happiest aspirations, and pure unselfish +tenderness towards the beauteous stranger, burnt him up as an inward and +consuming fire: Charles sunned himself in heaven's genial beams, while +Julian was hot with the lava-current of his own bad heart's volcano. + +It will save much trouble, and do away with no little useless mystery, +to declare, at the outset, which of these opposite twin-brothers our +dark-eyed Emily preferred. She was only seventeen in years; but an +Indian sky had ripened her to full maturity, both of form and feelings: +and having never had any one whom she cared to think upon, and let her +heart delight in, till Charles looked first upon her beauty wonderingly, +it is no marvel if she unconsciously reciprocated his young heart's +thought--before ever he had breathed it to himself. Julian's admiration +she entirely overlooked; she never thought him more than civil--barely +that, perhaps--however he might flatter himself: but her heart and eyes +were full of his fair contrast, the light seen brighter against +darkness; Charles all the dearer for a Julian. Intensely did she love +him, as only tropic blood can love; intently did she gaze on him, when +any while he could not see her face, as only those dark eyes could gaze: +and her mind, all too ignorant but greedy of instruction, no less than +her heart, rich in sympathies and covetous of love, went forth, and fed +deliciously on the intellectual brow, and delicate flushing cheek of her +noble-minded Charles. Not all in a day, nor a week, nor a month, did +their loves thus ripen together. Emily was a simple child of nature, who +had every thing to learn; she scarcely knew her Maker's name, till +Charles instructed her in God's great love: the stars were to her only +shining studs of gold, and the world one mighty plain, and men and women +soulless creatures of a day, and the wisdom of creation unconsidered, +and the book of natural knowledge close sealed up, till Charles set out +before his eager student the mysteries of earth and heaven. Oh, those +blessed hours of sweet teaching! when he led her quick delighted steps +up the many avenues of science to the central throne of God! Oh, those +happy moments, never to return, when her eyes in gentle thankfulness for +some new truth laid open to them, flashed upon her youthful Mentor, love +and intelligence, and pleased admiring wonder! Sweet spring-tide of +their loves, who scarcely knew they loved, yet thought of nothing but +each other; who walked hand in hand, as brother and sister, in the +flowery ways of mutual blessing, mutual dependence: alas, alas! how +brief a space can love, that guest from heaven, dwell on earth +unsullied! + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +JEALOUSY. + + +FOR Julian soon perceived that Charles was no despicable rival. At +first, self-flattery, and the habitual contempt wherewith he regarded his +brother, blinded him to Emily's attachment: moreover, in the scenes of +gayety and the common social circle, she never gave him cause to complain +of undue preferences; readily she leant upon his arm, cheerfully +accompanied him in morning-visits, noon-day walks, and evening parties; +and if pale Charles (in addition to the more regular masters, dancing +and music, and other pieces of accomplishment) thought proper to bore +her with his books for sundry hours every day, Julian found no fault +with that;--the girl was getting more a woman of the world, and all +for him: she would like her play-time all the better for such schoolings, +and him to be the truant at her side. + +But when, from ordinary civilities, the coarse loud lover proceeded to +particular attentions; when he affected to press her delicate hand, and +ventured to look what he called love into her eyes, and to breathe silly +nothings in her ear--he could deceive himself no longer, notwithstanding +all his vanity; as legibly as looks could write it, he read disgust +upon her face, and from that day forth she shunned him with undisguised +abhorrence. Poor innocent maid! she little knew the man's black mind, +who thus dared to reach up to the height of her affections; but she saw +enough of character in his swart scowling face, and loud assuming manners, +to make her dread his very presence, as a thunder-cloud across +her summer sky. + +Then did the baffled Julian begin to look around him, and took notice +of her deepening love of Charles; nay, even purposely, she seemed now +to make a difference between them, as if to check presumption and +encourage merit. And he watched their stolen glances, how tremblingly +they met each other's gaze; and he would often-times roughly break in +upon their studies, to look on their confused disquietude with the pallid +frowns of envy: he would insult poor Charles before her, in hope to +humble him in her esteem; but mild and Christian patience made her +see him as a martyr: he would even cast rude slights on her whom he +professed to love, with the view of raising his brother's chastened wrath, +but was forced to quail and sneak away beneath her quick indignant +glance, ere her more philosophical lover had time to expostulate with +the cowardly savage. + +Meanwhile, what were the parents about? The general had given out, +indeed, that he had brought Emily over for schooling; but he seemed so +fond of her (in fact, she was the only thing to prove he wore a heart), +that he never could resolve upon sending her away from, what she now +might well call, home. Often, in some strange dialect of Hindostan, did +they converse together, of old times and distant shores; none but Emily +might read him to sleep--none but Emily wake him in the morning with +a kiss--none but Emily dare approach him in his gouty torments--none +but Emily had any thing like intimate acquaintance with that moody +iron-hearted man. + +As to his sons, or the two young men he might presume to be his sons, he +neither knew them, nor cared to know. Bare civilities, as between man +and man, constituted all which their intercourse amounted to: what were +those young fellows, stout or slim, to him? mere accidents of a +soldier's gallantries and of an ill-assorted marriage. He neither had, +nor wished to have, any sympathies with them: Julian might be as bad as +he pleased, and Charles as good, for any thing the general seemed to +heed: they could not dive with him into the past, and the sports of +Hindostan: they reminded him, simply, of his wife, for pleasures of +Memory; of the grave, for pleasures of Hope: he was older when he looked +at them: and they seemed to him only living witnesses of his folly as +lieutenant, in the choice of Mrs. Tracy. I will not take upon myself to +say, that he had any occasion to congratulate himself on the latter +reminiscence. + +So he quickly acquiesced in Julian's wish for a commission, and +entirely approved of Charles's college schemes. After next September, +the funds should be forthcoming: not but that he was rich enough, and +to spare, any month in the year: but he would be vastly richer then, +from prize-money, or some such luck. It was more prudent to delay +until September. + +With reference to Emily--no, no--I could see at once that General +Tracy never had any serious intention to part with Emily; but she had +all manner of masters at home, and soon made extraordinary progress. +As for the matter of his sons falling in love with her, attractive in all +beauty though she were, he never once had given it a thought: for, first, +he was too much a man of the world to believe in such ideal trash as +love: and next, he totally forgot that his "boy, or boys," had human +feelings. So, when his wife one day gave him a gentle and triumphant +hint of the state of affairs, it came upon him overwhelmingly, like an +avalanche: his yellow face turned flake-white, he trembled as he stood, +and really seemed to take so natural a probability to heart as the most +serious of evils. + +"My son Julian in love with Emily! and if not he, at any rate Charles! +What the devil, madam, can you mean by this dreadful piece of +intelligence?--It's impossible, ma'am; nonsense! it can't be true; it +shan't, ma'am." + +And the general, having issued his military mandates, wrapped himself +in secresy once more; satisfied that both of those troublesome sons +were to leave home after the next quarter, and the prize-money at +Hancock's. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +THE CONFIDANTE. + + +BUT Mrs. Tracy had the best reason for believing her intelligence was +true, and she could see very little cause for regarding it as dreadful. +True, one son would have been enough for this wealthy Indian +heiress--but still it was no harm to have two strings to her bow. Julian +was her favourite, and should have the girl if she could manage it; but +if Emily Warren would not hear of such a husband, why Charles Tracy may +far better get her money than any body else. + +That she possessed great wealth was evident: such jewellery, such +Trinchinopoli chains, such a blaze of diamonds _en suite_, such a +multitude of armlets, and circlets, and ear-rings, and other oriental +finery, had never shone on Devonshire before: at the Eyemouth ball, men +worshipped her, radiant in beauty, and gorgeously apparelled. Moreover, +money overflowed her purse, her work-box, and her jewel-case: Charles's +village school, and many other well-considered charities, rejoiced in +the streams of her munificence. The general had given her a banker's +book of signed blank checks, and she filled up sums at pleasure: such +unbounded confidence had he in her own prudence and her far-off father's +liberality. The few hints her husband deigned to give, encouraged Mrs. +Tracy to conclude, that she would be a catch for either of her sons; +and, as for the girl herself, she had clearly been brought up to order +about a multitude of servants, to command the use of splendid equipages, +and to spend money with unsparing hand. + +Accordingly, one day when Julian was alone with his mother, their +conversation ran as follows: + +"Well, Julian dear, and what do you think of Emily Warren?" + +"Think, mother? why--that she's deuced pretty, and dresses like an +empress: but where did the general pick her up, eh?--who is she?" + +"Why, as to who she is--I know no more than you; she is Emily Warren: +but as to the great question of what she is, I know that she is rolling +in riches, and would make one of my boys a very good wife." + +"Oh, as to wife, mother, one isn't going to be fool enough to marry for +love now-a-days: things are easier managed hereabouts, than that: but +money makes it quite another thing. So, this pretty minx is rich, is +she?" + +"A great heiress, I assure you, Julian." + +"Bravo, bravo-o! but how to make the girl look sweet upon me, mother? +There's that white-livered fellow, Charles--" + +"Never mind him, boy; do you suppose he would have the heart to make +love to such a splendid creature as Miss Warren: fy, Julian, for a faint +heart: Charles is well enough as a Sabbath-school teacher, but I hope he +will not bear away the palm of a ladye-love from my fine high-spirited +Julian." Poor Mrs. Tracy was as flighty and romantic at forty-five as +she had been at fifteen. + +The fine high-spirited Julian answered not a word, but looked +excessively cross; for he knew full well that Charles's chance was to +his in the ratio of a million to nothing. + +"What, boy," went on the prudent mother, "still silent! I am afraid +Emily's good looks have been thrown away upon you, and that your heart +has not found out how to love her." + +"Love her, mother? Curses! would you drive me mad? I think and dream of +nothing but that girl: morning, noon, and night, her eyes persecute me: +go where I will, and do what I will, her image haunts me: d----n it, +mother' don't I love the girl?" + +[Oh love, love! thou much-slandered monosyllable, how desperately do bad +men malign thee!] + +"Hush, Julian; pray be more guarded in your language; I am glad to see +though that your heart is in the right place: suppose now that I aid +your suit a little? I dare say I could do a great deal for you, my son; +and nothing could be more delightful to your mother than to try and make +her Julian happy." + +True, Mrs. Tracy; you were always theatrically given, and played the +coquette in youth; so in age the character of go-between befits you +still: dearly do you love to dabble in, what you are pleased to call, +"_une affaire du coeur_." + +"Mother," after a pause, replied her hopeful progeny, "if the girl had +been only pretty, I shouldn't have asked any body's help; for marriage +was never to my liking, and folks may have their will of prouder +beauties than this Emily, without going to church for it; but money +makes it quite another matter: and I may as well have the benefit of +your assistance in this matter o' money, eh mother? matrimony, you know: +an heiress and a beauty may be worth the wedding-ring; besides, when my +commission comes, I can follow the good example that my parents set me, +you know; and, after a three months' honey-mooning, can turn bachelor +again for twenty years or so, as our governor-general did, and so leave +wifey at home, till she becomes a Mrs. General like you." + +Now, strange to say, this heartless bit of villany was any thing but +unpleasing to the foolish, flattered heart of Mrs. Tracy; he was a chip +of the old block, no better than his father: so she thanked "dear +Julian" for his confidence, with admiration and emotion; and looking +upwards, after the fashion of a Covent Garden martyr, blessed him. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +THE COURSE OF TRUE LOVE, ETC. + + +"EMILY, my dear, take Julian's arm: here, Charles, come and change with +me; I should like a walk with you to Oxton, to see how your little +scholars get on." So spake the intriguing mother. + +"Why, that is just what I was going to do with Charles," said Emily, +"and if Julian will excuse me--" + +"Oh, never mind me, Miss Warren, pray; come along with me, will you, +mother?" + +So they paired off in more well-matched couples (for Julian luckily took +huff), and went their different ways: with those went hatred, envy, +worldly scheming, and that lowest sort of love that ill deserves the +name; with these remain all things pure, affectionate, benevolent. + +"Charles, dear," (they were just like brother and sister, innocent and +loving), "how kind it is of you to take me with you; if you only knew +how I dreaded Julian!" + +"Why, Emmy? can he have offended you in any way?" + +"Oh, Charles, he is so rude, and says such silly things, and--I am quite +afraid to be alone with him." + +"What--what--what does he say to you, Emily?" hurriedly urged her +half-avowed lover. + +"Oh, don't ask me, Charles--pray drop the subject;" and, as she blushed, +tears stood in her eyes. + +Charles bit his lip and clenched his fist involuntarily; but an instant +word of prayer drove away the spirit of hatred, and set up love +triumphant in its place. + +"My Emily--oh, what have I said? may I--may I call you my Emily? +dearest, dearest girl!" escaped his lips, and he trembled at his own +presumption. It was a presumptuous speech indeed; but it burst from the +well of his affections, and he could not help it. + +Her answer was not in words, and yet his heart-strings thrilled beneath +the melody; for her eyes shed on him a blaze of love that made him +almost faint before them. In an instant, they understood, without a +word, the happy truth, that each one loved the other. + +"Precious, precious Emily!" They were now far away from Burleigh, in the +fields; and he seized her hand, and covered it with kisses. + +What more they said I was not by to hear, and if I had been would not +have divulged it. There are holy secrets of affection, which those who +can remember their first love--and first love is the only love worth +mentioning--may think of for themselves. Well, far better than my feeble +pencilling can picture, will they fill up this slight sketch. That walk +to Oxton, that visit to the village school, was full of generous +affections unrepressed, the out-pourings of two deep-welled hearts, +flowing forth in sympathetic ecstasy. The trees, and fields, and +cottages were bathed in heavenly light, and the lovers, happy in each +other's trust, called upon the all-seeing God to bless the best +affections of His children. + +And what a change these mutual confessions made in both their minds! +Doubt was gone; they _were_ beloved; oh, richest treasure of joy! Fear +was gone; they dared declare their love; oh, purest river of all +sublunary pleasures! No longer pale, anxious, thoughtful, worn by the +corroding care of "Does she--does she love?"--Charles was, from that +moment, a buoyant, cheerful, exhilarated being--a new character; he put +on manliness, and fortitude, and somewhat of involuntary pride; whilst +Emily felt, that enriched by the affections of him whom she regarded as +her wisest, kindest earthly friend, by the acquisition of his love, who +had led her heart to higher good than this world at its best can give +her, she was elevated and ennobled from the simple Indian child, into +the loved and honoured Christian woman. They went on that important walk +to Oxton feeble, divided, unsatisfied in heart: they returned as two +united spirits, one in faith, one in hope, one in love; both heavenly +and earthly. + +But the happy hour is past too soon; and, home again, they mixed once +more with those conflicting elements of hatred and contention. + +"Emily," asked the general, in a very unusual stretch of curiosity, +"where have you been to with Charles Tracy? You look flushed, my dear; +what's the matter?" + +Of course "nothing" was the matter: and the general was answered wisely, +for love was nothing in his average estimate of men and women. + +"Charles, what can have come to you? I never saw you look so happy in my +life," was the mother's troublesome inquiry; "why, our staid youth +positively looks cheerful." + +Charles's walk had refreshed him, taken away his head-ache, put him in +spirits, and all manner of glib reasons for rejoicing. + +"You were right, Julian," whispered Mrs. Tracy, "and we'll soon put the +stopper on all this sort of thing." + +So, then, the moment our guiltless pair of lovers had severally stolen +away to their own rooms, there to feast on well-remembered looks, and +words, and hopes--there to lay before that heavenly Friend, whom both +had learned to trust, all their present joys, as aforetime all their +cares--Mrs. Tracy looked significantly at Julian, and thus addressed her +ever stern-eyed lord: + +"So, general, the old song's coming true to us, I find, as to other +folks, who once were young together: + + "'And when with envy Time, transported, seeks to rob us of our joys, + You'll in your girls again be courted, and I'll go wooing in my boys.'" + +So said or sung the flighty Mrs. Tracy. It was as simple and innocent a +quotation as could possibly be made; I suppose most couples, who ever +heard the stanza, and have grown-up children, have thought upon its dear +domestic beauty: but it strangely affected the irascible old general. He +fumed and frowned, and looked the picture of horror; then, with a fierce +oath at his wife and sons, he firmly said-- + +"Woman, hold your fool's tongue: begone, and send Emily to me this +minute: stop, Mr. Julian--no--run up for your brother Charles, and come +you all to me in the study. Instantly, sir! do as I bid you, without a +word." + +Julian would gladly have fought it out with his imperative father; but, +nevertheless, it was a comfort to have to fetch pale Charles for a +jobation; so he went at once. And the three young people, two of them +trembling with affections overstrained, and the third indurated in +effrontery, stood before that stern old man. + +"Emily, child,"--and he added something in Hindostanee, "have I been +kind to you--and do you owe me any love?" + +"Dear, dear sir, how can you ask me that?" said the warm-affectioned +girl, falling on her knees in tears. + +"Get up, sweet child, and hear me: you see those boys; as you love me, +and yourself, and happiness, and honour--dare not to think of either, +one moment, as your husband." + +Emily fainted; Charles staggered to assist her, though he well-nigh +swooned himself; and Julian folded his arms with a resolute air, as +waiting to hear what next. + +But the general disappointed him: he had said his say: and, as volatile +salts, a lady's maid, and all that sort of rëinvigoration, seemed +essential to Emily's recovery, he rang the bell forthwith: so the +pleasant family party broke up without another word. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +THE MYSTERY. + + +OUR lovers would not have been praiseworthy, perhaps not human, had they +not met in secret once and again. True, their regularly concerted +studies were forbidden, and they never now might openly walk out +unaccompanied: but love (who has not found this out?) is both daring and +ingenious; and notwithstanding all that Emily purposed about doing as +the general so strangely bade her, they had many happy meetings, rich +with many happy words: all the happier no doubt for their stolen +sweetness. + +There was one great and engrossing subject which often had employed +their curiosity; who and what was Emily Warren? for the poor girl did +not know herself. All she could guess, she told Charles, as he zealously +cross-questioned her from time to time: and the result of his inquiries +would appear to be as follows: + +Emily's earliest recollections were of great barbaric pomp; huge +elephants richly caparisoned, mighty fans of peacock's tails, lines of +matchlock men, tribes of jewelled servants, a gilded palace, with its +gardens and fountains: plenty of rare gems to play with, and a splendid +queenly woman, whom she called by the Hindoo name for mother. The +general, too, was there among her first associations, as the gallant +Captain Tracy, with his company of native troops. + +Then an era happened in her life; a tearful leave-taking with that proud +princess, who scarcely would part with her for sorrow; but the captain +swore it should be so: and an old Scotch-woman, her nurse, she could +remember, who told her as a child, but whether religiously or not she +could not tell, "Darling, come to me when you wish to know who made +you;" and then Mrs. Mackie went and spoke to the princess, and soothed +her, that she let the child depart peacefully. Most of her gorgeous +jewellery dated from that earliest time of inexplicable oriental +splendour. + +After those infantine seven years, the captain took her with him to his +station up the country, where she lived she knew not how long, in a +strong hill-fort, one Puttymuddyfudgepoor, where there was a great deal +of fighting, and besieging, and storming, and cannonading; but it ceased +at last, and the captain, who then soon successively became both major +and colonel, always kept her in his own quarters, making her his little +pet; and, after the fighting was all over, his brother-officers would +take her out hunting in their howdahs, and she had plenty of +palanquin-bearers, sepoys, and servants at command; and, what was more, +good nurse Mackie was her constant friend and attendant. + +Time wore on, and many little incidents of Indian life occurred, which +varied every day indeed, but still left nothing consequential behind +them: there were tiger-hunts, and incursions of Scindian tribes, and +Pindarree chieftains taken captive, and wounded soldiers brought into +the hospital; and often had she and good nurse Mackie tended at the sick +bed-side. And the colonel had the jungle fever, and would not let her go +from his sight; so she caught the fever too, and through Heaven's mercy +was recovered. And the colonel was fonder of her now than ever, calling +her his darling little child, and was proud to display her early budding +beauty to his military friends--pleasant sort of gentlemen, who gave her +pretty presents. + +Then she grew up into womanhood, and saw more than one fine uniform at +her feet, but she did not comprehend those kindnesses: and the general +(he was general now) got into great passions with them, and stormed, and +swore, and drove them all away. Nurse Mackie grew to be old, and +sometimes asked her, "Can you keep a secret, child?--no, no, I dare not +trust you yet: wait a wee, wait a wee, my bonnie, bonnie bairn." + +And now speedily came the end. The general resolved on returning to his +own old shores: chiefly, as it seemed, to avoid the troublesome +pertinacity of sundry suitors, who sought of him the hand of Emily +Warren for, by this name she was beginning to be called: in her earliest +recollection she was Amina; then at the hill-fort, Emily--Emily--nothing +for years but Emily: and as she grew to womanhood, the general bade her +sign her name to notes, and leave her card at houses, as Emily Warren: +why, or by what right, she never thought of asking. But nurse Mackie had +hinted she might have had "a better name and a truer;" and therefore, +she herself had asked the general what this hint might mean; and he was +so angry that he discharged nurse Mackie at Madras, directly he arrived +there to take ship for England. + +Then, just before embarking, poor nurse Mackie came to her secretly, and +said, "Child, I will trust you with a word; you are not what he thinks +you." And she cried a great deal, and longed to come to England; but +the general would not hear of it; so he pensioned her off, and left her +at Madras, giving somebody strict orders not to let her follow him. + +Nevertheless, just as they were getting into the boat to cross the surf, +the affectionate old soul ran out upon the strand, and called to her +"Amy Stuart! Amy Stuart!" to the general's great amazement as clearly as +her own; and she held up a packet in her hand as they were pushing off, +and shouted after her, "Child--child! if you would have your rights, +remember Jeanie Mackie!" + +After that, succeeded the monotony of a long sea voyage. The general at +first seemed vexed about Mrs. Mackie, and often wished that he had asked +her what she meant; however, his brow soon cleared, for he reflected +that a discarded servant always tells falsehoods, if only to make her +master mischief. + +"The voyage over, Charles, with all its cards, quadrilles, doubling the +cape, crossing the line, and the wearisome routine of sky and sea, the +quarter-deck and cabin, we found ourselves at length in Plymouth Sound; +left the Indiaman to go up the channel; and I suppose the post-chaise +may be consigned to your imagination." + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +HOW TO CLEAR IT UP. + + +IN all this there was mystery enough for a dozen lovers to have crazed +their brains about. Emily might be a queen of the East, defrauded of +hereditary glories, and at any rate deserved such rank, if Charles was +to be judge; but what was more important, if the general had any reason +at all for his arbitrary mandate prohibiting their love, it was very +possible that reason was a false one. + +Meantime, Charles had little now to live for, except his dear forbidden +Emily, any more than she for him. And to peace of mind in both, the +elucidation of that mystery which hung about her birth, grew more +needful day by day. At last, one summer evening, when they had managed a +quiet walk upon the sands under the Beacon cliff, Charles said abruptly, +after some moments of abstraction, "Dearest, I am resolved." + +"Resolved, Charles! what about?" and she felt quite alarmed; for her +lover looked so stern, that she could not tell what was going to happen +next. + +"I'll clear it up, that I will; I only wish I had the money." + +"Why, Charles, what in the world are you dreaming about? you frighten +me, dearest; are you ill? don't look so serious, pray." + +"Yes, Emily, I will; at once too. I'm off to Madras by next packet; or, +that is to say, would, if I could get my passage free." + +"My noble Charles, if that were the only objection, I would get you all +the means; for the kind--kind general suffers me to have whatever sums I +choose to ask for. Only, Charles, indeed I cannot spare you; do not--do +not go away and leave me; there's Julian, too--don't leave me--and you +might never come back, and--and--" all the remainder was lost in +sobbing. + +"No, my Emmy, we must not use the general's gold in doing what he might +not wish; it would be ungenerous. I will try to get somebody to lend me +what I want--say Mrs. Sainsbury, or the Tamworths. And as for leaving +you, my love, have no fears for me or for yourself; situated as we are, +I take it as a duty to go, and make you happier, setting you in rights, +whatever these may be; and for the rest, I leave you in His holy keeping +who can preserve you alike in body, as in soul, from all things that +would hurt you, and whose mercy will protect me in all perils, and bring +me back to you in safety. This is my trust, Emmy." + +"Dear Charles, you are always wiser and better than I am: let it be so +then, my best of friends. Seek out good nurse Mackie, I can give you +many clues, hear what she has to say; and may the God of your own poor +fatherless Emily speed your holy mission! Yet there is one thing, +Charles; ought you not to ask your parents for their leave to go? You +are better skilled to judge than I can be, though." + +"Emmy, whom have I to ask? my father? he cares not whither I go nor what +becomes of me; I hardly know him, and for twenty years of my short life +of twenty-one, scarcely believed in his existence; or should I ask my +mother? alas--love! I wish I could persuade myself that she would wish +me back again if I were gone; moreover, how can I respect her judgment, +or be guided by her counsel, whose constant aim has been to thwart my +feeble efforts after truth and wisdom, and to pamper all ill growths in +my unhappy brother Julian? No, Emily; I am a man now, and take my own +advice. If a parent forbade me, indeed, and reasonably, it would be fit +to acquiesce; but knowing, as I have sad cause to know, that none but +you, my love, will be sorry for my absence, as for your sake alone that +absence is designed, I need take counsel only of us who are here +present--your own sweet eyes, myself, and God who seeth us." + +"True--most true, dear Charles; I knew that you judged rightly." + +"Moreover, Emmy, secresy is needful for the due fulfilment of my +purpose." (Charles little thought how congenial to his nature was that +same secresy.) "None but you must know where I am, or whither I am gone. +For if there really is any mystery which the general would conceal from +us, be assured he both could and would frustrate all my efforts if he +knew of my design. The same ship that carried me out would convey an +emissary from him, and nurse Mackie never could be found by me. I must +go then secretly, and, for our peace sake, soon; how dear to me that +embassy will be, entirely undertaken in my darling Emmy's cause!" + +"But--but, Charles, what if Julian, in your absence--" + +"Hark, my own betrothed! while I am near you--and I say it not of +threat, but as in the sight of One who has privileged me to be your +protector--you are safe from any serious vexation; and the moment I am +gone, fly to my father, tell him openly your fears, and he will scatter +Julian's insolence to the winds of heaven." + +"Thank you--thank you, wise dear Charles; you have lifted a load from my +poor, weak, woman's heart, that had weighed it down too heavily. I will +trust in God more, and dread Julian less. Oh! how I will pray for you +when far away." + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +AUNT GREEN'S LEGACY. + + +AT last--at last, Mrs. Green fell ill, and, hard upon the over-ripe age +of eighty-seven, seemed likely to drop into the grave--to the +unspeakable delight of her expectant relatives. Sooth to say, niece +Jane, the soured and long-waiting legatee, had now for years been +treating the poor old woman very scurvily: she had lived too long, and +had grown to be a burden; notwithstanding that her ample income still +kept on the house, and enabled the general to nurse his own East India +Bonds right comfortably. But still the old aunt would not die, and as +they sought not her, nor heir's (quite contrary to St. Paul's +disinterestedness), she was looked upon in the light of an incumbrance, +on her own property and in her own house. Mrs. Tracy longed to throw off +the yoke of dependance, and made small secret of the hatred of the +fetter: for the old woman grew so deaf and blind, that there could be no +risk at all, either in speaking one's mind, or in thoroughly neglecting +her. + +However, now that the harvest of hope appeared so near, the legatee +renewed her old attentions: Death was a guest so very welcome to the +house, that it is no wonder that his arrival was hourly expected with +buoyant cheerfulness, and a something in the mask of kindliness: but I +suspect that lamb-skin concealed a very wolf. So, Mrs. Tracy tenderly +inquired of the doctor, and the doctor shook his head; and other doctors +came to help, and shook their heads together. The patient still grew +worse--O, brightening prospect!--though, now and then, a cordial draught +seemed to revive her so alarmingly, that Mrs. Tracy affectionately +urging that the stimulants would be too exciting for the poor dear +sufferer's nerves, induced Dr. Graves to discontinue them. Then those +fearful scintillations in her lamp of life grew fortunately duller, and +the nurse was by her bed-side night and day; and the old aunt became +more and more peevish, and was more and more spoken of by the Tracy +family--in her possible hearing, as "that dear old soul"--out of it, +"that vile old witch." + +Charles, to be sure, was an exception in all this, as he ever was: for +he took on him the Christian office of reading many prayers to the poor +decaying creature, and (only that his father would not hear of such a +thing) desired to have the vicar to assist him. Emily also, full of +sympathy, and disinterested care, would watch the fretful patient, hour +after hour, in those long, dull nights of pain; and the poor, old, +perishing sinner loved her coming, for she spoke to her the words of +hope and resignation. Whether that sweet missionary, scarcely yet a +convert from her own dark creed--(Alas! the Amina had offered unto +Juggernaut, and Emily of the strong hill-fort had scarcely heard of any +truer God; and the fair girl was a woman-grown before, in her first +earthly love, she also came to know the mercies Heaven has in store for +us)--whether unto any lasting use she prayed and reasoned with that +hard, dried heart, none but the Omniscient can tell. Let us hope: let us +hope; for the fretful voice was stilled, and the cloudy forehead +brightened, and the haggard eyes looked cheerfully to meet the +inevitable stroke of death. Thus in wisdom and in charity, in patience +and in faith, that gentle pair of lovers comforted the dying soul. + +However, days rolled away, and Aunt Green lingered on still, tenaciously +clinging unto life: until one morning early, she felt so much better, +that she insisted on being propped up by pillows, and seeing all the +household round her bed to speak to them. So up came every one, in no +small hope of legacies, and what the lawyers call "_donationes mortis +causâ_." + +The general was at her bed's-head, with, I am ashamed to say, perhaps +unconsciously, a countenance more ridiculous than lugubrious; though he +tried to subdue the buoyancy of hope and to put on looks of decent +mourning; on the other side, the long-expectant legatee, Niece Jane, +prudently concealed her questionable grief behind a scented +pocket-handkerchief. Julian held somewhat aloof, for the scene was too +depressing for his taste: so he affected to read a prayer-book, wrong +way up, with his tongue in his cheek: Charles, deeply solemnized at the +near approach of death, knelt at the poor invalid's bedside; and Emily +stood by, leaning over her, suffused in tears. At the further corners of +the bed, might be seen an old servant or two; and Mrs. Green's butler +and coachman, each a forty years' fixture, presented their gray heads at +the bottom of the room, and really looked exceedingly concerned. + +Mrs. Green addressed them first, in her feeble broken manner: +"Grant--and John--good and faithful--thank you--thank you both; and you +too, kind Mrs. Lloyd, and Sally, and nurse--what's-your-name: give them +the packets, nurse--all marked--first drawer, desk: there--there--God +bless you--good--faithful." + +The old servants, full of sorrow at her approaching loss, were comforted +too: for a kind word, and a hundred pound note a-piece, made amends for +much bereavement: the sick-nurse found her gift was just a tithe of +their's, and recognised the difference both just and kind. + +"Niece Jane--you've waited--long--for--this day: my will--rewards you." + +"O dear--dear aunt, pray don't talk so; you'll recover yet, pray--pray +don't:" she pretended to drown the rest in sorrow, but winked at her +husband over the handkerchief. + +"Julian!" (the precious youth attempted to look miserable, and came as +called,) "you will find--I have remembered--you, Julian." So he winked, +too, at his mother, and tried to blubber a "thank you." + +"Charles--where's Charles? give me your hand, Charles dear--let me feel +your face: here, Charles--a little pocket-book--good lad--good lad. +There's Emily, too--dear child, she came--too late--I forgot her--I +forgot her! general give her half--half--if you love--love--Emi--" + +All at once her jaw dropped; her eyes, which had till now been +preternaturally bright, filmed over; her head fell back upon the pillow; +and the rich old aunt was dead. + +Julian gave a shout that might have scared the parting spirit! + +Really, the general was shocked, and Mrs. Tracy too; and the servants +murmured "shame--shame!" poor Charles hid his face; Emily looked up +indignantly; but Julian asked, with an oath, "Where's the good of being +hypocrites?" and then added, "now, mother, let us find the will." + +Then the nurse went to close the dim glazed eyes; and the other +sorrowing domestics slunk away; and Charles led Emily out of the chamber +of death, saddened and shocked at such indecent haste. + +Meanwhile, the hopeful trio rummaged every drawer--tumbled out the +mingled contents of boxes, desk, and escritoire--still, no will--no +will: and at last the nurse, who more than once had muttered, "Shame on +you all," beneath her breath, said, + +"If you want the will, it's under her pillow: but don't disturb her yet, +poor thing!" + +Julian's rude hand had already thrust aside the lifeless, yielding head, +and clutched the will: the father and mother--though humbled and +wonder-stricken at his daring--gathered round him; and he read aloud, +boldly and steadily to the end, though with scowling brow, and many +curses interjectional: + +"IN the name of God, Amen. I, Constance Green, make this my last will +and testament. Forasmuch as my niece, Jane Tracy, has watched and waited +for my death these two-and-twenty years, I leave her all the shoes, +slippers, and goloshes, whereof I may happen to die possessed: item, I +leave Julian, her son, my '_Whole Duty of Man_,' convinced that he is +deficient in it all: item, I confirm all the gifts which I intend to +make upon my death-bed: item, forasmuch as General Tracy, my niece's +husband, on his return from abroad, greeted me with much affection, I +bequeath and give to him five thousand pounds' worth of Exchequer bills, +now in my banker's hands; and appoint him my sole executor. As to my +landed property, it will all go, in course of law, to my heir, Samuel +Hayley, and may he and his long enjoy it. And as to the remainder of my +personal effects, including nine thousand pounds bank stock, my Dutch +fives, and other matters, whereof I may die possessed (seeing that my +relatives are rich enough without my help), I give and bequeath the +same, subject as hereinbefore stated, to the trustees, for the time +being, of the Westminster Lying-in Hospital, in trust, for the purposes +of that charitable institution. In witness whereof, I have hereunto set +my hand and seal this 13th day of May, 1840. + + "CONSTANCE GREEN." + +"Duly signed, sealed, and delivered! d----nation!" was Julian's brief +epilogue--"General, let's burn it." + +"You can if you please, Mr. Julian," interposed the nurse, who had +secretly enjoyed all this, "and if you like to take the consequences; +but, as each of the three witnesses has the will sealed up in copy, and +the poor deceased there took pains to sign them all, perhaps--" + +This settled the affair: and the discomfited expectants made a +precipitate retreat. As the general, however, got vastly more than he +expected, for his individual merits; and seeing that he loved Emily as +much as he hated both Julian and his wife, he really felt well-pleased +upon the whole, and took on him the duties of executor with +cheerfulness. So they buried Aunt Green as soon as might be. + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +PREPARATIONS AND DEPARTURE. + + +CHARLES'S pocket-book was full of clean bank notes, fifteen hundred +pounds' worth: it contained also a diamond ring, and a lock of silvery +hair; the latter a proof of affectionate sentiment in the kind old soul, +that touched him at the heart. + +"And now, my Emmy, the way is clear to us; Providence has sent me this, +that I may right you, dearest: and it will be wise in us to say nothing +of our plans. Avoid inquiries--for I did not say conceal or falsify +facts: but, while none but you, love, heed of my departure, and while I +go for our sakes alone, we need not invite disappointment by +open-mouthed publicity. To those who love me, Emmy, I am frank and +free; but with those who love us not, there is a wisdom and a justice in +concealment. They do not deserve confidence, who will not extend to us +their sympathy. None but yourself must know whither I am bound; and, +after some little search for curiosity's sake, when a week is past and +gone, no soul will care for me of those at home. With you, I will manage +to communicate by post, directing my letters to Mrs. Sainsbury, at +Oxton: I will prepare her for it. She knows my love for you, and how +they try to thwart us; but even she, however trustworthy, need not be +told my destination yet awhile, until 'India' appears upon the +post-mark. How glad will you be, dearest one, how happy in our +secret--to read my heart's own thoughts, when I am far away--far away, +clearing up mine Emmy's cares, and telling her how blessed I feel in +ministering to her happiness!" + +Such was the substance of their talk, while counting out the +pocket-book. + +Charles's remaining preparations were simple enough, now his purse was +flush of money: he resolved upon taking from his home no luggage +whatever: preferring to order down, from an outfitting house in London, +a regular kit of cadet's necessaries, to wait for him at the Europe +Hotel, Plymouth, on a certain day in the ensuing week. So that, burdened +only with his Emmy's miniature, and his pocket-book of bank notes, he +might depart quietly some evening, get to Plymouth in a prëconcerted +way, by chaise or coach, before the morrow morning; thence, a boat to +meet the ship off-shore, and then--hey, for the Indies! + +It was as well-devised a scheme as could possibly be planned; though its +secresy, especially with a mother in the case, may be a moot point as to +the abstract moral thereof: nevertheless, concretely, the only heart his +so mysterious absence would have pained, was made aware of all: then, +again, secresy had been the atmosphere of his daily life, the breath of +his education; and he too sorely knew his mother would rejoice at the +departure, and Julian, too--all the more certainly, as both brothers +were now rivals professed for the hand of Emily Warren: as to the +general, he might, or he might not, smoke an extra cheroot in the +excitement of his wonder; and if he cared about it anyways more +tragically than tobacco might betray, Emily knew how to comfort him. + +With respect to other arrangements, Emmy furnished Charles with letters +to certain useful people at Madras, and in particular to the "somebody" +who looked after Mrs. Mackie: so, the mystery was easy of access, and he +doubted not of overcoming, on the spot, every unseen difficulty. The +plan of leaving all luggage behind, a capital idea, would enable him to +go forth freely and unshackled, with an ordinary air, in hat and +great-coat, as for an evening's walk; and was quite in keeping with the +natural reserve of his whole character--a bad habit of secresy, which he +probably inherited from his father, the lieutenant of old times. And +yet, for all the wisdom, and mystery, and shrewd settling of the plan, +its accomplishment was as nearly as possible most fatally defeated. + +The important evening arrived; for the Indiaman--it was our old friend +Sir William Elphinston--would be off Plymouth, next morning: the goods +had been, for a day or two, safely deposited at the Europe, as per +invoice, all paid: the lovers, in this last, this happiest, yet by far +the saddest of their stolen interviews, had exchanged vows and kisses, +and upon the beach, beneath those friendly cliffs, had commended one +another to their Father in heaven. They had returned to the unsocial +circle of home; all was fixed; the clock struck nine: and Charles, +accidentally squeezing Emily's hand, rose to leave the tea-table. + +"Where are you going, Mr. Charles?" + +"I am going out, Julian." + +"Thank you, sir! I knew that, but whither? General, I say, here's +Charles going to serenade somebody by moonlight." + +The brandy-sodden parent, scarcely conscious, said something about his +infernal majesty; and, "What then?--let him go, can't you?" + +"Well, Julian dear, perhaps your brother will not mind your going with +him; particularly as Emily stays at home with me." + +This Mrs. Tracy spoke archly, intended as a hint to induce Julian to +remain: but he had other thoughts--and simply said, in an ill-tempered +tone of voice, "Done, Charles." + +It was a dilemma for our escaping hero; but glancing a last look at +Emily, he departed, and walked on some way as quietly as might be with +Julian by his side: thinking, perhaps, he would soon be tired; and +suffering him to fancy, if he would, that Charles was bound either on +some amorous pilgrimage, or some charitable mission. But they left +Burleigh behind them--and got upon the common--and passed it by, far out +of sight and out of hearing--and were skirting the high banks of the +darkly-flowing Mullet--and still there was Julian sullenly beside him. +In vain Charles had tried, by many gentle words, to draw him into common +conversation: Julian would not speak, or only gave utterance to some +hinted phrase of insult: his brow was even darker than usual, and night +was coming on apace, and he still tramped steadily along beside his +brother, digging his sturdy stick into the clay, for very spite's sake. +At length, as they yet walked along the river's side in that +unfrequented place, Julian said, on a sudden, in a low strange tone, as +if keeping down some rising rage within him, + +"Mr. Charles, you love Emily Warren." + +"Well, Julian, and who can help loving her?" + +It was innocently said; but still a maddening answer, for he loved her +too. + +"And, sirrah," the brother hoarsely added, "she--she does not--does +not--hate you, sir, as I do." + +"My good Julian, pray do not be so violent; I cannot help it if the dear +girl loves me." + +"But I can, though!" roared Julian, with an oath, and lifted up his +stick--it was nearer like a club--to strike his brother. + +"Julian, Julian, what are you about? Good Heavens! you would not--you +dare not--give over--unhand me, brother; what have I done, that you +should strike me? Oh! leave me--leave me--pray." + +"Leave you? I will leave you!" the villain almost shouted, and smote him +to the ground with his lead-loaded stick. It was a blow that must have +killed him, but for the interposing hat, now battered down upon his +bleeding head. Charles, at length thoroughly aroused, though his foe +must be a brother, struggled with unusual strength in self-preserving +instinct, wrested the club from Julian's hand, and stood on the +defensive. + +Julian was staggered: and, after a moment's irresolution, drawing a +pistol from his pocket, said, in a terribly calm voice, + +"Now, sir! I have looked for such a meeting many days--alone, by night, +with you! I would not willingly draw trigger, for the noise might bring +down other folks upon us, out of Oxton yonder: but, drop that stick, or +I fire." + +Charles was noble enough, without another word, to fling the club into +the river: it was not fear of harm, but fear of sin, that made him trust +himself defenceless to a brother, a twin-brother, in the dark: he could +not be so base, a murderer, a fratricide! Oh! most unhallowed thought! +Save him from this crime, good God! Then, instantaneously reflecting, +and believing he decided for the best, when he saw the ruffian glaring +on him with exulting looks, as upon an unarmed rival at his mercy, with +no man near to stay the deed, and none but God to see it, Charles +resolved to seek safety from so terrible a death in flight. + +Oxton was within one mile; and, clearly, this was not like flying from +danger as a coward, but fleeing from attempted crime, as a brother and +a Christian. Julian snatched at him to catch him as he passed: and, +failing in this, rushed after him. It was a race for life! and they went +like the wind, for two hundred yards, along that muddy high-banked walk. + +Suddenly, Charles slipped upon the clay, that he fell; and Julian, with +a savage howl, leapt upon him heavily. + +Poor youth, he knew that death was nigh, and only uttered, "God forgive +you, brother! oh, spare me--or, if not me, spare yourself--Julian, +Julian!" + +But the monster was determined. Exerting the whole force of his +herculean frame, he seized his scarce-resisting victim as he lay, and, +lifting him up like a child, flung his own twin-brother head foremost +into that darkly-flowing current! + +There was one piercing cry--a splash--a struggle; and again nothing +broke upon the silent night, but the murmur of that swingeing tide, as +the Mullet hurried eddying to the sea. + +Julian listened a minute or two, flung some stones at random into the +river, and then hastily ran back to Burleigh, feeling like a Cain. + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +THE ESCAPE. + + +BUT the overruling hand of Him whose aid that victim had invoked, was +now stretched forth to save! and the strong-flowing tide, that ran too +rapidly for Charles to sink in it, was commissioned from on High to +carry him into an angle of that tortuous stream, where he clung by +instinct to the bushes. Silence was his wisdom, while the murderer was +near: and so long as Julian's footsteps echoed on the banks, Charles +stirred not, spoke not, but only silently thanked God for his wonderful +deliverance. However, the footsteps quickly died away, though heard far +off clattering amid the still and listening night; and Charles, +thankfully, no less than cautiously, drew himself out of the stream, +very little harmed beyond a drenching: for the waters had recovered him +at once from the effects of that desperate blow. + +It was with a sense of exultation, freedom, independence, that he now +hastened scatheless on his way; dripping garments mattered nothing, nor +mud, nor the loss of his demolished hat: the pocket-book was safe, and +Emmy's portrait, (how he kissed it, then!) and luckily a travelling cap +was in his great-coat pocket: so with a most buoyant feeling of animal +delight, as well as of religious gratitude, he sped merrily once more +upon his secret expedition. Thank Heaven! Emmy could not know the peril +he had past: and wretched Julian would now have dreadful reason of his +own for this mysterious absence: and it was a pleasant thing to trudge +along so freely in the starlight, on the private embassy of love. Happy +Charles! I know not if ever more exhilarated feelings blessed the youth; +they made him trip along the silent road, in a gush of joyfulness, at +the rate of some six miles an hour; I know not if ever such delicious +thoughts of Emily's attachment, and those gorgeous mysteries in India, +of adventure, enterprise, escape, had heretofore caused his heart to +bound so lightsomely within him, like some elastic spring. I know not if +ever strong reliance upon Providential care, more earnest prayers, +praises, intercessions (for poor Julian, too,) were offered on the altar +of his soul. Happy Charles! + +So he went on and on--long past Oxton, and Eyemouth, and Surbiton, and +over the ferry, and through the sleeping turnpikes, and past the bridge, +and along the broad high-road, until gray of morning's dawn revealed the +suburbs of Plymouth. + +Of course he missed the mail by which he intended to have gone--for +Julian's dread act delayed him. + +Long before his journey's end, his clothes were thoroughly dried, and +violent exercise had shaken off all possible rheumatic consequence of +that fearful plunge beneath the waters: five-and-twenty miles in four +hours and three-quarters, is a tolerable recipe for those who have +tumbled into rivers. We must recollect that he had gone as quick as he +could, for fear of being late, now the coach had passed. At a little +country inn, he brushed, and washed, and made toilet as well as he was +able, took a glass of good Cognac, both hot and strong; and felt more of +a man than ever. + +Then, having loitered awhile, and well-remembered Emily in his prayers, +at about eight in the morning he presented himself among his luggage at +the Europe in gentlemanly trim, and soon got all on board the pilot +boat, to meet the Indiaman just outside the breakwater. We may safely +leave him there, happy, hopeful Charles! Sanguine for the future, +exulting in the present, and thankful for the past: already has he +poured out all his joys before that Friend who loves her too, and +invoked His blessing on a scheme so well designed, so providentially +accomplished. + +I had almost forgotten Julian: wretched, hardened man, and how fared he? +The moment he had flung his brother into that dark stream, and the +waters closed above him greedily that he was gone--gone for ever, he +first threw in stones to make a noise like life upon the stream, but +that cheatery was only for an instant: he was alone--a murderer, alone! +the horrors of silence, solitude, and guilt, seized upon him like three +furies: so his quick retreating walk became a running; and the running +soon was wild and swift for fear; and ever as he ran, that piercing +scream came upon the wind behind, and hooted him: his head swam, his +eyes saw terrible sights, his ears heard terrible sounds--and he scoured +into quiet, sleeping Burleigh like a madman. However, by some strange +good luck, not even did the slumbering watchman see him: so he got +in-doors as usual with the latch-key (it was not the first time he had +been out at night), crept up quietly, and hid himself in his own +chamber. + +And how did he spend those hours of guilty solitude? in terrors? in +remorse? in misery? Not he: Julian was too wise to sit and think, and in +the dark too; but he lit both reading lamps to keep away the gloom, and +smoked and drank till morning's dawn to stupify his conscience. + +Then, to make it seem all right, he went down to breakfast as usual, +though any thing but sober, and met unflinchingly his mother's natural +question-- + +"Good morning, Julian--where's Charles?" + +"How should I know, mother; isn't he up yet?" + +"No, my dear; and what is more, I doubt if he came home last night." + +"Hollo, Master Charles! pretty doings these, Mr. Sabbath-teacher! so he +slept out, eh, mother?" + +"I don't know--but where did you leave him, Julian?" + +"Who! I? did I go out with him? Oh! yes, now I recollect: let's see, we +strolled together midway to Oxton, and, as he was going somewhat +further, there I left him?" + +How true the words, and yet how terribly false their meaning! + +"Dear me, that's very odd--isn't it, general?" + +"Not at all, ma'am--not at all; leave the lad alone, he'll be back by +dinner-time: I didn't think the boy had so much spirit." + +Emily, to whom the general's hint was Greek, looked up cheerfully and in +her own glad mind chuckled at her Charles's bold adventure. + +But the day passed, off, and they sent out men to seek for him: and +another--and all Burleigh was a-stir: and another--and the coast-guards +from Lyme to Plymouth Sound searched every hole and corner: and +another--when his mother wept five minutes: and another--when the wonder +was forgotten. + +However, they did not put on mourning for the truant: he might turn up +yet: perhaps he was at Oxford. + +Emily had not much to do in comforting the general for his dear son's +loss; it clearly was a gain to him, and he felt far freer than when +wisdom's eye was on him. Charles had been too keen for father, mother, +and brother; too good, too amiable: he saw their ill, condemned it by +his life, and showed their dark too black against his brightness. The +unnatural deficiency of mother's love had not been overrated: Julian had +all her heart; and she felt only obliged to the decamping Charles for +leaving Emily so free and clear to his delightful brother. She never +thought him dead: death was a repulsive notion at all times to her: no +doubt he would turn up again some day. And Julian joked with her about +that musty proverb "a bad penny." + +As to our dear heroine, she never felt so happy in all her life before +as now, even when her Charles had been beside her; for within a day of +his departure he had written her a note full of affection, hope, and +gladness; assuring her of his health, and wealth, and safe arrival on +board the Indiaman. The noble-hearted youth never said one single word +about his brother's crime: but he did warn his Emmy to keep close beside +the general. This note she got through Mrs. Sainsbury; that invalid lady +at Oxton, who never troubled herself to ask or hear one word beyond her +own little world--a certain physic-corner cupboard. + +And thou--poor miserable man--thou fratricide in mind--and to thy best +belief in act, how drags on now the burden of thy life? For a day or +two, spirits and segars muddled his brain, and so kept thoughts away: +but within a while they came on him too piercingly, and Julian writhed +beneath those scorpion stings of hot and keen remorse: and when the +coast-guards dragged the Mullet, how that caitiff trembled! and when +nothing could be found, how he wondered fearingly! The only thing the +wretched man could do, was to loiter, day after day, and all day long, +upon the same high path which skirts the tortuous stream. Fascinated +there by hideous recollections, he could not leave the spot for hours: +and his soft-headed, romantic mother, noticing these deep abstractions, +blessed him--for her Julian was now in love with Emily. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +NEWS OF CHARLES. + + +AY--in love with Emily! Fiercely now did Julian pour his thoughts that +way; if only hoping to forget murder in another strong excitement. +Julian listened to his mother's counsels; and that silly, cheated woman +playfully would lean upon his arm, like a huge, coy confidante, and fill +his greedy ears (that heard her gladly for very holiday's sake from +fearful apprehensions), with lover's hopes, lover's themes, his Emily's +perfection. Delighted mother--how proud and pleased was she! quite in +her own element, fanning dear Julian's most sentimental flame, and +scheming for him interviews with Emily. + +It required all her skill--for the girl clung closely to her guardian: +he, unconscious Argus, never tired of her company; and she, remembering +dear Charles's hint, and dreading to be left alone with Julian, would +persist to sit day after day at her books, music, or needle-work in the +study, charming General Tracy by her pretty Hindoo songs. With him she +walked out, and with him she came in; she would read to him for hours, +whether he snored or listened; and, really, both mother and son were +several long weeks before their scheming could come to any thing. A +_tête-à-tête_ between Julian and Emily appeared as impossible to manage, +as collision between Jupiter and Vesta. + +However, after some six weeks of this sort of mining and counter-mining +(for Emily divined their wishes), all on a sudden one morning the +general received a letter that demanded his immediate presence for a day +or two in town; something about prize-money at Puttymuddyfudgepoor. +Emily was too high-spirited, too delicate in mind, to tell her guardian +of fears which never might be realized; and so, with some forebodings, +but a cheerful trust, too, in a Providence above her, she saw the +general off without a word, though not without a tear; he too, that +stern, close man, was moved: it was strange to see them love each other +so. + +The moment he was gone, she discreetly kept her chamber for the day, on +plea of sickness; she had cried very heartily to see him leave her--he +had never yet left her once since she could recollect--and thus she +really had a head-ache, and a bad one. + +Julian Tracy gave such a start, that he knocked off a cheffonier of +rare china and glass standing at his elbow; and the smash of mandarins +and porcelain gods would have been enough, at any other time, to have +driven his mother crazy. + +"Charles alive?" shouted he. + +"Yes, Julian--why not? You saw him off, you know: cannot you remember?" + +Now to that guilty wretch's mind the fearful notion instantaneously +occurred, that Emily Warren was in some strange, wild way bantering him; +she knew his dreadful secret--"he _had_ seen him off." He trembled like +an aspen as she looked on him. + +"Oh yes, he remembered, certainly; but--but where was her letter?" + +"Never mind that, Julian; you surely would not read another person's +letters, Monsieur le Chevalier Bayard?" + +Emily was as gay at heart that morning as a sky-lark, and her innocent +pleasantry proved her strongest shield. Julian dared not ask to see the +letter--scarcely dared to hope she had one, and yet did not know what to +think. As to any love scene now, it was quite out of the question, +notwithstanding all his mother's hints and management; a new exciting +thought entirely filled him: was he a Cain, a fratricide, or not? was +Charles alive after all? And, for once in his life, Julian had some +repentant feelings; for thrilling hope was nigh to cheer his gloom. + +It really seemed as if Emily, sweet innocent, could read his inmost +thoughts. "At any rate," observed she, playfully, "Bayard may take the +postman's privilege, and see the outside." + +With that, she produced the ship-letter that had put her in such +spirits, legibly dated some twenty-two days ago. Yes, Charles's hand, +sure enough! Julian could swear to it among a thousand. And he fainted +dead away. + +What an astonishing event! how Mrs. Tracy praised her noble-spirited +boy! How the bells rang! and hot water, and cold water, and salts, and +rubbings, and _eau de Cologne_, and all manner of delicate attentions, +long sustained, at length contributed to Julian's restoration. Moreover, +even Emily was agreeably surprised; she had never seen him in so amiable +a light before; this was all feeling, all affection for his brother--her +dear--dear Charles. And when Mrs. Tracy heard what Emily said of +Julian's feeling heart, she became positively triumphant; not half so +much at Charles's safety, and all that, as at Julian's burst of feeling. +She was quite right, after all; he was worthy to be her favourite, and +she felt both flattered and obliged to him for fainting dead away. +"Yes--yes, my dear Miss Warren, depend upon it Julian has fine feelings, +and a good heart." And Emily began to condemn both Charles and herself +for lack of charity, and to think so too. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +THE TETE-A-TETE. + + +NO sooner had "dear Julian" recovered, which he really had not quite +accomplished until the day had begun to wear away (so great a shock had +that intelligence of Charles been to his guilty mind), than the +gratified and prudent mother fancied this a famous opportunity to leave +the young couple to themselves. It was after dinner, when they had +retired to the drawing-room; and I will say that Emily had never seemed +so favourably disposed towards that rough, but generous, heart before. +So then, on some significant pretence, well satisfied her favourite was +himself again, as bold, and black, and boisterous as ever, the masculine +mother kissed her hand to them, as a fat fairy might be supposed to do, +and operatically tripped away, coyly bidding Emily "take care of Julian +till she should come back again." + +The momentary gleam of good which glanced across that bad man's heart +has faded away hours ago; his repentant thoughts had been occasioned +more from the sudden relief he experienced at running now no risks for +having murdered, than for any better feeling towards his brother, or any +humbler notions of himself. Nay, a strong rëaction occurred in his ideas +the moment he had seen his brother's writing; and when he fainted, he +fainted from the struggle in his mind of manifold exciting causes, such +as these:--hatred, jealousy, what he called love, though a lower name +befitted it, and vexation that his brother was--not dead. Oh mother, +mother! if your poor weak head had but been wise enough to read that +heart, would you still have loved it as you do? Alas--it is a deep +lesson in human nature this--she would! for Mrs. General Tracy was one +of those obstinate, yet superficial characters, whom no reason can +convince that they are wrong, no power can oblige to confess themselves +mistaken. She rejoiced to hear him called "her very image;" and +predominant vanity in the large coquette extended to herself at +second-hand; self was her idol substance, and its delightful shadow was +this mother's son. + +The moment Mrs. Tracy left the room, Julian perceived his opportunity: +Charles, detested rival, far away at sea; the guardian gone to London; +Emily in an unusual flow of affability and kindness, and he--alone with +her. Rashly did he bask his soul in her delicious beauty, deliberately +drinking deep of that intoxicating draught. Giving the rein to passion, +he suffered that tumultuous steed to hurry him whither it would, in mad +unbridled course. He sat so long silently gazing at her with the +lack-lustre eyes of low and dull desire, that Emily, quite thrown off +her guard by that amiable fainting for his brother, addressed him in her +innocent kind-heartedness, + +"Are you not recovered yet, dear Julian?" + +The effect was instantaneous: scarcely crediting his ears that heard her +call him "dear," his eyes, that saw her winning smile upon him, he +started from his chair, and trembling with agitation, flung himself at +her feet, to Emily's unqualified astonishment. + +"Why, Julian, what's the matter?--unhand me, sir! let go!" (for he had +got hold of her wrist.) + +The passionate youth seized her hand--that one with Charles's ring upon +it--and would have kissed it wildly with polluting lips, had she not +shrieked suddenly "Help! help!" + +Instantly his other hand was roughly dashed upon her mouth--so roughly +that it almost knocked her backwards--and the blood flowed from her +wounded lip; but by a preternatural effort, the indignant Indian queen +hurled the ruffian from her, flew to the bell, and kept on ringing +violently. + +In less than half a minute all the household was around her, headed by +the startled Mrs. Tracy, who had all the while been listening in the +other drawing-room: butler, footmen, house-maids, ladies'-maids, cook, +scullions, and all rushed in, thinking the house was on fire. + +No need to explain by a word. Emily, radiant in imperial charms, stood, +like inspired Cassandra, flashing indignation from her eyes at the +cowering caitiff on the floor. The mother, turning all manner of +colours, dropped on her knees to "poor Julian's" assistance, affecting +to believe him taken ill. But Emily Warren, whose insulted pride +vouchsafed not a word to that guilty couple, soon undeceived all +parties, by addressing the butler in a voice tremulous and broken-- + +"Mr. Saunders--be so good--as to go--to Sir Abraham Tamworth's--in the +square--and request of him--a night's--protection--for a +poor--defenceless, insulted woman!" + +She could hardly utter the last words for choking tears: but immediately +battling down her feelings, added, with the calmness of a heroine-- + +"You are a father, Mr. Saunders--set all this before Sir Abraham +strongly, but delicately. + +"Footmen! so long as that wretch is in the room, protect me, as you are +men." + +And the stately beauty placed herself between the two liveried lacqueys, +as Zenobia in the middle of her guards. + +"Marguerite!"--the pretty little Française tripped up to her--"wipe this +blood from my face." + +Beautiful, insulted creature! I thought that I looked upon some wounded +Boadicea, with her daughters extracting the arrow from her cheek. + +"And now, kind Charlotte, fetch my cloak; and follow me to Prospect +House, with what I may require for the night. Till the general's return, +I stay not here one minute." + +Then, without a syllable, or a look of leave-taking, the wise and noble +girl--doubtless unconsciously remembering her early Hindoo braveries, +the lines of matchlock men, the bowing slaves, the processions, and her +jewelled state of old--marched away in magnificent beauty, accompanied +in silence by the whole astonished household. + +Mrs. Tracy and her son were left alone: the silly, silly mother thought +him "hardly used." Julian, whose natural effrontery had entirely +deserted him, looked like what he was--a guilty coward: and the mother, +who had pampered up her "fine high-spirited son" to his full-grown +criminality by a foolish education, really--when she had time to think +of any thing but him--was excessively frightened. The general would be +back to-morrow, and then--and then!--she dreaded to picture that +explosion of his wrath. + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + +SATISFACTION. + + +SIR ABRAHAM TAMWORTH, G.C.B.--a fine old Admiral of the White, who +somewhat looked down upon the rank of General, H.E.I.C.S.--was +astonished, as well he might be, at Mr. Saunders, and his message: and, +of course, most gladly acquiesced in acting as poor Emily's protector. +Accordingly, however jealous Lady Tamworth and her daughters might +heretofore have felt of that bright beauty at the balls, they were now +all genuine sympathy, indignation, and affection. Emily, I need hardly +say, went straight up stairs to have her cry out. + +"Whom are you writing to, George, in such a hurry?" asked the admiral, +of a fine moustachioed son, George St. Vincent Tamworth, of the Royal +Horse Guards, who had just got six months' leave of absence for the sake +of marriage with his cousin. + +The gallant soldier tossed a billet to his father, who mounted his +spectacles, and quietly read it at the lamp. + +"Captain Tamworth desires Mr. Julian Tracy's company to-morrow morning, +at seven o'clock, in the third meadow on the Oxton road. The captain +brings a friend with him; also pistols and a surgeon; and he desires Mr. +Tracy to do the like: Prospect House, Thursday evening." + +"So, George, you consider him a gentleman, do you? I am afraid it's a +poor compliment to our fair young friend." And he quietly crumpled up +the challenge in his iron hand. + +"Really, sir!--you surprise me;--pardon me, but I will send that note: +mustn't I chastise the fellow for this insufferable outrage?" + +"No doubt, George, no doubt of it at all: when a lady is insulted, and a +man (not to say a queen's officer) stands by without taking notice of +it, he deserves whipping at the cart's-tail, and Coventry for life. I've +no patience, boy, with such mean meekness, as putting up with bullying +insolence when a woman's in the case. Let a man show moral courage, if +he can and will, in his own affront; I honour him who turns on his heel +from common personal insult, and only wish my own old blood was cool +enough to do so: but the mother, wife, and sister, ay, George, and the +poor defenceless one, be she lady, peasant, or menial, who comes to us +for safety in a woman's dress, we must take up their quarrel, or we are +not men!--" + +"Don't interrupt him, George," uxoriously suggested Lady Tamworth, +"your father hasn't done talking yet." For George was getting terribly +impatient; he knew, from sad experience, how much the admiral was given +to prosing. However, the oration soon proceeded to our captain's entire +satisfaction, after his progenitor had paused awhile for breath's sake +in his eloquence. + +"--Take up their quarrel, or we are not men. Nevertheless, boy, I cannot +see the need of pistols. The only conceivable case for violent redress, +is woman's wrong: and he who wrongs a woman, cannot be a gentleman; +therefore, ought not to be met on equal terms. For other causes of +duello, as hot-headed speeches, rudenesses, or slights, forgive, forbear +to fan the flame, and never be above apologizing: but in an outrage such +as this, let a fine-built fellow, such as you are, George (and the women +should show wisdom in their choice of champions), let a man, and a +queen's officer as you are, treat this brute, Julian Tracy, as a +martinet huntsman would a hound thrown out. As for me, boy, I'm going to +call on Mrs. Tracy at eleven o'clock to-morrow morning--and, without +presuming to advise a six foot two of a son, I think--I think, if I were +you, I would be dutiful enough to say--'Father, I will accompany +you--and take a horsewhip with me.'" + +"Agreed, agreed, sir!" replied the well-pleased son, and her ladyship +too vouchsafed her approbation. + +Emily had gone to bed long ago, or rather to her chamber; where the +three Misses Tamworth had been all kindness, curiosity, and consolation. +So, Sir Abraham and his lady, now the speech was finished, followed +their example of retirement: and the captain newly blood-knotted his +hunting-whip, _con amore_, not to say _con spirito_, overnight. + +Nobody will wonder to hear, that when the gallant representatives of +army and navy called next morning at number seven, Mrs. Tracy and her +son were "not at home:" and of course it would be far too Julian-like a +proceeding, for true gentleman to think of forcing their company on the +probably ensconced in-dwellers. Accordingly, they marched away, without +having deigned to leave a card; the captain taking on himself the duty +of perambulating sentinel, while his father proceeded to the library as +usual. Judge of the glad surprise, when, within ten minutes, our +vindictive George perceived the admiral coming back again, full-sail, +with the mother and son in tow, creeping amicably enough up the terrace. +Sir Abraham had given her his arm, and precious Mr. Julian was a little +in the rear: for the old folks were talking confidentially. + +George St. Vincent, placing his whip in the well-known position of +"Cane, a mystery," advanced to meet them; and, just after passing his +father, with whom he exchanged a very comfortable glance, discovered +that the heroic Julian, who had caught a glimpse of the ill-concealed +weapon, was slinking quickly round a corner to avoid him. It was +certainly undignified to run, but the gallant captain did run, +nevertheless and soon caught the coward by the collar. + +Then, at arm's length, was the hunting-whip applied, full-swing; up the +terrace, and down the parade, and through High-street, and Smith-street, +and Oxton-road, and aristocratical Pacton-square, and the well-thronged +plebeian market-place; lash, lash, lash, in furious and fast succession +on the writhing roaring culprit; to the universal excoriation of Mr. +Julian Tracy, and the amazement of an admiring and soon-collected +crowd--the rank, beauty, and fashion--of Burleigh Singleton. Julian was +strong indeed, and a coal-heaver in build, but conscience had unnerved +him; and the coarse noisy bully always is a coward: therefore, it was a +pleasant thing to see how easy came the captain's work to him--he had +nothing to do but to lash, lash, lash, double-thonged, like a +slave-driver: and, except that he made the caitiff move along, to be a +spectacle to man and woman, up and down the town, he might as well, for +any difficulty in the deed, have been employed in scarifying a +gate-post. + +At last, thoroughly exhausted with having inflicted as much punishment +as any three drummers at a soldier's whipping-match, and spying out his +"tiger" in the throng, our gallant Avenging Childe tossed the heavy whip +to the trim cockaded little man, that he might carry home that +instrument of vengeance, deliberately wiped his wet mustachios, and +giving Julian one last kick, let the fellow part in peace. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + +HOW CHARLES FARED. + + +HAVING thus found protectors for poor Emily, and disposed of her +assailant to the entire satisfaction of all mankind, let us turn +seawards, and take a look at Charles. + +Now, "no earthly power,"--as a certain ex-chancellor protested--shall +induce me to do so mean a thing as to open Charles's letters, and spread +them forth before the public gaze. Doubtless, they were all things +tender, warm, and eloquent; doubtless, they were tinted rosy hue, with +love's own blushes, and made glorious with the golden light of +unaffected piety. I only read them myself in a reflected way, by looking +into Emily's eyes; and I saw, from their ever-changing radiance, how +feelingly he told of his affections; how fervently he poured out all his +heart upon the page; how evidently tears and kisses had made many words +illegible; how wise, sanguine, happy, and religious, was her own devoted +Charles. + +Of the trivial incidents of voyaging, his letters said not much: though +cheerful and agreeable in his floating prison, with the various exported +marrying-maidens and transported civil officers, who constitute the +average bulk of Indian cargoes outward bound, Charles mixed but little +in their society, seldom danced, seldom smoked, seldom took a hand at +whist, or engaged in the conflicts of backgammon. Sharks, storms, +water-spouts; the meeting divers vessels, and exchanging post-bags; +tar-barrelled Neptune of the line, Cape Town with its mountain and the +Table-cloth, long-rolling seas; and similar common-places, Charles did +not think proper to enlarge upon: no more do I. Life is far too short +for all such petty details: and, more pointedly, a wire-drawn book is +the just abhorrence of a generous public. + +The letters came frequently: for Charles did little else all day but +write to Emmy, so as always to be ready with a budget for the next piece +of luck--a home-bound ship. He had many things to teach her yet, sweet +student; and it was a beautiful sight to see how her mind expanded as an +opening flower before the sun of tenderness and wisdom. Each letter, +both in writing and in reading, was the child of many prayers: and even +the loveliness of Emily grew more soft, more elevated, "as it had been +the face of an angel," when feeding in solitary joy on those effusions +of her lover's heart. + +Of course, he could not hear from her, until the overland mail might +haply bring him letters at Madras: so that, as our Irish friends would +say, with all her will to tell him of her love, "the reciprocity must +needs be all on one side." But Emily did write too; earnestly, happily: +and poured her very heart out in those eloquent burning words. I dare +say Charles will get the letter now within a day or two: for the roaring +surf of Madras is on the horizon, almost within sight. + +Nevertheless, before he gets there, and can read those +letters--precious, precious manuscripts--it will be my painful duty, as +a chronicler of (what might well be) truth, to put the reader in +possession of one little hint, which seemed likeliest to wreck the +happiness of these two children of affection. + +I am Emily's invisible friend: and as the dear girl ran to me one +morning, with tears in her eyes, to ask me what I thought of a certain +mysterious paragraph, I need not scruple to lay it straight before the +reader. + +At the end of a voluminous love-letter, which I really did not think of +prying into, occurred the following postscript, evidently written at the +last moment of haste. + +"Oh! my precious Emmy, I have just heard the most fearful rumour of ill +that could possibly befall us: the captain of our ship--you will +remember Captain Forbes, he knew you and the general well, he said--has +just assured me that--that--! I dare not, cannot write the awful words. +Oh! my own Emmy--Heaven grant you be my own!--pray, pray, as I will +night and day, that rumour be not true: for if it be, my love, both God +and man forbid us ever to meet again! How I wish I could explain it all, +or that I had never heard so much, or never written it here, and told it +you, though thus obscurely: for I can't destroy this letter now, the +ships are just parting company, and there is no time to write another. +Yet will I hope, love, against hope. Who knows? through God's good +mercy, it may all be cleared up still. If not--if not--strive to forget +for ever, your unhappy "CHARLES. + +"Perhaps--O, glorious thought!--Nurse Mackie may know better than the +captain, after all; and yet, he seems so positive: if he is right, there +is nothing for us both but Wo! Wo! Wo!" + +Now, to say plain truth, when Emily showed me this, I looked very blank +upon it. That Charles had heard some meddlesome report, which (if true) +was to be an insuperable barrier to their future union, struck me at a +glimpse. But I had not the heart to hint it to her; and only encouraged +hope--hope, in God's help, through the means of Mrs. Mackie and her +papers. + +As for the poor girl herself, she asked me, in much humility, and with +many sobs, if I did not fear that her Hindoo mystery was this:--she was +the vilest of the vile, a Pariah, an outcast, whose very presence is +contamination! + +Beautiful, loving, heavenly-hearted creature! so humble in the midst of +her majestic loveliness! how touching was the thought, that she thus +readily acquiesced in any the deepest humiliation holy Providence had +seen fit to send her; and though the sentence would have crushed her +happiness for ever, till the day of death, that she could still look up +and say, "Be it to thine handmaid even as thou wilt." + +As I had no better method of explaining the matter, and as her infantine +reminiscences and prejudices about caste were strong, I even let her +think so, if she would: it was a far better alternative than my own sad +thoughts about the business: and, however painful was the process, it +was something consolatory to observe, that this voluntary humiliation +mellowed and chastened her own character, subduing tropical fires, and +tempering the virgin gold by meekness. + +Oh! Charles, Charles, my poor fellow, "who have cast your all upon a +die, and must abide the issue of the throw," I most fervently hope that +gossiping Captain Forbes spoke falsely: it is a comfort to reflect that +the world is often very liberal in attributing the honours of paternity +to some who really do not deserve them. And if a rich old bachelor looks +kindly on a foundling, is it not pure malice on that sole account of +charity to hail him father? Besides--there's Nurse Mackie.--Speed to +Madras, poor youth, and keep your courage up. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + +THE GENERAL'S RETURN. + + +IN a most unwonted flow of animal spirits, and an entire affability +which restored him at once to the rank of a communicative creature, +General Tracy came back on Friday night. He had met with marvellous +prosperity; for Hancock's had been paying off the prize-money; and his +own lion's share, as general, in the easy process of dethroning half a +dozen diamond-hilted rajahs and nabobs, amounted to something like four +lacs of rupees, nearly half a crore! Such a flush of wealth, and he was +rich already without it, exhilarated the bilious old gentleman so +strangely, that positive peonies were blooming in his cheeks; and, as if +this was not miracle enough, he had brought his wife as a present +Maurice's '_Antiquities of India_,' gloriously bound, and had even been +so superfluous as to purchase a new pair of double-barrelled pistols for +Julian: the lad was a fine young fellow after all, and ought to be +encouraged in snuffing out a candle; as for Emily's _petit cadeau_, it +was a fifty guinea set of cameos, the choicest in their way that Howell +and James's had to show him. Moreover, he had sent a Bow-street officer +to Oxford, to make inquiries after Charles: actually, good fortune had +made him at once humanized and happy. + +So the chaise rattled up, and the general bounded out, and flew into the +arms of his wondering wife, as Paris might have flown to Helen, or +Leander to his heroine--the only feminine Hero, whom grammar recognises. +It was past eleven at night: therefore he did not think to ask for +Julian; no doubt the boy was gone to bed. + +Indeed, he had; and was tossing his wealed body, full of pains, and +aches, and bruises, as softly as he could upon the feather-bed: he had +need of poultices all over, and a quart of Friar's Balsam would have +done him little good: after his well-merited thrashing, the flogged +hound had slunk to his kennel, and locked himself sullenly in, without +even speaking to his mother. Tobacco-fumes exuded from the key-hole, and +I doubt not other creature-comforts lent the muddled man their aid. + +However, after the first rush of news to Mrs. Tracy, her lord, who had +every moment been expecting the door to fly open, and Emily to fall into +his arms--for strangely did they love each other--suddenly asked, + +"But, where's Emmy all this time! she knows I'm here?--not got to bed, +is she?--knew I was coming?--" + +"Oh! general, I'll tell you all about it to-morrow morning." + +"About what, madam? Great God! has any harm befallen the child? +Speak--speak, woman!" + +"Dear--dear--Oh! what shall I say?" sobbed the silly mother. +"Emily--Emily, poor dear Julian--" + +"What the devil, ma'am, of Julian?" The general turned white as a sheet, +and rang the bell, in singular calmness; probably for a dram of brandy. +Saunders answered it so instantly, that I rather suspect he was waiting +just outside. + +The moment Mrs. Tracy saw the gray-headed butler, anticipating all that +he might say, she brushed past him, and hurriedly ran up-stairs. + +"What's all this, Mr. Saunders? where's Miss Warren?" And the poor old +guardian seemed ready to faint at his reply: but he heard it out +patiently. + +"I am very sorry to say, general, that Miss Emily has been forced to +take refuge at Sir Abraham Tamworth's: but she's well, sir, and safe, +sir; quite well and safe," the good man hastened to say, "only I'm +afraid that Mr. Julian had been taking liberties with--" + +I dare not write the general's imprecation: then, as he clenched the +arms of his easy-chair, as with the grasp of the dying, he asked, in a +quick wild way-- + +"But what was it?--what happened?" + +"Nothing to fear, sir--nothing at all, general;--I am thankful to say, +that all I saw, and all we all saw, was Miss Emily pulling at the +bell-rope with blood upon her face, and Mr. Julian on the floor: but I +took the young lady to Sir Abraham's immediately, general, at her own +desire." + +The father arose sternly; his first feeling was to kill Julian; but the +second, a far better one, predominated--he must go and see Emily at +once. + +So, faintly leaning on the butler's arm, the poor old man (whom a moiety +of ten minutes, with its crowding fears, had made to look some ten years +older,) proceeded to the square, and knocked up Sir Abraham at midnight, +and the admiral came down, half asleep, in dressing-gown and slippers, +vexed at having been knocked up from his warm berth so uncomfortably: it +put him sorely in remembrance of his hardships as a middy. + +"Kind neighbour, thank you, thank you; where's Emmy? take me to my +Emmy;" and the iron-hearted veteran wept like a driveller. + +Sir Abraham looked at him queerly: and then, in a cheerful, friendly +way, replied-- + +"Dear general, do not be so moved: the girl's quite safe with us; you'll +see her to-morrow morning. All's right; she was only frightened, and +George has given the fellow a proper good licking: and the girl's a-bed, +you know; and, eh? what?"-- + +For the poor old man, like one bereaved, said, supplicatingly-- + +"In mercy take me to her--precious child!" + +"My dear sir--pray consider--it's impossible; fine girl, you know;--Lady +Tamworth, too--can't be, can't be, you know, general." + +And the mystified Sir Abraham looked to Saunders for an explanation-- + +"Was his master drunk?" + +"I must speak to her, neighbour; I must, must, and will--dear, dear +child: come up with me, sir, come; do not trifle with a breaking heart, +neighbour!" + +There was a heart still in that hard-baked old East Indian. + +It was impossible to resist such an appeal: so the two elders crept up +stairs, and knocked softly at her chamber-door. Clearly, the girl was +asleep: she had sobbed herself to sleep; the general had been looked for +all day long, and she was worn with watching; he could hardly come at +midnight; so the dear affectionate child had sobbed herself to sleep. + +"Allow me, Sir Abraham." And General Tracy whispered something at the +key-hole in a strange tongue. + +Not Aladdin's "open Sesame" could have been more magical. In a moment, +roused up suddenly from sleep, and forgetting every thing but those +tender recollections of gentle care in infancy, and kindness all through +life, the child of nature startled out of bed, drew the bolt, and in +beauteous disarray, fell into that old man's arms! + +It was enough; he had seen her eye to eye--she lived: and the +white-haired veteran, suffered himself to be led away directly from the +landing, like a child, by his sympathizing neighbour. + +"My heart is lighter now, Sir Abraham: but I am a poor weak old man, and +owe you an explanation for this outburst; some day--some day, not now. +O, if you could guess how I have nursed that pretty babe when alone in +distant lands; how I have doated on her little winning ways, and been +gladdened by the music of her prattle; how I have exulted to behold her +loveliness gradually expanding, as she was ever at my side, in peril as +in peace, in camp as in quarters, in sickness as in health, +still--still, the blessed angel of a bad man's life--a wicked, hard old +man, kind neighbour--if you knew more--more, than for her sake I dare +tell you--and if you could conceive the love my Emmy bears for me, you +would not think it strange--think it strange--" He could not say a +syllable more; and the admiral, with Mr. Saunders, too, who joined them +in the study, looked very little able to console that poor old man. For +they all had hearts, and trickling eyes to tell them. + +Then having arranged a shake-down for his master in Sir Abraham's +study--for the guardian would not leave his dear one ever +again--Saunders went home, purposing to attend with razors in the +morning. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + +INTERCALARY. + + +THE Tamworths did not altogether live at Burleigh Singleton--it was far +too petty a place for them; dullness all the year round (however +pleasant for a month or so, as a holiday from toilsome pleasures) would +never have done for Lady Tamworth and her daughters: but they regularly +took Prospect House for six weeks in the summer season, when tired of +Portland Place, and Huntover, their fine estate in Cheshire: and so, +from constant annual immigration, came as much to be regarded +Burleighites, as swifts and swallows to be ranked as British birds. I +only hint at this piece of information, for fear any should think it +unlikely, that grandees of Sir Abraham's condition could exist for ever +in a place where the day-before-yesterday's '_Times_' is first +intelligence. + +Moreover, as another interjectional touch, it is only due to my +life-likenesses to record, that Mrs. Green's, although a terrace-house, +and ranked as humble number seven, was, nevertheless, a tolerably +spacious mansion, well suited for the dignity of a butler to repose in: +for Mrs. Green had added an entire dwelling on the inland side, as, like +most maritime inhabitants, she was thoroughly sick of the sea, and never +cared to look at it, though living there still, from mere disinclination +to stir: so, then, it was quite a double house, both spacious and +convenient. As for the inglorious incident of Julian's latch-key, I +should not wonder if many wide street-doors to many marble halls are +conscious of similar convenient fastenings, if gentlemen of Julian's +nocturnal tastes happen to be therein dwelling. Another little matter is +worth one word. The house had been Mrs. Green's, a freehold, and was, +therefore, now her heir's; but the general, as an executor, remained +there still, until his business was finished; in fact, he took his +year's liberty. + +He had returned from India rolling in gold; for some great princess or +other--I think they called her a Begum or a Glumdrum, or other such like +Gulliverian appellative--had been singularly fond of him, and had loaded +him in early life with favours--not only kisses, and so forth, but +jewellery and gold pagodas. And lately, as we know, Puttymuddyfudgepoor, +with its radiating rajahs and nabobs, had proved a mine of wealth: for a +crore is ten lacs, and a lac of rupees is any thing but a lack of +money--although rupees be money, and the "middle is distributed;" in +spite of logic, then, a lack means about twelve thousand pounds: and +four of them, according to Cocker, some fifty thousand. It would appear +then, that with the produce of the Begum's diamonds, converted into +money long ago, and some of them as big as linnet's eggs--and not to +take account of Mrs. Green's trifling pinch of the five Exchequer bills, +all handed over at once to Emily--the General's present fortune was +exactly one hundred and twenty-three thousand pounds. + +Of course, _he_ wasn't going to bury himself at Burleigh Singleton much +longer; and yet, for all that stout intention of houses and lands, and +carriages and horses, in almost any other county or country, it is as +true as any thing in this book, that he was a resident still, a +lease-holder of Aunt Green's house, long after the _dénouement_ of this +story; in many things an altered man, but still identical in one; the +unchangeable resolve (though never to be executed) of leaving Burleigh +at farthest by next Michaelmas. Most folks who talk much, do little; and +taciturn as the general now is, and has been ever throughout life, it +will surprise nobody who has learned from hard experience how silly and +harmful a thing is secresy (exceptionables excepted), to find that he +grew to be a garrulous old man, gossipping for ever of past, present, +future, and, not least, about his deeds at Puttymuddyfudgepoor. + +General Tracy is by this time awake again; if ever indeed he slept on +that uncomfortable shakedown; and, after Mr. Saunders and the +razor-strop, has greeted brightly-beaming Emily with more than usual +tenderness. Her account of the transaction made his very blood boil; +especially as her pretty pouting lips were lacerated cruelly inside: +that rude blow on the mouth had almost driven the teeth through them. +How confidingly she told her artless tale; how gently did her fond +protector kiss that poor pale cheek; and how sternly did he vow full +vengeance on the caitiff! Not even Emily's intercession could avail to +turn his wrath aside. He could hardly help flying off at once to do +something dreadful; but common courtesy to all the Tamworth family +obliged him to defer for an hour all the terrible things he meant to do. +So he began to bolt his breakfast fiercely as a cannibal, and saluted +Lady Tamworth and her daughters with such savage looks, that the captain +considerately suggested: + +"Here, general," (handing him a most formidable carving-knife,) "charge +that boar's head, grinning defiance at us on the side-board; it will do +you good to hew his brawny neck. My mother, I am sure, for one, will +thank you to do the honours there instead of me. Isn't it a comfort now, +to know that I broke the handle of my hunting-whip across the fellow's +back, and wore all the whip-cord into skeins. Come, I say, general, +don't eat us all round; and pray have mercy on that poor, flogged, +miserable sinner." + +This banter did him good, especially as he saw Emily smiling; so he +relaxed his knit brow, condescended to look less like Giant Blunderbore, +soon became marvellous chatty, and ate up two French rolls, an egg, some +anchovies, a round of toast, and a mighty slice of brawn; these, washed +down with a couple of cups of tea, soothed him into something like +complacency. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX. + +JULIAN'S DEPARTURE. + + +LONG before the general got home, still in exalted dudgeon (indeed soon +after the general had left home over night), the bird had flown; for the +better part of valour suggested to our evil hero, that it would be +discreet to render himself a scarce commodity for a season; and as soon +as ever his mother had run up to his room-door to tell him of his +danger, when her lord was cross-questioning the butler, he resolved upon +instant flight. Accordingly, though sore and stiff, he hurried up, +dressed again, watched his father out, and tumbling over Mrs. Tracy, who +was sobbing on the stairs, ran for one moment to the general's room; +there he seized a well-remembered cash-box, and instinctively possessed +himself of those new, neat, double-barrelled pistols: a bully never goes +unarmed. These brief arrangements made, off he set, before his father +could have time to return from Pacton Square. + +Therefore, when the general called, we need not marvel that he found him +not; no one but the foolish mother (so neglected of her son, yet still +excusing him) stood by to meet his wrath. He would not waste it on her; +so long as Julian was gone, his errand seemed accomplished; for all he +came to do was to expel him from the house. So, as far as regarded Mrs. +Tracy, her husband, wotting well how much she was to blame, merely +commanded her to change her sleeping-room, and occupy Mr. Julian's in +future. + +The silly woman was even glad to do it; and comforted herself from time +to time with prying into her own boy's exemplary manuscripts, memoranda +of moralities, and so forth; with weeping, like Lady Constance, over his +empty "unpuffed" clothes; with reading ever and anon his choice +collection of standard works, among which '_Don Juan_' and Mr. Thomas +Paine were by far the most presentable; and with tasting, till it grew +to be a habit, his private store of spirituous liquors. Thus did she +mourn many days for long-lost Julian. + +I am quite aware what became of him. The wretched youth, mad for Emily's +love, and tortured by the tyranny of passion, had nothing else to live +for or to die for. He accordingly took refuge in the hovel of a +smuggler, an old friend of his, not many miles away, disguised himself +in fisherman's costume, and bode his opportunity. + +Beauteous girl! how often have I watched thee with straining eyes and +aching heart, as thou wentest on thy summer's walk so oftentimes to +Oxton, there to exercise thy bountiful benevolence in comforting the +sick, gladdening the wretched, and lingering, with love's own look, in +Charles's village school; how often have I prayed, that guardian angels +might be about thy path as about thy bed! For the prowling tiger was on +thy track, poor innocent one, and many, many times nothing but one of +God's seeming accidents hath saved thee. Who was that strange man so +often in the way? At one time a wounded Spanish legionist, with head +bound up; at another, an old beggar upon crutches; at another, a floury +miller with a donkey and a sack; at another, a black looking man, in +slouching sailor's hat and fishing-boots? + +Fair, pure creature! thou hast often dropped a shilling in that beggar's +hand, and pitied that poor maimed soldier; once, too, a huge gipsy woman +would have had thee step aside, and hear thy fortunes. Heaven guarded +thee then, sweet Emily; for both girl and lover though thou art, thou +would'st not listen to the serpent's voice, however fair might be the +promises. And Heaven guarded thee ever, bidding some one pass along the +path just as the ruffian might have gagged thy smiling mouth, and +hurried thee away amongst his fellows; and more than once, especially, +those school children, bursting out of Charles's school at dusk, have +unconsciously escorted thee in safety from the perils of that tiger on +thy track. + + + + +CHAPTER XX. + +ENLIGHTENMENT. + + +THE general could not now be kept in ignorance of Charles's expedition; +in fact, he had found his heart, and began resolutely to use it. So, the +very day on which he had lost Julian, he intended very eagerly to seek +out Charles; for the Oxford search had failed, and no wonder. Now, +though Emily had told, as we well know, to both mother and son her +secret, the father was not likely to be any the wiser; for he now never +spoke to his wife, and could not well speak to his son. However, one +day, an hour after an overland letter, a very exhilarating one, dated +Madras, whereof we shall hear anon, fair Emily, in the fullness of her +heart, could not help saying, + +"Dearest sir, you are often thinking of poor lost Charles, I know; and +you are very anxious about him too, though nobody but myself, who am +always with you, can perceive it: what if you heard he was safe and +well?" + +"Have you heard any tidings of my poor boy, Emmy?" + +She looked up archly, and said, "Why not?" her beautiful eyes adding, as +plainly as eyes could speak, "I love him, and you know it; of course I +have heard frequently from dear, dear Charles." + +But the guardian met her looks with a keen and chilling answer: "Why +not! why not! Does he dare to write to you, and you to love him? Oh, +that I had told them both a year ago! But where is he now, child? Don't +cry, I will not speak so angrily again, my Emmy." + +"I hardly dare to tell you, dearest sir: you have always been as a +father to me, and I never knew any other; but there are things I cannot +explain to myself, and I was very wretched; and so, kind guardian, +Charles--Charles was so good--" + +"What has he done?--where has he gone?" hastily asked his father. + +"Oh, don't, don't be angry with us; in a word, he is gone to Madras, to +find out Nurse Mackie, and to tell me who I am." + +The poor old man, who had treasured up so long some mystery, probably a +very diaphanous one, for Emily's own dear sake in the world's esteem, +and from the long bad habit of reserve, fell back into his chair as if +he had been shot; but he did not faint, nor gasp, nor utter a sound; he +only looked at her so long and sorrowfully, that she ran to him, and +covered his pale face with her own brown curls, kissing him, and wiping +from his cheek her starting tears. + +"Emmy, dear--I can tell you--and I--no, no, not now, not now; if he +comes back--then--then; poor children! Oh, the sin of secresy!" + +"But, dearest sir, do not be so sad; Charles has happy news, he says." + +"Happy, child? Good Heaven! would it could be so!" + +"Indeed, indeed, a week ago he was as miserable as any could be, and so +was I; for he heard something terrible about me--I don't know what--but +I feared I was a--Pariah! However, now he is all joy, and coming home +again as soon as possible." + +The general shook, his head mournfully, as physicians do when hope is +gone; but still he looked perplexed and thoughtful. + +"You will show me the letters, dear, I dare say: but I do not command +you, Emmy; do as you like." + +"Certainly, my own kindest guardian--all, all, and instantly." + +And flying up to her room, she returned with as much closely-written +manuscript as would have taken any but a lover's eye a full week to +decipher. The general, not much given to literary matters, looked quite +scared at such a prospect. + +"Wait, Emmy; not all, not all; show me the last." + +I dare say Emily will forgive me if I get it set up legibly in print. +May I, dear? + + + + +CHAPTER XXI. + +CHARLES AT MADRAS. + + +LUCKILY enough for all mankind in general, and our lovers in particular, +Charles's last letter was very unlike some that had preceded it; for +instead of the usual "Oh, my love"'s, "sweet, sweet eyes," "darling"'s, +and all manner of such chicken-hearted nonsense, it was positively +sensible, rational, not to say utilitarian: though I must acknowledge +that here and there it degenerates into the affectionate, or +Stromboli-vein of letter-writing, at opening especially; and really now +and then I shall take leave to indicate omitted inflammations by a *. + +"DEAREST, DEAREST EMMY, + + * * * * * + +[and so forth, a very galaxy of stars to the bottom of this page; enough +to put the compositor out of his terrestrial senses.] + +"You see I have recovered my spirits, dearest, and am not now afraid to +tell you how I love you. Oh, that detestable Captain Forbes! let him not +cross my path, gossiping blockhead! on pain of carrying about 'til +deth,' in the middle of his face, a nose two inches longer. I heartily +wish I had never listened for an instant to such vile insinuations; and +when I look at this red right hand of mine, that dared to pen the trash +in that black postscript, I look at it as Cranmer did, and (but that it +is yours, Emmy, not mine), could wish it burnt. But no fears now, my +girl, huzza, huzza! I believe every one about me thinks me daft; and so +I am for very joyfulness; notwithstanding, let me be didactic, or you +will say so too. I really will endeavour to rein in, and go along in the +regular hackney trot, that you may partly comprehend me. Well, then, +here goes; try your paces, Dobbin. + +"On the morning of Sunday, April 11th, 1842, the good ship +Elphinston--(that's the way to begin, I suppose, as per ledger, +log-book, and midshipman's epistles to mamma)--in fact, dear, we cast +anchor just outside a furious wall of surf, which makes Madras a very +formidable place for landing; and every one who dares to do so certain +of a watering. There lay the city, most invitingly to storm-tost tars, +with its white palaces, green groves, and yellow belt of sand, blue +hills in the distance, and all else _coleur de rose_. But--but, Emmy, +there was no getting at this paradise, except by struggling through a +couple of miles of raging foam, that would have made mince-meat of the +Spanish Armada, and have smashed Sir William Elphinston to pieces. How, +then, did we manage to survive it? for, thank God always, here I am to +tell the tale. Listen, Emmy dear, and I will try not to be tedious. + +"We were bundled out of the rolling ship into some huge flat-bottomed +boats, like coal-barges, and even so, were grated and ground several +times by the churning waves on the ragged reefs beneath us: and, just as +I was enjoying the see-saw, and trying to comfort two poor drenched +women-kind who were terribly afraid of sharks, a huge, cream-coloured +breaker came bustling alongside of us, and roaring out 'Charles Tracy,' +gobbled me up bodily. Well, dearest, it wasn't the first time I had +floundered in the waters [noble Charles! noble Charles! he had long +forgiven Julian]; so I was battling on as well as I could, with a stout +heart and a steady arm, when--don't be afraid--a _Catamaran_ caught me! +If you haven't fainted (bless those pretty eyes of your's, my Emmy!) +read on; and you will find that this alarming sort of animal is neither +an albatross nor an alligator, but simply--a life-boat with a Triton in +the stern. Yes, God's messenger of life to me and happiness to you, my +girl, came in the shape of a kindly, chattering, blue-skinned, human +creature, who dragged me out of the surf, landed me safely, and, I need +not say, got paid with more than hearty thanks. So, I scuffled to the +custom-house to look after my traps and fellow-passengers, like a +dripping merman. + +"'Who is that miserable old woman, bothering every body?' asked I of a +very civil searcher, profuse in his salaams. + +"'Oh, Sahib, you will know for yourself, presently: she's always hanging +about here, to get news of somebody in England, I believe--and to try to +find a charitable captain who will take her all the way for nothing: +rather too much of a good thing, you know, Sahib.' + +[We really cannot undertake to scribble broken English: so we will +translate any thing that may mysteriously have been chatted by +havildars, and coolies; and all manner of strange names.] + +"'Poor old soul--she looks very wretched: what's her name?' asked I, +carelessly. + +"'Oh, I never troubled to inquire, Sahib: I believe she was an old +servant left behind as lumber, and she pesters every one, day by day, +about some 'bonnie bonnie bairn.'' + +"In a moment, Emmy, I had seized on dear nurse Mackie! + +"Very old, very deaf, very infirm--she fancied I was driving her away, +as many others might have done; and, with a truly piteous face, +pleaded-- + +"'Gude sir, have mercy on a puir auld soul--and let her ask for her +sweet young mistress, only once, sir--only once more.' + +"'Emily Warren?' said I. + +"Her wrinkled face brightened over as with glory--and she answered-- + +"'Bless the mouth that spake it, and these ears that hear her name! +yes--yes--yes--they call her so; where is she? how is she? have you seen +her? is she yet alive?' + +"Leading away the affectionate old soul from the crowd that was +collecting round us, I left orders about luggage as a traveller should, +and then told her all I knew: and I know you pretty well, I think, my +Emmy. + +"Her joy was like a mad woman's: the dear old Hecate pranced, and +danced, and sung, and shouted like nothing but a mother when she finds +her long-lost child: not that she's your mother, Emmy dear. +No--no--matters are better than that: all she vouchsafes, though, to +tell me is, that you are a lady born and bred, and--for I cannot find +the words to inform your pure mind clearer--that 'you are not what he +thinks you.'" + +[Here followeth another twinkling universe of stars; + + * * * * * * * + +and thereafter our cavalier condescendeth again to matters of fact.] + +"Nurse Mackie of course comes back with me next packet; this letter goes +by the overland mail more quickly than we can; gladly would I go too, +but the old woman, whose life is essential to your rights, would die of +fatigue by the way; as it is, I am obliged to coddle her, and feed her, +and ptisan her, like a sick baby, bless her dear old heart that loves my +darling Emmy! She has a pack of papers with her, which she will not +open, till the general is by her side: if she unfortunately dies before +we can return, I am to have them, and all will be right. But the old +soul is so afraid of being left behind (as you throw away the +orange-peel after you have squeezed it), that she will not tell me a +word about them yet; so, I only gather what I can from her cautious +garrulity, hints about a Begum and a captain, and the Stuarts, and a +Putty-what-d'ye-call-it. And it is all in document, as well as +_viva-voce_ (this means 'gossip,' dear). So now you may be expecting us, +as soon as ever we can get to you. Tell the general all this, and give +him my best love, next after your's Emmy; for he is my father still, and +my very heart yearns after him: O, that he were kinder with me as I see +he is with you, dear, and more open with us all! Also, kiss, if she will +let you, my mother for me, and I hope you will have hinted to her long +ago, that I am only playing truant. How is poor--poor Julian? he will +understand me, if you tell him I forgive him, and will never say one +word about our little tiff. And now dearest Emmy--" + +[The remainder of this letter must, believe me, be as starry as before.] + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER XXII. + +REVELATIONS. + + +GENERAL TRACY gave a long-drawn sigh: and tears--tears of true +affection--stood in those most fish-like eyes, as he mournfully said, +"Bless him, bless dear Charles, almost as much as you, my own sweet +Emmy. Heaven send it be true--for Heaven can work miracles. But without +a miracle, Emily, in sober sadness I declare it, you must forget--_your +brother Charles, my daughter_!" + +Emily fell flat upon her face, so cold, so white, that he believed her +dead. + +Oh! that he had never--never said that word: or better still, poor +father, that you had never kept the dreadful secret from them. The +adultery, indeed, was sin; but years of ill-concealings have multiplied +its punishment. Wretched father--wretched children! that must bear an +erring father's curse. + +Oh! that Jeanie Mackie may have reasons, proofs; and be not an impostor +after all, dressing up a tale that over-sanguine Charles may bring her +back again to Scotland. Well--well! I am full of sadness and +perplexities: but we shall hear it out anon. Heaven help them! + +Emily was taken very ill, and had a long fit of sickness. Day and +night--night and day, did her poor wasting anxious father watch by her +bed-side, gentle as the gentlest nurse--tender as the tenderest of +mothers. And, indeed, the Lord of Life and Wisdom was gracious to them +both; raising up the poor weak child again; and teaching that old man, +through this daughter of his shame and sin in youth, that religion is a +cure for all things. Ay, "the blessed angel of a bad man's life," +indeed--indeed was she; and he humbly knelt, as little children kneel, +that hard and dried old man; and his eyes caught the ray of Heaven's +mercy, looking up in joy to read forgiveness; and his heart was bathed +in penitence--the rock flowed out amain; and his mind was quickened into +faith--he lived, he breathed "a new-born babe," that poor and bad old +man, given to the prayers of his own daughter! + +All this while, Mrs. Tracy, thrown upon her own resources, has been +continually tasting dear Julian's store, and finding out excuses for his +trivial peccadilloes. And when, from the recesses of his desk, she had +routed out (in company with sundry more, rather contrasting with a +mother's pure advice) a few of her own letters, which had not yet been +destroyed, she would doat by the hour on these proofs of his affection. +And then, her spirits were so low; and his choice smuggled Hollands so +requisite to screw them up to par again; and no sooner had they rallied, +than they would once more begin to droop; so she cried a good deal, and +kept her bed; and very often did not remember exactly, whether she was +lying down there, or figuring on the Esplanade with Julian, and--all +that sort of thing: accordingly, it is not to be wondered at if, in +Aunt Green's double-house, the general and Emily saw very little of her, +and during all this illness, had almost forgotten her existence. +Nevertheless, she was alive still, and as vast as ever--though a course +of strong waters had shattered her nerves considerably; even more so, +than her real mother's grief at Julian's protracted absence. + +Never had he been heard of since he left, hard heart; though he might +have guessed a mother's sorrow, and was not far away, and often lingered +near the house in strange disguises. It would have been easy for him, in +some clever way or other, latch-key and all, to have gained access to +her, and comforted her, and given her some real proof, that all the love +she had shed on him had not been utterly thrown away; but he didn't--he +didn't; and I know not of a darker trait in Julian's whole career; he +was insensible to love--a mother's love. + +For love is the weapon which Omnipotence reserved to conquer rebel man; +when all the rest had failed. Reason he parries; Fear he answers blow to +blow; future interest he meets with present pleasure; but Love, that sun +against whose melting beams the Winter cannot stand, that soft-subduing +slumber which wrestles down the giant, there is not one human creature +in a million--not a thousand men in all earth's huge quintillion, whose +clay-heart is hardened against love. + +Yet was Julian one of those select ones; an awful instance of that +possible, that actual, though happily that scarcest of all characters, a +man, + + "Black, with _no_ virtue, and a thousand crimes." + +The amiable villain--one whose generosity redeems his guilt, whose +kindliness outweighs his folly, or whose beauty charms the eye to +overlook his baseness--this too common hero is an object, an example +fraught with perilous interest. Charles Duval, the polite; Paul +Clifford, the handsome; Richard Turpin, brave and true; Jack Sheppard, +no ignoble mind and loving still his mother; these, and such as these, +with Schiller's '_Robbers_' and the like, are dangerous to gaze on, as +Germany, if not England too, remembers well. But, not more true to life, +though far less common to be met with, is Julian's incorrigible mind: +one, in whose life are no white days; one, on whose heart are no bright +spots; when Heaven's pity spoke to him, he ridiculed; as, when His +threatenings thundered, he defied. Of this world only, and tending to a +worse appetite was all he lived for: and the core of appetite is iron +selfishness. + +The filched cash-box proved to be too well-filled for him to trouble +himself with thinking of his mother yet awhile: and his smuggling +acquaintances, a rough-featured, blasphemous crew, set him as their +chief, so long as he swore loudest, drank deepest, and had money at +command. He hid the money, that they should not secretly steal from him +that to which he owed his bad supremacy; and his double-barrels, shotted +to the muzzle, were far too formidable for any hope of getting at it by +open brute force. Nevertheless, they were "fine high-spirited" fellows +those, bold, dark men, of Julian's own kidney; who toasted in their cups +each other's crimes, and the ghost or two that ought to have been +haunting them. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII. + +CONVALESCENCE. + + +VERY slowly did Emily recover, for the blow had been more than she could +bear: nothing but religion gave her any chance at all: and the phials, +blisterings, bleedings, would have been in vain, in vain--she must have +died long ago--had it not been for the remembrance of God's love, +resignation to His will, and trust in the wisdom of his Providence. But +these specific remedies gradually brought her round, while the kind-eyed +doctors praised their own prescriptions: and after many rallyings and +relapses, delirious ramblings, and intervals of hallowed Christian +peace, the eye of Love's meek martyr brightened up once more, and health +flushed again upon her cheek. + +She recovered, God be praised! for her death would have been poor +Charles's too; and the same grave that yawned for her and him would have +closed upon their father also. Even as it was, when she arose from off +the weary bed of sickness, it was to be a nurse herself, and watch +beside that patient, weak old man. He could not bear her out of his +sight all the fever through; but eagerly would listen to her hymns and +prayers, joining in them faintly like a dying saint. With the saddening +secret, which had so long pressed upon his mind, he seemed to have +thrown off his old nature, as a cast skin: and now he was all frankness +for reserve, all piety for profaneness, all peacefulness for blusterings +and wrath. + +He remembered then poor Julian and his mother: taking blame to himself, +justly, deeply, for neglected duties, chilling lack of sympathy, and +that dull domestic sin, that still continued evil of unnatural +omissions--stern reserve. And he would gladly have seen Julian by his +bedside, to have freely forgiven the lad, and welcomed him home again, +and begun once more, in openness and charity, all things fair and new: +but Julian was not to be found, though rewards were offered, and +placards posted up, and emissaries from the Detective Police-force +sought him far and wide. Alas! the bold bad man had heard with scorn of +his father's penitence, and knew that he would gladly have received +him;--but what cared he for kindnesses or pardons? He only lived to +waylay Emily. + +As for Mrs. Tracy, she was seldom in a state to appear; but one day she +managed to refrain a little, and came to see her husband, almost sober. +I was, authorially speaking, behind the door, and saw and heard as +follows: + +The old man, worn and emaciate, was weakly sitting up in bed, and Emma +by his side, with the Bible in her lap: she casually shut it as the +mother entered. + +"Well, Miss Warren, there's a time for all things; but this is neither +morning, noon, nor night: nor Sunday either, nor holiday, that I know +of; it's eleven o'clock on Tuesday, Miss--and I think you might as well +leave the general at peace, without troubling him for ever with your +prayer-books and your Bibles." + +"Jane, my dear, I requested it of Emily; come and sit by me, and take my +hand, wife." + +"Thank you, sir, you are very obliging: not while that young woman is in +the room.--You ought to be ashamed of yourself, General Tracy." + +Poor Emmy ran away to weep. It seems that, in her delirium, she had +spoken many things, and the servants blabbed them out to Mrs. Tracy. + +"Ah, my poor wife, indeed I am: both ashamed and sorry--heartily sorry. +But God forgives me, Jenny, and I hope that you will too." + +"Upon, my word, general, you carry it off with a high hand: and, not +content, sir, with insulting me in my own home by bringing here your +other women's children, you have expelled poor dear, dear Julian." + +"Jane, if you will remember, he ran away himself; and you know that now +I gladly would receive him: we are all prodigal sons together, and if +God can bear with us, Jane, we ought to look kindly on each other." + +"Ha! that's always the way with old sinners like you--canting +hypocrites! Be a man, General Tracy, if you can, and talk sense. I never +did any harm or sin in all my life yet, and don't intend to: and my +poor boy Julian's well enough, if they'd only let him alone; but nobody +understands his heart but me. Good boy, I'm sure there's virtue enough +left in him, if he loves his mother."--_If_ he loves his mother. + +"Jane, dear, I sent for you to kiss you; for I could not die in peace, +nor live in peace (whichever God may please), without your pardon, Jane, +for a thousand unkindnesses--but, especially for the sin that gave me +Emily. Forgive me this, my wife." + +"Never, sir!" rejoined that miserable mind; and fancied that she was +acting virtuously. She thrust aside the kindly proffered hand; scowled +at him with darkened brow; drew up her commanding height; and, calling +Mrs. Siddons to remembrance, brushed away in the indignant attitude of a +tragedy queen. + +Emmy ran again to her father, and the vain bad mother to her bottle; we +must leave them to their various avocations. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV. + +CHARLES DELAYED. + + +FEW things could well be more unlikely than that Emily should hear of +Charles again before she saw him: for, having left Madras as speedily as +might be, now that his mission was so easily, yet so naturally, +accomplished--having posted, as we know, his overland letter--and having +got on board the fast-sailing ship Samarang, Captain Trueman, Charles, +in the probable course of things, if he wrote at all, must have been his +own postman. But the Fates--(our Christianity can afford to wink now and +then at Clotho, Lachesis, and Atropos; for, at any rate, they are as +reasonable creatures as Chance, Luck, and Accident,)--the Fates willed +it otherwise: and, accordingly, it is in my power to lay before the +reader another genuine lucubration of Charles Tracy. + +A change had come over the spirit of their dream, those youthful lovers: +and agonizing doubt must rack their hearts, threatening to rend them +both asunder. It is evident to me that Charles's letter (which Emily +showed to me with a melancholy face) was on principle less warm, less +dottable with stars, and more conversant with things of this world; +high, firm, honourable principle; intending very gently, very gradually, +to wean her from him, if he could; for his faith in Jeanie Mackie had +been shaken, and--but let us hear him tell us of it all himself. + + "I.E.M. Samarang. St. Helena. + +"You will wonder, my dear Emily, to hear again before you see me: but I +am glad of this providential opportunity, as it may serve to prepare us +both. Naturally enough you will ask, why Charles cannot accompany this +letter? I will tell you, dear, in one word--Mrs. Mackie is now lying +very ill on shore; and, as far as our poor ship is concerned, you shall +hear about it all anon. Several of the passengers, who were in a hurry +to get home, have left us, and gone in the packet-boat that takes you +this letter: gladly, as you know, would I have accompanied them, for I +long to see you, poor dear girl; but it was impossible to leave the old +woman, upon whom alone, under God, our hopes of earthly happiness +depend: if, alas! we still can dream about such hopes. + +"Oh, Emily--I heartily wish that, having finished my embassage by that +instantaneous finding of the old Scotch nurse, I had never been so +superfluous as to have left those letters of introduction, wherewith you +kindly supplied me, in an innocent wish to help our cause. But I felt +solitary too, waiting at Madras for the next ship to England; and in my +folly, forgetful of the single aim with which I had come, Jeanie Mackie, +to wit, I thought I might as well use my present opportunities, and see +what I could of the place and its inhabitants. + +"With that view, I left my letters at Government House, at Mr. +Clarkson's, Colonel Bunting's, Mrs. Castleton's, and elsewhere, +according to direction; and immediately found answer in a crowd of +invitations. I need not vex you nor myself, Emmy, writing as I do with a +heavy, heavy heart, by describing gayeties in which I felt no pleasure, +even when amongst them, for my Emmy was not there: splendour, +prodigality, and red-hot rooms, only made endurable by perpetually +fanning punkahs: pompous counsellors, authorities, and other men in +office, and a glut of military uniforms: vulgar wealth, transparent +match-making, and predominating dullness: along with some few of the +charities and kindnesses of life (Mrs. Bunting, in particular, is an +amiable, motherly, good-hearted woman), all these you will readily fancy +for yourself. + +"My trouble is deeper than any thing so slight as the common satiations +of _ennui_: for I have heard in these circles in which your--my--the +general, I mean, chiefly mixed, so much of that ill-rumour that it +cannot all be false: they knew it all, and were certain of it all, too +well, Emily, dear. And I have been pestering Nurse Mackie night and day; +but the old woman is so afraid of being left behind any where, or thrown +overboard, or dropped, upon some desert rock, that she is quite cross, +and won't say a single word in answer, even when I tell her all these +terrible tales. Her resolution is, not to reveal one syllable more, +until she sets foot on England; and several people at Madras annoyed me +exceedingly by saying, that this kind of thing is an old trick with +people who wish to be sent home again. She has hidden away her papers +somewhere; not that I was going to steal them: but it shows how little +trust she puts in any thing, or any one, except the keeping of her own +secret. However, she does adhere obstinately, and hopefully for us, to +her original hint, 'you are not what he thinks you;' although she will +not condescend to any single proof, or explanation, against the mighty +mass of evidence, which probabilities, and common rumour, and the +general's own belief, have heaped together. When I call you Emmy, +too--the old soul, in her broad Scotch way, always corrects me, and +invokes a blessing upon 'A-amy:' so there is a mystery somewhere: at +least, I fervently hope there is: and, if the old woman has been playing +us false, let us resign ourselves to God, my girl; for our fate will be +that matters are as people say they are--and then my old black +postscript ends too truly with a wo, wo, wo--! + +"But I must shake off all this lethargy of gloom, dearest, dearest +girl--how can I dare to call you so? Let me, therefore, rush for comfort +into other thoughts; and tell you at once of the fearful dangers we have +now mercifully escaped; for the Samarang lies like a log in this +friendly port, dismasted, and next to a wreck. + +"I proceed to show you about it; perhaps I shall be tedious--but I do it +as a little rest, my own soul's love, from anxious, earnest, +heart-distracting prayers continually, continually, that the sorrow +which I spoke of be not true. Sometimes, a light breaks in, and I +rejoice in the most sanguine hope: at others, gloom-- + +"But a truce to all this, I say. Here shall follow didactically the +cause why the good ship Samarang is not by this time in the Docks. + +"We were lying somewhere about the tropical belt, Capricorn you know, +(O, those tender lessons in geography, my Emmy!) quite becalmed; the sea +like glass, and the sky like brass, and the air in a most stagnant heat: +our good ship motionless, dead in a dead blue sea it was + +'Idle as a painted ship upon a painted ocean.' + +"The sails were hanging loosely in the shrouds: every one set, from +sky-scraper to stud-sail, in hopes to catch a breath of wind. My +fellow-passengers and the crew, almost melted, were lying about, as weak +as parboiled eels: it was high-noon, all things silent and subdued by +that intolerable blaze; for the vertical sun, over our multiplied +awnings and umbrellas, burnt us up, fierce as a furnace. + +"I was leaning over the gangway, looking wistfully at the cool, clear, +deep sea, wherefrom the sailors were trying to persuade a shark to come +on board us, when, all at once, in the south-east quarter, I noticed a +little round black cloud, thrown up from the horizon like a +cricket-ball. As any thing is attractive in such sameness as perpetual +sea and sky, my discovery was soon made known, and among the first to +our captain. + +"Calling for his Dolland, and bidding his second lieutenant run quick to +the cabin and look at the barometer, he viewed the little cloud in +evident anxiety, and shook his head with a solemn air: more than one +light-hearted woman thinking he was quizzing them. + +"Up came Lieutenant Joyce, looking as if he had seen a ghost in the +cabin. + +"'The mercury, sir, is falling just as rapidly as it would rise if you +plunged it into boiling water: an inch a minute or so!" + +"Our captain saw the danger instantly, and, brave as Trueman is, I never +saw a man look paler. + +"To drive all the passengers below, and pen them in with closed hatches +and storm-shutters, (so hot, Emmy, that the black-hole of Calcutta must +have been an ice-house to it: how the foolish people abused our wise +skipper, and more than one pompous old Indian threatened him with an +action for false imprisonment!) this huddling away was the first effort; +and simultaneously with it, the crew were all over the rigging, furling +sails, hurriedly, hurriedly. + +"Meanwhile (for I was last on deck), that little cloud seemed whirling +within itself, and many others gathered round it, all dancing about on +the horizon, as if sheaves of mischief tossed about by devils: I don't +wish to be poetical, Emmy, for my heart is very, very sad; but if ever +the powers of the air sow the wind and reap the whirlwind, they were +gathering in their harvest at that door. Underneath the skipping clouds, +which came on quickly, leaping over each other, as when the wain is +loaded by a score of hands, I noticed a sea approaching, such as Pharaoh +must have seen, when the wall of waters fell upon him; and premonitory +winds came whistling by, and two or three sails were flapping in them +still, and I was hurried down stairs after all the rest of us. + +"Then, on a sudden, it appeared not winds, nor waves, nor thunder, but +as if the squadroned cavalry of heaven had charged across the seas, and +crushed our battered ship beneath their horse-hoofs! We were flung down +flat on our beam ends; and the two or three unfurled sails, bursting +with the noise of a cannon, were scattered miles away to lee-ward as if +they had been paper. As for the poor fellows in the rigging, the spirit +of the storm had already made them his: twenty of our men were swept +away by that tornado. + +"Then there was hewing and cleaving on deck, the clatter of many axes +and hatchets: for we were in imminent danger of being capsized, keel +uppermost, and our only chance was to cut away the masts. + +"The muscles of courage were tried then, my Emmy, and the strength which +religion gives a man. I felt sensibly held up by the Everlasting Arms: I +could listen to the still small Voice in the midst of a crash which +might have been the end of all things: though in darkness, God had given +me light; though in uttermost peril, my peace was never calmer in our +little village school. + +"And the billows were knocking at the poor ship's side like sledge +hammers; and the lightnings fell around us scorchingly, with forked +bolts, as arrows from the hand of a giant; the thunders overhead, close +overhead, crashing from a concave cloud that hung about us heavily--a +dense, black, suffocating curtain--roared and raved as nothing earthly +can, but thunder in the tropics; the rain was as a cataract, literally +rushing in a mass: the winds appeared not winds, nor whirlwinds, but +legions of emancipated demons shrieking horribly, and flapping their +wide wings; a flock of night-birds flying from the dawn; and all else +was darkness, confusion, rolling and rocking about, the screams of +women, the shouts of men, curses and prayers, agony, despair, +and--peace, deep peace. + +"On a sudden, to our great astonishment, all was silent again, +oppressively silent; and, but for the swell upon the seas, all still. +The tornado had rushed by: that troop of Tartar horse, having sacked the +village, are departed, now in full retreat: the blackness and the fury +are beheld on our lee, hastening across the broad Atlantic to Cuba or +Jamaica: and behold, a tranquil temperate sky, a kindly rolling sea, a +favouring breeze, and--not a sail, but some slight jury-rig, to catch +it. + +"Many days we drifted like a log upon the wave; provisions running +short, and water--water under tropical suns--scantily dealt out in +tea-cups. Then, poor old Mackie's health gave way; and I dreaded for her +death: one living witness is worth a cart-load of cold documents. So I +nursed and watched her constantly: till the foolish folks on board began +to say I was her son: ah! me, for your sake I wish it had been so. + +"And at length, just as some among the sailors were hinting at a mutiny +for spirits, and our last case of Gamble's meat was opened for the sick, +our look-out on the jury-mast gave the welcome note of 'Land!' and soon, +to us on deck, the heights of St. Helena rose above the sea. Towed in by +friendly aid, here we are, then, precious Emily, refitting: and, as it +must be a week yet before we can be ready, I have taken my old woman to +a lodging upon land, and rejoice (what have I to do with joy?) to see +her speedily recovering." + +The remainder of Charles's long letter is so stupid, so gloomy, so +loving, and so little to the purpose, that I take an editor's privilege, +and omit it altogether. Of course he was coming home again, as soon as +the Samarang and Jeanie Mackie would permit. + + + + +CHAPTER XXV. + +TRIALS. + + +THE general recovered; as slowly, indeed, as Emily had, but it is +gratifying to add, as surely. And now that loving couple might be seen, +weakly creeping out together, when the day was finest: tottering white +December leaning on a sickly fragile May. There were no concealments now +between them, no reservings, and heart-stricken Emily heard from her +repentant father's lips the story of her birth: she was, he said, his +own daughter by a native princess, the Begum Dowlia Burruckjutli. + +A bitter--bitter truth was that: the destruction of all her hopes, +pleasures, and affections. It had now become to her a sin to love that +dearest one of all things lovely on this earth: duty, paramount and +stern, commanded her, without a shadow of reprieve, to execute on +herself immediately the terrible sentence of banishing her own +betrothed: nay, more, she must forget him, erase his precious image from +her heart, and never, never see that brother more. And Charles must feel +the same, and do the like; oh! sorrow, passing words! and their two +commingled souls must be violently wrenched apart; for such love in them +were crime. + +Dear children of affection--it is a dreadful lesson this for both of +you; but most wise, most needful--or the hand that guideth all things, +never would have sent it. Know ye not for comfort, that ye are of those +to whom all things work together for good? Know ye not for counsel, that +the excess of love is an idolatry that must be blighted? It is well, +children, it is well, that ye should thus carry your wounded hearts for +balm to the altar of God; it is well that ye should bow in meekness to +His will, in readiness to His wisdom. Ye are learning the lesson +speedily, as docile children should; and be assured of high reward from +the Teacher who hath set it you. Poor Charles! white and wan, thy cheek +is grown transparent with anxiety, and thy blue eye dim with hope +deferred: poor Emmy, sick and weak, thou weariest Heaven with thy +prayers, and waterest thy couch with thy tears. Yet, a little while; +this discipline is good: storm and wind, frost and rushing rains, are as +needful to the forest-tree as sun and gentle shower; the root is +strengthening, and its fibres spreading out: and loving still each other +with the best of human love, ye justly now have found out how to anchor +all your strongest hopes, and deepest thoughts, on Him who made you for +himself. Who knoweth? wisely acquiescing in His will, humbly trusting to +His mercy, and bringing the holocaust of your inflamed affections as an +offering of duty to your God--who knoweth? Cannot He interpose? will He +not befriend you? For His arm is power, and His heart is love. + +Days rolled on in dull monotony, and grew to weeks more slowly than +before; earthly hopes had been levelled with the dust; life had +forgotten to be joyous: there was, indeed, the calm, the peace, the +resignation, the heavenly ante-past, and the soul-entrancing prayer; but +human life to Emily was flat, wearisome, and void; she felt like a nun, +immolated as to this world: even as Charles, too, had resolved to be an +anchorite, a stern, hard, mortified man, who once had feelings and +affections. The rëaction in both those fond young hearts had even +overstept the golden mean: and Mercy interposed to make all right, and +to bless them in each other once again. + +Only look at this _billet-doux_ from Charles, just come in, and dated +Plymouth: + +"Huzzah--for Emily and England: huzzah for the land of freedom! no +secrets now--dear, dear old Jeanie Mackie has given me proofs positive: +all I have to wish is that she could move: but she is very ill; so, as +we touched here on the voyage up channel, I landed her and myself, +thinking to kiss, within a day, my darling Emmy. But I cannot get her +out of bed this morning, and dare not leave her: though an hour's delay +seems almost insupportable. If I possibly can manage it, I will bring +the dear old faithful creature, wrapped in blankets, by chaise +to-morrow. Tell my father all this: and say to him--he will understand, +perhaps, though you may not, my blessed girl--say to him, that 'he is +mistaken, and all are mistaken--you are not what they think you.' A +thousand kisses. Expect, then, on bright to-morrow to see your happy, +happy + "CHARLES." + +"P.S. Hip! hip! hip!--huzzah!" + +Dearest Emily had taken up the note with fears and trembling: she laid +it down, as they that reap in joy; and I never in my life saw any thing +so beautiful as her eyes at that glad minute; the smile through the +tear, the light through the gloom, the verdure of high summer springing +through the Alpine snows, the mild and lustrous moon emerging from a +baffled thunder-cloud. + +And, although the general mournfully shook his head, distrustfully and +despondingly; though he only uttered, "Poor children--dear +children--would to Heaven that it could be so;"--and he, for one, was +evidently innoculated, as before, with all the old thoughts of gloom, +sadness, and anxiety;--still Emily hoped--for Charles hoped--and Jeanie +Mackie was so certain. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVI. + +JULIAN. + + +NEXT day, a fine summer afternoon, when our feeble convalescents had +gone out together, they found the fresh air so invigorating, and +themselves so much stronger, that they prolonged their walk half-way to +Oxton. The pasture-meadows, rich and rank, were alive with flocks and +herds; the blue sea lazily beat time, as, ticking out the seconds, it +melodiously broke upon the sleeping shore; the darkly-flowing Mullet +swept sounding to the sea between its tortuous banks; and upon that old +high foot-path skirting the stream, now shady with hazels, and now +flowery with meadow-sweet, crept our chastened pair. + +Just as they were nearing a short angle in the river, the spot where +Charles had been preserved, they noticed for the first time a +rough-looking fisherman, who, unseen, had tracked their steps some +hundred yards; he had a tarpaulin over his shoulder, very unnecessarily, +as it would seem, on so fine and warm a day; and a slouching +sou'-wester, worn askew, flapped across the strange man's face. + +He came on quickly, though cautiously, looking right and left; and Emily +trembled on her guardian's feeble arm. Yes--she is right; the fisherman +approaches--she detects him through it all: and now he scorns disguise; +flinging off his cap and the tarpaulin, stands before them--Julian! + +"So, sir--you tremble now, do you, gallant general: give me the girl." +And he levelled at his father one of those double-barrelled pistols, +full-cock. + +"Julian, my son, I forgive you, Julian; take my hand, boy." + +"What--coward? now you can cringe, and fawn, eh? back with you!--the +girl, I say." For poor Emily, wild with fear, was clinging to that weak +old man. + +Julian levelled again; indeed, indeed it was only as a threat; +but his hand shook with passion--the weapon was full-cock, +hair-triggered--shotted heavily as always--hark, hark!--And his father +fell upon the turf, covered with blood! + +When a wicked man tampers with unintended crime, even accident falls out +against him. Many a one has richly merited death for many other sins, +than that isolated, haply accidental one which he has hanged for. + +Julian, horror-stricken, pale and trembling, flew instinctively to help +his father: but Emily has circled him already with her arms; and listen, +Julian--your dying father speaks to you. + +"Boy, I forgive--I forgive: but--Emily, no, no, cannot, cannot +be--Julian--she--she is your _sister_!" and the old man swooned away, +from loss of blood and the excitement of that awful scene. + +Not a word in reply said that poor sinner, maddened with his life-long +crimes, the fratricide in will, the parricide in deed, and all for--a +sister. But growing whiter as he stood, a marble man with bristling +hair, he slowly drew the other pistol from his pocket, put the muzzle to +his mouth, and, firing as he fell, leapt into the darkly-flowing Mullet! + +The current, all too violent to sink in, and uncommissioned now to +save, hurried its black burden to the sea; and a crimson streak of gore +marked the track of the suicide. + +The old man was not dead; but a brace of bullets taking effect upon his +feeble frame--one through the shoulder, and another which had grazed his +head--had been quite enough to make him seem so. Forgetful of all but +that dear sufferer, and totally ignorant of Julian's fate--for she +neither saw nor heard any thing, nor feared even for her own imminent +peril, while her father lay dying on the grass--Emily had torn off her +scarf, and bound up, as well as she could, the ghastly scored head and +broken shoulder. She succeeded in staunching the blood--for no great +vessel had been severed--and so simple an application as grass dipped in +water, proved to be a good specific. Then, to her exceeding joy, those +eyes opened again, and that dear tongue faintly whispered--"Bless you." + +Oh, that blessing! for it fell upon her heart: and fervently she knelt +down there, and thanked the Great Preserver. + +And now, for friendly help; there is no one near: and it is growing +dusk; and she dared not leave him there alone one minute--for +Julian--dreaded Julian, may return, and kill him. What shall she do? How +to get him home? Alas, alas! he may die where he is lying. + +Hark, Emmy, hark! The shouts of happy children bursting out of school! +See, dearest--see: here they come homewards merrily from Oxton. + +Thus, rewarded through the instrumentality of her own benevolence, help +was speedily obtained; and Mrs. Sainsbury's invalid-chair, hurried to +the spot by an escort of indignant rustics, soon conveyed the recovering +patient to the comforts of his own home, and the appliances of medical +assistance. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVII. + +CHARLES'S RETURN; AND MRS. MACKIE'S EXPLANATION. + + +AND now the happy day was come at length; that day formerly so +hoped-for, latterly so feared, but last of all, hailed with the joy that +trembles at its own intensity. The very morning after the sad occurrence +it has just been my lot to chronicle--while the general was having his +wounds dressed, slight ones, happily, but still he was not safe, as +inflammation might ensue--while Mrs. Tracy was indulging in her third +tumbler, mixed to whet her appetite for shrimps--and while Emily was +deciphering, for the forty thousandth time, Charles's sanguine +_billet-doux_--lo! a dusty chaise and smoking posters, and a sun-burnt +young fellow springing out, and just upon the stairs--they were locked +in each other's arms! + +Oh, the rapture of that instant! it can but happen once within a life. +Ye that have loved, remember such a meeting; and ye that never loved, +conceive it if you can; for my pen hath little skill to paint so bright +a pleasure. It is to be all heart, all pulse, all sympathy, all +spirit--but the warm soft kiss, that rarified bloom of the Material. + +How the sick old nurse got out, cased in many blankets; how she was +bundled up stairs, and deposited safely on a sofa, no poet is alive to +sing: to those who would record the payment of postillions, let me leave +so sweet a theme. + +The first fond greeting over, and those tumults of affection sobered +down, Charles rejoiced to find how lovingly the general met him; the +kind and good old man fell upon his neck, as the father in the parable. +Many things were then to be made known: and many questions answered, as +best might be, about a mother and a brother; but well aware of all +things ourselves, let us be satisfied that Charles heard in due time all +they had to tell him; though neither Emily nor the general could explain +what had become of Julian after that terrible encounter. In their +belief, he had fled for very life, thinking he had killed his father. +Poor wretched man, thought Charles--on that same spot, too, where he +would have murdered me! And for his mother--why came she not down +eagerly and happily, as mothers ever do, to greet her long-lost son? Do +not ask, Charles; do not press the question. Think her ill, dying, +dead--any thing but--drunken. He ran to her room-door; but it was +locked--luckily. + +Now, Charles--now speedily to business; happy business that, if I may +trust the lover's flushing cheek, and Emily's radiant eyes; but a +mournful one too, and a fearful, if I turn my glance to that poor old +man, wounded in body and stricken in mind--who waits to hear, in more +despondency than hope, what he knows to be the bitter truth--the truth +that must be told, to the misery of those dear children. + +Faint and weak though she appeared, Jeanie Mackie's waning life +spirited up for the occasion; her dim eye kindled; her feeble frame was +straight and strong; energy nerved her as she spoke; this hour is the +errand of her being. + +Long she spoke, and loudly, in her broad Scotch way; and the general +objected many things, but was answered to them all; and there was close +cross-questioning, slow-caution, keen examination of documents and +letters: catechisms, solecisms, Scottisms; reminiscences rubbed up, +mistakes corrected; and the grand result of all, Emily a Stuart, and the +general not her father! I am only enabled to give a brief account of +that important colloquy. + +It appears, that when Captain Tracy's company was quartered to the west +of the Gwalior, sent thither to guard the Begum Dowlia against sundry of +her disaffected subjects, a certain Lieutenant James Stuart was one +among those welcome brave allies. That our gallant Tracy was the +beautiful Begum's favourite soon became notorious to all; and not less +so, that the Begum herself was precisely in the same interesting +situation as Mrs. James Stuart. The two ladies, Pagan and Christian, +were, technically speaking, running a race together. Well, just as times +drew nigh, poor Lieutenant Stuart was unfortunately killed in an +insurrection headed by some fanatics, who disapproved of foreign +friends, and perhaps of their princess's situation. His death proved +fatal also to that kind and faithful wife of his--a dark Italian lady of +high family, whose love for James had led her to follow him even into +Central Hindoostan: she died in giving birth to a babe; and Jeanie +Mackie, the lieutenant's own foster-mother, who waited on his wife +through all their travels, assisted the poor orphan into this bleak +world, and loved it as her own. + +Two days after all this, the Begum herself had need of Mrs. Mackie: for +it was prudent to conceal some things, if she could, from certain +Brahmins, who were to her what John Knox had erstwhile been to Mary: and +Jeanie Mackie, burdened with her little Amy Stuart, aided in the birth +of a female Tracy-Begum. So, the nurse tended both babes; and more than +once had marvelled at their general resemblance; Amy's mother looked out +again from those dark eyes; there was not a shade between the children. + +Now, Mrs. Mackie perceived, in a very little while, how fond both +Christian and Pagan appeared of their own child; and how little notice +was taken by any body of the poor Scotch gentleman's orphan. +Accordingly, with a view to give her favourite all worldly advantages, +she adroitly changed the children; and, while she was still kind and +motherly to the little Tracy-Begum, she had the satisfaction to see her +pet supposititiously brought up in all the splendours of an Eastern +court. + +Years wore away, for Captain Tracy was quite happy, the Begum being a +fine showy woman, and the pretty child his playmate and pastime: so he +never cared to stir from his rich quarters, till the company's orders +forced him: and then Puttymuddyfudgepoor hailed him accumulatively both +major and colonel. + +When he found that he must go, he insisted on carrying off the child; +and the Begum was as resolute against it. Then Mrs. Mackie, eager to +expedite little Stuart in her escape, went to the princess, told her how +that, in anticipation of this day, she had changed the children, and got +great rewards for thus restoring to the mother her own offspring. + +The remainder of that old Scotch nurse's very prosy tale may be left to +be imagined: for all that was essential has been stated: and the +documents in proof of all were these-- + +First: The marriage certificates of James Stuart and Ami di Romagna, +duly attested, both in the Protestant and Romanist forms. + +Secondly: Divers letters to Lieutenant Stewart from his friends at +Glenmuir; others to Mrs. Stuart, from her father, the old Marquis di +Romagna, at Naples: several trinkets, locks of hair, the wedding-ring, +&c. + +Thirdly: A grant written in the Hindoostanee character, from the Begum +Dowlia, promising the pension of thirty rupees a month to Jeanie Mackie, +for having so cleverly preserved to her the child: together with a +regular judicial acknowledgement, both from several of Tracy's own +sepoys, and from the Begum herself, that the girl, whom Captain Tracy +was so fond of, was, to the best of their belief, Amy Stuart. + +Fourthly: A miniature of Mrs. James Stuart, exactly portraying the +features of her daughter--this bright, beautiful, dark-eyed face--our +own beloved Emily Warren. + +And to all that accumulated evidence, Jeanie Mackie bore her living +testimony; clearly, unhesitatingly, and well assured, in the face of God +and man. + +Doubt was at an end; fear was at an end; hope was come, and joy. Happy +were the lovers, happy Jeanie Mackie, but happiest of all appeared the +general himself. For now she might be his daughter indeed, sweet Emmy +Tracy still, dear Charles's loving wife. And he blessed them as they +knelt, and gave them to each other; well-rewarded children of affection, +who had prayed in their distress! + + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII. + +JULIAN TURNS UP: AND THERE'S AN END OF MRS. TRACY. + + +THERE is a muddy sort of sand-bank, acting as a delta to the Mullet, +just where it spreads from deep to shallow, and falls into the sea. +Strange wild fowl abound there, coming from the upper clouds in flocks; +and at high water, very little else but rushes can be seen, to testify +its sub-marine existence. + +A knot of fishermen, idling on the beach, have noticed an uncommon +flight of Royston crows gathered at the island, with the object, as it +would appear, of battening on a dead porpoise, or some such body, just +discernible among the rushes. Stop--that black heap may be kegs of +whiskey;--where's the glass? + +Every one looked: it warn't barrels--and it warn't a porpoise: what was +it, then? they had universally nothing on earth to do, so they pushed +off in company to see. + +I watched the party off, and they poked among the rushes, and heaved out +what seemed to me a seal: so I ran down to the beach to look at the +strange creature they had captured. Something wrapped in a sail; no +doubt for exhibition at per head. + +But they brought out that black burden solemnly, laying it on the beach +at Burleigh: a crowd quickly collected round them, that I could not see +the creature: and some ran for a magistrate, and some for a parson. Then +men in office came--made a way through the crowd, and I got near: so +near, that my foolish curiosity lifted up the sail, and I beheld--what +had been Julian. + +O, sickening sight: for all which the pistol had spared of that swart +and hairy face, had been preyed upon by birds and fishes! + +There was a hurried inquest: the poor general and Emily deposed to what +they knew, and the rustics, who escorted him from Oxton. The verdict +could be only one--self-murder. + +So, by night, on that same swampy island, when the tide was low, they +buried him, deeply staked into the soil, lest the waves should disinter +him, without a parting prayer. Such is the end of the wicked. + +In a day or two, I noticed that a rude wooden cross had been set over +the spot: and it gratified me much to hear that a rough-looking crew of +smugglers had boldly come and fixed it there, to hallow, if they could, +a comrade's grave. + +However, these poor fellows had been cheated hours before: Charles's +brotherly care had secured the poor remains, and the vicar winked a +blind permission: so Charles buried them by night in the church-yard +corner, under the yew, reading many prayers above them. + +Two fierce-looking strange men went to that burial with reverent looks, +as it were chief mourners; and when all the rites were done, I heard +them gruffly say to Charles, "God bless you, sir, for this!" + +When the mother heard those tidings of her son, she was sobered on the +instant, and ran about the house with all a mother's grief, shrieking +like a mad woman. But all her shrieks and tears could not bring back +poor Julian; deep, deep in the silent grave, she cannot wake him--cannot +kiss him now. Ah well! ah well! + +Then did she return to his dear room, desperate for him--and Hollands +once, twice, thrice, she poured out a full tumbler of the burning fluid, +and drank it off like water; and it maddened her brain: her mind was in +a phrensy of delirium, while her body shook as with a palsy. + +Let us draw the curtain; for she died that night. + +They buried her in Aunt Green's grave: what a meeting theirs will be at +the day of resurrection! + + + + +CHAPTER XXIX. + +THE OLD SCOTCH NURSE GOES HOME. + + +SIX months at least--this is clearly not a story of the unities--six +months' interval must now elapse before the wedding-day. Charles and +Emmy--for he called her Emmy still, though Jeanie Mackie would persist +in mouthing it to "Aamy,"--wished to have it delayed a year, in respect +for the memory of those who, with all their crime and folly, were not +the less a mother and a brother: but the general would not hear of such +a thing; he was growing very old, he said; although actually he seemed +to have taken out a new lease of life, so young again and buoyant was +the new-found heart within him; and thus growing old, he was full of +fatherly fear that he should not live to see his children's happiness. +It was only reasonable and proper that our pair of cooing doves should +acquiesce in his desire. + +Meanwhile, I am truly sorry to say it, Jeanie Mackie died; for it would +have been a good novel-like incident to have suffered the faithful old +creature to have witnessed her favourite's wedding, and then to have +been forthwith killed out of the way, by--perishing in the vestry. +However, things were ordered otherwise, and Jeanie Mackie did not live +to see the wedding: if you wish to know how and where she died, let me +tell you at once. + +Scotland--Argyleshire--Glenmuir; this was the focus of her hopes and +thoughts--that poor old Indian exile! She had left it, as a buxom +bright-haired lassie: but oaks had now grown old that she had planted +acorns; and grandmothers had died palsied, whom she remembered born; +still, around the mountains and the lakes, those changeless features of +her girlhood's rugged home, the old woman's memory wandered; they were +pictured in her mind's eye hard, and clear, and definite as if she +looked upon them now. And her soul's deep hope was to see them once +again. + +There was yet another object which made her yearn for Scotland. +Lieutenant Stuart had been the younger of two brothers, the eldest born +of whom became, upon his father's, the old laird's, death, Glenmuir and +Glenmurdock. Now, though twice married, this elder brother, the new +laird, never had a child; and the clear consequence was, that Amy Stuart +was likely to become sole heiress of her ancestor's possessions. The +lieutenant's marriage with an Italian and a Romanist had been, +doubtless, any thing but pleasant to his friends; the strict old +Presbyterians, and the proud unsullied family of Stuart, could not +palate it at all. Nevertheless, he did marry the girl, according to the +rites of both churches, and there was an end of it; so, innumerable +proverbs coming to their aid about "curing and enduring" and "must +be's," and the place where "marriages are made," &c., the several aunts +and cousins were persuaded at length to wink at the iniquity, and to +correspond both with Mrs. James and her backsliding lieutenant. Of the +offspring of that marriage, and her orphaned state, and of Mrs. Mackie's +care, and the indefinite detention in central Hindostan, they had heard +often-times; for, as there is no corner of the world where a Scot may +not be met with, so, with laudable nationality, they all hang together; +and Glenmuir was written to frequently, all about the child, through +Jeanie Mackie, "her mark," and a scholarly sergeant, Duncan Blair. + +Amy's rights--or Emmy let us call her still, as Charles did--were now, +therefore, the next object of Mrs. Mackie's zeal; and all parties +interested willingly listened to the plan of spending one or two of +those weary weeks in rubbing up relationships in Scotland; the general +also was not a little anxious about heritage and acres. Accordingly, off +they set in the new travelling-carriage, with due notice of approach, +heartily welcomed, to Dunstowr Castle, the fine old feudal stronghold of +Robert Stuart, Laird of Glenmuir and Glenmurdock. + +The journey, the arrival, and the hearty hospitality; and how the gray +old chieftain kissed his pretty niece; and how welcome her betrothed +Charles and her kind life-long guardian, and her faithful nurse were +made; and how the beacons blazed upon the hill-tops, and the mustering +clan gathered round about old Dunstowr; and how the laird presented to +them all their beautiful future mistress, and how Jeanie Mackie and her +documents travelled up to Edinburgh, where writers to the signet +pestered her heart-sick with over-caution; and how the case was all +cleared up, and the distant disappointed cousin, who had irrationally +hoped to be the heir, was gladdened, if not satisfied, with a pension +and a cantle of Glenmuir; and how all was joyfulness and feasting, when +Amy Stuart was acknowledged in her rights--the bagpipes and the wassail, +salmon, and deer, and black-cock, with a river of mountain dew: let +others tell who know Dunstowr; for as I never was there, of course I +cannot faithfully describe it. Should such an historian as I condescend +to sheer inventions? + +With respect to Jeanie Mackie, I could learn no more than this: she was +sprightly and lively, and strong as ever, though in her ninetieth year, +till her foster-child was righted, and the lawyers had allowed her her +claim. But then there seemed nothing else to live for; so her life +gradually faded from her eye, as an expiring candle; and she would doze +by the hour, sitting on a settle in the sun, basking her old heart in +the smile of those old mountains. None knew when she died, to a minute; +for she died sitting in the sun, in the smile of those old mountains. + +They buried her, with much of rustic pomp, in the hill-church of +Glenmuir, where all her fathers slept around her; and Emily and Charles, +hand-in-hand, walked behind her coffin mournfully. + + + + +CHAPTER XXX. + +FINAL. + + +GLADLY would the laird have had marriage at Dunstower, and have given +away the beauteous bride himself: but there must still be two months +more of decent mourning, and the general had long learned to sigh for +the maligned delights of Burleigh Singleton. So, Glenmuir could only get +a promise of reappearance some fine summer or other: and, after another +day's deer-stalking, which made the general repudiate telescopes from +that day forth (the poor man's eyes had actually grown lobster-like with +straining after antlers)--the travelling-carriage, and four lean kine +from Inverary, whisked away the trio towards the South. + +And now, in due time, were the Tamworths full of joy--congratulating, +sympathizing, merrymaking; and the three young ladies behaved admirably +in the capacity of pink and silver bridesmaids; while George proved +equally kind in attending (as he called it) Charles's "execution," +wherein he was "turned off;" and the admiral, G.C.B. was so +hand-in-glove with the general, H.E.I.C.S., that I have reason to +believe they must have sworn eternal friendship, after the manner of the +modern Germans. + +How beautiful our Emmy looked--I hate the broad Scotch Aamy--how bright +her flashing eyes, and how fragrantly the orange-blossoms clustered in +her rich brown hair; let him speak lengthily, whose province it may be +to spin three volumes out of one: for me, I always wish to recollect +that readers possess, on the average, at least as much imagination as +writers. And why should you not exercise it now? Is not Emmy in her +bridal-dress a theme well worth a revery? + +For a similar reason, I must clearly disappoint feminine expectation, by +forbearing to descant upon Charles's slight but manly form, and his +Grecian beauty, &c., all the better for the tropics, and the trials and +the troubles he had passed. + +When Captain Forbes, just sitting down to his soup in the Jamaica +Coffee-house, read in the _Morning Post_, the marriage of Charles Tracy +with Amy Stuart, he delivered himself mentally as follows: + +"There now! Poets talk of 'love,' and I stick to 'human nature.' When +that fine young fellow sailed with me, hardly a year ago, in the Sir +William Elphinston, he was over head and heels in love with old Jack +Tracy's pretty girl, Emily Warren: but I knew it wouldn't last long: I +don't believe in constancy for longer than a week. It does one's heart +good to see how right one is; here's what I call proof. My sentimental +spark kisses Emily Warren, and marries Amy Stuart." The captain, happier +than before, called complacently for Cayenne pepper, and relished his +mock-turtle with a higher gusto. + +It is worth recording, that the same change of name mystified slanderous +friends in the Presidency of Madras. + +And now, kind-eyed reader, this story of '_The Twins_' must leave off +abruptly at the wedding. As in its companion-tale, '_The Crock of +Gold_,' one grand thesis for our thoughts was that holy wise command, +"Thou shall not covet," and as its other comrade '_Heart_' is founded on +"Thou shalt not bear false witness," so in this, the seed-corn of the +crop, were five pure words, "Thou shalt not commit adultery." Other +morals doubtless grew up round us, for all virtue hangs together in a +bunch: the harms of secresy, false witness, inordinate affections, and +red murder: but in chief, as we have said. + +Moreover, I wish distinctly to make known, for dear "domestic" sake, +that so far from our lovers' happiness having been consummated (that is, +finished) in the honey-moon--it was only then begun. How long they are +to live thus happily together, Heaven, who wills all things good, alone +can tell; I wish them three score years. Little ones, I hear, arrive +annually--to the unqualified joy, not merely of papa and mamma, but also +of our communicative old general, his friend the G.C.B., and (all but +most of any) the Laird of Glenmuir and Glenmurdock, whose heart has been +entirely rejoiced by Charles Tracy having added to his name, and to his +children's names, that of Stuart. + +Mr. and Mrs. Tracy Stuart are often at Glenmuir; but oftener at +Burleigh, where the general, I fancy, still resides. He protests that he +never will keep a secret again: long may he live to say so! + + + END OF THE TWINS. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Twins, by Martin Farquhar Tupper + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE TWINS *** + +***** This file should be named 16574-8.txt or 16574-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/5/7/16574/ + +Produced by Jonathan Ingram, Janet Blenkinship and the +Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Twins + A Domestic Novel + +Author: Martin Farquhar Tupper + +Release Date: August 21, 2005 [EBook #16574] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE TWINS *** + + + + +Produced by Jonathan Ingram, Janet Blenkinship and the +Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + + +<h1>THE TWINS;</h1><p><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12"></a></p> + +<h4>A DOMESTIC NOVEL.</h4> + + +<h4>BY</h4> + +<h3>MARTIN FARQUHAR TUPPER, A.M., F.R.S.</h3> + +<h4>AUTHOR OF</h4> + +<h4>PROVERBIAL PHILOSOPHY.</h4> + + +<h3>HARTFORD:</h3> + +<h4>PUBLISHED BY SILAS ANDRUS & SON</h4> + +<h4>1851.</h4> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + + +<h3>CONTENTS</h3> + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="TABLE OF CONTENTS"> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_I">CHAPTER I.—PLACE: TIME: CIRCUMSTANCE.</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_II">CHAPTER II.—THE HEROES.</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_III">CHAPTER III.—THE ARRIVAL.</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_IV">CHAPTER IV.—THE GENERAL AND HIS WARD.</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_V">CHAPTER V.—JEALOUSY.</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_VI">CHAPTER VI.—THE CONFIDANTE.</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_VII">CHAPTER VII.—THE COURSE OF TRUE LOVE, ETC.</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_VIII">CHAPTER VIII.—THE MYSTERY.</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_IX">CHAPTER IX.—HOW TO CLEAR IT UP.</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_X">CHAPTER X.—AUNT GREEN'S LEGACY.</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_XI">CHAPTER XI.—PREPARATIONS AND DEPARTURE.</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_XII">CHAPTER XII.—THE ESCAPE.</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_XIII">CHAPTER XIII.—NEWS OF CHARLES.</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_XIV">CHAPTER XIV.—THE TETE-A-TETE.</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_XV">CHAPTER XV.—SATISFACTION.</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_XVI">CHAPTER XVI.—HOW CHARLES FARED.</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_XVII">CHAPTER XVII.—THE GENERAL'S RETURN.</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_XVIII">CHAPTER XVIII.—INTERCALARY.</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_XIX">CHAPTER XIX.—JULIAN'S DEPARTURE.</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_XX">CHAPTER XX.—ENLIGHTENMENT.</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_XXI">CHAPTER XXI.—CHARLES AT MADRAS.</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_XXII">CHAPTER XXII.—REVELATIONS.</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_XXIII">CHAPTER XXIII.—CONVALESCENCE.</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_XXIV">CHAPTER XXIV.—CHARLES DELAYED.</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_XXV">CHAPTER XXV.—TRIALS.</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_XXVI">CHAPTER XXVI.—JULIAN</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_XXVII">CHAPTER XXVII.—CHARLES'S RETURN; AND MRS. MACKIE'S EXPLANATION.</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_XXVIII">CHAPTER XXVIII.—JULIAN TURNS UP: AND THERE'S AN END OF MRS. TRACY.</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_XXIX">CHAPTER XXIX.—THE OLD SCOTCH NURSE GOES HOME.</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_XXX">CHAPTER XXX.—FINAL.</a></td></tr> +</table></div> + +<p><br /><br /><br /></p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + + +<h2><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13"></a><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14"></a>THE TWINS.<br /><br /></h2> + + +<h3><a name="CHAPTER_I" id="CHAPTER_I"></a>CHAPTER I.</h3> + +<h4>PLACE: TIME: CIRCUMSTANCE.</h4> + + +<p><span class="smcap">Burleigh-Singleton</span> is a pleasant little watering-place on the southern +coast of England, entirely suitable for those who have small incomes and +good consciences. The latter, to residents especially, are at least as +indispensable as the former: seeing that, however just the reputation of +their growing little town for superior cheapness in matters of meat and +drink, its character in things regarding men and manners is quite as +undeniable for preëminent dullness.</p> + +<p>Not but that it has its varieties of scene, and more or less of +circumstances too: there are, on one flank, the breezy Heights, with +flag-staff and panorama; on the other, broad and level water-meadows, +skirted by the dark-flowing Mullet, running to the sea between its +tortuous banks: for neighbourhood, Pacton Park is one great +attraction—the pretty market-town of Eyemouth another—the everlasting, +never-tiring sea a third; and, at high-summer, when the Devonshire lanes +are not knee-deep in mire, the nevertheless immeasurably filthy, though +picturesque, mud-built village of Oxton.</p> + +<p>Then again (and really as I enumerate these multitudinous advantages, I +begin to relent for having called it dull), you may pick up curious +agate pebbles on the beach, as well as corallines and scarce sea-weeds, +good for gumming on front-parlour windows; you may fish <i>for</i> whitings +in the bay, and occasionally catch them; you may wade in huge caoutchouc +boots among the muddy shallows of the Mullet, and shoot <i>at</i> cormorants +and curlews; you may walk to satiety between high-banked and rather +dirty cross-roads; and, if you will scramble up the hedge-row, may get +now and then peeps of undulated country landscape.</p> + +<p>Moreover, you have free liberty to drop in any where to +"tiffin"—Burleigh being very Indianized, and a guest always welcome; +indeed, <a name="Page_15" id="Page_15"></a>so Indianized is it, so populous in jaundiced cheek and ailing +livers, that you may openly assert, without fear of being misunderstood +(if you wish to vary your common phrase of loyalty), that Victoria sits +upon the "musnud" of Great Britain; you may order curry in the smallest +pot-house, and still be sure to get the rice well-cooked; you may call +your house-maid "ayah," without risk of warning for impertinence; you +may vent your wrath against indolent waiters in eloquence of "jaa, +soostee;" and, finally, you may go to the library, and besides the +advantage of the day-before-yesterday's Times, you may behold in bilious +presence an affable, but authoritative, old gentleman, who introduces +himself, "Sir, you see in me the hero of Puttymuddyfudgepoor."</p> + +<p>You may even now see such an one, I say, and hear him too, if you will +but go to Burleigh; seeing he has by this time over-lived the year or so +whereof our tale discourses. He has, by dint of service, attained to the +dignity of General H.E.I.C.S., and—which he was still longer coming +to—the wisdom of being a communicative creature; though possibly, by a +natural rëaction, at present he carries anti-secresy a little too far, +and verges on the gossiping extreme. But, at the time to which we must +look back to commence this right-instructive story, General Tracy was +still drinking "Hodgson's Pale" in India, was so taciturn as to be +considered almost dumb, and had not yet lifted up his yellow visage upon +Albion's white cliffs, nor taken up head-quarters in his final rest of +Burleigh-Singleton.</p> + +<p>Nevertheless, with reference to quartering at Burleigh, a certain +long-neglected wife of his, Mrs. Tracy, had; and that for the period of +at least the twenty-one years preceding: how and wherefore I proceed to +tell.</p> + +<p>A common case and common fate was that of Mrs. Tracy. She had married, +both early and hastily, a gallant lieutenant, John George Julian Tracy, +to wit, the military germ of our future general; their courtship and +acquaintance previous to matrimony extended over the not inconsiderable +space of three whole weeks—commencing with a country ball; and after +marriage, honey-moon inclusive, they lived the life of cooing doves for +three whole months.</p> + +<p>And now came the furlough's end: Mr. Tracy, in his then habitual reserve +(a quiet man was he), had concealed its existence altogether: and, for +aught Jane knew, the hearty invalid was to remain at home for ever: but +months soon slip away; and so it came to pass, that on a certain next +Wednesday he must be on his way back to the Presidency of Madras, +and—if she will not follow him—he must leave her.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16"></a>However, there was a certain old relative, one Mrs. Green, a childless +widow—rich, capricious, and infirm—whom Jane Tracy did not wish to +lose sight of: her money was well worth both watching and waiting for; +and the captain, whom a lucky chance had now lifted out of the +lieutenancy, was easily persuaded to forego the pleasure of his wife's +company till the somewhat indefinite period of her old aunt's death.</p> + +<p>How far sundry discoveries made in the unknown regions of each other's +temper reconciled him to this retrograding bachelorship, and her to her +widowhood-bewitched, I will not undertake to say: but I will hazard the +remark, anti-poor-law though it seemeth, that the separation of man and +wife, however convenient, lucrative, or even mutually pleasant, is a +dereliction of duty, which always deserves, and generally meets, its +proper and discriminative punishment. Had the young wife faithfully +performed her Maker's bidding, and left all other ties unstrung to +cleave unto her lord; had she considered a husband's true affections +before all other wealth, and resolved to share his dangers, to solace +his cares, to be his blessing through life, and his partner even unto +death, rather than selfishly to seek her own comfort, and consult her +own interest—the tale of crime and sadness, which it is my lot to tell, +would never have had truth for its foundation.</p> + +<p>Ill-matched for happiness though they were, however well-matched as to +mutual merit, the common man of pleasure and the frivolous woman of +fashion, still the wisest way to fuse their minds to union, the +likeliest receipt for moral good and social comfort, would have been +this course of foreign scenes, of new faces, sprinkled with a seasoning +of adventure, hardship, danger, in a distant land. Gradually would they +have learned to bear and forbear; the petty quarrel would have been +forgotten in the frequent kindness; the rougher edges of temper and +opinion would insensibly have smoothed away; new circumstances would +have brought out better feelings under happier skies; old acquaintances, +false friends forgotten, would have neutralized old feuds: and, by +long-living together, though it were perhaps amid various worries and +many cares, they might still have come to a good old age with more than +average happiness, and more than the common run of love. Patience in +dutiful enduring brings a sure reward: and marriage, however irksome a +constraint to the foolish and the gay, is still so wise an ordinance, +that the most ill-assorted couple imaginable will unconsciously grow +happy, if they only remain true to one another, and will learn the +wisdom always to hope and often to forgive.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17"></a>The Tracys, however, overlooked all this, and mutual friends (those +invariable foes to all that is generous and unworldly) smiled upon the +prudence of their temporary separation. The captain was to come home +again on furlough in five years at furthest, even if the aunt held out +so long; and this availed to keep his wife in the rear-guard; therefore, +Mrs. Tracy wiped her eyes, bade adieu to her retreating lord in Plymouth +Sound, and determined to abide, with other expectant dames and Asiatic +invalided heroes, at Burleigh-Singleton, until she might go to him, or +he return to her: for pleasant little Burleigh, besides its contiguity +to arriving Indiamen, was advantageous as being the dwelling-place of +aforesaid Mrs. Green;—that wealthy, widowed aunt, devoutly wished in +heaven: and the considerate old soul had offered her designing niece a +home with her till Tracy could come back.</p> + +<p>During the first year of absence, ship-letters and India-letters arrived +duteously in consecutive succession: but somehow or other, the regular +post, in no long time afterwards, became unfaithful to its trust; and if +Mrs. Jane heard quarterly, which at any rate she did through the agent, +when he remitted her allowance, she consoled herself as to the captain's +well-being: in due course of things, even this became irregular; he was +far up the country, hunting, fighting, surveying, and what not; and no +wonder that letters, if written at all, which I rather doubt, got lost. +Then there came a long period of positive and protracted silence—months +of it—years of it; barring that her checks for cash were honoured still +at Hancock's, though they could tell her nothing of her lord; so that +Mrs. Tracy was at length seriously recommended by her friends to become +a widow; she tried on the cap, and looked into many mirrors; but, after +long inspection, decided upon still remaining a wife, because the weeds +were so clearly unbecoming. Habit, meanwhile, and that still-existing +old aunt, who seemed resolved to live to a hundred, kept her as before +at Burleigh: and, seeing that a few months after the captain's departure +she had presented the world, not to say her truant lord, with twins, she +had always found something to do in the way of, what she considered, +education, and other juvenile amusement: that is to say, when the +gayeties of a circle of fifteen miles in radius left her any time to +spare in such a process. The twins—a brace of boys—were born and bred +at Burleigh, and had attained severally to twenty years of age, just +before their father came home again as brevet-major-general. But both +they, and that arrival, deserve special detail, each in its own chapter.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18"></a></p> +<h3><a name="CHAPTER_II" id="CHAPTER_II"></a>CHAPTER II.</h3> + +<h4>THE HEROES.</h4> + + +<p><span class="smcap">Mrs. Tracy's</span> sons were as unlike each other as it is well possible for +two human beings to be, both in person and character. Julian, whose +forward and bold spirit gained him from the very cradle every +prerogative of eldership (and he did struggle first into life, too, so +he was the first-born), had grown to be a swarthy, strong, big-boned +man, of the Roman-nosed, or, more physiognomically, the Jewish cast of +countenance; with melo-dramatic elf-locks, large whiskers, and +ungovernable passions; loud, fierce, impetuous; cunning, too, for all +his overbearing clamour; and an embodied personification of those choice +essentials to criminal happiness—a hard heart and a good digestion. +Charles, on the contrary (or, as logicians would say, on the +contradictory), was fair-haired, blue-eyed, of Grecian features; slim, +though well enough for inches, and had hitherto (as the commonalty have +it) "enjoyed" weak health: he was gentle and affectionate in heart, pure +and religious in mind, studious and unobtrusive in habits. It was a +wonder to see the strange diversity between those own twin-brothers, +born within the same hour, and, it is superfluous to add, of the same +parents; brought up in all outward things alike, and who had shared +equally in all that might be called advantage or disadvantage, of +circumstance or education.</p> + +<p>Certain is it that minds are different at birth, and require as +different a treatment as Iceland moss from cactuses, or bull-dogs from +bull-finches: certain is it, too, that Julian, early submitted and +resolutely broken in, would have made as great a man, as Charles, +naturally meek, did make a good one; but for the matter of educating her +boys, poor Mrs. Tracy had no more notion of the feat, than of squaring +the circle, or determining the longitude. She kept them both at home, +till the peevish aunt could suffer Julian's noise no longer: the house +was a Pandemonium, and the giant grown too big for that castle of +Otranto; so he must go at any rate; and (as no difference in the +treatment of different characters ever occurred to any body) of course +Charles must go along with him. Away they went to an expensive school, +which Julian's insubordination on the instant could not brook—and, +accordingly, he ran away; without doubt, Charles must be taken away too. +Another school was tried, Julian <a name="Page_19" id="Page_19"></a>got expelled this time; and Charles, +in spite of prizes, must, on system, be removed with him: so forth, with +like wisdom, all through the years of adolescence and instruction, those +ill-matched brothers were driven as a pair. Then again, for fashion's +sake, and Aunt Green's whims, the circumspective mother, notwithstanding +all her inconsistencies, gave each of them prettily bound hand-books of +devotion; which the one used upon his knees, and the other lit cigars +withal; both extremes having exceeded her intention: and she proved +similarly overreached when she persisted in treating both exactly alike, +as to liberal allowances, and liberty of will; the result being, that +one of her sons "foolishly" spent his money in a multitude of charitable +hobbies; and that the other was constantly supplied with means for (the +mother was sorry to say it, vulgar) dissipation. By consequence, Charles +did more good, and Julian more evil, than I have time to stop and tell +off.</p> + +<p>If any thing in this life must be personal, peculiar, and specific, it +is education: we take upon ourselves to speak thus dogmatically, not of +mere school-teaching only, <i>musa</i>, <i>musæ</i>, and so forth; nor yet of +lectures, on relative qualities of carbon and nitrogen in vegetables; +no, nor even of schemes of theology, or codes of morals; but we do speak +of the daily and hourly reining-in, or letting-out, of discouragement in +one appetite, and encouragement in another; of habitual formation of +characters in their diversity; and of shaping their bear's-cub, or that +child-angel, the natural human mind, to its destined ends; that it may +turn out, for good, according to its several natures, to be either the +strong-armed, bold-eyed, rough-hewer of God's grand designs, or the +delicate-fingered polisher of His rarest sculptures. Julian, +well-trained, might have grown to be a Luther; and many a gentle soul +like Charles, has turned out a coxcomb and a sensualist.</p> + +<p>The boys were born, as I have said, in the regulation order of things, a +few months after Captain Tracy sailed away for India some full score of +years, and more, from this present hour, when we have seen him seated as +a general in the library at Burleigh; and, until the last year, they had +never seen their father—scarcely ever heard of him.</p> + +<p>The incidents of their lives had been few and common-place: it would be +easy, but wearisome, to specify the orchards and the bee-hives which +Julian had robbed as a school-boy; the rebellions he had headed; the +monkey tricks he had played upon old fish-women; and the cruel havoc he +made of cats, rats, and other poor tormented creatures, who had +ministered to his wanton and brutalizing joys. In like <a name="Page_20" id="Page_20"></a>manner, wearily, +but easily, might I relate how Charles grew up the nurse's darling, +though little of his flaunting mother's; the curly-pated young +book-worm; the sympathizing, innoffensive, gentle heart, whose effort +still it was to countervail his brother's evil: how often, at the risk +of blows, had he interposed to save some drowning puppy: how often paid +the bribe for Julian's impunity, when mulcted for some damage done in +the way of broken windows, upset apple-stalls, and the like: how often +had he screened his bad twin-brother from the flagellatory consequences +of sheer idleness, by doing for him all his school-tasks: how often +striven to guide his insensate conscience to truth, and good, and +wisdom: how often, and how vainly!</p> + +<p>And when the youths grew up, and their good and evil grew up with them, +it were possible to tell you a heart-rending tale of Julian's treachery +to more than one poor village beauty; and many a pleasing trait of +Charles's pure benevolence, and wise zeal to remedy his brother's +mischiefs. The one went about doing ill, and the other doing good: +Julian, on account of obligations, more truly than in spite of them, +hated Charles; and yet one great aim of all Charles's amiabilities +tended continually to Julian's good, and he strove to please him, too, +while he wished to bless him. The one had grown to manhood, full of +unrepented sins, and ripe for darker crime: the other had attained a +like age of what is somewhat satirically called discretion, having +amassed, with Solon of old, "knowledge day by day," having lived a life +of piety and purity, and blest with a cheerful disposition, that teemed +with happy thoughts.</p> + +<p>They had, of course, in the progress of human life, been both laid upon +the bed of sickness, where, with similar contrast, the one lay muttering +discontent, and the other smiling patiently: they had both been in +dangers by land and by sea, where Julian, though not a little lacking to +himself at the moment of peril, was still loudly minacious till it came +too near; while Charles, with all his caution, was more actually +courageous, and in spite of all his gentleness, stood against the worst +undaunted: they had both, with opposite motives and dissimilar modes of +life, passed through various vicissitudes of feeling, scene, society; +and the influence of circumstance on their different characters, +heightened or diminished, bettered or depraved, by the good or evil +principle in each, had produced their different and probable results.</p> + +<p>Thus, strangely dissimilar, the twin-brothers together stand before us: +Julian the strong impersonation of the animal man, as Charles of the +intellectual; Julian, matter; Charles, spirit; Julian, the creature of +this <a name="Page_21" id="Page_21"></a>world, tending to a lower and a worse: Charles, though in the +world, not of the world, and reaching to a higher and a better.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Tracy, the mother of this various progeny, had been somewhat of a +beauty in her day, albeit much too large and masculine for the taste of +ordinary mortals; and though now very considerably past forty, the vain +vast female was still ambitious of compliment, and greedy of admiration. +That Julian should be such a woman's favourite will surprise none: she +had, she could have, no sympathies with mild and thoughtful Charles; but +rather dreaded to set her flaunting folly in the light of his wise +glance, and sought to hide her humbled vanity from his pure and keen +perceptions. His very presence was a tacit rebuke to her social +dissipation, and she could not endure the mild radiance of his virtues. +He never fawned and flattered her, as Julian would; but had even +suffered filial presumption (it could not be affection—O dear, no!) to +go so far as gently to expostulate at what he fancied wrong; he never +gave her reason to contrast, with happy self-complacence, her own soul's +state with Charles's, however she could with Julian's: and then, too, +she would indulgently allow her foolish mind—a woman's, though a +parent's—to admire that tall, black, bandit-looking son, above the +slight build, the delicate features, and almost feminine elegance of his +brother: she found Julian always ready to countenance and pamper her +gayest wishes, and was glad to make him her escort every where—at +balls, and fêtes, and races, and archery parties; while as to Charles, +he would be the stay-at-home, the milk-sop, the learned pundit, the +pious prayer-monger, any thing but the ladies' man. Yes: it is little +wonder that Mrs. Tracy's heart clave to Julian, the masculine image of +herself; while it barely tolerated Charles, who was a rarefied and +idealized likeness of the absent and forgotten Tracy.</p> + +<p>But the mother—and there are many silly mothers, almost as many as +silly men and silly maids—in her admiration of the outward form of +manliness, overlooked the true strength, and chivalry, and nobleness of +mind which shone supreme in Charles. How would Julian have acted in such +a case as this?—a sheep had wandered down the cliff's face to a narrow +ledge of rock, whence it could not come back again, for there was no +room to turn: Julian would have pelted it, and set his bull-dog at it, +and rejoiced to have seen the poor animal's frantic leaps from shingly +shelf to shelf, till it would be dashed to pieces. But how did Charles +act? With the utmost courage, and caution, and presence of mind, he +crept down, and, at the risk of his life, dragged the bleating, +<a name="Page_22" id="Page_22"></a>unreluctant creature up again; it really seemed as if the ungrateful +poor dumb brute recognised its humane friend, and suffered him to rescue +it without a struggle or a motion that might have endangered both.</p> + +<p>Again: a burly costermonger was belabouring his donkey, and the wretched +beast fell beneath his cudgel: strange to say, Julian and Charles were +walking together that time; and the same sight affected each so +differently, that the one sided with the cruel man, and the other with +his suffering victim: Charles, in momentary indignation, rushed up to +the fellow, wrested the cudgel from his hand, and flung it over the +cliff; while Julian was so base, so cowardly, as to reward such generous +interference, by holding his weaker brother's arms, and inviting the +wrathful costermonger to expend the remainder of his phrensy on unlucky +Charles. Yes, and when at home Mrs. Tracy heard all this, she was silly +enough, wicked enough, to receive her truly noble son with ridicule, and +her other one, the child of her disgrace, with approval.</p> + +<p>"It will teach you, Master Charles, not to meddle with common people and +their donkeys; and you may thank your brother Julian for giving you a +lesson how a gentleman should behave."</p> + +<p>Poor Charles! but poorer Julian, and poorest Mrs. Tracy!</p> + +<p>It would be easy, if need were, to enumerate multiplied examples tending +towards the same end—a large, masculine-featured mother's foolish +preference of the loud, bold, worldly animal, before the meek, kind, +noble, spiritual. And the results of all these many matters were, that +now, at twenty years of age, Charles found himself, as it were, alone in +a strange land, with many common friends indeed abroad, but at home no +nearer, dearer ties to string his heart's dank lyre withal; neither +mother nor brother, nor any other kind familiar face, to look upon his +gentleness in love, or to sympathize with his affections, unapprehended, +unappreciated: so—while Mrs. Tracy was the showy, gay, and vapid thing +she ever had been, and Julian the same impetuous mother's son which his +very nurse could say she knew him—Charles grew up a shy and silent +youth, necessarily reserved, for lack of some one to understand him; +necessarily chilled, for want of somebody to love him.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23"></a></p> +<h3><a name="CHAPTER_III" id="CHAPTER_III"></a>CHAPTER III.</h3> + +<h4>THE ARRIVAL.</h4> + + +<p><span class="smcap">The</span> young men were thus situated as regards both the world and one +another, and Mrs. Tracy had almost entirely forgotten the fact, that she +possessed a piece of goods so supererogatory as her husband (a property +too which her children had never quite realized), when all on a sudden, +one ordinary morning, the postman's-knock brought to her breakfast-table +at Burleigh-Singleton the following epistle:</p> + +<p class='center'> +"British Channel, Thursday, March 11th, 1842.</p> +<p class='author'>"The Sir William Elphinston, E.I.M. +</p> + +<p>"DEAR JANE: You will be surprised to find that you are to see me so +soon, I dare say, especially as it is now some years since you will have +heard from me. The reason is, I have been long in an out-of-the-way part +of India, where there is little communication with Europe, and so you +will excuse my not writing. We hope to find ourselves to-night in +Plymouth roads, where I shall get into a pilot-boat, and so shall see +you to-morrow. You may, therefore, now expect your affectionate husband,</p> + +<p class='author'>"J.G.J. TRACY, General H.E.I.C.S.</p> + +<p>"P.S.1.—Remember me to our boy, or boys—which is it?</p> + +<p>"P.S.2.—I bring with me the daughter of a friend in India, who is come +over for a year or two's polish at a first-rate school. Of course you +will be glad to receive her as our guest.</p> + +<p class='author'>"J.G.J.T."</p> + +<p>This loving letter was the most startling event that had ever attempted +to unnerve Mrs. Tracy; and she accordingly managed, for effect and +propriety's sake, to grow very faint upon the spot, whether for joy, or +sorrow, or fear of lost liberty, or hope of a restored lord, doth not +appear; she had so long been satisfied with receiving quarterly pay from +the India agents, that she forgot it was an evidence of her husband's +existence; and, lo! here he was returning a general, doubtlessly a +magnificent moustachioed individual, and she was to be Mrs. General! so +that when she came completely to herself, after that feint of a faint, +she was thinking of nothing but court-plumes, oriental pearls, and her +gallant Tracy's uniform.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24"></a>The postscripts also had their influence: Charles, naturally +affectionate, and willing to love a hitherto unseen father, felt hurt, +as well he might, at the "boy, or boys;" while Julian, who ridiculed his +brother's sentimentality, was already fancying that the "daughter of a +friend" might be a pleasant addition to the dullness of +Burleigh-Singleton.</p> + +<p>Preparations vast were made at once for the general's reception; from +attic to kitchen was sounded the tocsin of his coming. Julian was all +bustle and excitement, to his mother's joy and pride; while Charles +merited her wrath by too much of his habitual and paternal quietude, +particularly when he withdrew his forces altogether from the loud +domestic fray, by retreating up-stairs to cogitate and muse, perhaps to +make a calming prayer or two about all these matters of importance. As +for Mrs. Tracy herself, she was even now, within the first hour of that +news, busily engaged in collecting cosmetics, trinkets, blonde lace, and +other female finery, resolved to trick herself out like Jezebel, and win +her lord once more; whilst the pernicious old aunt, who still lived on, +notwithstanding all those twenty years of patience, as vivacious as +before, grumbled and scolded so much at this upsetting of her house, +that there was really some risk of her altering the will at last, and +cutting out Jane Tracy after all.</p> + +<p>And the morrow morning came, as if it were no more than an ordinary +Friday, and with it came expectancy; and noon succeeded, and with it +spirits alternately elated and depressed; and evening drew in, with +heart-sickness and chagrin at hopes or prophecies deferred; and night, +and next morning, and still the general came not. So, much weeping at +that vexing disappointment, after so many pains to please, Mrs. Tracy +put aside her numerous aids and appliances, and lay slatternly a-bed, to +nurse a head-ache until noon; and all had well nigh forgotten the +probable arrival, when, to every body's dismay, a dusty chaise and four +suddenly rattled up the terrace, and stopped at our identical number +seven.</p> + +<p>Then was there scuffling up, and getting down, and making preparation in +hot haste; and a stout gentleman with a gamboge face descended from the +chaise, exploding wrath like a bomb-shell, that so important an approach +had made such slight appearance of expectancy: it was disrespectful to +his rank, and he took care to prove he was somebody, by blowing up the +very innocent post-boys. This accomplished, he gallantly handed out +after him a pretty-looking miss in her teens. Poor Mrs. Tracy, <i>en +papillotes</i>, looked out at the casement like any one but Jezebel attired +for bewitching, and could have cried for vexation; in <a name="Page_25" id="Page_25"></a>fact, she did, +and passed it off for feeling. Aunt Green, whom the general at first +lovingly saluted as his wife (for the poor man had entirely forgotten +the uxorial appearance), was all in a pucker for deafness, blindness, +and evident misapprehension of all things in general, though clearly +pleased, and flattered at her gallant nephew's salutation. Julian, with +what grace of manner he could muster, was already playing the agreeable +to that pretty ward, after having, to the general's great surprise, +introduced himself to him as his son; while Charles, who had rushed into +the room, warm-heartedly to fling himself into his father's arms, was +repelled on the spot for his affection: General Tracy, with a military +air, excused himself from the embrace, extending a finger to the unknown +gentleman, with somewhat of offended dignity.</p> + +<p>At last, down came the wife: our general at once perceived himself +mistaken in the matter of Mrs. Green; and, coldly bowing to the +bedizened dame, acknowledged her pretensions with a courteous—</p> + +<p>"Mrs. General Tracy, allow me to introduce to you Miss Emily Warren, the +daughter of a very particular friend of mine:—Miss Warren, Mrs. Tracy."</p> + +<p>For other welcomings, mutual astonishment at each other's fat, some +little sorrowful talk of the twenty years ago, and some dull paternal +jest about this dozen feet of sons, made up the chilly meeting: and the +slender thread of sentimentals, which might possibly survive it, was +soon snapt by paying post-boys, orders after luggage, and devouring +tiffin.</p> + +<p>The only persons who felt any thing at all, were Mrs. Tracy, vexed at +her dishabille, and mortified at so cool a reception of, what she hoped, +her still unsullied beauties; and Charles, poor fellow, who ran up to +his studious retreat, and soothed his grief, as best he might, with +philosophic fancies: it was so cold, so heartless, so unkind a greeting. +Romantic youth! how should the father have known him for a son?</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h3><a name="CHAPTER_IV" id="CHAPTER_IV"></a>CHAPTER IV.</h3> + +<h4>THE GENERAL AND HIS WARD.</h4> + + +<p><span class="smcap">It</span> is surprising what a change twenty years of a tropical sun can make +in the human constitution. The captain went forth a good-looking, +good-tempered man, destitute neither of kind feelings nor masculine +<a name="Page_26" id="Page_26"></a>beauty: the general returned bloated, bilious, irascible, entirely +selfish, and decidedly ill-favoured. Such affections as he ever had +seemed to have been left behind in India—that new world, around which +now all his associations and remembrances revolved; and the reserve +(clearly rëproduced in Charles), the habit of silence whereof we took +due notice in the spring-tide of his life, had now grown, perhaps from +some oppressive secret, into a settled, moody, continuous taciturnity, +which made his curious wife more vexed at him than ever; for, +notwithstanding all the news he must have had to tell her, the company +of John George Julian Tracy proved to his long-expectant Jane any thing +but cheering or instructive. His past life, and present feelings, to say +nothing of his future prospects, might all be but a blank, for any thing +the general seemed to care: brandy and tobacco, an easy chair, and an +ordnance map of India, with Emily beside him to talk about old times, +these were all for which he lived: and even the female curiosity of a +wife, duly authorized to ask questions, could extract from him +astonishingly little of his Indian experiences. As to his wealth, +indeed, Mrs. Tracy boldly made direct inquiry; for Julian set her on to +beg for a commission, and Charles also was anxious for a year or two at +college; but the general divulged not much: albeit he vouchsafed to both +his sons a liberally increased allowance. It was only when his wife, +piqued at such reserve, pettishly remarked,</p> + +<p>"At any rate, sir, I may be permitted to hope, that Miss Warren's +friends are kind enough to pay her expenses;"</p> + +<p>That the veteran, in high dudgeon at any imputation on his Indian +acquaintances, sternly answered,</p> + +<p>"You need not be apprehensive, madam; Emily Warren is amply provided +for." Words which sank deep into the prudent mother's mind.</p> + +<p>But we must not too long let dock-leaves hide a violet; it is high time, +and barely courteous now, to introduce that beautiful exotic, Emily +Warren. Her own history, as she will tell it to Charles hereafter, was +so obscure, that she knew little of it certainly herself, and could +barely gather probabilities from scattered fragments. At present, we +have only to survey results in a superficial manner: in their due +season, we will dig up all the roots.</p> + +<p>No heroine can probably engage our interest or sympathy who possesses +the infirmity of ugliness: it is not in human nature to admire her, and +human nature is a thing very much to be consulted. Moreover, no one ever +yet saw an amiable personage, who was not so far pleasing, <a name="Page_27" id="Page_27"></a>or, in other +parlance, so far pretty. I cannot help the common course of things; and +however hackneyed be the thought, however common-place the phrase, it is +true, nevertheless, that beauty, singular beauty, would be the first +idea of any rational creature, who caught but a glimpse of Emily Warren; +and I should account it little wonder if, upon a calmer gaze, that +beauty were found to have its deepest, clearest fountain in those large +dark eyes of heir's.</p> + +<p>Aware as I may be, that "large dark eyes" are no novelty in tales like +this; and famous for rare originality as my pen (not to say genius) +would become, if an attempt were herein made to interest the world in a +pink-eyed heroine, still I prefer plodding on in the well-worn path of +pleasant beauty; and so long as Nature's bounty continues to supply so +well the world we live in with large dark eyes, and other feminine +perfections, our Emily, at any rate, remains in fashion; and if she has +many pretty peers, let us at least not peevishly complain of them. A +graceful shape is, luckily, almost the common prerogative of female +youthfulness; a dimpled smile, a cheerful, winning manner, regular +features, and a mass of luxuriant brown hair—these all heroines +have—and so has our's.</p> + +<p>But no heroine ever had yet Emily Warren's eyes; not identically only, +which few can well deny; but similarly also, which the many must be good +enough to grant: and very few heroes, indeed, ever saw their equal; +though, if any hereabouts object, I will not be so cruel or unreasonable +as to hope they will admit it. At first, full of soft light, gentle and +alluring, they brighten up to blaze upon you lustrously, and fascinate +the gazer's dazzled glance: there are depths in them that tell of the +unfathomable soul, heights in them that speak of the spirit's +aspirations. It is gentleness and purity, no less than sensibility and +passion, that look forth in such strange power from those windows of the +mind: it is not the mere beautiful machine, fair form, and pleasing +colours, but the heaven-born light of tenderness and truth, streaming +through the lens, that takes the fond heart captive. Charles, for one, +could not help looking long and keenly into Emily Warren's eyes; they +magnetized him, so that he might not turn away from them: entranced him, +that he would not break their charm, had he been able: and then the long +tufted eyelashes droop so softly over those blazing suns—that I do not +in the least wonder at Charles's impolite, perhaps, but still natural +involuntary stare, and his mute abstracted admiration: the poor youth is +caught at once, a most willing captive—the moth has <a name="Page_28" id="Page_28"></a>burnt its wings, +and flutters still happily around that pleasant warming radiance. How +his heart yearned for something to love, some being worthy of his own +most pure affections: and lo! these beauteous eyes, true witnesses of +this sweet mind, have filled him for ever and a day with love at first +sight.</p> + +<p>But gentle Charles was not the only conquest: the fiery Julian, too, +acknowledged her supremacy, bowed his stubborn neck, and yoked himself +at once, another and more rugged captive, to the chariot of her charms. +It was Caliban, as well as Ferdinand, courting fair Miranda. In his +lower grade, he loved—fiercely, coarsely: and the same passion, which +filled his brother's heart with happiest aspirations, and pure unselfish +tenderness towards the beauteous stranger, burnt him up as an inward and +consuming fire: Charles sunned himself in heaven's genial beams, while +Julian was hot with the lava-current of his own bad heart's volcano.</p> + +<p>It will save much trouble, and do away with no little useless mystery, +to declare, at the outset, which of these opposite twin-brothers our +dark-eyed Emily preferred. She was only seventeen in years; but an +Indian sky had ripened her to full maturity, both of form and feelings: +and having never had any one whom she cared to think upon, and let her +heart delight in, till Charles looked first upon her beauty wonderingly, +it is no marvel if she unconsciously reciprocated his young heart's +thought—before ever he had breathed it to himself. Julian's admiration +she entirely overlooked; she never thought him more than civil—barely +that, perhaps—however he might flatter himself: but her heart and eyes +were full of his fair contrast, the light seen brighter against +darkness; Charles all the dearer for a Julian. Intensely did she love +him, as only tropic blood can love; intently did she gaze on him, when +any while he could not see her face, as only those dark eyes could gaze: +and her mind, all too ignorant but greedy of instruction, no less than +her heart, rich in sympathies and covetous of love, went forth, and fed +deliciously on the intellectual brow, and delicate flushing cheek of her +noble-minded Charles. Not all in a day, nor a week, nor a month, did +their loves thus ripen together. Emily was a simple child of nature, who +had every thing to learn; she scarcely knew her Maker's name, till +Charles instructed her in God's great love: the stars were to her only +shining studs of gold, and the world one mighty plain, and men and women +soulless creatures of a day, and the wisdom of creation unconsidered, +and the book of natural knowledge close sealed up, till<a name="Page_29" id="Page_29"></a> Charles set out +before his eager student the mysteries of earth and heaven. Oh, those +blessed hours of sweet teaching! when he led her quick delighted steps +up the many avenues of science to the central throne of God! Oh, those +happy moments, never to return, when her eyes in gentle thankfulness for +some new truth laid open to them, flashed upon her youthful Mentor, love +and intelligence, and pleased admiring wonder! Sweet spring-tide of +their loves, who scarcely knew they loved, yet thought of nothing but +each other; who walked hand in hand, as brother and sister, in the +flowery ways of mutual blessing, mutual dependence: alas, alas! how +brief a space can love, that guest from heaven, dwell on earth +unsullied!</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h3><a name="CHAPTER_V" id="CHAPTER_V"></a>CHAPTER V.</h3> + +<h4>JEALOUSY.</h4> + + +<p><span class="smcap">For</span> Julian soon perceived that Charles was no despicable rival. At +first, self-flattery, and the habitual contempt wherewith he regarded his +brother, blinded him to Emily's attachment: moreover, in the scenes of +gayety and the common social circle, she never gave him cause to complain +of undue preferences; readily she leant upon his arm, cheerfully +accompanied him in morning-visits, noon-day walks, and evening parties; +and if pale Charles (in addition to the more regular masters, dancing +and music, and other pieces of accomplishment) thought proper to bore +her with his books for sundry hours every day, Julian found no fault +with that;—the girl was getting more a woman of the world, and all +for him: she would like her play-time all the better for such schoolings, +and him to be the truant at her side.</p> + +<p>But when, from ordinary civilities, the coarse loud lover proceeded to +particular attentions; when he affected to press her delicate hand, and +ventured to look what he called love into her eyes, and to breathe silly +nothings in her ear—he could deceive himself no longer, notwithstanding +all his vanity; as legibly as looks could write it, he read disgust +upon her face, and from that day forth she shunned him with undisguised +abhorrence. Poor innocent maid! she little knew the man's black mind, +who thus dared to reach up to the height of her affections; but she saw +<a name="Page_30" id="Page_30"></a>enough of character in his swart scowling face, and loud assuming manners, +to make her dread his very presence, as a thunder-cloud across +her summer sky.</p> + +<p>Then did the baffled Julian begin to look around him, and took notice +of her deepening love of Charles; nay, even purposely, she seemed now +to make a difference between them, as if to check presumption and +encourage merit. And he watched their stolen glances, how tremblingly +they met each other's gaze; and he would often-times roughly break in +upon their studies, to look on their confused disquietude with the pallid +frowns of envy: he would insult poor Charles before her, in hope to +humble him in her esteem; but mild and Christian patience made her +see him as a martyr: he would even cast rude slights on her whom he +professed to love, with the view of raising his brother's chastened wrath, +but was forced to quail and sneak away beneath her quick indignant +glance, ere her more philosophical lover had time to expostulate with +the cowardly savage.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile, what were the parents about? The general had given out, +indeed, that he had brought Emily over for schooling; but he seemed so +fond of her (in fact, she was the only thing to prove he wore a heart), +that he never could resolve upon sending her away from, what she now +might well call, home. Often, in some strange dialect of Hindostan, did +they converse together, of old times and distant shores; none but Emily +might read him to sleep—none but Emily wake him in the morning with +a kiss—none but Emily dare approach him in his gouty torments—none +but Emily had any thing like intimate acquaintance with that moody +iron-hearted man.</p> + +<p>As to his sons, or the two young men he might presume to be his sons, he +neither knew them, nor cared to know. Bare civilities, as between man +and man, constituted all which their intercourse amounted to: what were +those young fellows, stout or slim, to him? mere accidents of a +soldier's gallantries and of an ill-assorted marriage. He neither had, +nor wished to have, any sympathies with them: Julian might be as bad as +he pleased, and Charles as good, for any thing the general seemed to +heed: they could not dive with him into the past, and the sports of +Hindostan: they reminded him, simply, of his wife, for pleasures of +Memory; of the grave, for pleasures of Hope: he was older when he looked +at them: and they seemed to him only living witnesses of his folly as +lieutenant, in the choice of Mrs. Tracy. I will not take upon myself to +say, that he had any occasion to congratulate himself on the latter +reminiscence.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31"></a>So he quickly acquiesced in Julian's wish for a commission, and +entirely approved of Charles's college schemes. After next September, +the funds should be forthcoming: not but that he was rich enough, and +to spare, any month in the year: but he would be vastly richer then, +from prize-money, or some such luck. It was more prudent to delay +until September.</p> + +<p>With reference to Emily—no, no—I could see at once that General +Tracy never had any serious intention to part with Emily; but she had +all manner of masters at home, and soon made extraordinary progress. +As for the matter of his sons falling in love with her, attractive in all +beauty though she were, he never once had given it a thought: for, first, +he was too much a man of the world to believe in such ideal trash as +love: and next, he totally forgot that his "boy, or boys," had human +feelings. So, when his wife one day gave him a gentle and triumphant +hint of the state of affairs, it came upon him overwhelmingly, like an +avalanche: his yellow face turned flake-white, he trembled as he stood, +and really seemed to take so natural a probability to heart as the most +serious of evils.</p> + +<p>"My son Julian in love with Emily! and if not he, at any rate Charles! +What the devil, madam, can you mean by this dreadful piece of +intelligence?—It's impossible, ma'am; nonsense! it can't be true; it +shan't, ma'am."</p> + +<p>And the general, having issued his military mandates, wrapped himself +in secresy once more; satisfied that both of those troublesome sons +were to leave home after the next quarter, and the prize-money at +Hancock's.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h3><a name="CHAPTER_VI" id="CHAPTER_VI"></a>CHAPTER VI.</h3> + +<h4>THE CONFIDANTE.</h4> + + +<p><span class="smcap">But</span> Mrs. Tracy had the best reason for believing her intelligence was +true, and she could see very little cause for regarding it as dreadful. +True, one son would have been enough for this wealthy Indian +heiress—but still it was no harm to have two strings to her bow. Julian +was her favourite, and should have the girl if she could manage it; but +if Emily<a name="Page_32" id="Page_32"></a> Warren would not hear of such a husband, why Charles Tracy may +far better get her money than any body else.</p> + +<p>That she possessed great wealth was evident: such jewellery, such +Trinchinopoli chains, such a blaze of diamonds <i>en suite</i>, such a +multitude of armlets, and circlets, and ear-rings, and other oriental +finery, had never shone on Devonshire before: at the Eyemouth ball, men +worshipped her, radiant in beauty, and gorgeously apparelled. Moreover, +money overflowed her purse, her work-box, and her jewel-case: Charles's +village school, and many other well-considered charities, rejoiced in +the streams of her munificence. The general had given her a banker's +book of signed blank checks, and she filled up sums at pleasure: such +unbounded confidence had he in her own prudence and her far-off father's +liberality. The few hints her husband deigned to give, encouraged Mrs. +Tracy to conclude, that she would be a catch for either of her sons; +and, as for the girl herself, she had clearly been brought up to order +about a multitude of servants, to command the use of splendid equipages, +and to spend money with unsparing hand.</p> + +<p>Accordingly, one day when Julian was alone with his mother, their +conversation ran as follows:</p> + +<p>"Well, Julian dear, and what do you think of Emily Warren?"</p> + +<p>"Think, mother? why—that she's deuced pretty, and dresses like an +empress: but where did the general pick her up, eh?—who is she?"</p> + +<p>"Why, as to who she is—I know no more than you; she is Emily Warren: +but as to the great question of what she is, I know that she is rolling +in riches, and would make one of my boys a very good wife."</p> + +<p>"Oh, as to wife, mother, one isn't going to be fool enough to marry for +love now-a-days: things are easier managed hereabouts, than that: but +money makes it quite another thing. So, this pretty minx is rich, is +she?"</p> + +<p>"A great heiress, I assure you, Julian."</p> + +<p>"Bravo, bravo-o! but how to make the girl look sweet upon me, mother? +There's that white-livered fellow, Charles—"</p> + +<p>"Never mind him, boy; do you suppose he would have the heart to make +love to such a splendid creature as Miss Warren: fy, Julian, for a faint +heart: Charles is well enough as a Sabbath-school teacher, but I hope he +will not bear away the palm of a ladye-love from my fine high-spirited +Julian." Poor Mrs. Tracy was as flighty and romantic at forty-five as +she had been at fifteen.</p> + +<p>The fine high-spirited Julian answered not a word, but looked +excessively cross; for he knew full well that Charles's chance was to +his in the ratio of a million to nothing.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33"></a>"What, boy," went on the prudent mother, "still silent! I am afraid +Emily's good looks have been thrown away upon you, and that your heart +has not found out how to love her."</p> + +<p>"Love her, mother? Curses! would you drive me mad? I think and dream of +nothing but that girl: morning, noon, and night, her eyes persecute me: +go where I will, and do what I will, her image haunts me: d——n it, +mother' don't I love the girl?"</p> + +<p>[Oh love, love! thou much-slandered monosyllable, how desperately do bad +men malign thee!]</p> + +<p>"Hush, Julian; pray be more guarded in your language; I am glad to see +though that your heart is in the right place: suppose now that I aid +your suit a little? I dare say I could do a great deal for you, my son; +and nothing could be more delightful to your mother than to try and make +her Julian happy."</p> + +<p>True, Mrs. Tracy; you were always theatrically given, and played the +coquette in youth; so in age the character of go-between befits you +still: dearly do you love to dabble in, what you are pleased to call, +"<i>une affaire du cœur</i>."</p> + +<p>"Mother," after a pause, replied her hopeful progeny, "if the girl had +been only pretty, I shouldn't have asked any body's help; for marriage +was never to my liking, and folks may have their will of prouder +beauties than this Emily, without going to church for it; but money +makes it quite another matter: and I may as well have the benefit of +your assistance in this matter o' money, eh mother? matrimony, you know: +an heiress and a beauty may be worth the wedding-ring; besides, when my +commission comes, I can follow the good example that my parents set me, +you know; and, after a three months' honey-mooning, can turn bachelor +again for twenty years or so, as our governor-general did, and so leave +wifey at home, till she becomes a Mrs. General like you."</p> + +<p>Now, strange to say, this heartless bit of villany was any thing but +unpleasing to the foolish, flattered heart of Mrs. Tracy; he was a chip +of the old block, no better than his father: so she thanked "dear +Julian" for his confidence, with admiration and emotion; and looking +upwards, after the fashion of a Covent Garden martyr, blessed him.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34"></a></p> +<h3><a name="CHAPTER_VII" id="CHAPTER_VII"></a>CHAPTER VII.</h3> + +<h4>THE COURSE OF TRUE LOVE, ETC.</h4> + + +<p>"<span class="smcap">Emily</span>, my dear, take Julian's arm: here, Charles, come and change with +me; I should like a walk with you to Oxton, to see how your little +scholars get on." So spake the intriguing mother.</p> + +<p>"Why, that is just what I was going to do with Charles," said Emily, +"and if Julian will excuse me—"</p> + +<p>"Oh, never mind me, Miss Warren, pray; come along with me, will you, +mother?"</p> + +<p>So they paired off in more well-matched couples (for Julian luckily took +huff), and went their different ways: with those went hatred, envy, +worldly scheming, and that lowest sort of love that ill deserves the +name; with these remain all things pure, affectionate, benevolent.</p> + +<p>"Charles, dear," (they were just like brother and sister, innocent and +loving), "how kind it is of you to take me with you; if you only knew +how I dreaded Julian!"</p> + +<p>"Why, Emmy? can he have offended you in any way?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, Charles, he is so rude, and says such silly things, and—I am quite +afraid to be alone with him."</p> + +<p>"What—what—what does he say to you, Emily?" hurriedly urged her +half-avowed lover.</p> + +<p>"Oh, don't ask me, Charles—pray drop the subject;" and, as she blushed, +tears stood in her eyes.</p> + +<p>Charles bit his lip and clenched his fist involuntarily; but an instant +word of prayer drove away the spirit of hatred, and set up love +triumphant in its place.</p> + +<p>"My Emily—oh, what have I said? may I—may I call you my Emily? +dearest, dearest girl!" escaped his lips, and he trembled at his own +presumption. It was a presumptuous speech indeed; but it burst from the +well of his affections, and he could not help it.</p> + +<p>Her answer was not in words, and yet his heart-strings thrilled beneath +the melody; for her eyes shed on him a blaze of love that made him +almost faint before them. In an instant, they understood, without a +word, the happy truth, that each one loved the other.</p> + +<p>"Precious, precious Emily!" They were now far away from Burleigh, in the +fields; and he seized her hand, and covered it with kisses.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35"></a>What more they said I was not by to hear, and if I had been would not +have divulged it. There are holy secrets of affection, which those who +can remember their first love—and first love is the only love worth +mentioning—may think of for themselves. Well, far better than my feeble +pencilling can picture, will they fill up this slight sketch. That walk +to Oxton, that visit to the village school, was full of generous +affections unrepressed, the out-pourings of two deep-welled hearts, +flowing forth in sympathetic ecstasy. The trees, and fields, and +cottages were bathed in heavenly light, and the lovers, happy in each +other's trust, called upon the all-seeing God to bless the best +affections of His children.</p> + +<p>And what a change these mutual confessions made in both their minds! +Doubt was gone; they <i>were</i> beloved; oh, richest treasure of joy! Fear +was gone; they dared declare their love; oh, purest river of all +sublunary pleasures! No longer pale, anxious, thoughtful, worn by the +corroding care of "Does she—does she love?"—Charles was, from that +moment, a buoyant, cheerful, exhilarated being—a new character; he put +on manliness, and fortitude, and somewhat of involuntary pride; whilst +Emily felt, that enriched by the affections of him whom she regarded as +her wisest, kindest earthly friend, by the acquisition of his love, who +had led her heart to higher good than this world at its best can give +her, she was elevated and ennobled from the simple Indian child, into +the loved and honoured Christian woman. They went on that important walk +to Oxton feeble, divided, unsatisfied in heart: they returned as two +united spirits, one in faith, one in hope, one in love; both heavenly +and earthly.</p> + +<p>But the happy hour is past too soon; and, home again, they mixed once +more with those conflicting elements of hatred and contention.</p> + +<p>"Emily," asked the general, in a very unusual stretch of curiosity, +"where have you been to with Charles Tracy? You look flushed, my dear; +what's the matter?"</p> + +<p>Of course "nothing" was the matter: and the general was answered wisely, +for love was nothing in his average estimate of men and women.</p> + +<p>"Charles, what can have come to you? I never saw you look so happy in my +life," was the mother's troublesome inquiry; "why, our staid youth +positively looks cheerful."</p> + +<p>Charles's walk had refreshed him, taken away his head-ache, put him in +spirits, and all manner of glib reasons for rejoicing.</p> + +<p>"You were right, Julian," whispered Mrs. Tracy, "and we'll soon put the +stopper on all this sort of thing."</p> + +<p><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36"></a>So, then, the moment our guiltless pair of lovers had severally stolen +away to their own rooms, there to feast on well-remembered looks, and +words, and hopes—there to lay before that heavenly Friend, whom both +had learned to trust, all their present joys, as aforetime all their +cares—Mrs. Tracy looked significantly at Julian, and thus addressed her +ever stern-eyed lord:</p> + +<p>"So, general, the old song's coming true to us, I find, as to other +folks, who once were young together:</p> + +<p class='center'> +"'And when with envy Time, transported, seeks to rob us of our joys,<br /> +You'll in your girls again be courted, and I'll go wooing in my boys.'" +</p> + +<p>So said or sung the flighty Mrs. Tracy. It was as simple and innocent a +quotation as could possibly be made; I suppose most couples, who ever +heard the stanza, and have grown-up children, have thought upon its dear +domestic beauty: but it strangely affected the irascible old general. He +fumed and frowned, and looked the picture of horror; then, with a fierce +oath at his wife and sons, he firmly said—</p> + +<p>"Woman, hold your fool's tongue: begone, and send Emily to me this +minute: stop, Mr. Julian—no—run up for your brother Charles, and come +you all to me in the study. Instantly, sir! do as I bid you, without a +word."</p> + +<p>Julian would gladly have fought it out with his imperative father; but, +nevertheless, it was a comfort to have to fetch pale Charles for a +jobation; so he went at once. And the three young people, two of them +trembling with affections overstrained, and the third indurated in +effrontery, stood before that stern old man.</p> + +<p>"Emily, child,"—and he added something in Hindostanee, "have I been +kind to you—and do you owe me any love?"</p> + +<p>"Dear, dear sir, how can you ask me that?" said the warm-affectioned +girl, falling on her knees in tears.</p> + +<p>"Get up, sweet child, and hear me: you see those boys; as you love me, +and yourself, and happiness, and honour—dare not to think of either, +one moment, as your husband."</p> + +<p>Emily fainted; Charles staggered to assist her, though he well-nigh +swooned himself; and Julian folded his arms with a resolute air, as +waiting to hear what next.</p> + +<p>But the general disappointed him: he had said his say: and, as volatile +salts, a lady's maid, and all that sort of rëinvigoration, seemed +essential to Emily's recovery, he rang the bell forthwith: so the +pleasant family party broke up without another word.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37"></a></p> +<h3><a name="CHAPTER_VIII" id="CHAPTER_VIII"></a>CHAPTER VIII.</h3> + +<h4>THE MYSTERY.</h4> + + +<p><span class="smcap">Our</span> lovers would not have been praiseworthy, perhaps not human, had they +not met in secret once and again. True, their regularly concerted +studies were forbidden, and they never now might openly walk out +unaccompanied: but love (who has not found this out?) is both daring and +ingenious; and notwithstanding all that Emily purposed about doing as +the general so strangely bade her, they had many happy meetings, rich +with many happy words: all the happier no doubt for their stolen +sweetness.</p> + +<p>There was one great and engrossing subject which often had employed +their curiosity; who and what was Emily Warren? for the poor girl did +not know herself. All she could guess, she told Charles, as he zealously +cross-questioned her from time to time: and the result of his inquiries +would appear to be as follows:</p> + +<p>Emily's earliest recollections were of great barbaric pomp; huge +elephants richly caparisoned, mighty fans of peacock's tails, lines of +matchlock men, tribes of jewelled servants, a gilded palace, with its +gardens and fountains: plenty of rare gems to play with, and a splendid +queenly woman, whom she called by the Hindoo name for mother. The +general, too, was there among her first associations, as the gallant +Captain Tracy, with his company of native troops.</p> + +<p>Then an era happened in her life; a tearful leave-taking with that proud +princess, who scarcely would part with her for sorrow; but the captain +swore it should be so: and an old Scotch-woman, her nurse, she could +remember, who told her as a child, but whether religiously or not she +could not tell, "Darling, come to me when you wish to know who made +you;" and then Mrs. Mackie went and spoke to the princess, and soothed +her, that she let the child depart peacefully. Most of her gorgeous +jewellery dated from that earliest time of inexplicable oriental +splendour.</p> + +<p>After those infantine seven years, the captain took her with him to his +station up the country, where she lived she knew not how long, in a +strong hill-fort, one Puttymuddyfudgepoor, where there was a great deal +of fighting, and besieging, and storming, and cannonading; but it ceased +<a name="Page_38" id="Page_38"></a>at last, and the captain, who then soon successively became both major +and colonel, always kept her in his own quarters, making her his little +pet; and, after the fighting was all over, his brother-officers would +take her out hunting in their howdahs, and she had plenty of +palanquin-bearers, sepoys, and servants at command; and, what was more, +good nurse Mackie was her constant friend and attendant.</p> + +<p>Time wore on, and many little incidents of Indian life occurred, which +varied every day indeed, but still left nothing consequential behind +them: there were tiger-hunts, and incursions of Scindian tribes, and +Pindarree chieftains taken captive, and wounded soldiers brought into +the hospital; and often had she and good nurse Mackie tended at the sick +bed-side. And the colonel had the jungle fever, and would not let her go +from his sight; so she caught the fever too, and through Heaven's mercy +was recovered. And the colonel was fonder of her now than ever, calling +her his darling little child, and was proud to display her early budding +beauty to his military friends—pleasant sort of gentlemen, who gave her +pretty presents.</p> + +<p>Then she grew up into womanhood, and saw more than one fine uniform at +her feet, but she did not comprehend those kindnesses: and the general +(he was general now) got into great passions with them, and stormed, and +swore, and drove them all away. Nurse Mackie grew to be old, and +sometimes asked her, "Can you keep a secret, child?—no, no, I dare not +trust you yet: wait a wee, wait a wee, my bonnie, bonnie bairn."</p> + +<p>And now speedily came the end. The general resolved on returning to his +own old shores: chiefly, as it seemed, to avoid the troublesome +pertinacity of sundry suitors, who sought of him the hand of Emily +Warren for, by this name she was beginning to be called: in her earliest +recollection she was Amina; then at the hill-fort, Emily—Emily—nothing +for years but Emily: and as she grew to womanhood, the general bade her +sign her name to notes, and leave her card at houses, as Emily Warren: +why, or by what right, she never thought of asking. But nurse Mackie had +hinted she might have had "a better name and a truer;" and therefore, +she herself had asked the general what this hint might mean; and he was +so angry that he discharged nurse Mackie at Madras, directly he arrived +there to take ship for England.</p> + +<p>Then, just before embarking, poor nurse Mackie came to her secretly, and +said, "Child, I will trust you with a word; you are not what he thinks +you." And she cried a great deal, and longed to come to Eng<a name="Page_39" id="Page_39"></a>land; but +the general would not hear of it; so he pensioned her off, and left her +at Madras, giving somebody strict orders not to let her follow him.</p> + +<p>Nevertheless, just as they were getting into the boat to cross the surf, +the affectionate old soul ran out upon the strand, and called to her +"Amy Stuart! Amy Stuart!" to the general's great amazement as clearly as +her own; and she held up a packet in her hand as they were pushing off, +and shouted after her, "Child—child! if you would have your rights, +remember Jeanie Mackie!"</p> + +<p>After that, succeeded the monotony of a long sea voyage. The general at +first seemed vexed about Mrs. Mackie, and often wished that he had asked +her what she meant; however, his brow soon cleared, for he reflected +that a discarded servant always tells falsehoods, if only to make her +master mischief.</p> + +<p>"The voyage over, Charles, with all its cards, quadrilles, doubling the +cape, crossing the line, and the wearisome routine of sky and sea, the +quarter-deck and cabin, we found ourselves at length in Plymouth Sound; +left the Indiaman to go up the channel; and I suppose the post-chaise +may be consigned to your imagination."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h3><a name="CHAPTER_IX" id="CHAPTER_IX"></a>CHAPTER IX.</h3> + +<h4>HOW TO CLEAR IT UP.</h4> + + +<p><span class="smcap">In</span> all this there was mystery enough for a dozen lovers to have crazed +their brains about. Emily might be a queen of the East, defrauded of +hereditary glories, and at any rate deserved such rank, if Charles was +to be judge; but what was more important, if the general had any reason +at all for his arbitrary mandate prohibiting their love, it was very +possible that reason was a false one.</p> + +<p>Meantime, Charles had little now to live for, except his dear forbidden +Emily, any more than she for him. And to peace of mind in both, the +elucidation of that mystery which hung about her birth, grew more +needful day by day. At last, one summer evening, when they had managed a +quiet walk upon the sands under the Beacon cliff, Charles said abruptly, +after some moments of abstraction, "Dearest, I am resolved."</p> + +<p><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40"></a>"Resolved, Charles! what about?" and she felt quite alarmed; for her +lover looked so stern, that she could not tell what was going to happen +next.</p> + +<p>"I'll clear it up, that I will; I only wish I had the money."</p> + +<p>"Why, Charles, what in the world are you dreaming about? you frighten +me, dearest; are you ill? don't look so serious, pray."</p> + +<p>"Yes, Emily, I will; at once too. I'm off to Madras by next packet; or, +that is to say, would, if I could get my passage free."</p> + +<p>"My noble Charles, if that were the only objection, I would get you all +the means; for the kind—kind general suffers me to have whatever sums I +choose to ask for. Only, Charles, indeed I cannot spare you; do not—do +not go away and leave me; there's Julian, too—don't leave me—and you +might never come back, and—and—" all the remainder was lost in +sobbing.</p> + +<p>"No, my Emmy, we must not use the general's gold in doing what he might +not wish; it would be ungenerous. I will try to get somebody to lend me +what I want—say Mrs. Sainsbury, or the Tamworths. And as for leaving +you, my love, have no fears for me or for yourself; situated as we are, +I take it as a duty to go, and make you happier, setting you in rights, +whatever these may be; and for the rest, I leave you in His holy keeping +who can preserve you alike in body, as in soul, from all things that +would hurt you, and whose mercy will protect me in all perils, and bring +me back to you in safety. This is my trust, Emmy."</p> + +<p>"Dear Charles, you are always wiser and better than I am: let it be so +then, my best of friends. Seek out good nurse Mackie, I can give you +many clues, hear what she has to say; and may the God of your own poor +fatherless Emily speed your holy mission! Yet there is one thing, +Charles; ought you not to ask your parents for their leave to go? You +are better skilled to judge than I can be, though."</p> + +<p>"Emmy, whom have I to ask? my father? he cares not whither I go nor what +becomes of me; I hardly know him, and for twenty years of my short life +of twenty-one, scarcely believed in his existence; or should I ask my +mother? alas—love! I wish I could persuade myself that she would wish +me back again if I were gone; moreover, how can I respect her judgment, +or be guided by her counsel, whose constant aim has been to thwart my +feeble efforts after truth and wisdom, and to pamper all ill growths in +my unhappy brother Julian? No, Emily; I am a man now, and take my own +advice. If a parent forbade me, indeed, and reasonably, it would be fit +to acquiesce; but knowing, as I <a name="Page_41" id="Page_41"></a>have sad cause to know, that none but +you, my love, will be sorry for my absence, as for your sake alone that +absence is designed, I need take counsel only of us who are here +present—your own sweet eyes, myself, and God who seeth us."</p> + +<p>"True—most true, dear Charles; I knew that you judged rightly."</p> + +<p>"Moreover, Emmy, secresy is needful for the due fulfilment of my +purpose." (Charles little thought how congenial to his nature was that +same secresy.) "None but you must know where I am, or whither I am gone. +For if there really is any mystery which the general would conceal from +us, be assured he both could and would frustrate all my efforts if he +knew of my design. The same ship that carried me out would convey an +emissary from him, and nurse Mackie never could be found by me. I must +go then secretly, and, for our peace sake, soon; how dear to me that +embassy will be, entirely undertaken in my darling Emmy's cause!"</p> + +<p>"But—but, Charles, what if Julian, in your absence—"</p> + +<p>"Hark, my own betrothed! while I am near you—and I say it not of +threat, but as in the sight of One who has privileged me to be your +protector—you are safe from any serious vexation; and the moment I am +gone, fly to my father, tell him openly your fears, and he will scatter +Julian's insolence to the winds of heaven."</p> + +<p>"Thank you—thank you, wise dear Charles; you have lifted a load from my +poor, weak, woman's heart, that had weighed it down too heavily. I will +trust in God more, and dread Julian less. Oh! how I will pray for you +when far away."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h3><a name="CHAPTER_X" id="CHAPTER_X"></a>CHAPTER X.</h3> + +<h4>AUNT GREEN'S LEGACY.</h4> + + +<p><span class="smcap">At</span> last—at last, Mrs. Green fell ill, and, hard upon the over-ripe age +of eighty-seven, seemed likely to drop into the grave—to the +unspeakable delight of her expectant relatives. Sooth to say, niece +Jane, the soured and long-waiting legatee, had now for years been +treating the poor old woman very scurvily: she had lived too long, and +had grown to be a burden; notwithstanding that her ample income still +kept on the <a name="Page_42" id="Page_42"></a>house, and enabled the general to nurse his own East India +Bonds right comfortably. But still the old aunt would not die, and as +they sought not her, nor heir's (quite contrary to St. Paul's +disinterestedness), she was looked upon in the light of an incumbrance, +on her own property and in her own house. Mrs. Tracy longed to throw off +the yoke of dependance, and made small secret of the hatred of the +fetter: for the old woman grew so deaf and blind, that there could be no +risk at all, either in speaking one's mind, or in thoroughly neglecting +her.</p> + +<p>However, now that the harvest of hope appeared so near, the legatee +renewed her old attentions: Death was a guest so very welcome to the +house, that it is no wonder that his arrival was hourly expected with +buoyant cheerfulness, and a something in the mask of kindliness: but I +suspect that lamb-skin concealed a very wolf. So, Mrs. Tracy tenderly +inquired of the doctor, and the doctor shook his head; and other doctors +came to help, and shook their heads together. The patient still grew +worse—O, brightening prospect!—though, now and then, a cordial draught +seemed to revive her so alarmingly, that Mrs. Tracy affectionately +urging that the stimulants would be too exciting for the poor dear +sufferer's nerves, induced Dr. Graves to discontinue them. Then those +fearful scintillations in her lamp of life grew fortunately duller, and +the nurse was by her bed-side night and day; and the old aunt became +more and more peevish, and was more and more spoken of by the Tracy +family—in her possible hearing, as "that dear old soul"—out of it, +"that vile old witch."</p> + +<p>Charles, to be sure, was an exception in all this, as he ever was: for +he took on him the Christian office of reading many prayers to the poor +decaying creature, and (only that his father would not hear of such a +thing) desired to have the vicar to assist him. Emily also, full of +sympathy, and disinterested care, would watch the fretful patient, hour +after hour, in those long, dull nights of pain; and the poor, old, +perishing sinner loved her coming, for she spoke to her the words of +hope and resignation. Whether that sweet missionary, scarcely yet a +convert from her own dark creed—(Alas! the Amina had offered unto +Juggernaut, and Emily of the strong hill-fort had scarcely heard of any +truer God; and the fair girl was a woman-grown before, in her first +earthly love, she also came to know the mercies Heaven has in store for +us)—whether unto any lasting use she prayed and reasoned with that +hard, dried heart, none but the Omniscient can tell. Let us hope: let us +hope; for the fretful voice was stilled, and the cloudy forehead +brightened, and the hag<a name="Page_43" id="Page_43"></a>gard eyes looked cheerfully to meet the +inevitable stroke of death. Thus in wisdom and in charity, in patience +and in faith, that gentle pair of lovers comforted the dying soul.</p> + +<p>However, days rolled away, and Aunt Green lingered on still, tenaciously +clinging unto life: until one morning early, she felt so much better, +that she insisted on being propped up by pillows, and seeing all the +household round her bed to speak to them. So up came every one, in no +small hope of legacies, and what the lawyers call "<i>donationes mortis +causâ</i>."</p> + +<p>The general was at her bed's-head, with, I am ashamed to say, perhaps +unconsciously, a countenance more ridiculous than lugubrious; though he +tried to subdue the buoyancy of hope and to put on looks of decent +mourning; on the other side, the long-expectant legatee, Niece Jane, +prudently concealed her questionable grief behind a scented +pocket-handkerchief. Julian held somewhat aloof, for the scene was too +depressing for his taste: so he affected to read a prayer-book, wrong +way up, with his tongue in his cheek: Charles, deeply solemnized at the +near approach of death, knelt at the poor invalid's bedside; and Emily +stood by, leaning over her, suffused in tears. At the further corners of +the bed, might be seen an old servant or two; and Mrs. Green's butler +and coachman, each a forty years' fixture, presented their gray heads at +the bottom of the room, and really looked exceedingly concerned.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Green addressed them first, in her feeble broken manner: +"Grant—and John—good and faithful—thank you—thank you both; and you +too, kind Mrs. Lloyd, and Sally, and nurse—what's-your-name: give them +the packets, nurse—all marked—first drawer, desk: there—there—God +bless you—good—faithful."</p> + +<p>The old servants, full of sorrow at her approaching loss, were comforted +too: for a kind word, and a hundred pound note a-piece, made amends for +much bereavement: the sick-nurse found her gift was just a tithe of +their's, and recognised the difference both just and kind.</p> + +<p>"Niece Jane—you've waited—long—for—this day: my will—rewards you."</p> + +<p>"O dear—dear aunt, pray don't talk so; you'll recover yet, pray—pray +don't:" she pretended to drown the rest in sorrow, but winked at her +husband over the handkerchief.</p> + +<p>"Julian!" (the precious youth attempted to look miserable, and came as +called,) "you will find—I have remembered—you, Julian." So he winked, +too, at his mother, and tried to blubber a "thank you."</p> + +<p><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44"></a>"Charles—where's Charles? give me your hand, Charles dear—let me feel +your face: here, Charles—a little pocket-book—good lad—good lad. +There's Emily, too—dear child, she came—too late—I forgot her—I +forgot her! general give her half—half—if you love—love—Emi—"</p> + +<p>All at once her jaw dropped; her eyes, which had till now been +preternaturally bright, filmed over; her head fell back upon the pillow; +and the rich old aunt was dead.</p> + +<p>Julian gave a shout that might have scared the parting spirit!</p> + +<p>Really, the general was shocked, and Mrs. Tracy too; and the servants +murmured "shame—shame!" poor Charles hid his face; Emily looked up +indignantly; but Julian asked, with an oath, "Where's the good of being +hypocrites?" and then added, "now, mother, let us find the will."</p> + +<p>Then the nurse went to close the dim glazed eyes; and the other +sorrowing domestics slunk away; and Charles led Emily out of the chamber +of death, saddened and shocked at such indecent haste.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile, the hopeful trio rummaged every drawer—tumbled out the +mingled contents of boxes, desk, and escritoire—still, no will—no +will: and at last the nurse, who more than once had muttered, "Shame on +you all," beneath her breath, said,</p> + +<p>"If you want the will, it's under her pillow: but don't disturb her yet, +poor thing!"</p> + +<p>Julian's rude hand had already thrust aside the lifeless, yielding head, +and clutched the will: the father and mother—though humbled and +wonder-stricken at his daring—gathered round him; and he read aloud, +boldly and steadily to the end, though with scowling brow, and many +curses interjectional:</p> + +<p>"<span class='smcap'>In</span> the name of God, Amen. I, Constance Green, make this my last will +and testament. Forasmuch as my niece, Jane Tracy, has watched and waited +for my death these two-and-twenty years, I leave her all the shoes, +slippers, and goloshes, whereof I may happen to die possessed: item, I +leave Julian, her son, my '<i>Whole Duty of Man</i>,' convinced that he is +deficient in it all: item, I confirm all the gifts which I intend to +make upon my death-bed: item, forasmuch as General Tracy, my niece's +husband, on his return from abroad, greeted me with much affection, I +bequeath and give to him five thousand pounds' worth of Exchequer bills, +now in my banker's hands; and appoint him my sole executor. As to my +landed property, it will all go, in course of law, to my heir, <a name="Page_45" id="Page_45"></a>Samuel +Hayley, and may he and his long enjoy it. And as to the remainder of my +personal effects, including nine thousand pounds bank stock, my Dutch +fives, and other matters, whereof I may die possessed (seeing that my +relatives are rich enough without my help), I give and bequeath the +same, subject as hereinbefore stated, to the trustees, for the time +being, of the Westminster Lying-in Hospital, in trust, for the purposes +of that charitable institution. In witness whereof, I have hereunto set +my hand and seal this 13th day of May, 1840.</p> + +<p class='author'>"<span class='smcap'>Constance Green.</span>"</p> + +<p>"Duly signed, sealed, and delivered! d——nation!" was Julian's brief +epilogue—"General, let's burn it."</p> + +<p>"You can if you please, Mr. Julian," interposed the nurse, who had +secretly enjoyed all this, "and if you like to take the consequences; +but, as each of the three witnesses has the will sealed up in copy, and +the poor deceased there took pains to sign them all, perhaps—"</p> + +<p>This settled the affair: and the discomfited expectants made a +precipitate retreat. As the general, however, got vastly more than he +expected, for his individual merits; and seeing that he loved Emily as +much as he hated both Julian and his wife, he really felt well-pleased +upon the whole, and took on him the duties of executor with +cheerfulness. So they buried Aunt Green as soon as might be.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h3><a name="CHAPTER_XI" id="CHAPTER_XI"></a>CHAPTER XI.</h3> + +<h4>PREPARATIONS AND DEPARTURE.</h4> + + +<p><span class="smcap">Charles's</span> pocket-book was full of clean bank notes, fifteen hundred +pounds' worth: it contained also a diamond ring, and a lock of silvery +hair; the latter a proof of affectionate sentiment in the kind old soul, +that touched him at the heart.</p> + +<p>"And now, my Emmy, the way is clear to us; Providence has sent me this, +that I may right you, dearest: and it will be wise in us to say nothing +of our plans. Avoid inquiries—for I did not say conceal or falsify +facts: but, while none but you, love, heed of my departure, and while I +go for our sakes alone, we need not invite disappointment by +open-<a name="Page_46" id="Page_46"></a>mouthed publicity. To those who love me, Emmy, I am frank and +free; but with those who love us not, there is a wisdom and a justice in +concealment. They do not deserve confidence, who will not extend to us +their sympathy. None but yourself must know whither I am bound; and, +after some little search for curiosity's sake, when a week is past and +gone, no soul will care for me of those at home. With you, I will manage +to communicate by post, directing my letters to Mrs. Sainsbury, at +Oxton: I will prepare her for it. She knows my love for you, and how +they try to thwart us; but even she, however trustworthy, need not be +told my destination yet awhile, until 'India' appears upon the +post-mark. How glad will you be, dearest one, how happy in our +secret—to read my heart's own thoughts, when I am far away—far away, +clearing up mine Emmy's cares, and telling her how blessed I feel in +ministering to her happiness!"</p> + +<p>Such was the substance of their talk, while counting out the +pocket-book.</p> + +<p>Charles's remaining preparations were simple enough, now his purse was +flush of money: he resolved upon taking from his home no luggage +whatever: preferring to order down, from an outfitting house in London, +a regular kit of cadet's necessaries, to wait for him at the Europe +Hotel, Plymouth, on a certain day in the ensuing week. So that, burdened +only with his Emmy's miniature, and his pocket-book of bank notes, he +might depart quietly some evening, get to Plymouth in a prëconcerted +way, by chaise or coach, before the morrow morning; thence, a boat to +meet the ship off-shore, and then—hey, for the Indies!</p> + +<p>It was as well-devised a scheme as could possibly be planned; though its +secresy, especially with a mother in the case, may be a moot point as to +the abstract moral thereof: nevertheless, concretely, the only heart his +so mysterious absence would have pained, was made aware of all: then, +again, secresy had been the atmosphere of his daily life, the breath of +his education; and he too sorely knew his mother would rejoice at the +departure, and Julian, too—all the more certainly, as both brothers +were now rivals professed for the hand of Emily Warren: as to the +general, he might, or he might not, smoke an extra cheroot in the +excitement of his wonder; and if he cared about it anyways more +tragically than tobacco might betray, Emily knew how to comfort him.</p> + +<p>With respect to other arrangements, Emmy furnished Charles with letters +to certain useful people at Madras, and in particular to the "somebody" +who looked after Mrs. Mackie: so, the mystery was easy of access, and he +doubted not of overcoming, on the spot, every unseen dif<a name="Page_47" id="Page_47"></a>ficulty. The +plan of leaving all luggage behind, a capital idea, would enable him to +go forth freely and unshackled, with an ordinary air, in hat and +great-coat, as for an evening's walk; and was quite in keeping with the +natural reserve of his whole character—a bad habit of secresy, which he +probably inherited from his father, the lieutenant of old times. And +yet, for all the wisdom, and mystery, and shrewd settling of the plan, +its accomplishment was as nearly as possible most fatally defeated.</p> + +<p>The important evening arrived; for the Indiaman—it was our old friend +Sir William Elphinston—would be off Plymouth, next morning: the goods +had been, for a day or two, safely deposited at the Europe, as per +invoice, all paid: the lovers, in this last, this happiest, yet by far +the saddest of their stolen interviews, had exchanged vows and kisses, +and upon the beach, beneath those friendly cliffs, had commended one +another to their Father in heaven. They had returned to the unsocial +circle of home; all was fixed; the clock struck nine: and Charles, +accidentally squeezing Emily's hand, rose to leave the tea-table.</p> + +<p>"Where are you going, Mr. Charles?"</p> + +<p>"I am going out, Julian."</p> + +<p>"Thank you, sir! I knew that, but whither? General, I say, here's +Charles going to serenade somebody by moonlight."</p> + +<p>The brandy-sodden parent, scarcely conscious, said something about his +infernal majesty; and, "What then?—let him go, can't you?"</p> + +<p>"Well, Julian dear, perhaps your brother will not mind your going with +him; particularly as Emily stays at home with me."</p> + +<p>This Mrs. Tracy spoke archly, intended as a hint to induce Julian to +remain: but he had other thoughts—and simply said, in an ill-tempered +tone of voice, "Done, Charles."</p> + +<p>It was a dilemma for our escaping hero; but glancing a last look at +Emily, he departed, and walked on some way as quietly as might be with +Julian by his side: thinking, perhaps, he would soon be tired; and +suffering him to fancy, if he would, that Charles was bound either on +some amorous pilgrimage, or some charitable mission. But they left +Burleigh behind them—and got upon the common—and passed it by, far out +of sight and out of hearing—and were skirting the high banks of the +darkly-flowing Mullet—and still there was Julian sullenly beside him. +In vain Charles had tried, by many gentle words, to draw him into common +conversation: Julian would not speak, or only gave utterance to some +hinted phrase of insult: his brow was even darker than usual, and night +was coming on apace, and he still tramped steadily <a name="Page_48" id="Page_48"></a>along beside his +brother, digging his sturdy stick into the clay, for very spite's sake. +At length, as they yet walked along the river's side in that +unfrequented place, Julian said, on a sudden, in a low strange tone, as +if keeping down some rising rage within him,</p> + +<p>"Mr. Charles, you love Emily Warren."</p> + +<p>"Well, Julian, and who can help loving her?"</p> + +<p>It was innocently said; but still a maddening answer, for he loved her +too.</p> + +<p>"And, sirrah," the brother hoarsely added, "she—she does not—does +not—hate you, sir, as I do."</p> + +<p>"My good Julian, pray do not be so violent; I cannot help it if the dear +girl loves me."</p> + +<p>"But I can, though!" roared Julian, with an oath, and lifted up his +stick—it was nearer like a club—to strike his brother.</p> + +<p>"Julian, Julian, what are you about? Good Heavens! you would not—you +dare not—give over—unhand me, brother; what have I done, that you +should strike me? Oh! leave me—leave me—pray."</p> + +<p>"Leave you? I will leave you!" the villain almost shouted, and smote him +to the ground with his lead-loaded stick. It was a blow that must have +killed him, but for the interposing hat, now battered down upon his +bleeding head. Charles, at length thoroughly aroused, though his foe +must be a brother, struggled with unusual strength in self-preserving +instinct, wrested the club from Julian's hand, and stood on the +defensive.</p> + +<p>Julian was staggered: and, after a moment's irresolution, drawing a +pistol from his pocket, said, in a terribly calm voice,</p> + +<p>"Now, sir! I have looked for such a meeting many days—alone, by night, +with you! I would not willingly draw trigger, for the noise might bring +down other folks upon us, out of Oxton yonder: but, drop that stick, or +I fire."</p> + +<p>Charles was noble enough, without another word, to fling the club into +the river: it was not fear of harm, but fear of sin, that made him trust +himself defenceless to a brother, a twin-brother, in the dark: he could +not be so base, a murderer, a fratricide! Oh! most unhallowed thought! +Save him from this crime, good God! Then, instantaneously reflecting, +and believing he decided for the best, when he saw the ruffian glaring +on him with exulting looks, as upon an unarmed rival at his mercy, with +no man near to stay the deed, and none but God to see it, Charles +resolved to seek safety from so terrible a death in flight.</p> + +<p>Oxton was within one mile; and, clearly, this was not like flying from +<a name="Page_49" id="Page_49"></a>danger as a coward, but fleeing from attempted crime, as a brother and +a Christian. Julian snatched at him to catch him as he passed: and, +failing in this, rushed after him. It was a race for life! and they went +like the wind, for two hundred yards, along that muddy high-banked walk.</p> + +<p>Suddenly, Charles slipped upon the clay, that he fell; and Julian, with +a savage howl, leapt upon him heavily.</p> + +<p>Poor youth, he knew that death was nigh, and only uttered, "God forgive +you, brother! oh, spare me—or, if not me, spare yourself—Julian, +Julian!"</p> + +<p>But the monster was determined. Exerting the whole force of his +herculean frame, he seized his scarce-resisting victim as he lay, and, +lifting him up like a child, flung his own twin-brother head foremost +into that darkly-flowing current!</p> + +<p>There was one piercing cry—a splash—a struggle; and again nothing +broke upon the silent night, but the murmur of that swingeing tide, as +the Mullet hurried eddying to the sea.</p> + +<p>Julian listened a minute or two, flung some stones at random into the +river, and then hastily ran back to Burleigh, feeling like a Cain.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h3><a name="CHAPTER_XII" id="CHAPTER_XII"></a>CHAPTER XII.</h3> + +<h4>THE ESCAPE.</h4> + + +<p><span class="smcap">But</span> the overruling hand of Him whose aid that victim had invoked, was +now stretched forth to save! and the strong-flowing tide, that ran too +rapidly for Charles to sink in it, was commissioned from on High to +carry him into an angle of that tortuous stream, where he clung by +instinct to the bushes. Silence was his wisdom, while the murderer was +near: and so long as Julian's footsteps echoed on the banks, Charles +stirred not, spoke not, but only silently thanked God for his wonderful +deliverance. However, the footsteps quickly died away, though heard far +off clattering amid the still and listening night; and Charles, +thankfully, no less than cautiously, drew himself out of the stream, +very little harmed beyond a drenching: for the waters had recovered him +at once from the effects of that desperate blow.</p> + +<p>It was with a sense of exultation, freedom, independence, that he now +<a name="Page_50" id="Page_50"></a>hastened scatheless on his way; dripping garments mattered nothing, nor +mud, nor the loss of his demolished hat: the pocket-book was safe, and +Emmy's portrait, (how he kissed it, then!) and luckily a travelling cap +was in his great-coat pocket: so with a most buoyant feeling of animal +delight, as well as of religious gratitude, he sped merrily once more +upon his secret expedition. Thank Heaven! Emmy could not know the peril +he had past: and wretched Julian would now have dreadful reason of his +own for this mysterious absence: and it was a pleasant thing to trudge +along so freely in the starlight, on the private embassy of love. Happy +Charles! I know not if ever more exhilarated feelings blessed the youth; +they made him trip along the silent road, in a gush of joyfulness, at +the rate of some six miles an hour; I know not if ever such delicious +thoughts of Emily's attachment, and those gorgeous mysteries in India, +of adventure, enterprise, escape, had heretofore caused his heart to +bound so lightsomely within him, like some elastic spring. I know not if +ever strong reliance upon Providential care, more earnest prayers, +praises, intercessions (for poor Julian, too,) were offered on the altar +of his soul. Happy Charles!</p> + +<p>So he went on and on—long past Oxton, and Eyemouth, and Surbiton, and +over the ferry, and through the sleeping turnpikes, and past the bridge, +and along the broad high-road, until gray of morning's dawn revealed the +suburbs of Plymouth.</p> + +<p>Of course he missed the mail by which he intended to have gone—for +Julian's dread act delayed him.</p> + +<p>Long before his journey's end, his clothes were thoroughly dried, and +violent exercise had shaken off all possible rheumatic consequence of +that fearful plunge beneath the waters: five-and-twenty miles in four +hours and three-quarters, is a tolerable recipe for those who have +tumbled into rivers. We must recollect that he had gone as quick as he +could, for fear of being late, now the coach had passed. At a little +country inn, he brushed, and washed, and made toilet as well as he was +able, took a glass of good Cognac, both hot and strong; and felt more of +a man than ever.</p> + +<p>Then, having loitered awhile, and well-remembered Emily in his prayers, +at about eight in the morning he presented himself among his luggage at +the Europe in gentlemanly trim, and soon got all on board the pilot +boat, to meet the Indiaman just outside the breakwater. We may safely +leave him there, happy, hopeful Charles! Sanguine for the future, +exulting in the present, and thankful for the past: already has <a name="Page_51" id="Page_51"></a>he +poured out all his joys before that Friend who loves her too, and +invoked His blessing on a scheme so well designed, so providentially +accomplished.</p> + +<p>I had almost forgotten Julian: wretched, hardened man, and how fared he? +The moment he had flung his brother into that dark stream, and the +waters closed above him greedily that he was gone—gone for ever, he +first threw in stones to make a noise like life upon the stream, but +that cheatery was only for an instant: he was alone—a murderer, alone! +the horrors of silence, solitude, and guilt, seized upon him like three +furies: so his quick retreating walk became a running; and the running +soon was wild and swift for fear; and ever as he ran, that piercing +scream came upon the wind behind, and hooted him: his head swam, his +eyes saw terrible sights, his ears heard terrible sounds—and he scoured +into quiet, sleeping Burleigh like a madman. However, by some strange +good luck, not even did the slumbering watchman see him: so he got +in-doors as usual with the latch-key (it was not the first time he had +been out at night), crept up quietly, and hid himself in his own +chamber.</p> + +<p>And how did he spend those hours of guilty solitude? in terrors? in +remorse? in misery? Not he: Julian was too wise to sit and think, and in +the dark too; but he lit both reading lamps to keep away the gloom, and +smoked and drank till morning's dawn to stupify his conscience.</p> + +<p>Then, to make it seem all right, he went down to breakfast as usual, +though any thing but sober, and met unflinchingly his mother's natural +question—</p> + +<p>"Good morning, Julian—where's Charles?"</p> + +<p>"How should I know, mother; isn't he up yet?"</p> + +<p>"No, my dear; and what is more, I doubt if he came home last night."</p> + +<p>"Hollo, Master Charles! pretty doings these, Mr. Sabbath-teacher! so he +slept out, eh, mother?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know—but where did you leave him, Julian?"</p> + +<p>"Who! I? did I go out with him? Oh! yes, now I recollect: let's see, we +strolled together midway to Oxton, and, as he was going somewhat +further, there I left him?"</p> + +<p>How true the words, and yet how terribly false their meaning!</p> + +<p>"Dear me, that's very odd—isn't it, general?"</p> + +<p>"Not at all, ma'am—not at all; leave the lad alone, he'll be back by +dinner-time: I didn't think the boy had so much spirit."</p> + +<p>Emily, to whom the general's hint was Greek, looked up cheerfully and in +her own glad mind chuckled at her Charles's bold adventure.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52"></a>But the day passed, off, and they sent out men to seek for him: and +another—and all Burleigh was a-stir: and another—and the coast-guards +from Lyme to Plymouth Sound searched every hole and corner: and +another—when his mother wept five minutes: and another—when the wonder +was forgotten.</p> + +<p>However, they did not put on mourning for the truant: he might turn up +yet: perhaps he was at Oxford.</p> + +<p>Emily had not much to do in comforting the general for his dear son's +loss; it clearly was a gain to him, and he felt far freer than when +wisdom's eye was on him. Charles had been too keen for father, mother, +and brother; too good, too amiable: he saw their ill, condemned it by +his life, and showed their dark too black against his brightness. The +unnatural deficiency of mother's love had not been overrated: Julian had +all her heart; and she felt only obliged to the decamping Charles for +leaving Emily so free and clear to his delightful brother. She never +thought him dead: death was a repulsive notion at all times to her: no +doubt he would turn up again some day. And Julian joked with her about +that musty proverb "a bad penny."</p> + +<p>As to our dear heroine, she never felt so happy in all her life before +as now, even when her Charles had been beside her; for within a day of +his departure he had written her a note full of affection, hope, and +gladness; assuring her of his health, and wealth, and safe arrival on +board the Indiaman. The noble-hearted youth never said one single word +about his brother's crime: but he did warn his Emmy to keep close beside +the general. This note she got through Mrs. Sainsbury; that invalid lady +at Oxton, who never troubled herself to ask or hear one word beyond her +own little world—a certain physic-corner cupboard.</p> + +<p>And thou—poor miserable man—thou fratricide in mind—and to thy best +belief in act, how drags on now the burden of thy life? For a day or +two, spirits and segars muddled his brain, and so kept thoughts away: +but within a while they came on him too piercingly, and Julian writhed +beneath those scorpion stings of hot and keen remorse: and when the +coast-guards dragged the Mullet, how that caitiff trembled! and when +nothing could be found, how he wondered fearingly! The only thing the +wretched man could do, was to loiter, day after day, and all day long, +upon the same high path which skirts the tortuous stream. Fascinated +there by hideous recollections, he could not leave the spot for hours: +and his soft-headed, romantic mother, noticing these deep abstractions, +blessed him—for her Julian was now in love with Emily.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53"></a></p> +<h3><a name="CHAPTER_XIII" id="CHAPTER_XIII"></a>CHAPTER XIII.</h3> + +<h4>NEWS OF CHARLES.</h4> + + +<p><span class="smcap">Ay</span>—in love with Emily! Fiercely now did Julian pour his thoughts that +way; if only hoping to forget murder in another strong excitement. +Julian listened to his mother's counsels; and that silly, cheated woman +playfully would lean upon his arm, like a huge, coy confidante, and fill +his greedy ears (that heard her gladly for very holiday's sake from +fearful apprehensions), with lover's hopes, lover's themes, his Emily's +perfection. Delighted mother—how proud and pleased was she! quite in +her own element, fanning dear Julian's most sentimental flame, and +scheming for him interviews with Emily.</p> + +<p>It required all her skill—for the girl clung closely to her guardian: +he, unconscious Argus, never tired of her company; and she, remembering +dear Charles's hint, and dreading to be left alone with Julian, would +persist to sit day after day at her books, music, or needle-work in the +study, charming General Tracy by her pretty Hindoo songs. With him she +walked out, and with him she came in; she would read to him for hours, +whether he snored or listened; and, really, both mother and son were +several long weeks before their scheming could come to any thing. A +<i>tête-à-tête</i> between Julian and Emily appeared as impossible to manage, +as collision between Jupiter and Vesta.</p> + +<p>However, after some six weeks of this sort of mining and counter-mining +(for Emily divined their wishes), all on a sudden one morning the +general received a letter that demanded his immediate presence for a day +or two in town; something about prize-money at Puttymuddyfudgepoor. +Emily was too high-spirited, too delicate in mind, to tell her guardian +of fears which never might be realized; and so, with some forebodings, +but a cheerful trust, too, in a Providence above her, she saw the +general off without a word, though not without a tear; he too, that +stern, close man, was moved: it was strange to see them love each other +so.</p> + +<p>The moment he was gone, she discreetly kept her chamber for the day, on +plea of sickness; she had cried very heartily to see him leave her—he +had never yet left her once since she could recollect—and thus she +really had a head-ache, and a bad one.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55"></a>Julian Tracy gave such a start, that he knocked off a cheffonier of +rare china and glass standing at his elbow; and the smash of mandarins +and porcelain gods would have been enough, at any other time, to have +driven his mother crazy.</p> + +<p>"Charles alive?" shouted he.</p> + +<p>"Yes, Julian—why not? You saw him off, you know: cannot you remember?"</p> + +<p>Now to that guilty wretch's mind the fearful notion instantaneously +occurred, that Emily Warren was in some strange, wild way bantering him; +she knew his dreadful secret—"he <i>had</i> seen him off." He trembled like +an aspen as she looked on him.</p> + +<p>"Oh yes, he remembered, certainly; but—but where was her letter?"</p> + +<p>"Never mind that, Julian; you surely would not read another person's +letters, Monsieur le Chevalier Bayard?"</p> + +<p>Emily was as gay at heart that morning as a sky-lark, and her innocent +pleasantry proved her strongest shield. Julian dared not ask to see the +letter—scarcely dared to hope she had one, and yet did not know what to +think. As to any love scene now, it was quite out of the question, +notwithstanding all his mother's hints and management; a new exciting +thought entirely filled him: was he a Cain, a fratricide, or not? was +Charles alive after all? And, for once in his life, Julian had some +repentant feelings; for thrilling hope was nigh to cheer his gloom.</p> + +<p>It really seemed as if Emily, sweet innocent, could read his inmost +thoughts. "At any rate," observed she, playfully, "Bayard may take the +postman's privilege, and see the outside."</p> + +<p>With that, she produced the ship-letter that had put her in such +spirits, legibly dated some twenty-two days ago. Yes, Charles's hand, +sure enough! Julian could swear to it among a thousand. And he fainted +dead away.</p> + +<p>What an astonishing event! how Mrs. Tracy praised her noble-spirited +boy! How the bells rang! and hot water, and cold water, and salts, and +rubbings, and <i>eau de Cologne</i>, and all manner of delicate attentions, +long sustained, at length contributed to Julian's restoration. Moreover, +even Emily was agreeably surprised; she had never seen him in so amiable +a light before; this was all feeling, all affection for his brother—her +dear—dear Charles. And when Mrs. Tracy heard what Emily said of +Julian's feeling heart, she became positively triumphant; not half so +much at Charles's safety, and all that, as at Julian's burst of feeling. +She was quite right, after all; he was worthy to be her favour<a name="Page_56" id="Page_56"></a>ite, and +she felt both flattered and obliged to him for fainting dead away. +"Yes—yes, my dear Miss Warren, depend upon it Julian has fine feelings, +and a good heart." And Emily began to condemn both Charles and herself +for lack of charity, and to think so too.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h3><a name="CHAPTER_XIV" id="CHAPTER_XIV"></a>CHAPTER XIV.</h3> + +<h4>THE TETE-A-TETE.</h4> + + +<p><span class="smcap">No</span> sooner had "dear Julian" recovered, which he really had not quite +accomplished until the day had begun to wear away (so great a shock had +that intelligence of Charles been to his guilty mind), than the +gratified and prudent mother fancied this a famous opportunity to leave +the young couple to themselves. It was after dinner, when they had +retired to the drawing-room; and I will say that Emily had never seemed +so favourably disposed towards that rough, but generous, heart before. +So then, on some significant pretence, well satisfied her favourite was +himself again, as bold, and black, and boisterous as ever, the masculine +mother kissed her hand to them, as a fat fairy might be supposed to do, +and operatically tripped away, coyly bidding Emily "take care of Julian +till she should come back again."</p> + +<p>The momentary gleam of good which glanced across that bad man's heart +has faded away hours ago; his repentant thoughts had been occasioned +more from the sudden relief he experienced at running now no risks for +having murdered, than for any better feeling towards his brother, or any +humbler notions of himself. Nay, a strong rëaction occurred in his ideas +the moment he had seen his brother's writing; and when he fainted, he +fainted from the struggle in his mind of manifold exciting causes, such +as these:—hatred, jealousy, what he called love, though a lower name +befitted it, and vexation that his brother was—not dead. Oh mother, +mother! if your poor weak head had but been wise enough to read that +heart, would you still have loved it as you do? Alas—it is a deep +lesson in human nature this—she would! for Mrs. General Tracy was one +of those obstinate, yet superficial characters, whom no reason can +convince that they are wrong, no power can oblige to confess themselves +mistaken. She rejoiced to hear him called "her <a name="Page_57" id="Page_57"></a>very image;" and +predominant vanity in the large coquette extended to herself at +second-hand; self was her idol substance, and its delightful shadow was +this mother's son.</p> + +<p>The moment Mrs. Tracy left the room, Julian perceived his opportunity: +Charles, detested rival, far away at sea; the guardian gone to London; +Emily in an unusual flow of affability and kindness, and he—alone with +her. Rashly did he bask his soul in her delicious beauty, deliberately +drinking deep of that intoxicating draught. Giving the rein to passion, +he suffered that tumultuous steed to hurry him whither it would, in mad +unbridled course. He sat so long silently gazing at her with the +lack-lustre eyes of low and dull desire, that Emily, quite thrown off +her guard by that amiable fainting for his brother, addressed him in her +innocent kind-heartedness,</p> + +<p>"Are you not recovered yet, dear Julian?"</p> + +<p>The effect was instantaneous: scarcely crediting his ears that heard her +call him "dear," his eyes, that saw her winning smile upon him, he +started from his chair, and trembling with agitation, flung himself at +her feet, to Emily's unqualified astonishment.</p> + +<p>"Why, Julian, what's the matter?—unhand me, sir! let go!" (for he had +got hold of her wrist.)</p> + +<p>The passionate youth seized her hand—that one with Charles's ring upon +it—and would have kissed it wildly with polluting lips, had she not +shrieked suddenly "Help! help!"</p> + +<p>Instantly his other hand was roughly dashed upon her mouth—so roughly +that it almost knocked her backwards—and the blood flowed from her +wounded lip; but by a preternatural effort, the indignant Indian queen +hurled the ruffian from her, flew to the bell, and kept on ringing +violently.</p> + +<p>In less than half a minute all the household was around her, headed by +the startled Mrs. Tracy, who had all the while been listening in the +other drawing-room: butler, footmen, house-maids, ladies'-maids, cook, +scullions, and all rushed in, thinking the house was on fire.</p> + +<p>No need to explain by a word. Emily, radiant in imperial charms, stood, +like inspired Cassandra, flashing indignation from her eyes at the +cowering caitiff on the floor. The mother, turning all manner of +colours, dropped on her knees to "poor Julian's" assistance, affecting +to believe him taken ill. But Emily Warren, whose insulted pride +vouchsafed not a word to that guilty couple, soon undeceived all +parties, by addressing the butler in a voice tremulous and broken—</p> + +<p><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58"></a>"Mr. Saunders—be so good—as to go—to Sir Abraham Tamworth's—in the +square—and request of him—a night's—protection—for a +poor—defenceless, insulted woman!"</p> + +<p>She could hardly utter the last words for choking tears: but immediately +battling down her feelings, added, with the calmness of a heroine—</p> + +<p>"You are a father, Mr. Saunders—set all this before Sir Abraham +strongly, but delicately.</p> + +<p>"Footmen! so long as that wretch is in the room, protect me, as you are +men."</p> + +<p>And the stately beauty placed herself between the two liveried lacqueys, +as Zenobia in the middle of her guards.</p> + +<p>"Marguerite!"—the pretty little Française tripped up to her—"wipe this +blood from my face."</p> + +<p>Beautiful, insulted creature! I thought that I looked upon some wounded +Boadicea, with her daughters extracting the arrow from her cheek.</p> + +<p>"And now, kind Charlotte, fetch my cloak; and follow me to Prospect +House, with what I may require for the night. Till the general's return, +I stay not here one minute."</p> + +<p>Then, without a syllable, or a look of leave-taking, the wise and noble +girl—doubtless unconsciously remembering her early Hindoo braveries, +the lines of matchlock men, the bowing slaves, the processions, and her +jewelled state of old—marched away in magnificent beauty, accompanied +in silence by the whole astonished household.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Tracy and her son were left alone: the silly, silly mother thought +him "hardly used." Julian, whose natural effrontery had entirely +deserted him, looked like what he was—a guilty coward: and the mother, +who had pampered up her "fine high-spirited son" to his full-grown +criminality by a foolish education, really—when she had time to think +of any thing but him—was excessively frightened. The general would be +back to-morrow, and then—and then!—she dreaded to picture that +explosion of his wrath.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59"></a></p> +<h3><a name="CHAPTER_XV" id="CHAPTER_XV"></a>CHAPTER XV.</h3> + +<h4>SATISFACTION.</h4> + + +<p><span class="smcap">Sir Abraham Tamworth</span>, G.C.B.—a fine old Admiral of the White, who +somewhat looked down upon the rank of General, H.E.I.C.S.—was +astonished, as well he might be, at Mr. Saunders, and his message: and, +of course, most gladly acquiesced in acting as poor Emily's protector. +Accordingly, however jealous Lady Tamworth and her daughters might +heretofore have felt of that bright beauty at the balls, they were now +all genuine sympathy, indignation, and affection. Emily, I need hardly +say, went straight up stairs to have her cry out.</p> + +<p>"Whom are you writing to, George, in such a hurry?" asked the admiral, +of a fine moustachioed son, George St. Vincent Tamworth, of the Royal +Horse Guards, who had just got six months' leave of absence for the sake +of marriage with his cousin.</p> + +<p>The gallant soldier tossed a billet to his father, who mounted his +spectacles, and quietly read it at the lamp.</p> + +<p>"Captain Tamworth desires Mr. Julian Tracy's company to-morrow morning, +at seven o'clock, in the third meadow on the Oxton road. The captain +brings a friend with him; also pistols and a surgeon; and he desires Mr. +Tracy to do the like: Prospect House, Thursday evening."</p> + +<p>"So, George, you consider him a gentleman, do you? I am afraid it's a +poor compliment to our fair young friend." And he quietly crumpled up +the challenge in his iron hand.</p> + +<p>"Really, sir!—you surprise me;—pardon me, but I will send that note: +mustn't I chastise the fellow for this insufferable outrage?"</p> + +<p>"No doubt, George, no doubt of it at all: when a lady is insulted, and a +man (not to say a queen's officer) stands by without taking notice of +it, he deserves whipping at the cart's-tail, and Coventry for life. I've +no patience, boy, with such mean meekness, as putting up with bullying +insolence when a woman's in the case. Let a man show moral courage, if +he can and will, in his own affront; I honour him who turns on his heel +from common personal insult, and only wish my own old blood was cool +enough to do so: but the mother, wife, and sister, ay, George, and the +poor defenceless one, be she lady, peasant, or menial, who comes to us +for safety in a woman's dress, we must take up their quarrel, or we are +not men!—"</p> + +<p><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60"></a>"Don't interrupt him, George," uxoriously suggested Lady Tamworth, +"your father hasn't done talking yet." For George was getting terribly +impatient; he knew, from sad experience, how much the admiral was given +to prosing. However, the oration soon proceeded to our captain's entire +satisfaction, after his progenitor had paused awhile for breath's sake +in his eloquence.</p> + +<p>"—Take up their quarrel, or we are not men. Nevertheless, boy, I cannot +see the need of pistols. The only conceivable case for violent redress, +is woman's wrong: and he who wrongs a woman, cannot be a gentleman; +therefore, ought not to be met on equal terms. For other causes of +duello, as hot-headed speeches, rudenesses, or slights, forgive, forbear +to fan the flame, and never be above apologizing: but in an outrage such +as this, let a fine-built fellow, such as you are, George (and the women +should show wisdom in their choice of champions), let a man, and a +queen's officer as you are, treat this brute, Julian Tracy, as a +martinet huntsman would a hound thrown out. As for me, boy, I'm going to +call on Mrs. Tracy at eleven o'clock to-morrow morning—and, without +presuming to advise a six foot two of a son, I think—I think, if I were +you, I would be dutiful enough to say—'Father, I will accompany +you—and take a horsewhip with me.'"</p> + +<p>"Agreed, agreed, sir!" replied the well-pleased son, and her ladyship +too vouchsafed her approbation.</p> + +<p>Emily had gone to bed long ago, or rather to her chamber; where the +three Misses Tamworth had been all kindness, curiosity, and consolation. +So, Sir Abraham and his lady, now the speech was finished, followed +their example of retirement: and the captain newly blood-knotted his +hunting-whip, <i>con amore</i>, not to say <i>con spirito</i>, overnight.</p> + +<p>Nobody will wonder to hear, that when the gallant representatives of +army and navy called next morning at number seven, Mrs. Tracy and her +son were "not at home:" and of course it would be far too Julian-like a +proceeding, for true gentleman to think of forcing their company on the +probably ensconced in-dwellers. Accordingly, they marched away, without +having deigned to leave a card; the captain taking on himself the duty +of perambulating sentinel, while his father proceeded to the library as +usual. Judge of the glad surprise, when, within ten minutes, our +vindictive George perceived the admiral coming back again, full-sail, +with the mother and son in tow, creeping amicably enough up the terrace. +Sir Abraham had given her his arm, and precious Mr. Julian was a little +in the rear: for the old folks were talking confidentially.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61"></a>George St. Vincent, placing his whip in the well-known position of +"Cane, a mystery," advanced to meet them; and, just after passing his +father, with whom he exchanged a very comfortable glance, discovered +that the heroic Julian, who had caught a glimpse of the ill-concealed +weapon, was slinking quickly round a corner to avoid him. It was +certainly undignified to run, but the gallant captain did run, +nevertheless and soon caught the coward by the collar.</p> + +<p>Then, at arm's length, was the hunting-whip applied, full-swing; up the +terrace, and down the parade, and through High-street, and Smith-street, +and Oxton-road, and aristocratical Pacton-square, and the well-thronged +plebeian market-place; lash, lash, lash, in furious and fast succession +on the writhing roaring culprit; to the universal excoriation of Mr. +Julian Tracy, and the amazement of an admiring and soon-collected +crowd—the rank, beauty, and fashion—of Burleigh Singleton. Julian was +strong indeed, and a coal-heaver in build, but conscience had unnerved +him; and the coarse noisy bully always is a coward: therefore, it was a +pleasant thing to see how easy came the captain's work to him—he had +nothing to do but to lash, lash, lash, double-thonged, like a +slave-driver: and, except that he made the caitiff move along, to be a +spectacle to man and woman, up and down the town, he might as well, for +any difficulty in the deed, have been employed in scarifying a +gate-post.</p> + +<p>At last, thoroughly exhausted with having inflicted as much punishment +as any three drummers at a soldier's whipping-match, and spying out his +"tiger" in the throng, our gallant Avenging Childe tossed the heavy whip +to the trim cockaded little man, that he might carry home that +instrument of vengeance, deliberately wiped his wet mustachios, and +giving Julian one last kick, let the fellow part in peace.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h3><a name="CHAPTER_XVI" id="CHAPTER_XVI"></a>CHAPTER XVI.</h3> + +<h4>HOW CHARLES FARED.</h4> + + +<p><span class="smcap">Having</span> thus found protectors for poor Emily, and disposed of her +assailant to the entire satisfaction of all mankind, let us turn +seawards, and take a look at Charles.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62"></a>Now, "no earthly power,"—as a certain ex-chancellor protested—shall +induce me to do so mean a thing as to open Charles's letters, and spread +them forth before the public gaze. Doubtless, they were all things +tender, warm, and eloquent; doubtless, they were tinted rosy hue, with +love's own blushes, and made glorious with the golden light of +unaffected piety. I only read them myself in a reflected way, by looking +into Emily's eyes; and I saw, from their ever-changing radiance, how +feelingly he told of his affections; how fervently he poured out all his +heart upon the page; how evidently tears and kisses had made many words +illegible; how wise, sanguine, happy, and religious, was her own devoted +Charles.</p> + +<p>Of the trivial incidents of voyaging, his letters said not much: though +cheerful and agreeable in his floating prison, with the various exported +marrying-maidens and transported civil officers, who constitute the +average bulk of Indian cargoes outward bound, Charles mixed but little +in their society, seldom danced, seldom smoked, seldom took a hand at +whist, or engaged in the conflicts of backgammon. Sharks, storms, +water-spouts; the meeting divers vessels, and exchanging post-bags; +tar-barrelled Neptune of the line, Cape Town with its mountain and the +Table-cloth, long-rolling seas; and similar common-places, Charles did +not think proper to enlarge upon: no more do I. Life is far too short +for all such petty details: and, more pointedly, a wire-drawn book is +the just abhorrence of a generous public.</p> + +<p>The letters came frequently: for Charles did little else all day but +write to Emmy, so as always to be ready with a budget for the next piece +of luck—a home-bound ship. He had many things to teach her yet, sweet +student; and it was a beautiful sight to see how her mind expanded as an +opening flower before the sun of tenderness and wisdom. Each letter, +both in writing and in reading, was the child of many prayers: and even +the loveliness of Emily grew more soft, more elevated, "as it had been +the face of an angel," when feeding in solitary joy on those effusions +of her lover's heart.</p> + +<p>Of course, he could not hear from her, until the overland mail might +haply bring him letters at Madras: so that, as our Irish friends would +say, with all her will to tell him of her love, "the reciprocity must +needs be all on one side." But Emily did write too; earnestly, happily: +and poured her very heart out in those eloquent burning words. I dare +say Charles will get the letter now within a day or two: for the roaring +surf of Madras is on the horizon, almost within sight.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63"></a>Nevertheless, before he gets there, and can read those +letters—precious, precious manuscripts—it will be my painful duty, as +a chronicler of (what might well be) truth, to put the reader in +possession of one little hint, which seemed likeliest to wreck the +happiness of these two children of affection.</p> + +<p>I am Emily's invisible friend: and as the dear girl ran to me one +morning, with tears in her eyes, to ask me what I thought of a certain +mysterious paragraph, I need not scruple to lay it straight before the +reader.</p> + +<p>At the end of a voluminous love-letter, which I really did not think of +prying into, occurred the following postscript, evidently written at the +last moment of haste.</p> + +<p>"Oh! my precious Emmy, I have just heard the most fearful rumour of ill +that could possibly befall us: the captain of our ship—you will +remember Captain Forbes, he knew you and the general well, he said—has +just assured me that—that—! I dare not, cannot write the awful words. +Oh! my own Emmy—Heaven grant you be my own!—pray, pray, as I will +night and day, that rumour be not true: for if it be, my love, both God +and man forbid us ever to meet again! How I wish I could explain it all, +or that I had never heard so much, or never written it here, and told it +you, though thus obscurely: for I can't destroy this letter now, the +ships are just parting company, and there is no time to write another. +Yet will I hope, love, against hope. Who knows? through God's good +mercy, it may all be cleared up still. If not—if not—strive to forget +for ever, your unhappy</p> +<p class='author'>"<span class='smcap'>Charles.</span></p> + +<p>"Perhaps—O, glorious thought!—Nurse Mackie may know better than the +captain, after all; and yet, he seems so positive: if he is right, there +is nothing for us both but Wo! Wo! Wo!"</p> + +<p>Now, to say plain truth, when Emily showed me this, I looked very blank +upon it. That Charles had heard some meddlesome report, which (if true) +was to be an insuperable barrier to their future union, struck me at a +glimpse. But I had not the heart to hint it to her; and only encouraged +hope—hope, in God's help, through the means of Mrs. Mackie and her +papers.</p> + +<p>As for the poor girl herself, she asked me, in much humility, and with +many sobs, if I did not fear that her Hindoo mystery was this:—she was +the vilest of the vile, a Pariah, an outcast, whose very presence is +contamination!</p> + +<p><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64"></a>Beautiful, loving, heavenly-hearted creature! so humble in the midst of +her majestic loveliness! how touching was the thought, that she thus +readily acquiesced in any the deepest humiliation holy Providence had +seen fit to send her; and though the sentence would have crushed her +happiness for ever, till the day of death, that she could still look up +and say, "Be it to thine handmaid even as thou wilt."</p> + +<p>As I had no better method of explaining the matter, and as her infantine +reminiscences and prejudices about caste were strong, I even let her +think so, if she would: it was a far better alternative than my own sad +thoughts about the business: and, however painful was the process, it +was something consolatory to observe, that this voluntary humiliation +mellowed and chastened her own character, subduing tropical fires, and +tempering the virgin gold by meekness.</p> + +<p>Oh! Charles, Charles, my poor fellow, "who have cast your all upon a +die, and must abide the issue of the throw," I most fervently hope that +gossiping Captain Forbes spoke falsely: it is a comfort to reflect that +the world is often very liberal in attributing the honours of paternity +to some who really do not deserve them. And if a rich old bachelor looks +kindly on a foundling, is it not pure malice on that sole account of +charity to hail him father? Besides—there's Nurse Mackie.—Speed to +Madras, poor youth, and keep your courage up.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h3><a name="CHAPTER_XVII" id="CHAPTER_XVII"></a>CHAPTER XVII.</h3> + +<h4>THE GENERAL'S RETURN.</h4> + + +<p><span class="smcap">In</span> a most unwonted flow of animal spirits, and an entire affability +which restored him at once to the rank of a communicative creature, +General Tracy came back on Friday night. He had met with marvellous +prosperity; for Hancock's had been paying off the prize-money; and his +own lion's share, as general, in the easy process of dethroning half a +dozen diamond-hilted rajahs and nabobs, amounted to something like four +lacs of rupees, nearly half a crore! Such a flush of wealth, and he was +rich already without it, exhilarated the bilious old gentleman so +strangely, that positive peonies were blooming in his cheeks; and, as if +this was not miracle enough, he had brought his wife as a <a name="Page_65" id="Page_65"></a>present +Maurice's '<i>Antiquities of India</i>,' gloriously bound, and had even been +so superfluous as to purchase a new pair of double-barrelled pistols for +Julian: the lad was a fine young fellow after all, and ought to be +encouraged in snuffing out a candle; as for Emily's <i>petit cadeau</i>, it +was a fifty guinea set of cameos, the choicest in their way that Howell +and James's had to show him. Moreover, he had sent a Bow-street officer +to Oxford, to make inquiries after Charles: actually, good fortune had +made him at once humanized and happy.</p> + +<p>So the chaise rattled up, and the general bounded out, and flew into the +arms of his wondering wife, as Paris might have flown to Helen, or +Leander to his heroine—the only feminine Hero, whom grammar recognises. +It was past eleven at night: therefore he did not think to ask for +Julian; no doubt the boy was gone to bed.</p> + +<p>Indeed, he had; and was tossing his wealed body, full of pains, and +aches, and bruises, as softly as he could upon the feather-bed: he had +need of poultices all over, and a quart of Friar's Balsam would have +done him little good: after his well-merited thrashing, the flogged +hound had slunk to his kennel, and locked himself sullenly in, without +even speaking to his mother. Tobacco-fumes exuded from the key-hole, and +I doubt not other creature-comforts lent the muddled man their aid.</p> + +<p>However, after the first rush of news to Mrs. Tracy, her lord, who had +every moment been expecting the door to fly open, and Emily to fall into +his arms—for strangely did they love each other—suddenly asked,</p> + +<p>"But, where's Emmy all this time! she knows I'm here?—not got to bed, +is she?—knew I was coming?—"</p> + +<p>"Oh! general, I'll tell you all about it to-morrow morning."</p> + +<p>"About what, madam? Great God! has any harm befallen the child? +Speak—speak, woman!"</p> + +<p>"Dear—dear—Oh! what shall I say?" sobbed the silly mother. +"Emily—Emily, poor dear Julian—"</p> + +<p>"What the devil, ma'am, of Julian?" The general turned white as a sheet, +and rang the bell, in singular calmness; probably for a dram of brandy. +Saunders answered it so instantly, that I rather suspect he was waiting +just outside.</p> + +<p>The moment Mrs. Tracy saw the gray-headed butler, anticipating all that +he might say, she brushed past him, and hurriedly ran up-stairs.</p> + +<p>"What's all this, Mr. Saunders? where's Miss Warren?" And the poor old +guardian seemed ready to faint at his reply: but he heard it out +patiently.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66"></a>"I am very sorry to say, general, that Miss Emily has been forced to +take refuge at Sir Abraham Tamworth's: but she's well, sir, and safe, +sir; quite well and safe," the good man hastened to say, "only I'm +afraid that Mr. Julian had been taking liberties with—"</p> + +<p>I dare not write the general's imprecation: then, as he clenched the +arms of his easy-chair, as with the grasp of the dying, he asked, in a +quick wild way—</p> + +<p>"But what was it?—what happened?"</p> + +<p>"Nothing to fear, sir—nothing at all, general;—I am thankful to say, +that all I saw, and all we all saw, was Miss Emily pulling at the +bell-rope with blood upon her face, and Mr. Julian on the floor: but I +took the young lady to Sir Abraham's immediately, general, at her own +desire."</p> + +<p>The father arose sternly; his first feeling was to kill Julian; but the +second, a far better one, predominated—he must go and see Emily at +once.</p> + +<p>So, faintly leaning on the butler's arm, the poor old man (whom a moiety +of ten minutes, with its crowding fears, had made to look some ten years +older,) proceeded to the square, and knocked up Sir Abraham at midnight, +and the admiral came down, half asleep, in dressing-gown and slippers, +vexed at having been knocked up from his warm berth so uncomfortably: it +put him sorely in remembrance of his hardships as a middy.</p> + +<p>"Kind neighbour, thank you, thank you; where's Emmy? take me to my +Emmy;" and the iron-hearted veteran wept like a driveller.</p> + +<p>Sir Abraham looked at him queerly: and then, in a cheerful, friendly +way, replied—</p> + +<p>"Dear general, do not be so moved: the girl's quite safe with us; you'll +see her to-morrow morning. All's right; she was only frightened, and +George has given the fellow a proper good licking: and the girl's a-bed, +you know; and, eh? what?"—</p> + +<p>For the poor old man, like one bereaved, said, supplicatingly—</p> + +<p>"In mercy take me to her—precious child!"</p> + +<p>"My dear sir—pray consider—it's impossible; fine girl, you know;—Lady +Tamworth, too—can't be, can't be, you know, general."</p> + +<p>And the mystified Sir Abraham looked to Saunders for an explanation—</p> + +<p>"Was his master drunk?"</p> + +<p>"I must speak to her, neighbour; I must, must, and will—dear, dear +child: come up with me, sir, come; do not trifle with a breaking heart, +neighbour!"</p> + +<p><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67"></a>There was a heart still in that hard-baked old East Indian.</p> + +<p>It was impossible to resist such an appeal: so the two elders crept up +stairs, and knocked softly at her chamber-door. Clearly, the girl was +asleep: she had sobbed herself to sleep; the general had been looked for +all day long, and she was worn with watching; he could hardly come at +midnight; so the dear affectionate child had sobbed herself to sleep.</p> + +<p>"Allow me, Sir Abraham." And General Tracy whispered something at the +key-hole in a strange tongue.</p> + +<p>Not Aladdin's "open Sesame" could have been more magical. In a moment, +roused up suddenly from sleep, and forgetting every thing but those +tender recollections of gentle care in infancy, and kindness all through +life, the child of nature startled out of bed, drew the bolt, and in +beauteous disarray, fell into that old man's arms!</p> + +<p>It was enough; he had seen her eye to eye—she lived: and the +white-haired veteran, suffered himself to be led away directly from the +landing, like a child, by his sympathizing neighbour.</p> + +<p>"My heart is lighter now, Sir Abraham: but I am a poor weak old man, and +owe you an explanation for this outburst; some day—some day, not now. +O, if you could guess how I have nursed that pretty babe when alone in +distant lands; how I have doated on her little winning ways, and been +gladdened by the music of her prattle; how I have exulted to behold her +loveliness gradually expanding, as she was ever at my side, in peril as +in peace, in camp as in quarters, in sickness as in health, +still—still, the blessed angel of a bad man's life—a wicked, hard old +man, kind neighbour—if you knew more—more, than for her sake I dare +tell you—and if you could conceive the love my Emmy bears for me, you +would not think it strange—think it strange—" He could not say a +syllable more; and the admiral, with Mr. Saunders, too, who joined them +in the study, looked very little able to console that poor old man. For +they all had hearts, and trickling eyes to tell them.</p> + +<p>Then having arranged a shake-down for his master in Sir Abraham's +study—for the guardian would not leave his dear one ever +again—Saunders went home, purposing to attend with razors in the +morning.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68"></a></p> +<h3><a name="CHAPTER_XVIII" id="CHAPTER_XVIII"></a>CHAPTER XVIII.</h3> + +<h4>INTERCALARY.</h4> + + +<p><span class="smcap">The</span> Tamworths did not altogether live at Burleigh Singleton—it was far +too petty a place for them; dullness all the year round (however +pleasant for a month or so, as a holiday from toilsome pleasures) would +never have done for Lady Tamworth and her daughters: but they regularly +took Prospect House for six weeks in the summer season, when tired of +Portland Place, and Huntover, their fine estate in Cheshire: and so, +from constant annual immigration, came as much to be regarded +Burleighites, as swifts and swallows to be ranked as British birds. I +only hint at this piece of information, for fear any should think it +unlikely, that grandees of Sir Abraham's condition could exist for ever +in a place where the day-before-yesterday's '<i>Times</i>' is first +intelligence.</p> + +<p>Moreover, as another interjectional touch, it is only due to my +life-likenesses to record, that Mrs. Green's, although a terrace-house, +and ranked as humble number seven, was, nevertheless, a tolerably +spacious mansion, well suited for the dignity of a butler to repose in: +for Mrs. Green had added an entire dwelling on the inland side, as, like +most maritime inhabitants, she was thoroughly sick of the sea, and never +cared to look at it, though living there still, from mere disinclination +to stir: so, then, it was quite a double house, both spacious and +convenient. As for the inglorious incident of Julian's latch-key, I +should not wonder if many wide street-doors to many marble halls are +conscious of similar convenient fastenings, if gentlemen of Julian's +nocturnal tastes happen to be therein dwelling. Another little matter is +worth one word. The house had been Mrs. Green's, a freehold, and was, +therefore, now her heir's; but the general, as an executor, remained +there still, until his business was finished; in fact, he took his +year's liberty.</p> + +<p>He had returned from India rolling in gold; for some great princess or +other—I think they called her a Begum or a Glumdrum, or other such like +Gulliverian appellative—had been singularly fond of him, and had loaded +him in early life with favours—not only kisses, and so forth, but +jewellery and gold pagodas. And lately, as we know, Puttymuddyfudgepoor, +with its radiating rajahs and nabobs, had proved a mine of wealth: for a +crore is ten lacs, and a lac of rupees is any thing but a <a name="Page_69" id="Page_69"></a>lack of +money—although rupees be money, and the "middle is distributed;" in +spite of logic, then, a lack means about twelve thousand pounds: and +four of them, according to Cocker, some fifty thousand. It would appear +then, that with the produce of the Begum's diamonds, converted into +money long ago, and some of them as big as linnet's eggs—and not to +take account of Mrs. Green's trifling pinch of the five Exchequer bills, +all handed over at once to Emily—the General's present fortune was +exactly one hundred and twenty-three thousand pounds.</p> + +<p>Of course, <i>he</i> wasn't going to bury himself at Burleigh Singleton much +longer; and yet, for all that stout intention of houses and lands, and +carriages and horses, in almost any other county or country, it is as +true as any thing in this book, that he was a resident still, a +lease-holder of Aunt Green's house, long after the <i>dénouement</i> of this +story; in many things an altered man, but still identical in one; the +unchangeable resolve (though never to be executed) of leaving Burleigh +at farthest by next Michaelmas. Most folks who talk much, do little; and +taciturn as the general now is, and has been ever throughout life, it +will surprise nobody who has learned from hard experience how silly and +harmful a thing is secresy (exceptionables excepted), to find that he +grew to be a garrulous old man, gossipping for ever of past, present, +future, and, not least, about his deeds at Puttymuddyfudgepoor.</p> + +<p>General Tracy is by this time awake again; if ever indeed he slept on +that uncomfortable shakedown; and, after Mr. Saunders and the +razor-strop, has greeted brightly-beaming Emily with more than usual +tenderness. Her account of the transaction made his very blood boil; +especially as her pretty pouting lips were lacerated cruelly inside: +that rude blow on the mouth had almost driven the teeth through them. +How confidingly she told her artless tale; how gently did her fond +protector kiss that poor pale cheek; and how sternly did he vow full +vengeance on the caitiff! Not even Emily's intercession could avail to +turn his wrath aside. He could hardly help flying off at once to do +something dreadful; but common courtesy to all the Tamworth family +obliged him to defer for an hour all the terrible things he meant to do. +So he began to bolt his breakfast fiercely as a cannibal, and saluted +Lady Tamworth and her daughters with such savage looks, that the captain +considerately suggested:</p> + +<p>"Here, general," (handing him a most formidable carving-knife,) "charge +that boar's head, grinning defiance at us on the side-board; it will do +you good to hew his brawny neck. My mother, I am sure, for <a name="Page_70" id="Page_70"></a>one, will +thank you to do the honours there instead of me. Isn't it a comfort now, +to know that I broke the handle of my hunting-whip across the fellow's +back, and wore all the whip-cord into skeins. Come, I say, general, +don't eat us all round; and pray have mercy on that poor, flogged, +miserable sinner."</p> + +<p>This banter did him good, especially as he saw Emily smiling; so he +relaxed his knit brow, condescended to look less like Giant Blunderbore, +soon became marvellous chatty, and ate up two French rolls, an egg, some +anchovies, a round of toast, and a mighty slice of brawn; these, washed +down with a couple of cups of tea, soothed him into something like +complacency.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h3><a name="CHAPTER_XIX" id="CHAPTER_XIX"></a>CHAPTER XIX.</h3> + +<h4>JULIAN'S DEPARTURE.</h4> + + +<p><span class="smcap">Long</span> before the general got home, still in exalted dudgeon (indeed soon +after the general had left home over night), the bird had flown; for the +better part of valour suggested to our evil hero, that it would be +discreet to render himself a scarce commodity for a season; and as soon +as ever his mother had run up to his room-door to tell him of his +danger, when her lord was cross-questioning the butler, he resolved upon +instant flight. Accordingly, though sore and stiff, he hurried up, +dressed again, watched his father out, and tumbling over Mrs. Tracy, who +was sobbing on the stairs, ran for one moment to the general's room; +there he seized a well-remembered cash-box, and instinctively possessed +himself of those new, neat, double-barrelled pistols: a bully never goes +unarmed. These brief arrangements made, off he set, before his father +could have time to return from Pacton Square.</p> + +<p>Therefore, when the general called, we need not marvel that he found him +not; no one but the foolish mother (so neglected of her son, yet still +excusing him) stood by to meet his wrath. He would not waste it on her; +so long as Julian was gone, his errand seemed accomplished; for all he +came to do was to expel him from the house. So, as far as regarded Mrs. +Tracy, her husband, wotting well how much she was to blame, merely +commanded her to change her sleeping-room, and occupy Mr. Julian's in +future.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71"></a>The silly woman was even glad to do it; and comforted herself from time +to time with prying into her own boy's exemplary manuscripts, memoranda +of moralities, and so forth; with weeping, like Lady Constance, over his +empty "unpuffed" clothes; with reading ever and anon his choice +collection of standard works, among which '<i>Don Juan</i>' and Mr. Thomas +Paine were by far the most presentable; and with tasting, till it grew +to be a habit, his private store of spirituous liquors. Thus did she +mourn many days for long-lost Julian.</p> + +<p>I am quite aware what became of him. The wretched youth, mad for Emily's +love, and tortured by the tyranny of passion, had nothing else to live +for or to die for. He accordingly took refuge in the hovel of a +smuggler, an old friend of his, not many miles away, disguised himself +in fisherman's costume, and bode his opportunity.</p> + +<p>Beauteous girl! how often have I watched thee with straining eyes and +aching heart, as thou wentest on thy summer's walk so oftentimes to +Oxton, there to exercise thy bountiful benevolence in comforting the +sick, gladdening the wretched, and lingering, with love's own look, in +Charles's village school; how often have I prayed, that guardian angels +might be about thy path as about thy bed! For the prowling tiger was on +thy track, poor innocent one, and many, many times nothing but one of +God's seeming accidents hath saved thee. Who was that strange man so +often in the way? At one time a wounded Spanish legionist, with head +bound up; at another, an old beggar upon crutches; at another, a floury +miller with a donkey and a sack; at another, a black looking man, in +slouching sailor's hat and fishing-boots?</p> + +<p>Fair, pure creature! thou hast often dropped a shilling in that beggar's +hand, and pitied that poor maimed soldier; once, too, a huge gipsy woman +would have had thee step aside, and hear thy fortunes. Heaven guarded +thee then, sweet Emily; for both girl and lover though thou art, thou +would'st not listen to the serpent's voice, however fair might be the +promises. And Heaven guarded thee ever, bidding some one pass along the +path just as the ruffian might have gagged thy smiling mouth, and +hurried thee away amongst his fellows; and more than once, especially, +those school children, bursting out of Charles's school at dusk, have +unconsciously escorted thee in safety from the perils of that tiger on +thy track.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72"></a></p> +<h3><a name="CHAPTER_XX" id="CHAPTER_XX"></a>CHAPTER XX.</h3> + +<h4>ENLIGHTENMENT.</h4> + + +<p><span class="smcap">The</span> general could not now be kept in ignorance of Charles's expedition; +in fact, he had found his heart, and began resolutely to use it. So, the +very day on which he had lost Julian, he intended very eagerly to seek +out Charles; for the Oxford search had failed, and no wonder. Now, +though Emily had told, as we well know, to both mother and son her +secret, the father was not likely to be any the wiser; for he now never +spoke to his wife, and could not well speak to his son. However, one +day, an hour after an overland letter, a very exhilarating one, dated +Madras, whereof we shall hear anon, fair Emily, in the fullness of her +heart, could not help saying,</p> + +<p>"Dearest sir, you are often thinking of poor lost Charles, I know; and +you are very anxious about him too, though nobody but myself, who am +always with you, can perceive it: what if you heard he was safe and +well?"</p> + +<p>"Have you heard any tidings of my poor boy, Emmy?"</p> + +<p>She looked up archly, and said, "Why not?" her beautiful eyes adding, as +plainly as eyes could speak, "I love him, and you know it; of course I +have heard frequently from dear, dear Charles."</p> + +<p>But the guardian met her looks with a keen and chilling answer: "Why +not! why not! Does he dare to write to you, and you to love him? Oh, +that I had told them both a year ago! But where is he now, child? Don't +cry, I will not speak so angrily again, my Emmy."</p> + +<p>"I hardly dare to tell you, dearest sir: you have always been as a +father to me, and I never knew any other; but there are things I cannot +explain to myself, and I was very wretched; and so, kind guardian, +Charles—Charles was so good—"</p> + +<p>"What has he done?—where has he gone?" hastily asked his father.</p> + +<p>"Oh, don't, don't be angry with us; in a word, he is gone to Madras, to +find out Nurse Mackie, and to tell me who I am."</p> + +<p>The poor old man, who had treasured up so long some mystery, probably a +very diaphanous one, for Emily's own dear sake in the world's esteem, +and from the long bad habit of reserve, fell back into his chair as if +he had been shot; but he did not faint, nor gasp, nor utter a sound; he +only looked at her so long and sorrowfully, that she ran to him, and +covered his pale face with her own brown curls, kissing him, and wiping +from his cheek her starting tears.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73"></a>"Emmy, dear—I can tell you—and I—no, no, not now, not now; if he +comes back—then—then; poor children! Oh, the sin of secresy!"</p> + +<p>"But, dearest sir, do not be so sad; Charles has happy news, he says."</p> + +<p>"Happy, child? Good Heaven! would it could be so!"</p> + +<p>"Indeed, indeed, a week ago he was as miserable as any could be, and so +was I; for he heard something terrible about me—I don't know what—but +I feared I was a—Pariah! However, now he is all joy, and coming home +again as soon as possible."</p> + +<p>The general shook, his head mournfully, as physicians do when hope is +gone; but still he looked perplexed and thoughtful.</p> + +<p>"You will show me the letters, dear, I dare say: but I do not command +you, Emmy; do as you like."</p> + +<p>"Certainly, my own kindest guardian—all, all, and instantly."</p> + +<p>And flying up to her room, she returned with as much closely-written +manuscript as would have taken any but a lover's eye a full week to +decipher. The general, not much given to literary matters, looked quite +scared at such a prospect.</p> + +<p>"Wait, Emmy; not all, not all; show me the last."</p> + +<p>I dare say Emily will forgive me if I get it set up legibly in print. +May I, dear?</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h3><a name="CHAPTER_XXI" id="CHAPTER_XXI"></a>CHAPTER XXI.</h3> + +<h4>CHARLES AT MADRAS.</h4> + + +<p><span class="smcap">Luckily</span> enough for all mankind in general, and our lovers in particular, +Charles's last letter was very unlike some that had preceded it; for +instead of the usual "Oh, my love"'s, "sweet, sweet eyes," "darling"'s, +and all manner of such chicken-hearted nonsense, it was positively +sensible, rational, not to say utilitarian: though I must acknowledge +that here and there it degenerates into the affectionate, or +Stromboli-vein of letter-writing, at opening especially; and really now +and then I shall take leave to indicate omitted inflammations by a *.</p> + +<p>"<span class='smcap'>Dearest, Dearest Emmy</span>,</p> + +<p><span style="margin-left: 4em;">*</span><span style="margin-left: +4em;">*</span><span style="margin-left: 4em;">*</span><span +style="margin-left: 4em;">*</span><span style="margin-left: +4em;">*</span><span style="margin-left: 4em;">*</span><span +style="margin-left: 4em;">*</span><span style="margin-left: +4em;">*</span></p> + +<p>[and so forth, a very galaxy of stars to the bottom of this page; enough +to put the compositor out of his terrestrial senses.]</p> + +<p><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74"></a>"You see I have recovered my spirits, dearest, and am not now afraid to +tell you how I love you. Oh, that detestable Captain Forbes! let him not +cross my path, gossiping blockhead! on pain of carrying about 'til +deth,' in the middle of his face, a nose two inches longer. I heartily +wish I had never listened for an instant to such vile insinuations; and +when I look at this red right hand of mine, that dared to pen the trash +in that black postscript, I look at it as Cranmer did, and (but that it +is yours, Emmy, not mine), could wish it burnt. But no fears now, my +girl, huzza, huzza! I believe every one about me thinks me daft; and so +I am for very joyfulness; notwithstanding, let me be didactic, or you +will say so too. I really will endeavour to rein in, and go along in the +regular hackney trot, that you may partly comprehend me. Well, then, +here goes; try your paces, Dobbin.</p> + +<p>"On the morning of Sunday, April 11th, 1842, the good ship +Elphinston—(that's the way to begin, I suppose, as per ledger, +log-book, and midshipman's epistles to mamma)—in fact, dear, we cast +anchor just outside a furious wall of surf, which makes Madras a very +formidable place for landing; and every one who dares to do so certain +of a watering. There lay the city, most invitingly to storm-tost tars, +with its white palaces, green groves, and yellow belt of sand, blue +hills in the distance, and all else <i>coleur de rose</i>. But—but, Emmy, +there was no getting at this paradise, except by struggling through a +couple of miles of raging foam, that would have made mince-meat of the +Spanish Armada, and have smashed Sir William Elphinston to pieces. How, +then, did we manage to survive it? for, thank God always, here I am to +tell the tale. Listen, Emmy dear, and I will try not to be tedious.</p> + +<p>"We were bundled out of the rolling ship into some huge flat-bottomed +boats, like coal-barges, and even so, were grated and ground several +times by the churning waves on the ragged reefs beneath us: and, just as +I was enjoying the see-saw, and trying to comfort two poor drenched +women-kind who were terribly afraid of sharks, a huge, cream-coloured +breaker came bustling alongside of us, and roaring out 'Charles Tracy,' +gobbled me up bodily. Well, dearest, it wasn't the first time I had +floundered in the waters [noble Charles! noble Charles! he had long +forgiven Julian]; so I was battling on as well as I could, with a stout +heart and a steady arm, when—don't be afraid—a <i>Catamaran</i> caught me! +If you haven't fainted (bless those pretty eyes of your's, my Emmy!) +read on; and you will find that this alarming sort of animal is neither +an albatross nor an alligator, but simply—a life-boat with a<a name="Page_75" id="Page_75"></a> Triton in +the stern. Yes, God's messenger of life to me and happiness to you, my +girl, came in the shape of a kindly, chattering, blue-skinned, human +creature, who dragged me out of the surf, landed me safely, and, I need +not say, got paid with more than hearty thanks. So, I scuffled to the +custom-house to look after my traps and fellow-passengers, like a +dripping merman.</p> + +<p>"'Who is that miserable old woman, bothering every body?' asked I of a +very civil searcher, profuse in his salaams.</p> + +<p>"'Oh, Sahib, you will know for yourself, presently: she's always hanging +about here, to get news of somebody in England, I believe—and to try to +find a charitable captain who will take her all the way for nothing: +rather too much of a good thing, you know, Sahib.'</p> + +<p>[We really cannot undertake to scribble broken English: so we will +translate any thing that may mysteriously have been chatted by +havildars, and coolies; and all manner of strange names.]</p> + +<p>"'Poor old soul—she looks very wretched: what's her name?' asked I, +carelessly.</p> + +<p>"'Oh, I never troubled to inquire, Sahib: I believe she was an old +servant left behind as lumber, and she pesters every one, day by day, +about some 'bonnie bonnie bairn.''</p> + +<p>"In a moment, Emmy, I had seized on dear nurse Mackie!</p> + +<p>"Very old, very deaf, very infirm—she fancied I was driving her away, +as many others might have done; and, with a truly piteous face, +pleaded—</p> + +<p>"'Gude sir, have mercy on a puir auld soul—and let her ask for her +sweet young mistress, only once, sir—only once more.'</p> + +<p>"'Emily Warren?' said I.</p> + +<p>"Her wrinkled face brightened over as with glory—and she answered—</p> + +<p>"'Bless the mouth that spake it, and these ears that hear her name! +yes—yes—yes—they call her so; where is she? how is she? have you seen +her? is she yet alive?'</p> + +<p>"Leading away the affectionate old soul from the crowd that was +collecting round us, I left orders about luggage as a traveller should, +and then told her all I knew: and I know you pretty well, I think, my +Emmy.</p> + +<p>"Her joy was like a mad woman's: the dear old Hecate pranced, and +danced, and sung, and shouted like nothing but a mother when she finds +her long-lost child: not that she's your mother, Emmy dear. +No—no—matters are better than that: all she vouchsafes, though, to +tell me is, <a name="Page_76" id="Page_76"></a>that you are a lady born and bred, and—for I cannot find +the words to inform your pure mind clearer—that 'you are not what he +thinks you.'"</p> + +<p>[Here followeth another twinkling universe of stars;</p> + +<p><span style="margin-left: 4em;">*</span><span style="margin-left: +4em;">*</span><span style="margin-left: 4em;">*</span><span +style="margin-left: 4em;">*</span><span style="margin-left: +4em;">*</span><span style="margin-left: 4em;">*</span><span +style="margin-left: 4em;">*</span><span style="margin-left: +4em;">*</span></p> + +<p>and thereafter our cavalier condescendeth again to matters of fact.]</p> + +<p>"Nurse Mackie of course comes back with me next packet; this letter goes +by the overland mail more quickly than we can; gladly would I go too, +but the old woman, whose life is essential to your rights, would die of +fatigue by the way; as it is, I am obliged to coddle her, and feed her, +and ptisan her, like a sick baby, bless her dear old heart that loves my +darling Emmy! She has a pack of papers with her, which she will not +open, till the general is by her side: if she unfortunately dies before +we can return, I am to have them, and all will be right. But the old +soul is so afraid of being left behind (as you throw away the +orange-peel after you have squeezed it), that she will not tell me a +word about them yet; so, I only gather what I can from her cautious +garrulity, hints about a Begum and a captain, and the Stuarts, and a +Putty-what-d'ye-call-it. And it is all in document, as well as +<i>viva-voce</i> (this means 'gossip,' dear). So now you may be expecting us, +as soon as ever we can get to you. Tell the general all this, and give +him my best love, next after your's Emmy; for he is my father still, and +my very heart yearns after him: O, that he were kinder with me as I see +he is with you, dear, and more open with us all! Also, kiss, if she will +let you, my mother for me, and I hope you will have hinted to her long +ago, that I am only playing truant. How is poor—poor Julian? he will +understand me, if you tell him I forgive him, and will never say one +word about our little tiff. And now dearest Emmy—"</p> + +<p>[The remainder of this letter must, believe me, be as starry as before.]</p> + +<p><span style="margin-left: 4em;">*</span><span style="margin-left: +4em;">*</span><span style="margin-left: 4em;">*</span><span +style="margin-left: 4em;">*</span><span style="margin-left: +4em;">*</span><span style="margin-left: 4em;">*</span><span +style="margin-left: 4em;">*</span><span style="margin-left: +4em;">*</span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h3><a name="CHAPTER_XXII" id="CHAPTER_XXII"></a>CHAPTER XXII.</h3> + +<h4>REVELATIONS.</h4> + + +<p><span class="smcap">General Tracy</span> gave a long-drawn sigh: and tears—tears of true +affection—stood in those most fish-like eyes, as he mournfully said, +"Bless him, bless dear Charles, almost as much as you, my own sweet<a name="Page_77" id="Page_77"></a> +Emmy. Heaven send it be true—for Heaven can work miracles. But without +a miracle, Emily, in sober sadness I declare it, you must forget—<i>your +brother Charles, my daughter</i>!"</p> + +<p>Emily fell flat upon her face, so cold, so white, that he believed her +dead.</p> + +<p>Oh! that he had never—never said that word: or better still, poor +father, that you had never kept the dreadful secret from them. The +adultery, indeed, was sin; but years of ill-concealings have multiplied +its punishment. Wretched father—wretched children! that must bear an +erring father's curse.</p> + +<p>Oh! that Jeanie Mackie may have reasons, proofs; and be not an impostor +after all, dressing up a tale that over-sanguine Charles may bring her +back again to Scotland. Well—well! I am full of sadness and +perplexities: but we shall hear it out anon. Heaven help them!</p> + +<p>Emily was taken very ill, and had a long fit of sickness. Day and +night—night and day, did her poor wasting anxious father watch by her +bed-side, gentle as the gentlest nurse—tender as the tenderest of +mothers. And, indeed, the Lord of Life and Wisdom was gracious to them +both; raising up the poor weak child again; and teaching that old man, +through this daughter of his shame and sin in youth, that religion is a +cure for all things. Ay, "the blessed angel of a bad man's life," +indeed—indeed was she; and he humbly knelt, as little children kneel, +that hard and dried old man; and his eyes caught the ray of Heaven's +mercy, looking up in joy to read forgiveness; and his heart was bathed +in penitence—the rock flowed out amain; and his mind was quickened into +faith—he lived, he breathed "a new-born babe," that poor and bad old +man, given to the prayers of his own daughter!</p> + +<p>All this while, Mrs. Tracy, thrown upon her own resources, has been +continually tasting dear Julian's store, and finding out excuses for his +trivial peccadilloes. And when, from the recesses of his desk, she had +routed out (in company with sundry more, rather contrasting with a +mother's pure advice) a few of her own letters, which had not yet been +destroyed, she would doat by the hour on these proofs of his affection. +And then, her spirits were so low; and his choice smuggled Hollands so +requisite to screw them up to par again; and no sooner had they rallied, +than they would once more begin to droop; so she cried a good deal, and +kept her bed; and very often did not remember exactly, whether she was +lying down there, or figuring on the Esplanade with Julian, and—all +that sort of thing: accordingly, it is not to be wondered at if, in<a name="Page_78" id="Page_78"></a> +Aunt Green's double-house, the general and Emily saw very little of her, +and during all this illness, had almost forgotten her existence. +Nevertheless, she was alive still, and as vast as ever—though a course +of strong waters had shattered her nerves considerably; even more so, +than her real mother's grief at Julian's protracted absence.</p> + +<p>Never had he been heard of since he left, hard heart; though he might +have guessed a mother's sorrow, and was not far away, and often lingered +near the house in strange disguises. It would have been easy for him, in +some clever way or other, latch-key and all, to have gained access to +her, and comforted her, and given her some real proof, that all the love +she had shed on him had not been utterly thrown away; but he didn't—he +didn't; and I know not of a darker trait in Julian's whole career; he +was insensible to love—a mother's love.</p> + +<p>For love is the weapon which Omnipotence reserved to conquer rebel man; +when all the rest had failed. Reason he parries; Fear he answers blow to +blow; future interest he meets with present pleasure; but Love, that sun +against whose melting beams the Winter cannot stand, that soft-subduing +slumber which wrestles down the giant, there is not one human creature +in a million—not a thousand men in all earth's huge quintillion, whose +clay-heart is hardened against love.</p> + +<p>Yet was Julian one of those select ones; an awful instance of that +possible, that actual, though happily that scarcest of all characters, a +man,</p> + +<p class='center'> +"Black, with <i>no</i> virtue, and a thousand crimes."<br /> +</p> + +<p>The amiable villain—one whose generosity redeems his guilt, whose +kindliness outweighs his folly, or whose beauty charms the eye to +overlook his baseness—this too common hero is an object, an example +fraught with perilous interest. Charles Duval, the polite; Paul +Clifford, the handsome; Richard Turpin, brave and true; Jack Sheppard, +no ignoble mind and loving still his mother; these, and such as these, +with Schiller's '<i>Robbers</i>' and the like, are dangerous to gaze on, as +Germany, if not England too, remembers well. But, not more true to life, +though far less common to be met with, is Julian's incorrigible mind: +one, in whose life are no white days; one, on whose heart are no bright +spots; when Heaven's pity spoke to him, he ridiculed; as, when His +threatenings thundered, he defied. Of this world only, and tending to a +worse appetite was all he lived for: and the core of appetite is iron +selfishness.</p> + +<p>The filched cash-box proved to be too well-filled for him to trouble +himself with thinking of his mother yet awhile: and his smuggling +<a name="Page_79" id="Page_79"></a>acquaintances, a rough-featured, blasphemous crew, set him as their +chief, so long as he swore loudest, drank deepest, and had money at +command. He hid the money, that they should not secretly steal from him +that to which he owed his bad supremacy; and his double-barrels, shotted +to the muzzle, were far too formidable for any hope of getting at it by +open brute force. Nevertheless, they were "fine high-spirited" fellows +those, bold, dark men, of Julian's own kidney; who toasted in their cups +each other's crimes, and the ghost or two that ought to have been +haunting them.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h3><a name="CHAPTER_XXIII" id="CHAPTER_XXIII"></a>CHAPTER XXIII.</h3> + +<h4>CONVALESCENCE.</h4> + + +<p><span class="smcap">Very</span> slowly did Emily recover, for the blow had been more than she could +bear: nothing but religion gave her any chance at all: and the phials, +blisterings, bleedings, would have been in vain, in vain—she must have +died long ago—had it not been for the remembrance of God's love, +resignation to His will, and trust in the wisdom of his Providence. But +these specific remedies gradually brought her round, while the kind-eyed +doctors praised their own prescriptions: and after many rallyings and +relapses, delirious ramblings, and intervals of hallowed Christian +peace, the eye of Love's meek martyr brightened up once more, and health +flushed again upon her cheek.</p> + +<p>She recovered, God be praised! for her death would have been poor +Charles's too; and the same grave that yawned for her and him would have +closed upon their father also. Even as it was, when she arose from off +the weary bed of sickness, it was to be a nurse herself, and watch +beside that patient, weak old man. He could not bear her out of his +sight all the fever through; but eagerly would listen to her hymns and +prayers, joining in them faintly like a dying saint. With the saddening +secret, which had so long pressed upon his mind, he seemed to have +thrown off his old nature, as a cast skin: and now he was all frankness +for reserve, all piety for profaneness, all peacefulness for blusterings +and wrath.</p> + +<p>He remembered then poor Julian and his mother: taking blame to himself, +justly, deeply, for neglected duties, chilling lack of sympathy, <a name="Page_80" id="Page_80"></a>and +that dull domestic sin, that still continued evil of unnatural +omissions—stern reserve. And he would gladly have seen Julian by his +bedside, to have freely forgiven the lad, and welcomed him home again, +and begun once more, in openness and charity, all things fair and new: +but Julian was not to be found, though rewards were offered, and +placards posted up, and emissaries from the Detective Police-force +sought him far and wide. Alas! the bold bad man had heard with scorn of +his father's penitence, and knew that he would gladly have received +him;—but what cared he for kindnesses or pardons? He only lived to +waylay Emily.</p> + +<p>As for Mrs. Tracy, she was seldom in a state to appear; but one day she +managed to refrain a little, and came to see her husband, almost sober. +I was, authorially speaking, behind the door, and saw and heard as +follows:</p> + +<p>The old man, worn and emaciate, was weakly sitting up in bed, and Emma +by his side, with the Bible in her lap: she casually shut it as the +mother entered.</p> + +<p>"Well, Miss Warren, there's a time for all things; but this is neither +morning, noon, nor night: nor Sunday either, nor holiday, that I know +of; it's eleven o'clock on Tuesday, Miss—and I think you might as well +leave the general at peace, without troubling him for ever with your +prayer-books and your Bibles."</p> + +<p>"Jane, my dear, I requested it of Emily; come and sit by me, and take my +hand, wife."</p> + +<p>"Thank you, sir, you are very obliging: not while that young woman is in +the room.—You ought to be ashamed of yourself, General Tracy."</p> + +<p>Poor Emmy ran away to weep. It seems that, in her delirium, she had +spoken many things, and the servants blabbed them out to Mrs. Tracy.</p> + +<p>"Ah, my poor wife, indeed I am: both ashamed and sorry—heartily sorry. +But God forgives me, Jenny, and I hope that you will too."</p> + +<p>"Upon, my word, general, you carry it off with a high hand: and, not +content, sir, with insulting me in my own home by bringing here your +other women's children, you have expelled poor dear, dear Julian."</p> + +<p>"Jane, if you will remember, he ran away himself; and you know that now +I gladly would receive him: we are all prodigal sons together, and if +God can bear with us, Jane, we ought to look kindly on each other."</p> + +<p>"Ha! that's always the way with old sinners like you—canting +hypocrites! Be a man, General Tracy, if you can, and talk sense. I never +<a name="Page_81" id="Page_81"></a>did any harm or sin in all my life yet, and don't intend to: and my +poor boy Julian's well enough, if they'd only let him alone; but nobody +understands his heart but me. Good boy, I'm sure there's virtue enough +left in him, if he loves his mother."—<i>If</i> he loves his mother.</p> + +<p>"Jane, dear, I sent for you to kiss you; for I could not die in peace, +nor live in peace (whichever God may please), without your pardon, Jane, +for a thousand unkindnesses—but, especially for the sin that gave me +Emily. Forgive me this, my wife."</p> + +<p>"Never, sir!" rejoined that miserable mind; and fancied that she was +acting virtuously. She thrust aside the kindly proffered hand; scowled +at him with darkened brow; drew up her commanding height; and, calling +Mrs. Siddons to remembrance, brushed away in the indignant attitude of a +tragedy queen.</p> + +<p>Emmy ran again to her father, and the vain bad mother to her bottle; we +must leave them to their various avocations.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h3><a name="CHAPTER_XXIV" id="CHAPTER_XXIV"></a>CHAPTER XXIV.</h3> + +<h4>CHARLES DELAYED.</h4> + + +<p><span class="smcap">Few</span> things could well be more unlikely than that Emily should hear of +Charles again before she saw him: for, having left Madras as speedily as +might be, now that his mission was so easily, yet so naturally, +accomplished—having posted, as we know, his overland letter—and having +got on board the fast-sailing ship Samarang, Captain Trueman, Charles, +in the probable course of things, if he wrote at all, must have been his +own postman. But the Fates—(our Christianity can afford to wink now and +then at Clotho, Lachesis, and Atropos; for, at any rate, they are as +reasonable creatures as Chance, Luck, and Accident,)—the Fates willed +it otherwise: and, accordingly, it is in my power to lay before the +reader another genuine lucubration of Charles Tracy.</p> + +<p>A change had come over the spirit of their dream, those youthful lovers: +and agonizing doubt must rack their hearts, threatening to rend them +both asunder. It is evident to me that Charles's letter (which Emily +showed to me with a melancholy face) was on principle less warm, less +dottable with stars, and more conversant with things of this <a name="Page_82" id="Page_82"></a>world; +high, firm, honourable principle; intending very gently, very gradually, +to wean her from him, if he could; for his faith in Jeanie Mackie had +been shaken, and—but let us hear him tell us of it all himself.</p> + +<p class='author'>"I.E.M. Samarang. St. Helena.</p> + +<p>"You will wonder, my dear Emily, to hear again before you see me: but I +am glad of this providential opportunity, as it may serve to prepare us +both. Naturally enough you will ask, why Charles cannot accompany this +letter? I will tell you, dear, in one word—Mrs. Mackie is now lying +very ill on shore; and, as far as our poor ship is concerned, you shall +hear about it all anon. Several of the passengers, who were in a hurry +to get home, have left us, and gone in the packet-boat that takes you +this letter: gladly, as you know, would I have accompanied them, for I +long to see you, poor dear girl; but it was impossible to leave the old +woman, upon whom alone, under God, our hopes of earthly happiness +depend: if, alas! we still can dream about such hopes.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Emily—I heartily wish that, having finished my embassage by that +instantaneous finding of the old Scotch nurse, I had never been so +superfluous as to have left those letters of introduction, wherewith you +kindly supplied me, in an innocent wish to help our cause. But I felt +solitary too, waiting at Madras for the next ship to England; and in my +folly, forgetful of the single aim with which I had come, Jeanie Mackie, +to wit, I thought I might as well use my present opportunities, and see +what I could of the place and its inhabitants.</p> + +<p>"With that view, I left my letters at Government House, at Mr. +Clarkson's, Colonel Bunting's, Mrs. Castleton's, and elsewhere, +according to direction; and immediately found answer in a crowd of +invitations. I need not vex you nor myself, Emmy, writing as I do with a +heavy, heavy heart, by describing gayeties in which I felt no pleasure, +even when amongst them, for my Emmy was not there: splendour, +prodigality, and red-hot rooms, only made endurable by perpetually +fanning punkahs: pompous counsellors, authorities, and other men in +office, and a glut of military uniforms: vulgar wealth, transparent +match-making, and predominating dullness: along with some few of the +charities and kindnesses of life (Mrs. Bunting, in particular, is an +amiable, motherly, good-hearted woman), all these you will readily fancy +for yourself.</p> + +<p>"My trouble is deeper than any thing so slight as the common satiations +of <i>ennui</i>: for I have heard in these circles in which your—my—the +general, I mean, chiefly mixed, so much of that ill-rumour that it +<a name="Page_83" id="Page_83"></a>cannot all be false: they knew it all, and were certain of it all, too +well, Emily, dear. And I have been pestering Nurse Mackie night and day; +but the old woman is so afraid of being left behind any where, or thrown +overboard, or dropped, upon some desert rock, that she is quite cross, +and won't say a single word in answer, even when I tell her all these +terrible tales. Her resolution is, not to reveal one syllable more, +until she sets foot on England; and several people at Madras annoyed me +exceedingly by saying, that this kind of thing is an old trick with +people who wish to be sent home again. She has hidden away her papers +somewhere; not that I was going to steal them: but it shows how little +trust she puts in any thing, or any one, except the keeping of her own +secret. However, she does adhere obstinately, and hopefully for us, to +her original hint, 'you are not what he thinks you;' although she will +not condescend to any single proof, or explanation, against the mighty +mass of evidence, which probabilities, and common rumour, and the +general's own belief, have heaped together. When I call you Emmy, +too—the old soul, in her broad Scotch way, always corrects me, and +invokes a blessing upon 'A-amy:' so there is a mystery somewhere: at +least, I fervently hope there is: and, if the old woman has been playing +us false, let us resign ourselves to God, my girl; for our fate will be +that matters are as people say they are—and then my old black +postscript ends too truly with a wo, wo, wo—!</p> + +<p>"But I must shake off all this lethargy of gloom, dearest, dearest +girl—how can I dare to call you so? Let me, therefore, rush for comfort +into other thoughts; and tell you at once of the fearful dangers we have +now mercifully escaped; for the Samarang lies like a log in this +friendly port, dismasted, and next to a wreck.</p> + +<p>"I proceed to show you about it; perhaps I shall be tedious—but I do it +as a little rest, my own soul's love, from anxious, earnest, +heart-distracting prayers continually, continually, that the sorrow +which I spoke of be not true. Sometimes, a light breaks in, and I +rejoice in the most sanguine hope: at others, gloom—</p> + +<p>"But a truce to all this, I say. Here shall follow didactically the +cause why the good ship Samarang is not by this time in the Docks.</p> + +<p>"We were lying somewhere about the tropical belt, Capricorn you know, +(O, those tender lessons in geography, my Emmy!) quite becalmed; the sea +like glass, and the sky like brass, and the air in a most stagnant heat: +our good ship motionless, dead in a dead blue sea it was</p> + +<p>'Idle as a painted ship upon a painted ocean.'</p> + +<p><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84"></a>"The sails were hanging loosely in the shrouds: every one set, from +sky-scraper to stud-sail, in hopes to catch a breath of wind. My +fellow-passengers and the crew, almost melted, were lying about, as weak +as parboiled eels: it was high-noon, all things silent and subdued by +that intolerable blaze; for the vertical sun, over our multiplied +awnings and umbrellas, burnt us up, fierce as a furnace.</p> + +<p>"I was leaning over the gangway, looking wistfully at the cool, clear, +deep sea, wherefrom the sailors were trying to persuade a shark to come +on board us, when, all at once, in the south-east quarter, I noticed a +little round black cloud, thrown up from the horizon like a +cricket-ball. As any thing is attractive in such sameness as perpetual +sea and sky, my discovery was soon made known, and among the first to +our captain.</p> + +<p>"Calling for his Dolland, and bidding his second lieutenant run quick to +the cabin and look at the barometer, he viewed the little cloud in +evident anxiety, and shook his head with a solemn air: more than one +light-hearted woman thinking he was quizzing them.</p> + +<p>"Up came Lieutenant Joyce, looking as if he had seen a ghost in the +cabin.</p> + +<p>"'The mercury, sir, is falling just as rapidly as it would rise if you +plunged it into boiling water: an inch a minute or so!"</p> + +<p>"Our captain saw the danger instantly, and, brave as Trueman is, I never +saw a man look paler.</p> + +<p>"To drive all the passengers below, and pen them in with closed hatches +and storm-shutters, (so hot, Emmy, that the black-hole of Calcutta must +have been an ice-house to it: how the foolish people abused our wise +skipper, and more than one pompous old Indian threatened him with an +action for false imprisonment!) this huddling away was the first effort; +and simultaneously with it, the crew were all over the rigging, furling +sails, hurriedly, hurriedly.</p> + +<p>"Meanwhile (for I was last on deck), that little cloud seemed whirling +within itself, and many others gathered round it, all dancing about on +the horizon, as if sheaves of mischief tossed about by devils: I don't +wish to be poetical, Emmy, for my heart is very, very sad; but if ever +the powers of the air sow the wind and reap the whirlwind, they were +gathering in their harvest at that door. Underneath the skipping clouds, +which came on quickly, leaping over each other, as when the wain is +loaded by a score of hands, I noticed a sea approaching, such as Pharaoh +must have seen, when the wall of waters fell upon him; and premonitory +winds came whistling by, and two or three sails were flapping in them +still, and I was hurried down stairs after all the rest of us.</p><p><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85"></a></p> + +<p>"Then, on a sudden, it appeared not winds, nor waves, nor thunder, but +as if the squadroned cavalry of heaven had charged across the seas, and +crushed our battered ship beneath their horse-hoofs! We were flung down +flat on our beam ends; and the two or three unfurled sails, bursting +with the noise of a cannon, were scattered miles away to lee-ward as if +they had been paper. As for the poor fellows in the rigging, the spirit +of the storm had already made them his: twenty of our men were swept +away by that tornado.</p> + +<p>"Then there was hewing and cleaving on deck, the clatter of many axes +and hatchets: for we were in imminent danger of being capsized, keel +uppermost, and our only chance was to cut away the masts.</p> + +<p>"The muscles of courage were tried then, my Emmy, and the strength which +religion gives a man. I felt sensibly held up by the Everlasting Arms: I +could listen to the still small Voice in the midst of a crash which +might have been the end of all things: though in darkness, God had given +me light; though in uttermost peril, my peace was never calmer in our +little village school.</p> + +<p>"And the billows were knocking at the poor ship's side like sledge +hammers; and the lightnings fell around us scorchingly, with forked +bolts, as arrows from the hand of a giant; the thunders overhead, close +overhead, crashing from a concave cloud that hung about us heavily—a +dense, black, suffocating curtain—roared and raved as nothing earthly +can, but thunder in the tropics; the rain was as a cataract, literally +rushing in a mass: the winds appeared not winds, nor whirlwinds, but +legions of emancipated demons shrieking horribly, and flapping their +wide wings; a flock of night-birds flying from the dawn; and all else +was darkness, confusion, rolling and rocking about, the screams of +women, the shouts of men, curses and prayers, agony, despair, +and—peace, deep peace.</p> + +<p>"On a sudden, to our great astonishment, all was silent again, +oppressively silent; and, but for the swell upon the seas, all still. +The tornado had rushed by: that troop of Tartar horse, having sacked the +village, are departed, now in full retreat: the blackness and the fury +are beheld on our lee, hastening across the broad Atlantic to Cuba or +Jamaica: and behold, a tranquil temperate sky, a kindly rolling sea, a +favouring breeze, and—not a sail, but some slight jury-rig, to catch +it.</p> + +<p>"Many days we drifted like a log upon the wave; provisions running +short, and water—water under tropical suns—scantily dealt out in +tea-cups. Then, poor old Mackie's health gave way; and I dreaded for her +<a name="Page_86" id="Page_86"></a>death: one living witness is worth a cart-load of cold documents. So I +nursed and watched her constantly: till the foolish folks on board began +to say I was her son: ah! me, for your sake I wish it had been so.</p> + +<p>"And at length, just as some among the sailors were hinting at a mutiny +for spirits, and our last case of Gamble's meat was opened for the sick, +our look-out on the jury-mast gave the welcome note of 'Land!' and soon, +to us on deck, the heights of St. Helena rose above the sea. Towed in by +friendly aid, here we are, then, precious Emily, refitting: and, as it +must be a week yet before we can be ready, I have taken my old woman to +a lodging upon land, and rejoice (what have I to do with joy?) to see +her speedily recovering."</p> + +<p>The remainder of Charles's long letter is so stupid, so gloomy, so +loving, and so little to the purpose, that I take an editor's privilege, +and omit it altogether. Of course he was coming home again, as soon as +the Samarang and Jeanie Mackie would permit.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h3><a name="CHAPTER_XXV" id="CHAPTER_XXV"></a>CHAPTER XXV.</h3> + +<h4>TRIALS.</h4> + + +<p><span class="smcap">The</span> general recovered; as slowly, indeed, as Emily had, but it is +gratifying to add, as surely. And now that loving couple might be seen, +weakly creeping out together, when the day was finest: tottering white +December leaning on a sickly fragile May. There were no concealments now +between them, no reservings, and heart-stricken Emily heard from her +repentant father's lips the story of her birth: she was, he said, his +own daughter by a native princess, the Begum Dowlia Burruckjutli.</p> + +<p>A bitter—bitter truth was that: the destruction of all her hopes, +pleasures, and affections. It had now become to her a sin to love that +dearest one of all things lovely on this earth: duty, paramount and +stern, commanded her, without a shadow of reprieve, to execute on +herself immediately the terrible sentence of banishing her own +betrothed: nay, more, she must forget him, erase his precious image from +her heart, and never, never see that brother more. And Charles must feel +the same, and do <a name="Page_87" id="Page_87"></a>the like; oh! sorrow, passing words! and their two +commingled souls must be violently wrenched apart; for such love in them +were crime.</p> + +<p>Dear children of affection—it is a dreadful lesson this for both of +you; but most wise, most needful—or the hand that guideth all things, +never would have sent it. Know ye not for comfort, that ye are of those +to whom all things work together for good? Know ye not for counsel, that +the excess of love is an idolatry that must be blighted? It is well, +children, it is well, that ye should thus carry your wounded hearts for +balm to the altar of God; it is well that ye should bow in meekness to +His will, in readiness to His wisdom. Ye are learning the lesson +speedily, as docile children should; and be assured of high reward from +the Teacher who hath set it you. Poor Charles! white and wan, thy cheek +is grown transparent with anxiety, and thy blue eye dim with hope +deferred: poor Emmy, sick and weak, thou weariest Heaven with thy +prayers, and waterest thy couch with thy tears. Yet, a little while; +this discipline is good: storm and wind, frost and rushing rains, are as +needful to the forest-tree as sun and gentle shower; the root is +strengthening, and its fibres spreading out: and loving still each other +with the best of human love, ye justly now have found out how to anchor +all your strongest hopes, and deepest thoughts, on Him who made you for +himself. Who knoweth? wisely acquiescing in His will, humbly trusting to +His mercy, and bringing the holocaust of your inflamed affections as an +offering of duty to your God—who knoweth? Cannot He interpose? will He +not befriend you? For His arm is power, and His heart is love.</p> + +<p>Days rolled on in dull monotony, and grew to weeks more slowly than +before; earthly hopes had been levelled with the dust; life had +forgotten to be joyous: there was, indeed, the calm, the peace, the +resignation, the heavenly ante-past, and the soul-entrancing prayer; but +human life to Emily was flat, wearisome, and void; she felt like a nun, +immolated as to this world: even as Charles, too, had resolved to be an +anchorite, a stern, hard, mortified man, who once had feelings and +affections. The rëaction in both those fond young hearts had even +overstept the golden mean: and Mercy interposed to make all right, and +to bless them in each other once again.</p> + +<p>Only look at this <i>billet-doux</i> from Charles, just come in, and dated +Plymouth:</p> + +<p>"Huzzah—for Emily and England: huzzah for the land of freedom! no +secrets now—dear, dear old Jeanie Mackie has given me proofs posi<a name="Page_88" id="Page_88"></a>tive: +all I have to wish is that she could move: but she is very ill; so, as +we touched here on the voyage up channel, I landed her and myself, +thinking to kiss, within a day, my darling Emmy. But I cannot get her +out of bed this morning, and dare not leave her: though an hour's delay +seems almost insupportable. If I possibly can manage it, I will bring +the dear old faithful creature, wrapped in blankets, by chaise +to-morrow. Tell my father all this: and say to him—he will understand, +perhaps, though you may not, my blessed girl—say to him, that 'he is +mistaken, and all are mistaken—you are not what they think you.' A +thousand kisses. Expect, then, on bright to-morrow to see your happy, +happy</p> + +<p class='author'>"<span class='smcap'>Charles.</span>"</p> + +<p>"P.S. Hip! hip! hip!—huzzah!"</p> + +<p>Dearest Emily had taken up the note with fears and trembling: she laid +it down, as they that reap in joy; and I never in my life saw any thing +so beautiful as her eyes at that glad minute; the smile through the +tear, the light through the gloom, the verdure of high summer springing +through the Alpine snows, the mild and lustrous moon emerging from a +baffled thunder-cloud.</p> + +<p>And, although the general mournfully shook his head, distrustfully and +despondingly; though he only uttered, "Poor children—dear +children—would to Heaven that it could be so;"—and he, for one, was +evidently innoculated, as before, with all the old thoughts of gloom, +sadness, and anxiety;—still Emily hoped—for Charles hoped—and Jeanie +Mackie was so certain.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h3><a name="CHAPTER_XXVI" id="CHAPTER_XXVI"></a>CHAPTER XXVI.</h3> + +<h4>JULIAN.</h4> + + +<p><span class="smcap">Next</span> day, a fine summer afternoon, when our feeble convalescents had +gone out together, they found the fresh air so invigorating, and +themselves so much stronger, that they prolonged their walk half-way to +Oxton. The pasture-meadows, rich and rank, were alive with flocks and +herds; the blue sea lazily beat time, as, ticking out the seconds, it +melodiously broke upon the sleeping shore; the darkly-flowing Mullet +swept sounding to the sea between its tortuous banks; and upon that <a name="Page_89" id="Page_89"></a>old +high foot-path skirting the stream, now shady with hazels, and now +flowery with meadow-sweet, crept our chastened pair.</p> + +<p>Just as they were nearing a short angle in the river, the spot where +Charles had been preserved, they noticed for the first time a +rough-looking fisherman, who, unseen, had tracked their steps some +hundred yards; he had a tarpaulin over his shoulder, very unnecessarily, +as it would seem, on so fine and warm a day; and a slouching +sou'-wester, worn askew, flapped across the strange man's face.</p> + +<p>He came on quickly, though cautiously, looking right and left; and Emily +trembled on her guardian's feeble arm. Yes—she is right; the fisherman +approaches—she detects him through it all: and now he scorns disguise; +flinging off his cap and the tarpaulin, stands before them—Julian!</p> + +<p>"So, sir—you tremble now, do you, gallant general: give me the girl." +And he levelled at his father one of those double-barrelled pistols, +full-cock.</p> + +<p>"Julian, my son, I forgive you, Julian; take my hand, boy."</p> + +<p>"What—coward? now you can cringe, and fawn, eh? back with you!—the +girl, I say." For poor Emily, wild with fear, was clinging to that weak +old man.</p> + +<p>Julian levelled again; indeed, indeed it was only as a threat; but +his hand shook with passion—the weapon was full-cock, +hair-triggered—shotted heavily as always—hark, hark!—And his father +fell upon the turf, covered with blood!</p> + +<p>When a wicked man tampers with unintended crime, even accident falls out +against him. Many a one has richly merited death for many other sins, +than that isolated, haply accidental one which he has hanged for.</p> + +<p>Julian, horror-stricken, pale and trembling, flew instinctively to help +his father: but Emily has circled him already with her arms; and listen, +Julian—your dying father speaks to you.</p> + +<p>"Boy, I forgive—I forgive: but—Emily, no, no, cannot, cannot +be—Julian—she—she is your <i>sister</i>!" and the old man swooned away, +from loss of blood and the excitement of that awful scene.</p> + +<p>Not a word in reply said that poor sinner, maddened with his life-long +crimes, the fratricide in will, the parricide in deed, and all for—a +sister. But growing whiter as he stood, a marble man with bristling +hair, he slowly drew the other pistol from his pocket, put the muzzle to +his mouth, and, firing as he fell, leapt into the darkly-flowing Mullet!</p> + +<p><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90"></a>The current, all too violent to sink in, and uncommissioned now to +save, hurried its black burden to the sea; and a crimson streak of gore +marked the track of the suicide.</p> + +<p>The old man was not dead; but a brace of bullets taking effect upon his +feeble frame—one through the shoulder, and another which had grazed his +head—had been quite enough to make him seem so. Forgetful of all but +that dear sufferer, and totally ignorant of Julian's fate—for she +neither saw nor heard any thing, nor feared even for her own imminent +peril, while her father lay dying on the grass—Emily had torn off her +scarf, and bound up, as well as she could, the ghastly scored head and +broken shoulder. She succeeded in staunching the blood—for no great +vessel had been severed—and so simple an application as grass dipped in +water, proved to be a good specific. Then, to her exceeding joy, those +eyes opened again, and that dear tongue faintly whispered—"Bless you."</p> + +<p>Oh, that blessing! for it fell upon her heart: and fervently she knelt +down there, and thanked the Great Preserver.</p> + +<p>And now, for friendly help; there is no one near: and it is growing +dusk; and she dared not leave him there alone one minute—for +Julian—dreaded Julian, may return, and kill him. What shall she do? How +to get him home? Alas, alas! he may die where he is lying.</p> + +<p>Hark, Emmy, hark! The shouts of happy children bursting out of school! +See, dearest—see: here they come homewards merrily from Oxton.</p> + +<p>Thus, rewarded through the instrumentality of her own benevolence, help +was speedily obtained; and Mrs. Sainsbury's invalid-chair, hurried to +the spot by an escort of indignant rustics, soon conveyed the recovering +patient to the comforts of his own home, and the appliances of medical +assistance.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h3><a name="CHAPTER_XXVII" id="CHAPTER_XXVII"></a>CHAPTER XXVII.</h3> + +<h4>CHARLES'S RETURN; AND MRS. MACKIE'S EXPLANATION.</h4> + + +<p><span class="smcap">And</span> now the happy day was come at length; that day formerly so +hoped-for, latterly so feared, but last of all, hailed with the joy that +trembles at its own intensity. The very morning after the sad occurrence +it <a name="Page_91" id="Page_91"></a>has just been my lot to chronicle—while the general was having his +wounds dressed, slight ones, happily, but still he was not safe, as +inflammation might ensue—while Mrs. Tracy was indulging in her third +tumbler, mixed to whet her appetite for shrimps—and while Emily was +deciphering, for the forty thousandth time, Charles's sanguine +<i>billet-doux</i>—lo! a dusty chaise and smoking posters, and a sun-burnt +young fellow springing out, and just upon the stairs—they were locked +in each other's arms!</p> + +<p>Oh, the rapture of that instant! it can but happen once within a life. +Ye that have loved, remember such a meeting; and ye that never loved, +conceive it if you can; for my pen hath little skill to paint so bright +a pleasure. It is to be all heart, all pulse, all sympathy, all +spirit—but the warm soft kiss, that rarified bloom of the Material.</p> + +<p>How the sick old nurse got out, cased in many blankets; how she was +bundled up stairs, and deposited safely on a sofa, no poet is alive to +sing: to those who would record the payment of postillions, let me leave +so sweet a theme.</p> + +<p>The first fond greeting over, and those tumults of affection sobered +down, Charles rejoiced to find how lovingly the general met him; the +kind and good old man fell upon his neck, as the father in the parable. +Many things were then to be made known: and many questions answered, as +best might be, about a mother and a brother; but well aware of all +things ourselves, let us be satisfied that Charles heard in due time all +they had to tell him; though neither Emily nor the general could explain +what had become of Julian after that terrible encounter. In their +belief, he had fled for very life, thinking he had killed his father. +Poor wretched man, thought Charles—on that same spot, too, where he +would have murdered me! And for his mother—why came she not down +eagerly and happily, as mothers ever do, to greet her long-lost son? Do +not ask, Charles; do not press the question. Think her ill, dying, +dead—any thing but—drunken. He ran to her room-door; but it was +locked—luckily.</p> + +<p>Now, Charles—now speedily to business; happy business that, if I may +trust the lover's flushing cheek, and Emily's radiant eyes; but a +mournful one too, and a fearful, if I turn my glance to that poor old +man, wounded in body and stricken in mind—who waits to hear, in more +despondency than hope, what he knows to be the bitter truth—the truth +that must be told, to the misery of those dear children.</p> + +<p>Faint and weak though she appeared, Jeanie Mackie's waning life +<a name="Page_92" id="Page_92"></a>spirited up for the occasion; her dim eye kindled; her feeble frame was +straight and strong; energy nerved her as she spoke; this hour is the +errand of her being.</p> + +<p>Long she spoke, and loudly, in her broad Scotch way; and the general +objected many things, but was answered to them all; and there was close +cross-questioning, slow-caution, keen examination of documents and +letters: catechisms, solecisms, Scottisms; reminiscences rubbed up, +mistakes corrected; and the grand result of all, Emily a Stuart, and the +general not her father! I am only enabled to give a brief account of +that important colloquy.</p> + +<p>It appears, that when Captain Tracy's company was quartered to the west +of the Gwalior, sent thither to guard the Begum Dowlia against sundry of +her disaffected subjects, a certain Lieutenant James Stuart was one +among those welcome brave allies. That our gallant Tracy was the +beautiful Begum's favourite soon became notorious to all; and not less +so, that the Begum herself was precisely in the same interesting +situation as Mrs. James Stuart. The two ladies, Pagan and Christian, +were, technically speaking, running a race together. Well, just as times +drew nigh, poor Lieutenant Stuart was unfortunately killed in an +insurrection headed by some fanatics, who disapproved of foreign +friends, and perhaps of their princess's situation. His death proved +fatal also to that kind and faithful wife of his—a dark Italian lady of +high family, whose love for James had led her to follow him even into +Central Hindoostan: she died in giving birth to a babe; and Jeanie +Mackie, the lieutenant's own foster-mother, who waited on his wife +through all their travels, assisted the poor orphan into this bleak +world, and loved it as her own.</p> + +<p>Two days after all this, the Begum herself had need of Mrs. Mackie: for +it was prudent to conceal some things, if she could, from certain +Brahmins, who were to her what John Knox had erstwhile been to Mary: and +Jeanie Mackie, burdened with her little Amy Stuart, aided in the birth +of a female Tracy-Begum. So, the nurse tended both babes; and more than +once had marvelled at their general resemblance; Amy's mother looked out +again from those dark eyes; there was not a shade between the children.</p> + +<p>Now, Mrs. Mackie perceived, in a very little while, how fond both +Christian and Pagan appeared of their own child; and how little notice +was taken by any body of the poor Scotch gentleman's orphan. +Accordingly, with a view to give her favourite all worldly advantages, +she adroitly <a name="Page_93" id="Page_93"></a>changed the children; and, while she was still kind and +motherly to the little Tracy-Begum, she had the satisfaction to see her +pet supposititiously brought up in all the splendours of an Eastern +court.</p> + +<p>Years wore away, for Captain Tracy was quite happy, the Begum being a +fine showy woman, and the pretty child his playmate and pastime: so he +never cared to stir from his rich quarters, till the company's orders +forced him: and then Puttymuddyfudgepoor hailed him accumulatively both +major and colonel.</p> + +<p>When he found that he must go, he insisted on carrying off the child; +and the Begum was as resolute against it. Then Mrs. Mackie, eager to +expedite little Stuart in her escape, went to the princess, told her how +that, in anticipation of this day, she had changed the children, and got +great rewards for thus restoring to the mother her own offspring.</p> + +<p>The remainder of that old Scotch nurse's very prosy tale may be left to +be imagined: for all that was essential has been stated: and the +documents in proof of all were these—</p> + +<p>First: The marriage certificates of James Stuart and Ami di Romagna, +duly attested, both in the Protestant and Romanist forms.</p> + +<p>Secondly: Divers letters to Lieutenant Stewart from his friends at +Glenmuir; others to Mrs. Stuart, from her father, the old Marquis di +Romagna, at Naples: several trinkets, locks of hair, the wedding-ring, +&c.</p> + +<p>Thirdly: A grant written in the Hindoostanee character, from the Begum +Dowlia, promising the pension of thirty rupees a month to Jeanie Mackie, +for having so cleverly preserved to her the child: together with a +regular judicial acknowledgement, both from several of Tracy's own +sepoys, and from the Begum herself, that the girl, whom Captain Tracy +was so fond of, was, to the best of their belief, Amy Stuart.</p> + +<p>Fourthly: A miniature of Mrs. James Stuart, exactly portraying the +features of her daughter—this bright, beautiful, dark-eyed face—our +own beloved Emily Warren.</p> + +<p>And to all that accumulated evidence, Jeanie Mackie bore her living +testimony; clearly, unhesitatingly, and well assured, in the face of God +and man.</p> + +<p>Doubt was at an end; fear was at an end; hope was come, and joy. Happy +were the lovers, happy Jeanie Mackie, but happiest of all appeared the +general himself. For now she might be his daughter indeed, sweet Emmy +Tracy still, dear Charles's loving wife. And he blessed them as they +knelt, and gave them to each other; well-rewarded children of affection, +who had prayed in their distress!</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94"></a></p> +<h3><a name="CHAPTER_XXVIII" id="CHAPTER_XXVIII"></a>CHAPTER XXVIII.</h3> + +<h4>JULIAN TURNS UP: AND THERE'S AN END OF MRS. TRACY.</h4> + + +<p><span class="smcap">There</span> is a muddy sort of sand-bank, acting as a delta to the Mullet, +just where it spreads from deep to shallow, and falls into the sea. +Strange wild fowl abound there, coming from the upper clouds in flocks; +and at high water, very little else but rushes can be seen, to testify +its sub-marine existence.</p> + +<p>A knot of fishermen, idling on the beach, have noticed an uncommon +flight of Royston crows gathered at the island, with the object, as it +would appear, of battening on a dead porpoise, or some such body, just +discernible among the rushes. Stop—that black heap may be kegs of +whiskey;—where's the glass?</p> + +<p>Every one looked: it warn't barrels—and it warn't a porpoise: what was +it, then? they had universally nothing on earth to do, so they pushed +off in company to see.</p> + +<p>I watched the party off, and they poked among the rushes, and heaved out +what seemed to me a seal: so I ran down to the beach to look at the +strange creature they had captured. Something wrapped in a sail; no +doubt for exhibition at per head.</p> + +<p>But they brought out that black burden solemnly, laying it on the beach +at Burleigh: a crowd quickly collected round them, that I could not see +the creature: and some ran for a magistrate, and some for a parson. Then +men in office came—made a way through the crowd, and I got near: so +near, that my foolish curiosity lifted up the sail, and I beheld—what +had been Julian.</p> + +<p>O, sickening sight: for all which the pistol had spared of that swart +and hairy face, had been preyed upon by birds and fishes!</p> + +<p>There was a hurried inquest: the poor general and Emily deposed to what +they knew, and the rustics, who escorted him from Oxton. The verdict +could be only one—self-murder.</p> + +<p>So, by night, on that same swampy island, when the tide was low, they +buried him, deeply staked into the soil, lest the waves should disinter +him, without a parting prayer. Such is the end of the wicked.</p> + +<p>In a day or two, I noticed that a rude wooden cross had been set over +the spot: and it gratified me much to hear that a rough-looking crew of +smugglers had boldly come and fixed it there, to hallow, if they could, +a comrade's grave.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95"></a>However, these poor fellows had been cheated hours before: Charles's +brotherly care had secured the poor remains, and the vicar winked a +blind permission: so Charles buried them by night in the church-yard +corner, under the yew, reading many prayers above them.</p> + +<p>Two fierce-looking strange men went to that burial with reverent looks, +as it were chief mourners; and when all the rites were done, I heard +them gruffly say to Charles, "God bless you, sir, for this!"</p> + +<p>When the mother heard those tidings of her son, she was sobered on the +instant, and ran about the house with all a mother's grief, shrieking +like a mad woman. But all her shrieks and tears could not bring back +poor Julian; deep, deep in the silent grave, she cannot wake him—cannot +kiss him now. Ah well! ah well!</p> + +<p>Then did she return to his dear room, desperate for him—and Hollands +once, twice, thrice, she poured out a full tumbler of the burning fluid, +and drank it off like water; and it maddened her brain: her mind was in +a phrensy of delirium, while her body shook as with a palsy.</p> + +<p>Let us draw the curtain; for she died that night.</p> + +<p>They buried her in Aunt Green's grave: what a meeting theirs will be at +the day of resurrection!</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h3><a name="CHAPTER_XXIX" id="CHAPTER_XXIX"></a>CHAPTER XXIX.</h3> + +<h4>THE OLD SCOTCH NURSE GOES HOME.</h4> + + +<p><span class="smcap">Six</span> months at least—this is clearly not a story of the unities—six +months' interval must now elapse before the wedding-day. Charles and +Emmy—for he called her Emmy still, though Jeanie Mackie would persist +in mouthing it to "Aamy,"—wished to have it delayed a year, in respect +for the memory of those who, with all their crime and folly, were not +the less a mother and a brother: but the general would not hear of such +a thing; he was growing very old, he said; although actually he seemed +to have taken out a new lease of life, so young again and buoyant was +the new-found heart within him; and thus growing old, he was full of +fatherly fear that he should not live to see his children's happiness. +It was only reasonable and proper that our pair of cooing doves should +acquiesce in his desire.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96"></a>Meanwhile, I am truly sorry to say it, Jeanie Mackie died; for it would +have been a good novel-like incident to have suffered the faithful old +creature to have witnessed her favourite's wedding, and then to have +been forthwith killed out of the way, by—perishing in the vestry. +However, things were ordered otherwise, and Jeanie Mackie did not live +to see the wedding: if you wish to know how and where she died, let me +tell you at once.</p> + +<p>Scotland—Argyleshire—Glenmuir; this was the focus of her hopes and +thoughts—that poor old Indian exile! She had left it, as a buxom +bright-haired lassie: but oaks had now grown old that she had planted +acorns; and grandmothers had died palsied, whom she remembered born; +still, around the mountains and the lakes, those changeless features of +her girlhood's rugged home, the old woman's memory wandered; they were +pictured in her mind's eye hard, and clear, and definite as if she +looked upon them now. And her soul's deep hope was to see them once +again.</p> + +<p>There was yet another object which made her yearn for Scotland. +Lieutenant Stuart had been the younger of two brothers, the eldest born +of whom became, upon his father's, the old laird's, death, Glenmuir and +Glenmurdock. Now, though twice married, this elder brother, the new +laird, never had a child; and the clear consequence was, that Amy Stuart +was likely to become sole heiress of her ancestor's possessions. The +lieutenant's marriage with an Italian and a Romanist had been, +doubtless, any thing but pleasant to his friends; the strict old +Presbyterians, and the proud unsullied family of Stuart, could not +palate it at all. Nevertheless, he did marry the girl, according to the +rites of both churches, and there was an end of it; so, innumerable +proverbs coming to their aid about "curing and enduring" and "must +be's," and the place where "marriages are made," &c., the several aunts +and cousins were persuaded at length to wink at the iniquity, and to +correspond both with Mrs. James and her backsliding lieutenant. Of the +offspring of that marriage, and her orphaned state, and of Mrs. Mackie's +care, and the indefinite detention in central Hindostan, they had heard +often-times; for, as there is no corner of the world where a Scot may +not be met with, so, with laudable nationality, they all hang together; +and Glenmuir was written to frequently, all about the child, through +Jeanie Mackie, "her mark," and a scholarly sergeant, Duncan Blair.</p> + +<p>Amy's rights—or Emmy let us call her still, as Charles did—were now, +therefore, the next object of Mrs. Mackie's zeal; and all parties +<a name="Page_97" id="Page_97"></a>interested willingly listened to the plan of spending one or two of +those weary weeks in rubbing up relationships in Scotland; the general +also was not a little anxious about heritage and acres. Accordingly, off +they set in the new travelling-carriage, with due notice of approach, +heartily welcomed, to Dunstowr Castle, the fine old feudal stronghold of +Robert Stuart, Laird of Glenmuir and Glenmurdock.</p> + +<p>The journey, the arrival, and the hearty hospitality; and how the gray +old chieftain kissed his pretty niece; and how welcome her betrothed +Charles and her kind life-long guardian, and her faithful nurse were +made; and how the beacons blazed upon the hill-tops, and the mustering +clan gathered round about old Dunstowr; and how the laird presented to +them all their beautiful future mistress, and how Jeanie Mackie and her +documents travelled up to Edinburgh, where writers to the signet +pestered her heart-sick with over-caution; and how the case was all +cleared up, and the distant disappointed cousin, who had irrationally +hoped to be the heir, was gladdened, if not satisfied, with a pension +and a cantle of Glenmuir; and how all was joyfulness and feasting, when +Amy Stuart was acknowledged in her rights—the bagpipes and the wassail, +salmon, and deer, and black-cock, with a river of mountain dew: let +others tell who know Dunstowr; for as I never was there, of course I +cannot faithfully describe it. Should such an historian as I condescend +to sheer inventions?</p> + +<p>With respect to Jeanie Mackie, I could learn no more than this: she was +sprightly and lively, and strong as ever, though in her ninetieth year, +till her foster-child was righted, and the lawyers had allowed her her +claim. But then there seemed nothing else to live for; so her life +gradually faded from her eye, as an expiring candle; and she would doze +by the hour, sitting on a settle in the sun, basking her old heart in +the smile of those old mountains. None knew when she died, to a minute; +for she died sitting in the sun, in the smile of those old mountains.</p> + +<p>They buried her, with much of rustic pomp, in the hill-church of +Glenmuir, where all her fathers slept around her; and Emily and Charles, +hand-in-hand, walked behind her coffin mournfully.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98"></a></p> +<h3><a name="CHAPTER_XXX" id="CHAPTER_XXX"></a>CHAPTER XXX.</h3> + +<h4>FINAL.</h4> + + +<p><span class="smcap">Gladly</span> would the laird have had marriage at Dunstower, and have given +away the beauteous bride himself: but there must still be two months +more of decent mourning, and the general had long learned to sigh for +the maligned delights of Burleigh Singleton. So, Glenmuir could only get +a promise of reappearance some fine summer or other: and, after another +day's deer-stalking, which made the general repudiate telescopes from +that day forth (the poor man's eyes had actually grown lobster-like with +straining after antlers)—the travelling-carriage, and four lean kine +from Inverary, whisked away the trio towards the South.</p> + +<p>And now, in due time, were the Tamworths full of joy—congratulating, +sympathizing, merrymaking; and the three young ladies behaved admirably +in the capacity of pink and silver bridesmaids; while George proved +equally kind in attending (as he called it) Charles's "execution," +wherein he was "turned off;" and the admiral, G.C.B. was so +hand-in-glove with the general, H.E.I.C.S., that I have reason to +believe they must have sworn eternal friendship, after the manner of the +modern Germans.</p> + +<p>How beautiful our Emmy looked—I hate the broad Scotch Aamy—how bright +her flashing eyes, and how fragrantly the orange-blossoms clustered in +her rich brown hair; let him speak lengthily, whose province it may be +to spin three volumes out of one: for me, I always wish to recollect +that readers possess, on the average, at least as much imagination as +writers. And why should you not exercise it now? Is not Emmy in her +bridal-dress a theme well worth a revery?</p> + +<p>For a similar reason, I must clearly disappoint feminine expectation, by +forbearing to descant upon Charles's slight but manly form, and his +Grecian beauty, &c., all the better for the tropics, and the trials and +the troubles he had passed.</p> + +<p>When Captain Forbes, just sitting down to his soup in the Jamaica +Coffee-house, read in the <i>Morning Post</i>, the marriage of Charles Tracy +with Amy Stuart, he delivered himself mentally as follows:</p> + +<p>"There now! Poets talk of 'love,' and I stick to 'human nature.' When +that fine young fellow sailed with me, hardly a year ago, in the Sir +William Elphinston, he was over head and heels in love with old<a name="Page_99" id="Page_99"></a> Jack +Tracy's pretty girl, Emily Warren: but I knew it wouldn't last long: I +don't believe in constancy for longer than a week. It does one's heart +good to see how right one is; here's what I call proof. My sentimental +spark kisses Emily Warren, and marries Amy Stuart." The captain, happier +than before, called complacently for Cayenne pepper, and relished his +mock-turtle with a higher gusto.</p> + +<p>It is worth recording, that the same change of name mystified slanderous +friends in the Presidency of Madras.</p> + +<p>And now, kind-eyed reader, this story of '<i>The Twins</i>' must leave off +abruptly at the wedding. As in its companion-tale, '<i>The Crock of +Gold</i>,' one grand thesis for our thoughts was that holy wise command, +"Thou shall not covet," and as its other comrade '<i>Heart</i>' is founded on +"Thou shalt not bear false witness," so in this, the seed-corn of the +crop, were five pure words, "Thou shalt not commit adultery." Other +morals doubtless grew up round us, for all virtue hangs together in a +bunch: the harms of secresy, false witness, inordinate affections, and +red murder: but in chief, as we have said.</p> + +<p>Moreover, I wish distinctly to make known, for dear "domestic" sake, +that so far from our lovers' happiness having been consummated (that is, +finished) in the honey-moon—it was only then begun. How long they are +to live thus happily together, Heaven, who wills all things good, alone +can tell; I wish them three score years. Little ones, I hear, arrive +annually—to the unqualified joy, not merely of papa and mamma, but also +of our communicative old general, his friend the G.C.B., and (all but +most of any) the Laird of Glenmuir and Glenmurdock, whose heart has been +entirely rejoiced by Charles Tracy having added to his name, and to his +children's names, that of Stuart.</p> + +<p>Mr. and Mrs. Tracy Stuart are often at Glenmuir; but oftener at +Burleigh, where the general, I fancy, still resides. He protests that he +never will keep a secret again: long may he live to say so!</p> + + +<h4>END OF THE TWINS.</h4> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Twins, by Martin Farquhar Tupper + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE TWINS *** + +***** This file should be named 16574-h.htm or 16574-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/5/7/16574/ + +Produced by Jonathan Ingram, Janet Blenkinship and the +Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Twins + A Domestic Novel + +Author: Martin Farquhar Tupper + +Release Date: August 21, 2005 [EBook #16574] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE TWINS *** + + + + +Produced by Jonathan Ingram, Janet Blenkinship and the +Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + + + + +THE TWINS; + +A DOMESTIC NOVEL. + + +BY + +MARTIN FARQUHAR TUPPER, A.M., F.R.S. + +AUTHOR OF + +PROVERBIAL PHILOSOPHY. + + +HARTFORD: + +PUBLISHED BY SILAS ANDRUS & SON + +1851. + +THE TWINS. + + + + +CHAPTER I. + +PLACE: TIME: CIRCUMSTANCE. + + +BURLEIGH-SINGLETON is a pleasant little watering-place on the southern +coast of England, entirely suitable for those who have small incomes and +good consciences. The latter, to residents especially, are at least as +indispensable as the former: seeing that, however just the reputation of +their growing little town for superior cheapness in matters of meat and +drink, its character in things regarding men and manners is quite as +undeniable for preeminent dullness. + +Not but that it has its varieties of scene, and more or less of +circumstances too: there are, on one flank, the breezy Heights, with +flag-staff and panorama; on the other, broad and level water-meadows, +skirted by the dark-flowing Mullet, running to the sea between its +tortuous banks: for neighbourhood, Pacton Park is one great +attraction--the pretty market-town of Eyemouth another--the everlasting, +never-tiring sea a third; and, at high-summer, when the Devonshire lanes +are not knee-deep in mire, the nevertheless immeasurably filthy, though +picturesque, mud-built village of Oxton. + +Then again (and really as I enumerate these multitudinous advantages, I +begin to relent for having called it dull), you may pick up curious +agate pebbles on the beach, as well as corallines and scarce sea-weeds, +good for gumming on front-parlour windows; you may fish _for_ whitings +in the bay, and occasionally catch them; you may wade in huge caoutchouc +boots among the muddy shallows of the Mullet, and shoot _at_ cormorants +and curlews; you may walk to satiety between high-banked and rather +dirty cross-roads; and, if you will scramble up the hedge-row, may get +now and then peeps of undulated country landscape. + +Moreover, you have free liberty to drop in any where to +"tiffin"--Burleigh being very Indianized, and a guest always welcome; +indeed, so Indianized is it, so populous in jaundiced cheek and ailing +livers, that you may openly assert, without fear of being misunderstood +(if you wish to vary your common phrase of loyalty), that Victoria sits +upon the "musnud" of Great Britain; you may order curry in the smallest +pot-house, and still be sure to get the rice well-cooked; you may call +your house-maid "ayah," without risk of warning for impertinence; you +may vent your wrath against indolent waiters in eloquence of "jaa, +soostee;" and, finally, you may go to the library, and besides the +advantage of the day-before-yesterday's Times, you may behold in bilious +presence an affable, but authoritative, old gentleman, who introduces +himself, "Sir, you see in me the hero of Puttymuddyfudgepoor." + +You may even now see such an one, I say, and hear him too, if you will +but go to Burleigh; seeing he has by this time over-lived the year or so +whereof our tale discourses. He has, by dint of service, attained to the +dignity of General H.E.I.C.S., and--which he was still longer coming +to--the wisdom of being a communicative creature; though possibly, by a +natural reaction, at present he carries anti-secresy a little too far, +and verges on the gossiping extreme. But, at the time to which we must +look back to commence this right-instructive story, General Tracy was +still drinking "Hodgson's Pale" in India, was so taciturn as to be +considered almost dumb, and had not yet lifted up his yellow visage upon +Albion's white cliffs, nor taken up head-quarters in his final rest of +Burleigh-Singleton. + +Nevertheless, with reference to quartering at Burleigh, a certain +long-neglected wife of his, Mrs. Tracy, had; and that for the period of +at least the twenty-one years preceding: how and wherefore I proceed to +tell. + +A common case and common fate was that of Mrs. Tracy. She had married, +both early and hastily, a gallant lieutenant, John George Julian Tracy, +to wit, the military germ of our future general; their courtship and +acquaintance previous to matrimony extended over the not inconsiderable +space of three whole weeks--commencing with a country ball; and after +marriage, honey-moon inclusive, they lived the life of cooing doves for +three whole months. + +And now came the furlough's end: Mr. Tracy, in his then habitual reserve +(a quiet man was he), had concealed its existence altogether: and, for +aught Jane knew, the hearty invalid was to remain at home for ever: but +months soon slip away; and so it came to pass, that on a certain next +Wednesday he must be on his way back to the Presidency of Madras, +and--if she will not follow him--he must leave her. + +However, there was a certain old relative, one Mrs. Green, a childless +widow--rich, capricious, and infirm--whom Jane Tracy did not wish to +lose sight of: her money was well worth both watching and waiting for; +and the captain, whom a lucky chance had now lifted out of the +lieutenancy, was easily persuaded to forego the pleasure of his wife's +company till the somewhat indefinite period of her old aunt's death. + +How far sundry discoveries made in the unknown regions of each other's +temper reconciled him to this retrograding bachelorship, and her to her +widowhood-bewitched, I will not undertake to say: but I will hazard the +remark, anti-poor-law though it seemeth, that the separation of man and +wife, however convenient, lucrative, or even mutually pleasant, is a +dereliction of duty, which always deserves, and generally meets, its +proper and discriminative punishment. Had the young wife faithfully +performed her Maker's bidding, and left all other ties unstrung to +cleave unto her lord; had she considered a husband's true affections +before all other wealth, and resolved to share his dangers, to solace +his cares, to be his blessing through life, and his partner even unto +death, rather than selfishly to seek her own comfort, and consult her +own interest--the tale of crime and sadness, which it is my lot to tell, +would never have had truth for its foundation. + +Ill-matched for happiness though they were, however well-matched as to +mutual merit, the common man of pleasure and the frivolous woman of +fashion, still the wisest way to fuse their minds to union, the +likeliest receipt for moral good and social comfort, would have been +this course of foreign scenes, of new faces, sprinkled with a seasoning +of adventure, hardship, danger, in a distant land. Gradually would they +have learned to bear and forbear; the petty quarrel would have been +forgotten in the frequent kindness; the rougher edges of temper and +opinion would insensibly have smoothed away; new circumstances would +have brought out better feelings under happier skies; old acquaintances, +false friends forgotten, would have neutralized old feuds: and, by +long-living together, though it were perhaps amid various worries and +many cares, they might still have come to a good old age with more than +average happiness, and more than the common run of love. Patience in +dutiful enduring brings a sure reward: and marriage, however irksome a +constraint to the foolish and the gay, is still so wise an ordinance, +that the most ill-assorted couple imaginable will unconsciously grow +happy, if they only remain true to one another, and will learn the +wisdom always to hope and often to forgive. + +The Tracys, however, overlooked all this, and mutual friends (those +invariable foes to all that is generous and unworldly) smiled upon the +prudence of their temporary separation. The captain was to come home +again on furlough in five years at furthest, even if the aunt held out +so long; and this availed to keep his wife in the rear-guard; therefore, +Mrs. Tracy wiped her eyes, bade adieu to her retreating lord in Plymouth +Sound, and determined to abide, with other expectant dames and Asiatic +invalided heroes, at Burleigh-Singleton, until she might go to him, or +he return to her: for pleasant little Burleigh, besides its contiguity +to arriving Indiamen, was advantageous as being the dwelling-place of +aforesaid Mrs. Green;--that wealthy, widowed aunt, devoutly wished in +heaven: and the considerate old soul had offered her designing niece a +home with her till Tracy could come back. + +During the first year of absence, ship-letters and India-letters arrived +duteously in consecutive succession: but somehow or other, the regular +post, in no long time afterwards, became unfaithful to its trust; and if +Mrs. Jane heard quarterly, which at any rate she did through the agent, +when he remitted her allowance, she consoled herself as to the captain's +well-being: in due course of things, even this became irregular; he was +far up the country, hunting, fighting, surveying, and what not; and no +wonder that letters, if written at all, which I rather doubt, got lost. +Then there came a long period of positive and protracted silence--months +of it--years of it; barring that her checks for cash were honoured still +at Hancock's, though they could tell her nothing of her lord; so that +Mrs. Tracy was at length seriously recommended by her friends to become +a widow; she tried on the cap, and looked into many mirrors; but, after +long inspection, decided upon still remaining a wife, because the weeds +were so clearly unbecoming. Habit, meanwhile, and that still-existing +old aunt, who seemed resolved to live to a hundred, kept her as before +at Burleigh: and, seeing that a few months after the captain's departure +she had presented the world, not to say her truant lord, with twins, she +had always found something to do in the way of, what she considered, +education, and other juvenile amusement: that is to say, when the +gayeties of a circle of fifteen miles in radius left her any time to +spare in such a process. The twins--a brace of boys--were born and bred +at Burleigh, and had attained severally to twenty years of age, just +before their father came home again as brevet-major-general. But both +they, and that arrival, deserve special detail, each in its own chapter. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +THE HEROES. + + +MRS. TRACY'S sons were as unlike each other as it is well possible for +two human beings to be, both in person and character. Julian, whose +forward and bold spirit gained him from the very cradle every +prerogative of eldership (and he did struggle first into life, too, so +he was the first-born), had grown to be a swarthy, strong, big-boned +man, of the Roman-nosed, or, more physiognomically, the Jewish cast of +countenance; with melo-dramatic elf-locks, large whiskers, and +ungovernable passions; loud, fierce, impetuous; cunning, too, for all +his overbearing clamour; and an embodied personification of those choice +essentials to criminal happiness--a hard heart and a good digestion. +Charles, on the contrary (or, as logicians would say, on the +contradictory), was fair-haired, blue-eyed, of Grecian features; slim, +though well enough for inches, and had hitherto (as the commonalty have +it) "enjoyed" weak health: he was gentle and affectionate in heart, pure +and religious in mind, studious and unobtrusive in habits. It was a +wonder to see the strange diversity between those own twin-brothers, +born within the same hour, and, it is superfluous to add, of the same +parents; brought up in all outward things alike, and who had shared +equally in all that might be called advantage or disadvantage, of +circumstance or education. + +Certain is it that minds are different at birth, and require as +different a treatment as Iceland moss from cactuses, or bull-dogs from +bull-finches: certain is it, too, that Julian, early submitted and +resolutely broken in, would have made as great a man, as Charles, +naturally meek, did make a good one; but for the matter of educating her +boys, poor Mrs. Tracy had no more notion of the feat, than of squaring +the circle, or determining the longitude. She kept them both at home, +till the peevish aunt could suffer Julian's noise no longer: the house +was a Pandemonium, and the giant grown too big for that castle of +Otranto; so he must go at any rate; and (as no difference in the +treatment of different characters ever occurred to any body) of course +Charles must go along with him. Away they went to an expensive school, +which Julian's insubordination on the instant could not brook--and, +accordingly, he ran away; without doubt, Charles must be taken away too. +Another school was tried, Julian got expelled this time; and Charles, +in spite of prizes, must, on system, be removed with him: so forth, with +like wisdom, all through the years of adolescence and instruction, those +ill-matched brothers were driven as a pair. Then again, for fashion's +sake, and Aunt Green's whims, the circumspective mother, notwithstanding +all her inconsistencies, gave each of them prettily bound hand-books of +devotion; which the one used upon his knees, and the other lit cigars +withal; both extremes having exceeded her intention: and she proved +similarly overreached when she persisted in treating both exactly alike, +as to liberal allowances, and liberty of will; the result being, that +one of her sons "foolishly" spent his money in a multitude of charitable +hobbies; and that the other was constantly supplied with means for (the +mother was sorry to say it, vulgar) dissipation. By consequence, Charles +did more good, and Julian more evil, than I have time to stop and tell +off. + +If any thing in this life must be personal, peculiar, and specific, it +is education: we take upon ourselves to speak thus dogmatically, not of +mere school-teaching only, _musa_, _musae_, and so forth; nor yet of +lectures, on relative qualities of carbon and nitrogen in vegetables; +no, nor even of schemes of theology, or codes of morals; but we do speak +of the daily and hourly reining-in, or letting-out, of discouragement in +one appetite, and encouragement in another; of habitual formation of +characters in their diversity; and of shaping their bear's-cub, or that +child-angel, the natural human mind, to its destined ends; that it may +turn out, for good, according to its several natures, to be either the +strong-armed, bold-eyed, rough-hewer of God's grand designs, or the +delicate-fingered polisher of His rarest sculptures. Julian, +well-trained, might have grown to be a Luther; and many a gentle soul +like Charles, has turned out a coxcomb and a sensualist. + +The boys were born, as I have said, in the regulation order of things, a +few months after Captain Tracy sailed away for India some full score of +years, and more, from this present hour, when we have seen him seated as +a general in the library at Burleigh; and, until the last year, they had +never seen their father--scarcely ever heard of him. + +The incidents of their lives had been few and common-place: it would be +easy, but wearisome, to specify the orchards and the bee-hives which +Julian had robbed as a school-boy; the rebellions he had headed; the +monkey tricks he had played upon old fish-women; and the cruel havoc he +made of cats, rats, and other poor tormented creatures, who had +ministered to his wanton and brutalizing joys. In like manner, wearily, +but easily, might I relate how Charles grew up the nurse's darling, +though little of his flaunting mother's; the curly-pated young +book-worm; the sympathizing, innoffensive, gentle heart, whose effort +still it was to countervail his brother's evil: how often, at the risk +of blows, had he interposed to save some drowning puppy: how often paid +the bribe for Julian's impunity, when mulcted for some damage done in +the way of broken windows, upset apple-stalls, and the like: how often +had he screened his bad twin-brother from the flagellatory consequences +of sheer idleness, by doing for him all his school-tasks: how often +striven to guide his insensate conscience to truth, and good, and +wisdom: how often, and how vainly! + +And when the youths grew up, and their good and evil grew up with them, +it were possible to tell you a heart-rending tale of Julian's treachery +to more than one poor village beauty; and many a pleasing trait of +Charles's pure benevolence, and wise zeal to remedy his brother's +mischiefs. The one went about doing ill, and the other doing good: +Julian, on account of obligations, more truly than in spite of them, +hated Charles; and yet one great aim of all Charles's amiabilities +tended continually to Julian's good, and he strove to please him, too, +while he wished to bless him. The one had grown to manhood, full of +unrepented sins, and ripe for darker crime: the other had attained a +like age of what is somewhat satirically called discretion, having +amassed, with Solon of old, "knowledge day by day," having lived a life +of piety and purity, and blest with a cheerful disposition, that teemed +with happy thoughts. + +They had, of course, in the progress of human life, been both laid upon +the bed of sickness, where, with similar contrast, the one lay muttering +discontent, and the other smiling patiently: they had both been in +dangers by land and by sea, where Julian, though not a little lacking to +himself at the moment of peril, was still loudly minacious till it came +too near; while Charles, with all his caution, was more actually +courageous, and in spite of all his gentleness, stood against the worst +undaunted: they had both, with opposite motives and dissimilar modes of +life, passed through various vicissitudes of feeling, scene, society; +and the influence of circumstance on their different characters, +heightened or diminished, bettered or depraved, by the good or evil +principle in each, had produced their different and probable results. + +Thus, strangely dissimilar, the twin-brothers together stand before us: +Julian the strong impersonation of the animal man, as Charles of the +intellectual; Julian, matter; Charles, spirit; Julian, the creature of +this world, tending to a lower and a worse: Charles, though in the +world, not of the world, and reaching to a higher and a better. + +Mrs. Tracy, the mother of this various progeny, had been somewhat of a +beauty in her day, albeit much too large and masculine for the taste of +ordinary mortals; and though now very considerably past forty, the vain +vast female was still ambitious of compliment, and greedy of admiration. +That Julian should be such a woman's favourite will surprise none: she +had, she could have, no sympathies with mild and thoughtful Charles; but +rather dreaded to set her flaunting folly in the light of his wise +glance, and sought to hide her humbled vanity from his pure and keen +perceptions. His very presence was a tacit rebuke to her social +dissipation, and she could not endure the mild radiance of his virtues. +He never fawned and flattered her, as Julian would; but had even +suffered filial presumption (it could not be affection--O dear, no!) to +go so far as gently to expostulate at what he fancied wrong; he never +gave her reason to contrast, with happy self-complacence, her own soul's +state with Charles's, however she could with Julian's: and then, too, +she would indulgently allow her foolish mind--a woman's, though a +parent's--to admire that tall, black, bandit-looking son, above the +slight build, the delicate features, and almost feminine elegance of his +brother: she found Julian always ready to countenance and pamper her +gayest wishes, and was glad to make him her escort every where--at +balls, and fetes, and races, and archery parties; while as to Charles, +he would be the stay-at-home, the milk-sop, the learned pundit, the +pious prayer-monger, any thing but the ladies' man. Yes: it is little +wonder that Mrs. Tracy's heart clave to Julian, the masculine image of +herself; while it barely tolerated Charles, who was a rarefied and +idealized likeness of the absent and forgotten Tracy. + +But the mother--and there are many silly mothers, almost as many as +silly men and silly maids--in her admiration of the outward form of +manliness, overlooked the true strength, and chivalry, and nobleness of +mind which shone supreme in Charles. How would Julian have acted in such +a case as this?--a sheep had wandered down the cliff's face to a narrow +ledge of rock, whence it could not come back again, for there was no +room to turn: Julian would have pelted it, and set his bull-dog at it, +and rejoiced to have seen the poor animal's frantic leaps from shingly +shelf to shelf, till it would be dashed to pieces. But how did Charles +act? With the utmost courage, and caution, and presence of mind, he +crept down, and, at the risk of his life, dragged the bleating, +unreluctant creature up again; it really seemed as if the ungrateful +poor dumb brute recognised its humane friend, and suffered him to rescue +it without a struggle or a motion that might have endangered both. + +Again: a burly costermonger was belabouring his donkey, and the wretched +beast fell beneath his cudgel: strange to say, Julian and Charles were +walking together that time; and the same sight affected each so +differently, that the one sided with the cruel man, and the other with +his suffering victim: Charles, in momentary indignation, rushed up to +the fellow, wrested the cudgel from his hand, and flung it over the +cliff; while Julian was so base, so cowardly, as to reward such generous +interference, by holding his weaker brother's arms, and inviting the +wrathful costermonger to expend the remainder of his phrensy on unlucky +Charles. Yes, and when at home Mrs. Tracy heard all this, she was silly +enough, wicked enough, to receive her truly noble son with ridicule, and +her other one, the child of her disgrace, with approval. + +"It will teach you, Master Charles, not to meddle with common people and +their donkeys; and you may thank your brother Julian for giving you a +lesson how a gentleman should behave." + +Poor Charles! but poorer Julian, and poorest Mrs. Tracy! + +It would be easy, if need were, to enumerate multiplied examples tending +towards the same end--a large, masculine-featured mother's foolish +preference of the loud, bold, worldly animal, before the meek, kind, +noble, spiritual. And the results of all these many matters were, that +now, at twenty years of age, Charles found himself, as it were, alone in +a strange land, with many common friends indeed abroad, but at home no +nearer, dearer ties to string his heart's dank lyre withal; neither +mother nor brother, nor any other kind familiar face, to look upon his +gentleness in love, or to sympathize with his affections, unapprehended, +unappreciated: so--while Mrs. Tracy was the showy, gay, and vapid thing +she ever had been, and Julian the same impetuous mother's son which his +very nurse could say she knew him--Charles grew up a shy and silent +youth, necessarily reserved, for lack of some one to understand him; +necessarily chilled, for want of somebody to love him. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +THE ARRIVAL. + + +THE young men were thus situated as regards both the world and one +another, and Mrs. Tracy had almost entirely forgotten the fact, that she +possessed a piece of goods so supererogatory as her husband (a property +too which her children had never quite realized), when all on a sudden, +one ordinary morning, the postman's-knock brought to her breakfast-table +at Burleigh-Singleton the following epistle: + + "British Channel, Thursday, March 11th, 1842. + "The Sir William Elphinston, E.I.M. + +"DEAR JANE: You will be surprised to find that you are to see me so +soon, I dare say, especially as it is now some years since you will have +heard from me. The reason is, I have been long in an out-of-the-way part +of India, where there is little communication with Europe, and so you +will excuse my not writing. We hope to find ourselves to-night in +Plymouth roads, where I shall get into a pilot-boat, and so shall see +you to-morrow. You may, therefore, now expect your affectionate husband, + + "J.G.J. TRACY, General H.E.I.C.S. + +"P.S.1.--Remember me to our boy, or boys--which is it? + +"P.S.2.--I bring with me the daughter of a friend in India, who is come +over for a year or two's polish at a first-rate school. Of course you +will be glad to receive her as our guest. + + "J.G.J.T." + +This loving letter was the most startling event that had ever attempted +to unnerve Mrs. Tracy; and she accordingly managed, for effect and +propriety's sake, to grow very faint upon the spot, whether for joy, or +sorrow, or fear of lost liberty, or hope of a restored lord, doth not +appear; she had so long been satisfied with receiving quarterly pay from +the India agents, that she forgot it was an evidence of her husband's +existence; and, lo! here he was returning a general, doubtlessly a +magnificent moustachioed individual, and she was to be Mrs. General! so +that when she came completely to herself, after that feint of a faint, +she was thinking of nothing but court-plumes, oriental pearls, and her +gallant Tracy's uniform. + +The postscripts also had their influence: Charles, naturally +affectionate, and willing to love a hitherto unseen father, felt hurt, +as well he might, at the "boy, or boys;" while Julian, who ridiculed his +brother's sentimentality, was already fancying that the "daughter of a +friend" might be a pleasant addition to the dullness of +Burleigh-Singleton. + +Preparations vast were made at once for the general's reception; from +attic to kitchen was sounded the tocsin of his coming. Julian was all +bustle and excitement, to his mother's joy and pride; while Charles +merited her wrath by too much of his habitual and paternal quietude, +particularly when he withdrew his forces altogether from the loud +domestic fray, by retreating up-stairs to cogitate and muse, perhaps to +make a calming prayer or two about all these matters of importance. As +for Mrs. Tracy herself, she was even now, within the first hour of that +news, busily engaged in collecting cosmetics, trinkets, blonde lace, and +other female finery, resolved to trick herself out like Jezebel, and win +her lord once more; whilst the pernicious old aunt, who still lived on, +notwithstanding all those twenty years of patience, as vivacious as +before, grumbled and scolded so much at this upsetting of her house, +that there was really some risk of her altering the will at last, and +cutting out Jane Tracy after all. + +And the morrow morning came, as if it were no more than an ordinary +Friday, and with it came expectancy; and noon succeeded, and with it +spirits alternately elated and depressed; and evening drew in, with +heart-sickness and chagrin at hopes or prophecies deferred; and night, +and next morning, and still the general came not. So, much weeping at +that vexing disappointment, after so many pains to please, Mrs. Tracy +put aside her numerous aids and appliances, and lay slatternly a-bed, to +nurse a head-ache until noon; and all had well nigh forgotten the +probable arrival, when, to every body's dismay, a dusty chaise and four +suddenly rattled up the terrace, and stopped at our identical number +seven. + +Then was there scuffling up, and getting down, and making preparation in +hot haste; and a stout gentleman with a gamboge face descended from the +chaise, exploding wrath like a bomb-shell, that so important an approach +had made such slight appearance of expectancy: it was disrespectful to +his rank, and he took care to prove he was somebody, by blowing up the +very innocent post-boys. This accomplished, he gallantly handed out +after him a pretty-looking miss in her teens. Poor Mrs. Tracy, _en +papillotes_, looked out at the casement like any one but Jezebel attired +for bewitching, and could have cried for vexation; in fact, she did, +and passed it off for feeling. Aunt Green, whom the general at first +lovingly saluted as his wife (for the poor man had entirely forgotten +the uxorial appearance), was all in a pucker for deafness, blindness, +and evident misapprehension of all things in general, though clearly +pleased, and flattered at her gallant nephew's salutation. Julian, with +what grace of manner he could muster, was already playing the agreeable +to that pretty ward, after having, to the general's great surprise, +introduced himself to him as his son; while Charles, who had rushed into +the room, warm-heartedly to fling himself into his father's arms, was +repelled on the spot for his affection: General Tracy, with a military +air, excused himself from the embrace, extending a finger to the unknown +gentleman, with somewhat of offended dignity. + +At last, down came the wife: our general at once perceived himself +mistaken in the matter of Mrs. Green; and, coldly bowing to the +bedizened dame, acknowledged her pretensions with a courteous-- + +"Mrs. General Tracy, allow me to introduce to you Miss Emily Warren, the +daughter of a very particular friend of mine:--Miss Warren, Mrs. Tracy." + +For other welcomings, mutual astonishment at each other's fat, some +little sorrowful talk of the twenty years ago, and some dull paternal +jest about this dozen feet of sons, made up the chilly meeting: and the +slender thread of sentimentals, which might possibly survive it, was +soon snapt by paying post-boys, orders after luggage, and devouring +tiffin. + +The only persons who felt any thing at all, were Mrs. Tracy, vexed at +her dishabille, and mortified at so cool a reception of, what she hoped, +her still unsullied beauties; and Charles, poor fellow, who ran up to +his studious retreat, and soothed his grief, as best he might, with +philosophic fancies: it was so cold, so heartless, so unkind a greeting. +Romantic youth! how should the father have known him for a son? + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +THE GENERAL AND HIS WARD. + + +IT is surprising what a change twenty years of a tropical sun can make +in the human constitution. The captain went forth a good-looking, +good-tempered man, destitute neither of kind feelings nor masculine +beauty: the general returned bloated, bilious, irascible, entirely +selfish, and decidedly ill-favoured. Such affections as he ever had +seemed to have been left behind in India--that new world, around which +now all his associations and remembrances revolved; and the reserve +(clearly reproduced in Charles), the habit of silence whereof we took +due notice in the spring-tide of his life, had now grown, perhaps from +some oppressive secret, into a settled, moody, continuous taciturnity, +which made his curious wife more vexed at him than ever; for, +notwithstanding all the news he must have had to tell her, the company +of John George Julian Tracy proved to his long-expectant Jane any thing +but cheering or instructive. His past life, and present feelings, to say +nothing of his future prospects, might all be but a blank, for any thing +the general seemed to care: brandy and tobacco, an easy chair, and an +ordnance map of India, with Emily beside him to talk about old times, +these were all for which he lived: and even the female curiosity of a +wife, duly authorized to ask questions, could extract from him +astonishingly little of his Indian experiences. As to his wealth, +indeed, Mrs. Tracy boldly made direct inquiry; for Julian set her on to +beg for a commission, and Charles also was anxious for a year or two at +college; but the general divulged not much: albeit he vouchsafed to both +his sons a liberally increased allowance. It was only when his wife, +piqued at such reserve, pettishly remarked, + +"At any rate, sir, I may be permitted to hope, that Miss Warren's +friends are kind enough to pay her expenses;" + +That the veteran, in high dudgeon at any imputation on his Indian +acquaintances, sternly answered, + +"You need not be apprehensive, madam; Emily Warren is amply provided +for." Words which sank deep into the prudent mother's mind. + +But we must not too long let dock-leaves hide a violet; it is high time, +and barely courteous now, to introduce that beautiful exotic, Emily +Warren. Her own history, as she will tell it to Charles hereafter, was +so obscure, that she knew little of it certainly herself, and could +barely gather probabilities from scattered fragments. At present, we +have only to survey results in a superficial manner: in their due +season, we will dig up all the roots. + +No heroine can probably engage our interest or sympathy who possesses +the infirmity of ugliness: it is not in human nature to admire her, and +human nature is a thing very much to be consulted. Moreover, no one ever +yet saw an amiable personage, who was not so far pleasing, or, in other +parlance, so far pretty. I cannot help the common course of things; and +however hackneyed be the thought, however common-place the phrase, it is +true, nevertheless, that beauty, singular beauty, would be the first +idea of any rational creature, who caught but a glimpse of Emily Warren; +and I should account it little wonder if, upon a calmer gaze, that +beauty were found to have its deepest, clearest fountain in those large +dark eyes of heir's. + +Aware as I may be, that "large dark eyes" are no novelty in tales like +this; and famous for rare originality as my pen (not to say genius) +would become, if an attempt were herein made to interest the world in a +pink-eyed heroine, still I prefer plodding on in the well-worn path of +pleasant beauty; and so long as Nature's bounty continues to supply so +well the world we live in with large dark eyes, and other feminine +perfections, our Emily, at any rate, remains in fashion; and if she has +many pretty peers, let us at least not peevishly complain of them. A +graceful shape is, luckily, almost the common prerogative of female +youthfulness; a dimpled smile, a cheerful, winning manner, regular +features, and a mass of luxuriant brown hair--these all heroines +have--and so has our's. + +But no heroine ever had yet Emily Warren's eyes; not identically only, +which few can well deny; but similarly also, which the many must be good +enough to grant: and very few heroes, indeed, ever saw their equal; +though, if any hereabouts object, I will not be so cruel or unreasonable +as to hope they will admit it. At first, full of soft light, gentle and +alluring, they brighten up to blaze upon you lustrously, and fascinate +the gazer's dazzled glance: there are depths in them that tell of the +unfathomable soul, heights in them that speak of the spirit's +aspirations. It is gentleness and purity, no less than sensibility and +passion, that look forth in such strange power from those windows of the +mind: it is not the mere beautiful machine, fair form, and pleasing +colours, but the heaven-born light of tenderness and truth, streaming +through the lens, that takes the fond heart captive. Charles, for one, +could not help looking long and keenly into Emily Warren's eyes; they +magnetized him, so that he might not turn away from them: entranced him, +that he would not break their charm, had he been able: and then the long +tufted eyelashes droop so softly over those blazing suns--that I do not +in the least wonder at Charles's impolite, perhaps, but still natural +involuntary stare, and his mute abstracted admiration: the poor youth is +caught at once, a most willing captive--the moth has burnt its wings, +and flutters still happily around that pleasant warming radiance. How +his heart yearned for something to love, some being worthy of his own +most pure affections: and lo! these beauteous eyes, true witnesses of +this sweet mind, have filled him for ever and a day with love at first +sight. + +But gentle Charles was not the only conquest: the fiery Julian, too, +acknowledged her supremacy, bowed his stubborn neck, and yoked himself +at once, another and more rugged captive, to the chariot of her charms. +It was Caliban, as well as Ferdinand, courting fair Miranda. In his +lower grade, he loved--fiercely, coarsely: and the same passion, which +filled his brother's heart with happiest aspirations, and pure unselfish +tenderness towards the beauteous stranger, burnt him up as an inward and +consuming fire: Charles sunned himself in heaven's genial beams, while +Julian was hot with the lava-current of his own bad heart's volcano. + +It will save much trouble, and do away with no little useless mystery, +to declare, at the outset, which of these opposite twin-brothers our +dark-eyed Emily preferred. She was only seventeen in years; but an +Indian sky had ripened her to full maturity, both of form and feelings: +and having never had any one whom she cared to think upon, and let her +heart delight in, till Charles looked first upon her beauty wonderingly, +it is no marvel if she unconsciously reciprocated his young heart's +thought--before ever he had breathed it to himself. Julian's admiration +she entirely overlooked; she never thought him more than civil--barely +that, perhaps--however he might flatter himself: but her heart and eyes +were full of his fair contrast, the light seen brighter against +darkness; Charles all the dearer for a Julian. Intensely did she love +him, as only tropic blood can love; intently did she gaze on him, when +any while he could not see her face, as only those dark eyes could gaze: +and her mind, all too ignorant but greedy of instruction, no less than +her heart, rich in sympathies and covetous of love, went forth, and fed +deliciously on the intellectual brow, and delicate flushing cheek of her +noble-minded Charles. Not all in a day, nor a week, nor a month, did +their loves thus ripen together. Emily was a simple child of nature, who +had every thing to learn; she scarcely knew her Maker's name, till +Charles instructed her in God's great love: the stars were to her only +shining studs of gold, and the world one mighty plain, and men and women +soulless creatures of a day, and the wisdom of creation unconsidered, +and the book of natural knowledge close sealed up, till Charles set out +before his eager student the mysteries of earth and heaven. Oh, those +blessed hours of sweet teaching! when he led her quick delighted steps +up the many avenues of science to the central throne of God! Oh, those +happy moments, never to return, when her eyes in gentle thankfulness for +some new truth laid open to them, flashed upon her youthful Mentor, love +and intelligence, and pleased admiring wonder! Sweet spring-tide of +their loves, who scarcely knew they loved, yet thought of nothing but +each other; who walked hand in hand, as brother and sister, in the +flowery ways of mutual blessing, mutual dependence: alas, alas! how +brief a space can love, that guest from heaven, dwell on earth +unsullied! + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +JEALOUSY. + + +FOR Julian soon perceived that Charles was no despicable rival. At +first, self-flattery, and the habitual contempt wherewith he regarded his +brother, blinded him to Emily's attachment: moreover, in the scenes of +gayety and the common social circle, she never gave him cause to complain +of undue preferences; readily she leant upon his arm, cheerfully +accompanied him in morning-visits, noon-day walks, and evening parties; +and if pale Charles (in addition to the more regular masters, dancing +and music, and other pieces of accomplishment) thought proper to bore +her with his books for sundry hours every day, Julian found no fault +with that;--the girl was getting more a woman of the world, and all +for him: she would like her play-time all the better for such schoolings, +and him to be the truant at her side. + +But when, from ordinary civilities, the coarse loud lover proceeded to +particular attentions; when he affected to press her delicate hand, and +ventured to look what he called love into her eyes, and to breathe silly +nothings in her ear--he could deceive himself no longer, notwithstanding +all his vanity; as legibly as looks could write it, he read disgust +upon her face, and from that day forth she shunned him with undisguised +abhorrence. Poor innocent maid! she little knew the man's black mind, +who thus dared to reach up to the height of her affections; but she saw +enough of character in his swart scowling face, and loud assuming manners, +to make her dread his very presence, as a thunder-cloud across +her summer sky. + +Then did the baffled Julian begin to look around him, and took notice +of her deepening love of Charles; nay, even purposely, she seemed now +to make a difference between them, as if to check presumption and +encourage merit. And he watched their stolen glances, how tremblingly +they met each other's gaze; and he would often-times roughly break in +upon their studies, to look on their confused disquietude with the pallid +frowns of envy: he would insult poor Charles before her, in hope to +humble him in her esteem; but mild and Christian patience made her +see him as a martyr: he would even cast rude slights on her whom he +professed to love, with the view of raising his brother's chastened wrath, +but was forced to quail and sneak away beneath her quick indignant +glance, ere her more philosophical lover had time to expostulate with +the cowardly savage. + +Meanwhile, what were the parents about? The general had given out, +indeed, that he had brought Emily over for schooling; but he seemed so +fond of her (in fact, she was the only thing to prove he wore a heart), +that he never could resolve upon sending her away from, what she now +might well call, home. Often, in some strange dialect of Hindostan, did +they converse together, of old times and distant shores; none but Emily +might read him to sleep--none but Emily wake him in the morning with +a kiss--none but Emily dare approach him in his gouty torments--none +but Emily had any thing like intimate acquaintance with that moody +iron-hearted man. + +As to his sons, or the two young men he might presume to be his sons, he +neither knew them, nor cared to know. Bare civilities, as between man +and man, constituted all which their intercourse amounted to: what were +those young fellows, stout or slim, to him? mere accidents of a +soldier's gallantries and of an ill-assorted marriage. He neither had, +nor wished to have, any sympathies with them: Julian might be as bad as +he pleased, and Charles as good, for any thing the general seemed to +heed: they could not dive with him into the past, and the sports of +Hindostan: they reminded him, simply, of his wife, for pleasures of +Memory; of the grave, for pleasures of Hope: he was older when he looked +at them: and they seemed to him only living witnesses of his folly as +lieutenant, in the choice of Mrs. Tracy. I will not take upon myself to +say, that he had any occasion to congratulate himself on the latter +reminiscence. + +So he quickly acquiesced in Julian's wish for a commission, and +entirely approved of Charles's college schemes. After next September, +the funds should be forthcoming: not but that he was rich enough, and +to spare, any month in the year: but he would be vastly richer then, +from prize-money, or some such luck. It was more prudent to delay +until September. + +With reference to Emily--no, no--I could see at once that General +Tracy never had any serious intention to part with Emily; but she had +all manner of masters at home, and soon made extraordinary progress. +As for the matter of his sons falling in love with her, attractive in all +beauty though she were, he never once had given it a thought: for, first, +he was too much a man of the world to believe in such ideal trash as +love: and next, he totally forgot that his "boy, or boys," had human +feelings. So, when his wife one day gave him a gentle and triumphant +hint of the state of affairs, it came upon him overwhelmingly, like an +avalanche: his yellow face turned flake-white, he trembled as he stood, +and really seemed to take so natural a probability to heart as the most +serious of evils. + +"My son Julian in love with Emily! and if not he, at any rate Charles! +What the devil, madam, can you mean by this dreadful piece of +intelligence?--It's impossible, ma'am; nonsense! it can't be true; it +shan't, ma'am." + +And the general, having issued his military mandates, wrapped himself +in secresy once more; satisfied that both of those troublesome sons +were to leave home after the next quarter, and the prize-money at +Hancock's. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +THE CONFIDANTE. + + +BUT Mrs. Tracy had the best reason for believing her intelligence was +true, and she could see very little cause for regarding it as dreadful. +True, one son would have been enough for this wealthy Indian +heiress--but still it was no harm to have two strings to her bow. Julian +was her favourite, and should have the girl if she could manage it; but +if Emily Warren would not hear of such a husband, why Charles Tracy may +far better get her money than any body else. + +That she possessed great wealth was evident: such jewellery, such +Trinchinopoli chains, such a blaze of diamonds _en suite_, such a +multitude of armlets, and circlets, and ear-rings, and other oriental +finery, had never shone on Devonshire before: at the Eyemouth ball, men +worshipped her, radiant in beauty, and gorgeously apparelled. Moreover, +money overflowed her purse, her work-box, and her jewel-case: Charles's +village school, and many other well-considered charities, rejoiced in +the streams of her munificence. The general had given her a banker's +book of signed blank checks, and she filled up sums at pleasure: such +unbounded confidence had he in her own prudence and her far-off father's +liberality. The few hints her husband deigned to give, encouraged Mrs. +Tracy to conclude, that she would be a catch for either of her sons; +and, as for the girl herself, she had clearly been brought up to order +about a multitude of servants, to command the use of splendid equipages, +and to spend money with unsparing hand. + +Accordingly, one day when Julian was alone with his mother, their +conversation ran as follows: + +"Well, Julian dear, and what do you think of Emily Warren?" + +"Think, mother? why--that she's deuced pretty, and dresses like an +empress: but where did the general pick her up, eh?--who is she?" + +"Why, as to who she is--I know no more than you; she is Emily Warren: +but as to the great question of what she is, I know that she is rolling +in riches, and would make one of my boys a very good wife." + +"Oh, as to wife, mother, one isn't going to be fool enough to marry for +love now-a-days: things are easier managed hereabouts, than that: but +money makes it quite another thing. So, this pretty minx is rich, is +she?" + +"A great heiress, I assure you, Julian." + +"Bravo, bravo-o! but how to make the girl look sweet upon me, mother? +There's that white-livered fellow, Charles--" + +"Never mind him, boy; do you suppose he would have the heart to make +love to such a splendid creature as Miss Warren: fy, Julian, for a faint +heart: Charles is well enough as a Sabbath-school teacher, but I hope he +will not bear away the palm of a ladye-love from my fine high-spirited +Julian." Poor Mrs. Tracy was as flighty and romantic at forty-five as +she had been at fifteen. + +The fine high-spirited Julian answered not a word, but looked +excessively cross; for he knew full well that Charles's chance was to +his in the ratio of a million to nothing. + +"What, boy," went on the prudent mother, "still silent! I am afraid +Emily's good looks have been thrown away upon you, and that your heart +has not found out how to love her." + +"Love her, mother? Curses! would you drive me mad? I think and dream of +nothing but that girl: morning, noon, and night, her eyes persecute me: +go where I will, and do what I will, her image haunts me: d----n it, +mother' don't I love the girl?" + +[Oh love, love! thou much-slandered monosyllable, how desperately do bad +men malign thee!] + +"Hush, Julian; pray be more guarded in your language; I am glad to see +though that your heart is in the right place: suppose now that I aid +your suit a little? I dare say I could do a great deal for you, my son; +and nothing could be more delightful to your mother than to try and make +her Julian happy." + +True, Mrs. Tracy; you were always theatrically given, and played the +coquette in youth; so in age the character of go-between befits you +still: dearly do you love to dabble in, what you are pleased to call, +"_une affaire du coeur_." + +"Mother," after a pause, replied her hopeful progeny, "if the girl had +been only pretty, I shouldn't have asked any body's help; for marriage +was never to my liking, and folks may have their will of prouder +beauties than this Emily, without going to church for it; but money +makes it quite another matter: and I may as well have the benefit of +your assistance in this matter o' money, eh mother? matrimony, you know: +an heiress and a beauty may be worth the wedding-ring; besides, when my +commission comes, I can follow the good example that my parents set me, +you know; and, after a three months' honey-mooning, can turn bachelor +again for twenty years or so, as our governor-general did, and so leave +wifey at home, till she becomes a Mrs. General like you." + +Now, strange to say, this heartless bit of villany was any thing but +unpleasing to the foolish, flattered heart of Mrs. Tracy; he was a chip +of the old block, no better than his father: so she thanked "dear +Julian" for his confidence, with admiration and emotion; and looking +upwards, after the fashion of a Covent Garden martyr, blessed him. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +THE COURSE OF TRUE LOVE, ETC. + + +"EMILY, my dear, take Julian's arm: here, Charles, come and change with +me; I should like a walk with you to Oxton, to see how your little +scholars get on." So spake the intriguing mother. + +"Why, that is just what I was going to do with Charles," said Emily, +"and if Julian will excuse me--" + +"Oh, never mind me, Miss Warren, pray; come along with me, will you, +mother?" + +So they paired off in more well-matched couples (for Julian luckily took +huff), and went their different ways: with those went hatred, envy, +worldly scheming, and that lowest sort of love that ill deserves the +name; with these remain all things pure, affectionate, benevolent. + +"Charles, dear," (they were just like brother and sister, innocent and +loving), "how kind it is of you to take me with you; if you only knew +how I dreaded Julian!" + +"Why, Emmy? can he have offended you in any way?" + +"Oh, Charles, he is so rude, and says such silly things, and--I am quite +afraid to be alone with him." + +"What--what--what does he say to you, Emily?" hurriedly urged her +half-avowed lover. + +"Oh, don't ask me, Charles--pray drop the subject;" and, as she blushed, +tears stood in her eyes. + +Charles bit his lip and clenched his fist involuntarily; but an instant +word of prayer drove away the spirit of hatred, and set up love +triumphant in its place. + +"My Emily--oh, what have I said? may I--may I call you my Emily? +dearest, dearest girl!" escaped his lips, and he trembled at his own +presumption. It was a presumptuous speech indeed; but it burst from the +well of his affections, and he could not help it. + +Her answer was not in words, and yet his heart-strings thrilled beneath +the melody; for her eyes shed on him a blaze of love that made him +almost faint before them. In an instant, they understood, without a +word, the happy truth, that each one loved the other. + +"Precious, precious Emily!" They were now far away from Burleigh, in the +fields; and he seized her hand, and covered it with kisses. + +What more they said I was not by to hear, and if I had been would not +have divulged it. There are holy secrets of affection, which those who +can remember their first love--and first love is the only love worth +mentioning--may think of for themselves. Well, far better than my feeble +pencilling can picture, will they fill up this slight sketch. That walk +to Oxton, that visit to the village school, was full of generous +affections unrepressed, the out-pourings of two deep-welled hearts, +flowing forth in sympathetic ecstasy. The trees, and fields, and +cottages were bathed in heavenly light, and the lovers, happy in each +other's trust, called upon the all-seeing God to bless the best +affections of His children. + +And what a change these mutual confessions made in both their minds! +Doubt was gone; they _were_ beloved; oh, richest treasure of joy! Fear +was gone; they dared declare their love; oh, purest river of all +sublunary pleasures! No longer pale, anxious, thoughtful, worn by the +corroding care of "Does she--does she love?"--Charles was, from that +moment, a buoyant, cheerful, exhilarated being--a new character; he put +on manliness, and fortitude, and somewhat of involuntary pride; whilst +Emily felt, that enriched by the affections of him whom she regarded as +her wisest, kindest earthly friend, by the acquisition of his love, who +had led her heart to higher good than this world at its best can give +her, she was elevated and ennobled from the simple Indian child, into +the loved and honoured Christian woman. They went on that important walk +to Oxton feeble, divided, unsatisfied in heart: they returned as two +united spirits, one in faith, one in hope, one in love; both heavenly +and earthly. + +But the happy hour is past too soon; and, home again, they mixed once +more with those conflicting elements of hatred and contention. + +"Emily," asked the general, in a very unusual stretch of curiosity, +"where have you been to with Charles Tracy? You look flushed, my dear; +what's the matter?" + +Of course "nothing" was the matter: and the general was answered wisely, +for love was nothing in his average estimate of men and women. + +"Charles, what can have come to you? I never saw you look so happy in my +life," was the mother's troublesome inquiry; "why, our staid youth +positively looks cheerful." + +Charles's walk had refreshed him, taken away his head-ache, put him in +spirits, and all manner of glib reasons for rejoicing. + +"You were right, Julian," whispered Mrs. Tracy, "and we'll soon put the +stopper on all this sort of thing." + +So, then, the moment our guiltless pair of lovers had severally stolen +away to their own rooms, there to feast on well-remembered looks, and +words, and hopes--there to lay before that heavenly Friend, whom both +had learned to trust, all their present joys, as aforetime all their +cares--Mrs. Tracy looked significantly at Julian, and thus addressed her +ever stern-eyed lord: + +"So, general, the old song's coming true to us, I find, as to other +folks, who once were young together: + + "'And when with envy Time, transported, seeks to rob us of our joys, + You'll in your girls again be courted, and I'll go wooing in my boys.'" + +So said or sung the flighty Mrs. Tracy. It was as simple and innocent a +quotation as could possibly be made; I suppose most couples, who ever +heard the stanza, and have grown-up children, have thought upon its dear +domestic beauty: but it strangely affected the irascible old general. He +fumed and frowned, and looked the picture of horror; then, with a fierce +oath at his wife and sons, he firmly said-- + +"Woman, hold your fool's tongue: begone, and send Emily to me this +minute: stop, Mr. Julian--no--run up for your brother Charles, and come +you all to me in the study. Instantly, sir! do as I bid you, without a +word." + +Julian would gladly have fought it out with his imperative father; but, +nevertheless, it was a comfort to have to fetch pale Charles for a +jobation; so he went at once. And the three young people, two of them +trembling with affections overstrained, and the third indurated in +effrontery, stood before that stern old man. + +"Emily, child,"--and he added something in Hindostanee, "have I been +kind to you--and do you owe me any love?" + +"Dear, dear sir, how can you ask me that?" said the warm-affectioned +girl, falling on her knees in tears. + +"Get up, sweet child, and hear me: you see those boys; as you love me, +and yourself, and happiness, and honour--dare not to think of either, +one moment, as your husband." + +Emily fainted; Charles staggered to assist her, though he well-nigh +swooned himself; and Julian folded his arms with a resolute air, as +waiting to hear what next. + +But the general disappointed him: he had said his say: and, as volatile +salts, a lady's maid, and all that sort of reinvigoration, seemed +essential to Emily's recovery, he rang the bell forthwith: so the +pleasant family party broke up without another word. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +THE MYSTERY. + + +OUR lovers would not have been praiseworthy, perhaps not human, had they +not met in secret once and again. True, their regularly concerted +studies were forbidden, and they never now might openly walk out +unaccompanied: but love (who has not found this out?) is both daring and +ingenious; and notwithstanding all that Emily purposed about doing as +the general so strangely bade her, they had many happy meetings, rich +with many happy words: all the happier no doubt for their stolen +sweetness. + +There was one great and engrossing subject which often had employed +their curiosity; who and what was Emily Warren? for the poor girl did +not know herself. All she could guess, she told Charles, as he zealously +cross-questioned her from time to time: and the result of his inquiries +would appear to be as follows: + +Emily's earliest recollections were of great barbaric pomp; huge +elephants richly caparisoned, mighty fans of peacock's tails, lines of +matchlock men, tribes of jewelled servants, a gilded palace, with its +gardens and fountains: plenty of rare gems to play with, and a splendid +queenly woman, whom she called by the Hindoo name for mother. The +general, too, was there among her first associations, as the gallant +Captain Tracy, with his company of native troops. + +Then an era happened in her life; a tearful leave-taking with that proud +princess, who scarcely would part with her for sorrow; but the captain +swore it should be so: and an old Scotch-woman, her nurse, she could +remember, who told her as a child, but whether religiously or not she +could not tell, "Darling, come to me when you wish to know who made +you;" and then Mrs. Mackie went and spoke to the princess, and soothed +her, that she let the child depart peacefully. Most of her gorgeous +jewellery dated from that earliest time of inexplicable oriental +splendour. + +After those infantine seven years, the captain took her with him to his +station up the country, where she lived she knew not how long, in a +strong hill-fort, one Puttymuddyfudgepoor, where there was a great deal +of fighting, and besieging, and storming, and cannonading; but it ceased +at last, and the captain, who then soon successively became both major +and colonel, always kept her in his own quarters, making her his little +pet; and, after the fighting was all over, his brother-officers would +take her out hunting in their howdahs, and she had plenty of +palanquin-bearers, sepoys, and servants at command; and, what was more, +good nurse Mackie was her constant friend and attendant. + +Time wore on, and many little incidents of Indian life occurred, which +varied every day indeed, but still left nothing consequential behind +them: there were tiger-hunts, and incursions of Scindian tribes, and +Pindarree chieftains taken captive, and wounded soldiers brought into +the hospital; and often had she and good nurse Mackie tended at the sick +bed-side. And the colonel had the jungle fever, and would not let her go +from his sight; so she caught the fever too, and through Heaven's mercy +was recovered. And the colonel was fonder of her now than ever, calling +her his darling little child, and was proud to display her early budding +beauty to his military friends--pleasant sort of gentlemen, who gave her +pretty presents. + +Then she grew up into womanhood, and saw more than one fine uniform at +her feet, but she did not comprehend those kindnesses: and the general +(he was general now) got into great passions with them, and stormed, and +swore, and drove them all away. Nurse Mackie grew to be old, and +sometimes asked her, "Can you keep a secret, child?--no, no, I dare not +trust you yet: wait a wee, wait a wee, my bonnie, bonnie bairn." + +And now speedily came the end. The general resolved on returning to his +own old shores: chiefly, as it seemed, to avoid the troublesome +pertinacity of sundry suitors, who sought of him the hand of Emily +Warren for, by this name she was beginning to be called: in her earliest +recollection she was Amina; then at the hill-fort, Emily--Emily--nothing +for years but Emily: and as she grew to womanhood, the general bade her +sign her name to notes, and leave her card at houses, as Emily Warren: +why, or by what right, she never thought of asking. But nurse Mackie had +hinted she might have had "a better name and a truer;" and therefore, +she herself had asked the general what this hint might mean; and he was +so angry that he discharged nurse Mackie at Madras, directly he arrived +there to take ship for England. + +Then, just before embarking, poor nurse Mackie came to her secretly, and +said, "Child, I will trust you with a word; you are not what he thinks +you." And she cried a great deal, and longed to come to England; but +the general would not hear of it; so he pensioned her off, and left her +at Madras, giving somebody strict orders not to let her follow him. + +Nevertheless, just as they were getting into the boat to cross the surf, +the affectionate old soul ran out upon the strand, and called to her +"Amy Stuart! Amy Stuart!" to the general's great amazement as clearly as +her own; and she held up a packet in her hand as they were pushing off, +and shouted after her, "Child--child! if you would have your rights, +remember Jeanie Mackie!" + +After that, succeeded the monotony of a long sea voyage. The general at +first seemed vexed about Mrs. Mackie, and often wished that he had asked +her what she meant; however, his brow soon cleared, for he reflected +that a discarded servant always tells falsehoods, if only to make her +master mischief. + +"The voyage over, Charles, with all its cards, quadrilles, doubling the +cape, crossing the line, and the wearisome routine of sky and sea, the +quarter-deck and cabin, we found ourselves at length in Plymouth Sound; +left the Indiaman to go up the channel; and I suppose the post-chaise +may be consigned to your imagination." + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +HOW TO CLEAR IT UP. + + +IN all this there was mystery enough for a dozen lovers to have crazed +their brains about. Emily might be a queen of the East, defrauded of +hereditary glories, and at any rate deserved such rank, if Charles was +to be judge; but what was more important, if the general had any reason +at all for his arbitrary mandate prohibiting their love, it was very +possible that reason was a false one. + +Meantime, Charles had little now to live for, except his dear forbidden +Emily, any more than she for him. And to peace of mind in both, the +elucidation of that mystery which hung about her birth, grew more +needful day by day. At last, one summer evening, when they had managed a +quiet walk upon the sands under the Beacon cliff, Charles said abruptly, +after some moments of abstraction, "Dearest, I am resolved." + +"Resolved, Charles! what about?" and she felt quite alarmed; for her +lover looked so stern, that she could not tell what was going to happen +next. + +"I'll clear it up, that I will; I only wish I had the money." + +"Why, Charles, what in the world are you dreaming about? you frighten +me, dearest; are you ill? don't look so serious, pray." + +"Yes, Emily, I will; at once too. I'm off to Madras by next packet; or, +that is to say, would, if I could get my passage free." + +"My noble Charles, if that were the only objection, I would get you all +the means; for the kind--kind general suffers me to have whatever sums I +choose to ask for. Only, Charles, indeed I cannot spare you; do not--do +not go away and leave me; there's Julian, too--don't leave me--and you +might never come back, and--and--" all the remainder was lost in +sobbing. + +"No, my Emmy, we must not use the general's gold in doing what he might +not wish; it would be ungenerous. I will try to get somebody to lend me +what I want--say Mrs. Sainsbury, or the Tamworths. And as for leaving +you, my love, have no fears for me or for yourself; situated as we are, +I take it as a duty to go, and make you happier, setting you in rights, +whatever these may be; and for the rest, I leave you in His holy keeping +who can preserve you alike in body, as in soul, from all things that +would hurt you, and whose mercy will protect me in all perils, and bring +me back to you in safety. This is my trust, Emmy." + +"Dear Charles, you are always wiser and better than I am: let it be so +then, my best of friends. Seek out good nurse Mackie, I can give you +many clues, hear what she has to say; and may the God of your own poor +fatherless Emily speed your holy mission! Yet there is one thing, +Charles; ought you not to ask your parents for their leave to go? You +are better skilled to judge than I can be, though." + +"Emmy, whom have I to ask? my father? he cares not whither I go nor what +becomes of me; I hardly know him, and for twenty years of my short life +of twenty-one, scarcely believed in his existence; or should I ask my +mother? alas--love! I wish I could persuade myself that she would wish +me back again if I were gone; moreover, how can I respect her judgment, +or be guided by her counsel, whose constant aim has been to thwart my +feeble efforts after truth and wisdom, and to pamper all ill growths in +my unhappy brother Julian? No, Emily; I am a man now, and take my own +advice. If a parent forbade me, indeed, and reasonably, it would be fit +to acquiesce; but knowing, as I have sad cause to know, that none but +you, my love, will be sorry for my absence, as for your sake alone that +absence is designed, I need take counsel only of us who are here +present--your own sweet eyes, myself, and God who seeth us." + +"True--most true, dear Charles; I knew that you judged rightly." + +"Moreover, Emmy, secresy is needful for the due fulfilment of my +purpose." (Charles little thought how congenial to his nature was that +same secresy.) "None but you must know where I am, or whither I am gone. +For if there really is any mystery which the general would conceal from +us, be assured he both could and would frustrate all my efforts if he +knew of my design. The same ship that carried me out would convey an +emissary from him, and nurse Mackie never could be found by me. I must +go then secretly, and, for our peace sake, soon; how dear to me that +embassy will be, entirely undertaken in my darling Emmy's cause!" + +"But--but, Charles, what if Julian, in your absence--" + +"Hark, my own betrothed! while I am near you--and I say it not of +threat, but as in the sight of One who has privileged me to be your +protector--you are safe from any serious vexation; and the moment I am +gone, fly to my father, tell him openly your fears, and he will scatter +Julian's insolence to the winds of heaven." + +"Thank you--thank you, wise dear Charles; you have lifted a load from my +poor, weak, woman's heart, that had weighed it down too heavily. I will +trust in God more, and dread Julian less. Oh! how I will pray for you +when far away." + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +AUNT GREEN'S LEGACY. + + +AT last--at last, Mrs. Green fell ill, and, hard upon the over-ripe age +of eighty-seven, seemed likely to drop into the grave--to the +unspeakable delight of her expectant relatives. Sooth to say, niece +Jane, the soured and long-waiting legatee, had now for years been +treating the poor old woman very scurvily: she had lived too long, and +had grown to be a burden; notwithstanding that her ample income still +kept on the house, and enabled the general to nurse his own East India +Bonds right comfortably. But still the old aunt would not die, and as +they sought not her, nor heir's (quite contrary to St. Paul's +disinterestedness), she was looked upon in the light of an incumbrance, +on her own property and in her own house. Mrs. Tracy longed to throw off +the yoke of dependance, and made small secret of the hatred of the +fetter: for the old woman grew so deaf and blind, that there could be no +risk at all, either in speaking one's mind, or in thoroughly neglecting +her. + +However, now that the harvest of hope appeared so near, the legatee +renewed her old attentions: Death was a guest so very welcome to the +house, that it is no wonder that his arrival was hourly expected with +buoyant cheerfulness, and a something in the mask of kindliness: but I +suspect that lamb-skin concealed a very wolf. So, Mrs. Tracy tenderly +inquired of the doctor, and the doctor shook his head; and other doctors +came to help, and shook their heads together. The patient still grew +worse--O, brightening prospect!--though, now and then, a cordial draught +seemed to revive her so alarmingly, that Mrs. Tracy affectionately +urging that the stimulants would be too exciting for the poor dear +sufferer's nerves, induced Dr. Graves to discontinue them. Then those +fearful scintillations in her lamp of life grew fortunately duller, and +the nurse was by her bed-side night and day; and the old aunt became +more and more peevish, and was more and more spoken of by the Tracy +family--in her possible hearing, as "that dear old soul"--out of it, +"that vile old witch." + +Charles, to be sure, was an exception in all this, as he ever was: for +he took on him the Christian office of reading many prayers to the poor +decaying creature, and (only that his father would not hear of such a +thing) desired to have the vicar to assist him. Emily also, full of +sympathy, and disinterested care, would watch the fretful patient, hour +after hour, in those long, dull nights of pain; and the poor, old, +perishing sinner loved her coming, for she spoke to her the words of +hope and resignation. Whether that sweet missionary, scarcely yet a +convert from her own dark creed--(Alas! the Amina had offered unto +Juggernaut, and Emily of the strong hill-fort had scarcely heard of any +truer God; and the fair girl was a woman-grown before, in her first +earthly love, she also came to know the mercies Heaven has in store for +us)--whether unto any lasting use she prayed and reasoned with that +hard, dried heart, none but the Omniscient can tell. Let us hope: let us +hope; for the fretful voice was stilled, and the cloudy forehead +brightened, and the haggard eyes looked cheerfully to meet the +inevitable stroke of death. Thus in wisdom and in charity, in patience +and in faith, that gentle pair of lovers comforted the dying soul. + +However, days rolled away, and Aunt Green lingered on still, tenaciously +clinging unto life: until one morning early, she felt so much better, +that she insisted on being propped up by pillows, and seeing all the +household round her bed to speak to them. So up came every one, in no +small hope of legacies, and what the lawyers call "_donationes mortis +causa_." + +The general was at her bed's-head, with, I am ashamed to say, perhaps +unconsciously, a countenance more ridiculous than lugubrious; though he +tried to subdue the buoyancy of hope and to put on looks of decent +mourning; on the other side, the long-expectant legatee, Niece Jane, +prudently concealed her questionable grief behind a scented +pocket-handkerchief. Julian held somewhat aloof, for the scene was too +depressing for his taste: so he affected to read a prayer-book, wrong +way up, with his tongue in his cheek: Charles, deeply solemnized at the +near approach of death, knelt at the poor invalid's bedside; and Emily +stood by, leaning over her, suffused in tears. At the further corners of +the bed, might be seen an old servant or two; and Mrs. Green's butler +and coachman, each a forty years' fixture, presented their gray heads at +the bottom of the room, and really looked exceedingly concerned. + +Mrs. Green addressed them first, in her feeble broken manner: +"Grant--and John--good and faithful--thank you--thank you both; and you +too, kind Mrs. Lloyd, and Sally, and nurse--what's-your-name: give them +the packets, nurse--all marked--first drawer, desk: there--there--God +bless you--good--faithful." + +The old servants, full of sorrow at her approaching loss, were comforted +too: for a kind word, and a hundred pound note a-piece, made amends for +much bereavement: the sick-nurse found her gift was just a tithe of +their's, and recognised the difference both just and kind. + +"Niece Jane--you've waited--long--for--this day: my will--rewards you." + +"O dear--dear aunt, pray don't talk so; you'll recover yet, pray--pray +don't:" she pretended to drown the rest in sorrow, but winked at her +husband over the handkerchief. + +"Julian!" (the precious youth attempted to look miserable, and came as +called,) "you will find--I have remembered--you, Julian." So he winked, +too, at his mother, and tried to blubber a "thank you." + +"Charles--where's Charles? give me your hand, Charles dear--let me feel +your face: here, Charles--a little pocket-book--good lad--good lad. +There's Emily, too--dear child, she came--too late--I forgot her--I +forgot her! general give her half--half--if you love--love--Emi--" + +All at once her jaw dropped; her eyes, which had till now been +preternaturally bright, filmed over; her head fell back upon the pillow; +and the rich old aunt was dead. + +Julian gave a shout that might have scared the parting spirit! + +Really, the general was shocked, and Mrs. Tracy too; and the servants +murmured "shame--shame!" poor Charles hid his face; Emily looked up +indignantly; but Julian asked, with an oath, "Where's the good of being +hypocrites?" and then added, "now, mother, let us find the will." + +Then the nurse went to close the dim glazed eyes; and the other +sorrowing domestics slunk away; and Charles led Emily out of the chamber +of death, saddened and shocked at such indecent haste. + +Meanwhile, the hopeful trio rummaged every drawer--tumbled out the +mingled contents of boxes, desk, and escritoire--still, no will--no +will: and at last the nurse, who more than once had muttered, "Shame on +you all," beneath her breath, said, + +"If you want the will, it's under her pillow: but don't disturb her yet, +poor thing!" + +Julian's rude hand had already thrust aside the lifeless, yielding head, +and clutched the will: the father and mother--though humbled and +wonder-stricken at his daring--gathered round him; and he read aloud, +boldly and steadily to the end, though with scowling brow, and many +curses interjectional: + +"IN the name of God, Amen. I, Constance Green, make this my last will +and testament. Forasmuch as my niece, Jane Tracy, has watched and waited +for my death these two-and-twenty years, I leave her all the shoes, +slippers, and goloshes, whereof I may happen to die possessed: item, I +leave Julian, her son, my '_Whole Duty of Man_,' convinced that he is +deficient in it all: item, I confirm all the gifts which I intend to +make upon my death-bed: item, forasmuch as General Tracy, my niece's +husband, on his return from abroad, greeted me with much affection, I +bequeath and give to him five thousand pounds' worth of Exchequer bills, +now in my banker's hands; and appoint him my sole executor. As to my +landed property, it will all go, in course of law, to my heir, Samuel +Hayley, and may he and his long enjoy it. And as to the remainder of my +personal effects, including nine thousand pounds bank stock, my Dutch +fives, and other matters, whereof I may die possessed (seeing that my +relatives are rich enough without my help), I give and bequeath the +same, subject as hereinbefore stated, to the trustees, for the time +being, of the Westminster Lying-in Hospital, in trust, for the purposes +of that charitable institution. In witness whereof, I have hereunto set +my hand and seal this 13th day of May, 1840. + + "CONSTANCE GREEN." + +"Duly signed, sealed, and delivered! d----nation!" was Julian's brief +epilogue--"General, let's burn it." + +"You can if you please, Mr. Julian," interposed the nurse, who had +secretly enjoyed all this, "and if you like to take the consequences; +but, as each of the three witnesses has the will sealed up in copy, and +the poor deceased there took pains to sign them all, perhaps--" + +This settled the affair: and the discomfited expectants made a +precipitate retreat. As the general, however, got vastly more than he +expected, for his individual merits; and seeing that he loved Emily as +much as he hated both Julian and his wife, he really felt well-pleased +upon the whole, and took on him the duties of executor with +cheerfulness. So they buried Aunt Green as soon as might be. + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +PREPARATIONS AND DEPARTURE. + + +CHARLES'S pocket-book was full of clean bank notes, fifteen hundred +pounds' worth: it contained also a diamond ring, and a lock of silvery +hair; the latter a proof of affectionate sentiment in the kind old soul, +that touched him at the heart. + +"And now, my Emmy, the way is clear to us; Providence has sent me this, +that I may right you, dearest: and it will be wise in us to say nothing +of our plans. Avoid inquiries--for I did not say conceal or falsify +facts: but, while none but you, love, heed of my departure, and while I +go for our sakes alone, we need not invite disappointment by +open-mouthed publicity. To those who love me, Emmy, I am frank and +free; but with those who love us not, there is a wisdom and a justice in +concealment. They do not deserve confidence, who will not extend to us +their sympathy. None but yourself must know whither I am bound; and, +after some little search for curiosity's sake, when a week is past and +gone, no soul will care for me of those at home. With you, I will manage +to communicate by post, directing my letters to Mrs. Sainsbury, at +Oxton: I will prepare her for it. She knows my love for you, and how +they try to thwart us; but even she, however trustworthy, need not be +told my destination yet awhile, until 'India' appears upon the +post-mark. How glad will you be, dearest one, how happy in our +secret--to read my heart's own thoughts, when I am far away--far away, +clearing up mine Emmy's cares, and telling her how blessed I feel in +ministering to her happiness!" + +Such was the substance of their talk, while counting out the +pocket-book. + +Charles's remaining preparations were simple enough, now his purse was +flush of money: he resolved upon taking from his home no luggage +whatever: preferring to order down, from an outfitting house in London, +a regular kit of cadet's necessaries, to wait for him at the Europe +Hotel, Plymouth, on a certain day in the ensuing week. So that, burdened +only with his Emmy's miniature, and his pocket-book of bank notes, he +might depart quietly some evening, get to Plymouth in a preconcerted +way, by chaise or coach, before the morrow morning; thence, a boat to +meet the ship off-shore, and then--hey, for the Indies! + +It was as well-devised a scheme as could possibly be planned; though its +secresy, especially with a mother in the case, may be a moot point as to +the abstract moral thereof: nevertheless, concretely, the only heart his +so mysterious absence would have pained, was made aware of all: then, +again, secresy had been the atmosphere of his daily life, the breath of +his education; and he too sorely knew his mother would rejoice at the +departure, and Julian, too--all the more certainly, as both brothers +were now rivals professed for the hand of Emily Warren: as to the +general, he might, or he might not, smoke an extra cheroot in the +excitement of his wonder; and if he cared about it anyways more +tragically than tobacco might betray, Emily knew how to comfort him. + +With respect to other arrangements, Emmy furnished Charles with letters +to certain useful people at Madras, and in particular to the "somebody" +who looked after Mrs. Mackie: so, the mystery was easy of access, and he +doubted not of overcoming, on the spot, every unseen difficulty. The +plan of leaving all luggage behind, a capital idea, would enable him to +go forth freely and unshackled, with an ordinary air, in hat and +great-coat, as for an evening's walk; and was quite in keeping with the +natural reserve of his whole character--a bad habit of secresy, which he +probably inherited from his father, the lieutenant of old times. And +yet, for all the wisdom, and mystery, and shrewd settling of the plan, +its accomplishment was as nearly as possible most fatally defeated. + +The important evening arrived; for the Indiaman--it was our old friend +Sir William Elphinston--would be off Plymouth, next morning: the goods +had been, for a day or two, safely deposited at the Europe, as per +invoice, all paid: the lovers, in this last, this happiest, yet by far +the saddest of their stolen interviews, had exchanged vows and kisses, +and upon the beach, beneath those friendly cliffs, had commended one +another to their Father in heaven. They had returned to the unsocial +circle of home; all was fixed; the clock struck nine: and Charles, +accidentally squeezing Emily's hand, rose to leave the tea-table. + +"Where are you going, Mr. Charles?" + +"I am going out, Julian." + +"Thank you, sir! I knew that, but whither? General, I say, here's +Charles going to serenade somebody by moonlight." + +The brandy-sodden parent, scarcely conscious, said something about his +infernal majesty; and, "What then?--let him go, can't you?" + +"Well, Julian dear, perhaps your brother will not mind your going with +him; particularly as Emily stays at home with me." + +This Mrs. Tracy spoke archly, intended as a hint to induce Julian to +remain: but he had other thoughts--and simply said, in an ill-tempered +tone of voice, "Done, Charles." + +It was a dilemma for our escaping hero; but glancing a last look at +Emily, he departed, and walked on some way as quietly as might be with +Julian by his side: thinking, perhaps, he would soon be tired; and +suffering him to fancy, if he would, that Charles was bound either on +some amorous pilgrimage, or some charitable mission. But they left +Burleigh behind them--and got upon the common--and passed it by, far out +of sight and out of hearing--and were skirting the high banks of the +darkly-flowing Mullet--and still there was Julian sullenly beside him. +In vain Charles had tried, by many gentle words, to draw him into common +conversation: Julian would not speak, or only gave utterance to some +hinted phrase of insult: his brow was even darker than usual, and night +was coming on apace, and he still tramped steadily along beside his +brother, digging his sturdy stick into the clay, for very spite's sake. +At length, as they yet walked along the river's side in that +unfrequented place, Julian said, on a sudden, in a low strange tone, as +if keeping down some rising rage within him, + +"Mr. Charles, you love Emily Warren." + +"Well, Julian, and who can help loving her?" + +It was innocently said; but still a maddening answer, for he loved her +too. + +"And, sirrah," the brother hoarsely added, "she--she does not--does +not--hate you, sir, as I do." + +"My good Julian, pray do not be so violent; I cannot help it if the dear +girl loves me." + +"But I can, though!" roared Julian, with an oath, and lifted up his +stick--it was nearer like a club--to strike his brother. + +"Julian, Julian, what are you about? Good Heavens! you would not--you +dare not--give over--unhand me, brother; what have I done, that you +should strike me? Oh! leave me--leave me--pray." + +"Leave you? I will leave you!" the villain almost shouted, and smote him +to the ground with his lead-loaded stick. It was a blow that must have +killed him, but for the interposing hat, now battered down upon his +bleeding head. Charles, at length thoroughly aroused, though his foe +must be a brother, struggled with unusual strength in self-preserving +instinct, wrested the club from Julian's hand, and stood on the +defensive. + +Julian was staggered: and, after a moment's irresolution, drawing a +pistol from his pocket, said, in a terribly calm voice, + +"Now, sir! I have looked for such a meeting many days--alone, by night, +with you! I would not willingly draw trigger, for the noise might bring +down other folks upon us, out of Oxton yonder: but, drop that stick, or +I fire." + +Charles was noble enough, without another word, to fling the club into +the river: it was not fear of harm, but fear of sin, that made him trust +himself defenceless to a brother, a twin-brother, in the dark: he could +not be so base, a murderer, a fratricide! Oh! most unhallowed thought! +Save him from this crime, good God! Then, instantaneously reflecting, +and believing he decided for the best, when he saw the ruffian glaring +on him with exulting looks, as upon an unarmed rival at his mercy, with +no man near to stay the deed, and none but God to see it, Charles +resolved to seek safety from so terrible a death in flight. + +Oxton was within one mile; and, clearly, this was not like flying from +danger as a coward, but fleeing from attempted crime, as a brother and +a Christian. Julian snatched at him to catch him as he passed: and, +failing in this, rushed after him. It was a race for life! and they went +like the wind, for two hundred yards, along that muddy high-banked walk. + +Suddenly, Charles slipped upon the clay, that he fell; and Julian, with +a savage howl, leapt upon him heavily. + +Poor youth, he knew that death was nigh, and only uttered, "God forgive +you, brother! oh, spare me--or, if not me, spare yourself--Julian, +Julian!" + +But the monster was determined. Exerting the whole force of his +herculean frame, he seized his scarce-resisting victim as he lay, and, +lifting him up like a child, flung his own twin-brother head foremost +into that darkly-flowing current! + +There was one piercing cry--a splash--a struggle; and again nothing +broke upon the silent night, but the murmur of that swingeing tide, as +the Mullet hurried eddying to the sea. + +Julian listened a minute or two, flung some stones at random into the +river, and then hastily ran back to Burleigh, feeling like a Cain. + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +THE ESCAPE. + + +BUT the overruling hand of Him whose aid that victim had invoked, was +now stretched forth to save! and the strong-flowing tide, that ran too +rapidly for Charles to sink in it, was commissioned from on High to +carry him into an angle of that tortuous stream, where he clung by +instinct to the bushes. Silence was his wisdom, while the murderer was +near: and so long as Julian's footsteps echoed on the banks, Charles +stirred not, spoke not, but only silently thanked God for his wonderful +deliverance. However, the footsteps quickly died away, though heard far +off clattering amid the still and listening night; and Charles, +thankfully, no less than cautiously, drew himself out of the stream, +very little harmed beyond a drenching: for the waters had recovered him +at once from the effects of that desperate blow. + +It was with a sense of exultation, freedom, independence, that he now +hastened scatheless on his way; dripping garments mattered nothing, nor +mud, nor the loss of his demolished hat: the pocket-book was safe, and +Emmy's portrait, (how he kissed it, then!) and luckily a travelling cap +was in his great-coat pocket: so with a most buoyant feeling of animal +delight, as well as of religious gratitude, he sped merrily once more +upon his secret expedition. Thank Heaven! Emmy could not know the peril +he had past: and wretched Julian would now have dreadful reason of his +own for this mysterious absence: and it was a pleasant thing to trudge +along so freely in the starlight, on the private embassy of love. Happy +Charles! I know not if ever more exhilarated feelings blessed the youth; +they made him trip along the silent road, in a gush of joyfulness, at +the rate of some six miles an hour; I know not if ever such delicious +thoughts of Emily's attachment, and those gorgeous mysteries in India, +of adventure, enterprise, escape, had heretofore caused his heart to +bound so lightsomely within him, like some elastic spring. I know not if +ever strong reliance upon Providential care, more earnest prayers, +praises, intercessions (for poor Julian, too,) were offered on the altar +of his soul. Happy Charles! + +So he went on and on--long past Oxton, and Eyemouth, and Surbiton, and +over the ferry, and through the sleeping turnpikes, and past the bridge, +and along the broad high-road, until gray of morning's dawn revealed the +suburbs of Plymouth. + +Of course he missed the mail by which he intended to have gone--for +Julian's dread act delayed him. + +Long before his journey's end, his clothes were thoroughly dried, and +violent exercise had shaken off all possible rheumatic consequence of +that fearful plunge beneath the waters: five-and-twenty miles in four +hours and three-quarters, is a tolerable recipe for those who have +tumbled into rivers. We must recollect that he had gone as quick as he +could, for fear of being late, now the coach had passed. At a little +country inn, he brushed, and washed, and made toilet as well as he was +able, took a glass of good Cognac, both hot and strong; and felt more of +a man than ever. + +Then, having loitered awhile, and well-remembered Emily in his prayers, +at about eight in the morning he presented himself among his luggage at +the Europe in gentlemanly trim, and soon got all on board the pilot +boat, to meet the Indiaman just outside the breakwater. We may safely +leave him there, happy, hopeful Charles! Sanguine for the future, +exulting in the present, and thankful for the past: already has he +poured out all his joys before that Friend who loves her too, and +invoked His blessing on a scheme so well designed, so providentially +accomplished. + +I had almost forgotten Julian: wretched, hardened man, and how fared he? +The moment he had flung his brother into that dark stream, and the +waters closed above him greedily that he was gone--gone for ever, he +first threw in stones to make a noise like life upon the stream, but +that cheatery was only for an instant: he was alone--a murderer, alone! +the horrors of silence, solitude, and guilt, seized upon him like three +furies: so his quick retreating walk became a running; and the running +soon was wild and swift for fear; and ever as he ran, that piercing +scream came upon the wind behind, and hooted him: his head swam, his +eyes saw terrible sights, his ears heard terrible sounds--and he scoured +into quiet, sleeping Burleigh like a madman. However, by some strange +good luck, not even did the slumbering watchman see him: so he got +in-doors as usual with the latch-key (it was not the first time he had +been out at night), crept up quietly, and hid himself in his own +chamber. + +And how did he spend those hours of guilty solitude? in terrors? in +remorse? in misery? Not he: Julian was too wise to sit and think, and in +the dark too; but he lit both reading lamps to keep away the gloom, and +smoked and drank till morning's dawn to stupify his conscience. + +Then, to make it seem all right, he went down to breakfast as usual, +though any thing but sober, and met unflinchingly his mother's natural +question-- + +"Good morning, Julian--where's Charles?" + +"How should I know, mother; isn't he up yet?" + +"No, my dear; and what is more, I doubt if he came home last night." + +"Hollo, Master Charles! pretty doings these, Mr. Sabbath-teacher! so he +slept out, eh, mother?" + +"I don't know--but where did you leave him, Julian?" + +"Who! I? did I go out with him? Oh! yes, now I recollect: let's see, we +strolled together midway to Oxton, and, as he was going somewhat +further, there I left him?" + +How true the words, and yet how terribly false their meaning! + +"Dear me, that's very odd--isn't it, general?" + +"Not at all, ma'am--not at all; leave the lad alone, he'll be back by +dinner-time: I didn't think the boy had so much spirit." + +Emily, to whom the general's hint was Greek, looked up cheerfully and in +her own glad mind chuckled at her Charles's bold adventure. + +But the day passed, off, and they sent out men to seek for him: and +another--and all Burleigh was a-stir: and another--and the coast-guards +from Lyme to Plymouth Sound searched every hole and corner: and +another--when his mother wept five minutes: and another--when the wonder +was forgotten. + +However, they did not put on mourning for the truant: he might turn up +yet: perhaps he was at Oxford. + +Emily had not much to do in comforting the general for his dear son's +loss; it clearly was a gain to him, and he felt far freer than when +wisdom's eye was on him. Charles had been too keen for father, mother, +and brother; too good, too amiable: he saw their ill, condemned it by +his life, and showed their dark too black against his brightness. The +unnatural deficiency of mother's love had not been overrated: Julian had +all her heart; and she felt only obliged to the decamping Charles for +leaving Emily so free and clear to his delightful brother. She never +thought him dead: death was a repulsive notion at all times to her: no +doubt he would turn up again some day. And Julian joked with her about +that musty proverb "a bad penny." + +As to our dear heroine, she never felt so happy in all her life before +as now, even when her Charles had been beside her; for within a day of +his departure he had written her a note full of affection, hope, and +gladness; assuring her of his health, and wealth, and safe arrival on +board the Indiaman. The noble-hearted youth never said one single word +about his brother's crime: but he did warn his Emmy to keep close beside +the general. This note she got through Mrs. Sainsbury; that invalid lady +at Oxton, who never troubled herself to ask or hear one word beyond her +own little world--a certain physic-corner cupboard. + +And thou--poor miserable man--thou fratricide in mind--and to thy best +belief in act, how drags on now the burden of thy life? For a day or +two, spirits and segars muddled his brain, and so kept thoughts away: +but within a while they came on him too piercingly, and Julian writhed +beneath those scorpion stings of hot and keen remorse: and when the +coast-guards dragged the Mullet, how that caitiff trembled! and when +nothing could be found, how he wondered fearingly! The only thing the +wretched man could do, was to loiter, day after day, and all day long, +upon the same high path which skirts the tortuous stream. Fascinated +there by hideous recollections, he could not leave the spot for hours: +and his soft-headed, romantic mother, noticing these deep abstractions, +blessed him--for her Julian was now in love with Emily. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +NEWS OF CHARLES. + + +AY--in love with Emily! Fiercely now did Julian pour his thoughts that +way; if only hoping to forget murder in another strong excitement. +Julian listened to his mother's counsels; and that silly, cheated woman +playfully would lean upon his arm, like a huge, coy confidante, and fill +his greedy ears (that heard her gladly for very holiday's sake from +fearful apprehensions), with lover's hopes, lover's themes, his Emily's +perfection. Delighted mother--how proud and pleased was she! quite in +her own element, fanning dear Julian's most sentimental flame, and +scheming for him interviews with Emily. + +It required all her skill--for the girl clung closely to her guardian: +he, unconscious Argus, never tired of her company; and she, remembering +dear Charles's hint, and dreading to be left alone with Julian, would +persist to sit day after day at her books, music, or needle-work in the +study, charming General Tracy by her pretty Hindoo songs. With him she +walked out, and with him she came in; she would read to him for hours, +whether he snored or listened; and, really, both mother and son were +several long weeks before their scheming could come to any thing. A +_tete-a-tete_ between Julian and Emily appeared as impossible to manage, +as collision between Jupiter and Vesta. + +However, after some six weeks of this sort of mining and counter-mining +(for Emily divined their wishes), all on a sudden one morning the +general received a letter that demanded his immediate presence for a day +or two in town; something about prize-money at Puttymuddyfudgepoor. +Emily was too high-spirited, too delicate in mind, to tell her guardian +of fears which never might be realized; and so, with some forebodings, +but a cheerful trust, too, in a Providence above her, she saw the +general off without a word, though not without a tear; he too, that +stern, close man, was moved: it was strange to see them love each other +so. + +The moment he was gone, she discreetly kept her chamber for the day, on +plea of sickness; she had cried very heartily to see him leave her--he +had never yet left her once since she could recollect--and thus she +really had a head-ache, and a bad one. + +Julian Tracy gave such a start, that he knocked off a cheffonier of +rare china and glass standing at his elbow; and the smash of mandarins +and porcelain gods would have been enough, at any other time, to have +driven his mother crazy. + +"Charles alive?" shouted he. + +"Yes, Julian--why not? You saw him off, you know: cannot you remember?" + +Now to that guilty wretch's mind the fearful notion instantaneously +occurred, that Emily Warren was in some strange, wild way bantering him; +she knew his dreadful secret--"he _had_ seen him off." He trembled like +an aspen as she looked on him. + +"Oh yes, he remembered, certainly; but--but where was her letter?" + +"Never mind that, Julian; you surely would not read another person's +letters, Monsieur le Chevalier Bayard?" + +Emily was as gay at heart that morning as a sky-lark, and her innocent +pleasantry proved her strongest shield. Julian dared not ask to see the +letter--scarcely dared to hope she had one, and yet did not know what to +think. As to any love scene now, it was quite out of the question, +notwithstanding all his mother's hints and management; a new exciting +thought entirely filled him: was he a Cain, a fratricide, or not? was +Charles alive after all? And, for once in his life, Julian had some +repentant feelings; for thrilling hope was nigh to cheer his gloom. + +It really seemed as if Emily, sweet innocent, could read his inmost +thoughts. "At any rate," observed she, playfully, "Bayard may take the +postman's privilege, and see the outside." + +With that, she produced the ship-letter that had put her in such +spirits, legibly dated some twenty-two days ago. Yes, Charles's hand, +sure enough! Julian could swear to it among a thousand. And he fainted +dead away. + +What an astonishing event! how Mrs. Tracy praised her noble-spirited +boy! How the bells rang! and hot water, and cold water, and salts, and +rubbings, and _eau de Cologne_, and all manner of delicate attentions, +long sustained, at length contributed to Julian's restoration. Moreover, +even Emily was agreeably surprised; she had never seen him in so amiable +a light before; this was all feeling, all affection for his brother--her +dear--dear Charles. And when Mrs. Tracy heard what Emily said of +Julian's feeling heart, she became positively triumphant; not half so +much at Charles's safety, and all that, as at Julian's burst of feeling. +She was quite right, after all; he was worthy to be her favourite, and +she felt both flattered and obliged to him for fainting dead away. +"Yes--yes, my dear Miss Warren, depend upon it Julian has fine feelings, +and a good heart." And Emily began to condemn both Charles and herself +for lack of charity, and to think so too. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +THE TETE-A-TETE. + + +NO sooner had "dear Julian" recovered, which he really had not quite +accomplished until the day had begun to wear away (so great a shock had +that intelligence of Charles been to his guilty mind), than the +gratified and prudent mother fancied this a famous opportunity to leave +the young couple to themselves. It was after dinner, when they had +retired to the drawing-room; and I will say that Emily had never seemed +so favourably disposed towards that rough, but generous, heart before. +So then, on some significant pretence, well satisfied her favourite was +himself again, as bold, and black, and boisterous as ever, the masculine +mother kissed her hand to them, as a fat fairy might be supposed to do, +and operatically tripped away, coyly bidding Emily "take care of Julian +till she should come back again." + +The momentary gleam of good which glanced across that bad man's heart +has faded away hours ago; his repentant thoughts had been occasioned +more from the sudden relief he experienced at running now no risks for +having murdered, than for any better feeling towards his brother, or any +humbler notions of himself. Nay, a strong reaction occurred in his ideas +the moment he had seen his brother's writing; and when he fainted, he +fainted from the struggle in his mind of manifold exciting causes, such +as these:--hatred, jealousy, what he called love, though a lower name +befitted it, and vexation that his brother was--not dead. Oh mother, +mother! if your poor weak head had but been wise enough to read that +heart, would you still have loved it as you do? Alas--it is a deep +lesson in human nature this--she would! for Mrs. General Tracy was one +of those obstinate, yet superficial characters, whom no reason can +convince that they are wrong, no power can oblige to confess themselves +mistaken. She rejoiced to hear him called "her very image;" and +predominant vanity in the large coquette extended to herself at +second-hand; self was her idol substance, and its delightful shadow was +this mother's son. + +The moment Mrs. Tracy left the room, Julian perceived his opportunity: +Charles, detested rival, far away at sea; the guardian gone to London; +Emily in an unusual flow of affability and kindness, and he--alone with +her. Rashly did he bask his soul in her delicious beauty, deliberately +drinking deep of that intoxicating draught. Giving the rein to passion, +he suffered that tumultuous steed to hurry him whither it would, in mad +unbridled course. He sat so long silently gazing at her with the +lack-lustre eyes of low and dull desire, that Emily, quite thrown off +her guard by that amiable fainting for his brother, addressed him in her +innocent kind-heartedness, + +"Are you not recovered yet, dear Julian?" + +The effect was instantaneous: scarcely crediting his ears that heard her +call him "dear," his eyes, that saw her winning smile upon him, he +started from his chair, and trembling with agitation, flung himself at +her feet, to Emily's unqualified astonishment. + +"Why, Julian, what's the matter?--unhand me, sir! let go!" (for he had +got hold of her wrist.) + +The passionate youth seized her hand--that one with Charles's ring upon +it--and would have kissed it wildly with polluting lips, had she not +shrieked suddenly "Help! help!" + +Instantly his other hand was roughly dashed upon her mouth--so roughly +that it almost knocked her backwards--and the blood flowed from her +wounded lip; but by a preternatural effort, the indignant Indian queen +hurled the ruffian from her, flew to the bell, and kept on ringing +violently. + +In less than half a minute all the household was around her, headed by +the startled Mrs. Tracy, who had all the while been listening in the +other drawing-room: butler, footmen, house-maids, ladies'-maids, cook, +scullions, and all rushed in, thinking the house was on fire. + +No need to explain by a word. Emily, radiant in imperial charms, stood, +like inspired Cassandra, flashing indignation from her eyes at the +cowering caitiff on the floor. The mother, turning all manner of +colours, dropped on her knees to "poor Julian's" assistance, affecting +to believe him taken ill. But Emily Warren, whose insulted pride +vouchsafed not a word to that guilty couple, soon undeceived all +parties, by addressing the butler in a voice tremulous and broken-- + +"Mr. Saunders--be so good--as to go--to Sir Abraham Tamworth's--in the +square--and request of him--a night's--protection--for a +poor--defenceless, insulted woman!" + +She could hardly utter the last words for choking tears: but immediately +battling down her feelings, added, with the calmness of a heroine-- + +"You are a father, Mr. Saunders--set all this before Sir Abraham +strongly, but delicately. + +"Footmen! so long as that wretch is in the room, protect me, as you are +men." + +And the stately beauty placed herself between the two liveried lacqueys, +as Zenobia in the middle of her guards. + +"Marguerite!"--the pretty little Francaise tripped up to her--"wipe this +blood from my face." + +Beautiful, insulted creature! I thought that I looked upon some wounded +Boadicea, with her daughters extracting the arrow from her cheek. + +"And now, kind Charlotte, fetch my cloak; and follow me to Prospect +House, with what I may require for the night. Till the general's return, +I stay not here one minute." + +Then, without a syllable, or a look of leave-taking, the wise and noble +girl--doubtless unconsciously remembering her early Hindoo braveries, +the lines of matchlock men, the bowing slaves, the processions, and her +jewelled state of old--marched away in magnificent beauty, accompanied +in silence by the whole astonished household. + +Mrs. Tracy and her son were left alone: the silly, silly mother thought +him "hardly used." Julian, whose natural effrontery had entirely +deserted him, looked like what he was--a guilty coward: and the mother, +who had pampered up her "fine high-spirited son" to his full-grown +criminality by a foolish education, really--when she had time to think +of any thing but him--was excessively frightened. The general would be +back to-morrow, and then--and then!--she dreaded to picture that +explosion of his wrath. + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + +SATISFACTION. + + +SIR ABRAHAM TAMWORTH, G.C.B.--a fine old Admiral of the White, who +somewhat looked down upon the rank of General, H.E.I.C.S.--was +astonished, as well he might be, at Mr. Saunders, and his message: and, +of course, most gladly acquiesced in acting as poor Emily's protector. +Accordingly, however jealous Lady Tamworth and her daughters might +heretofore have felt of that bright beauty at the balls, they were now +all genuine sympathy, indignation, and affection. Emily, I need hardly +say, went straight up stairs to have her cry out. + +"Whom are you writing to, George, in such a hurry?" asked the admiral, +of a fine moustachioed son, George St. Vincent Tamworth, of the Royal +Horse Guards, who had just got six months' leave of absence for the sake +of marriage with his cousin. + +The gallant soldier tossed a billet to his father, who mounted his +spectacles, and quietly read it at the lamp. + +"Captain Tamworth desires Mr. Julian Tracy's company to-morrow morning, +at seven o'clock, in the third meadow on the Oxton road. The captain +brings a friend with him; also pistols and a surgeon; and he desires Mr. +Tracy to do the like: Prospect House, Thursday evening." + +"So, George, you consider him a gentleman, do you? I am afraid it's a +poor compliment to our fair young friend." And he quietly crumpled up +the challenge in his iron hand. + +"Really, sir!--you surprise me;--pardon me, but I will send that note: +mustn't I chastise the fellow for this insufferable outrage?" + +"No doubt, George, no doubt of it at all: when a lady is insulted, and a +man (not to say a queen's officer) stands by without taking notice of +it, he deserves whipping at the cart's-tail, and Coventry for life. I've +no patience, boy, with such mean meekness, as putting up with bullying +insolence when a woman's in the case. Let a man show moral courage, if +he can and will, in his own affront; I honour him who turns on his heel +from common personal insult, and only wish my own old blood was cool +enough to do so: but the mother, wife, and sister, ay, George, and the +poor defenceless one, be she lady, peasant, or menial, who comes to us +for safety in a woman's dress, we must take up their quarrel, or we are +not men!--" + +"Don't interrupt him, George," uxoriously suggested Lady Tamworth, +"your father hasn't done talking yet." For George was getting terribly +impatient; he knew, from sad experience, how much the admiral was given +to prosing. However, the oration soon proceeded to our captain's entire +satisfaction, after his progenitor had paused awhile for breath's sake +in his eloquence. + +"--Take up their quarrel, or we are not men. Nevertheless, boy, I cannot +see the need of pistols. The only conceivable case for violent redress, +is woman's wrong: and he who wrongs a woman, cannot be a gentleman; +therefore, ought not to be met on equal terms. For other causes of +duello, as hot-headed speeches, rudenesses, or slights, forgive, forbear +to fan the flame, and never be above apologizing: but in an outrage such +as this, let a fine-built fellow, such as you are, George (and the women +should show wisdom in their choice of champions), let a man, and a +queen's officer as you are, treat this brute, Julian Tracy, as a +martinet huntsman would a hound thrown out. As for me, boy, I'm going to +call on Mrs. Tracy at eleven o'clock to-morrow morning--and, without +presuming to advise a six foot two of a son, I think--I think, if I were +you, I would be dutiful enough to say--'Father, I will accompany +you--and take a horsewhip with me.'" + +"Agreed, agreed, sir!" replied the well-pleased son, and her ladyship +too vouchsafed her approbation. + +Emily had gone to bed long ago, or rather to her chamber; where the +three Misses Tamworth had been all kindness, curiosity, and consolation. +So, Sir Abraham and his lady, now the speech was finished, followed +their example of retirement: and the captain newly blood-knotted his +hunting-whip, _con amore_, not to say _con spirito_, overnight. + +Nobody will wonder to hear, that when the gallant representatives of +army and navy called next morning at number seven, Mrs. Tracy and her +son were "not at home:" and of course it would be far too Julian-like a +proceeding, for true gentleman to think of forcing their company on the +probably ensconced in-dwellers. Accordingly, they marched away, without +having deigned to leave a card; the captain taking on himself the duty +of perambulating sentinel, while his father proceeded to the library as +usual. Judge of the glad surprise, when, within ten minutes, our +vindictive George perceived the admiral coming back again, full-sail, +with the mother and son in tow, creeping amicably enough up the terrace. +Sir Abraham had given her his arm, and precious Mr. Julian was a little +in the rear: for the old folks were talking confidentially. + +George St. Vincent, placing his whip in the well-known position of +"Cane, a mystery," advanced to meet them; and, just after passing his +father, with whom he exchanged a very comfortable glance, discovered +that the heroic Julian, who had caught a glimpse of the ill-concealed +weapon, was slinking quickly round a corner to avoid him. It was +certainly undignified to run, but the gallant captain did run, +nevertheless and soon caught the coward by the collar. + +Then, at arm's length, was the hunting-whip applied, full-swing; up the +terrace, and down the parade, and through High-street, and Smith-street, +and Oxton-road, and aristocratical Pacton-square, and the well-thronged +plebeian market-place; lash, lash, lash, in furious and fast succession +on the writhing roaring culprit; to the universal excoriation of Mr. +Julian Tracy, and the amazement of an admiring and soon-collected +crowd--the rank, beauty, and fashion--of Burleigh Singleton. Julian was +strong indeed, and a coal-heaver in build, but conscience had unnerved +him; and the coarse noisy bully always is a coward: therefore, it was a +pleasant thing to see how easy came the captain's work to him--he had +nothing to do but to lash, lash, lash, double-thonged, like a +slave-driver: and, except that he made the caitiff move along, to be a +spectacle to man and woman, up and down the town, he might as well, for +any difficulty in the deed, have been employed in scarifying a +gate-post. + +At last, thoroughly exhausted with having inflicted as much punishment +as any three drummers at a soldier's whipping-match, and spying out his +"tiger" in the throng, our gallant Avenging Childe tossed the heavy whip +to the trim cockaded little man, that he might carry home that +instrument of vengeance, deliberately wiped his wet mustachios, and +giving Julian one last kick, let the fellow part in peace. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + +HOW CHARLES FARED. + + +HAVING thus found protectors for poor Emily, and disposed of her +assailant to the entire satisfaction of all mankind, let us turn +seawards, and take a look at Charles. + +Now, "no earthly power,"--as a certain ex-chancellor protested--shall +induce me to do so mean a thing as to open Charles's letters, and spread +them forth before the public gaze. Doubtless, they were all things +tender, warm, and eloquent; doubtless, they were tinted rosy hue, with +love's own blushes, and made glorious with the golden light of +unaffected piety. I only read them myself in a reflected way, by looking +into Emily's eyes; and I saw, from their ever-changing radiance, how +feelingly he told of his affections; how fervently he poured out all his +heart upon the page; how evidently tears and kisses had made many words +illegible; how wise, sanguine, happy, and religious, was her own devoted +Charles. + +Of the trivial incidents of voyaging, his letters said not much: though +cheerful and agreeable in his floating prison, with the various exported +marrying-maidens and transported civil officers, who constitute the +average bulk of Indian cargoes outward bound, Charles mixed but little +in their society, seldom danced, seldom smoked, seldom took a hand at +whist, or engaged in the conflicts of backgammon. Sharks, storms, +water-spouts; the meeting divers vessels, and exchanging post-bags; +tar-barrelled Neptune of the line, Cape Town with its mountain and the +Table-cloth, long-rolling seas; and similar common-places, Charles did +not think proper to enlarge upon: no more do I. Life is far too short +for all such petty details: and, more pointedly, a wire-drawn book is +the just abhorrence of a generous public. + +The letters came frequently: for Charles did little else all day but +write to Emmy, so as always to be ready with a budget for the next piece +of luck--a home-bound ship. He had many things to teach her yet, sweet +student; and it was a beautiful sight to see how her mind expanded as an +opening flower before the sun of tenderness and wisdom. Each letter, +both in writing and in reading, was the child of many prayers: and even +the loveliness of Emily grew more soft, more elevated, "as it had been +the face of an angel," when feeding in solitary joy on those effusions +of her lover's heart. + +Of course, he could not hear from her, until the overland mail might +haply bring him letters at Madras: so that, as our Irish friends would +say, with all her will to tell him of her love, "the reciprocity must +needs be all on one side." But Emily did write too; earnestly, happily: +and poured her very heart out in those eloquent burning words. I dare +say Charles will get the letter now within a day or two: for the roaring +surf of Madras is on the horizon, almost within sight. + +Nevertheless, before he gets there, and can read those +letters--precious, precious manuscripts--it will be my painful duty, as +a chronicler of (what might well be) truth, to put the reader in +possession of one little hint, which seemed likeliest to wreck the +happiness of these two children of affection. + +I am Emily's invisible friend: and as the dear girl ran to me one +morning, with tears in her eyes, to ask me what I thought of a certain +mysterious paragraph, I need not scruple to lay it straight before the +reader. + +At the end of a voluminous love-letter, which I really did not think of +prying into, occurred the following postscript, evidently written at the +last moment of haste. + +"Oh! my precious Emmy, I have just heard the most fearful rumour of ill +that could possibly befall us: the captain of our ship--you will +remember Captain Forbes, he knew you and the general well, he said--has +just assured me that--that--! I dare not, cannot write the awful words. +Oh! my own Emmy--Heaven grant you be my own!--pray, pray, as I will +night and day, that rumour be not true: for if it be, my love, both God +and man forbid us ever to meet again! How I wish I could explain it all, +or that I had never heard so much, or never written it here, and told it +you, though thus obscurely: for I can't destroy this letter now, the +ships are just parting company, and there is no time to write another. +Yet will I hope, love, against hope. Who knows? through God's good +mercy, it may all be cleared up still. If not--if not--strive to forget +for ever, your unhappy "CHARLES. + +"Perhaps--O, glorious thought!--Nurse Mackie may know better than the +captain, after all; and yet, he seems so positive: if he is right, there +is nothing for us both but Wo! Wo! Wo!" + +Now, to say plain truth, when Emily showed me this, I looked very blank +upon it. That Charles had heard some meddlesome report, which (if true) +was to be an insuperable barrier to their future union, struck me at a +glimpse. But I had not the heart to hint it to her; and only encouraged +hope--hope, in God's help, through the means of Mrs. Mackie and her +papers. + +As for the poor girl herself, she asked me, in much humility, and with +many sobs, if I did not fear that her Hindoo mystery was this:--she was +the vilest of the vile, a Pariah, an outcast, whose very presence is +contamination! + +Beautiful, loving, heavenly-hearted creature! so humble in the midst of +her majestic loveliness! how touching was the thought, that she thus +readily acquiesced in any the deepest humiliation holy Providence had +seen fit to send her; and though the sentence would have crushed her +happiness for ever, till the day of death, that she could still look up +and say, "Be it to thine handmaid even as thou wilt." + +As I had no better method of explaining the matter, and as her infantine +reminiscences and prejudices about caste were strong, I even let her +think so, if she would: it was a far better alternative than my own sad +thoughts about the business: and, however painful was the process, it +was something consolatory to observe, that this voluntary humiliation +mellowed and chastened her own character, subduing tropical fires, and +tempering the virgin gold by meekness. + +Oh! Charles, Charles, my poor fellow, "who have cast your all upon a +die, and must abide the issue of the throw," I most fervently hope that +gossiping Captain Forbes spoke falsely: it is a comfort to reflect that +the world is often very liberal in attributing the honours of paternity +to some who really do not deserve them. And if a rich old bachelor looks +kindly on a foundling, is it not pure malice on that sole account of +charity to hail him father? Besides--there's Nurse Mackie.--Speed to +Madras, poor youth, and keep your courage up. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + +THE GENERAL'S RETURN. + + +IN a most unwonted flow of animal spirits, and an entire affability +which restored him at once to the rank of a communicative creature, +General Tracy came back on Friday night. He had met with marvellous +prosperity; for Hancock's had been paying off the prize-money; and his +own lion's share, as general, in the easy process of dethroning half a +dozen diamond-hilted rajahs and nabobs, amounted to something like four +lacs of rupees, nearly half a crore! Such a flush of wealth, and he was +rich already without it, exhilarated the bilious old gentleman so +strangely, that positive peonies were blooming in his cheeks; and, as if +this was not miracle enough, he had brought his wife as a present +Maurice's '_Antiquities of India_,' gloriously bound, and had even been +so superfluous as to purchase a new pair of double-barrelled pistols for +Julian: the lad was a fine young fellow after all, and ought to be +encouraged in snuffing out a candle; as for Emily's _petit cadeau_, it +was a fifty guinea set of cameos, the choicest in their way that Howell +and James's had to show him. Moreover, he had sent a Bow-street officer +to Oxford, to make inquiries after Charles: actually, good fortune had +made him at once humanized and happy. + +So the chaise rattled up, and the general bounded out, and flew into the +arms of his wondering wife, as Paris might have flown to Helen, or +Leander to his heroine--the only feminine Hero, whom grammar recognises. +It was past eleven at night: therefore he did not think to ask for +Julian; no doubt the boy was gone to bed. + +Indeed, he had; and was tossing his wealed body, full of pains, and +aches, and bruises, as softly as he could upon the feather-bed: he had +need of poultices all over, and a quart of Friar's Balsam would have +done him little good: after his well-merited thrashing, the flogged +hound had slunk to his kennel, and locked himself sullenly in, without +even speaking to his mother. Tobacco-fumes exuded from the key-hole, and +I doubt not other creature-comforts lent the muddled man their aid. + +However, after the first rush of news to Mrs. Tracy, her lord, who had +every moment been expecting the door to fly open, and Emily to fall into +his arms--for strangely did they love each other--suddenly asked, + +"But, where's Emmy all this time! she knows I'm here?--not got to bed, +is she?--knew I was coming?--" + +"Oh! general, I'll tell you all about it to-morrow morning." + +"About what, madam? Great God! has any harm befallen the child? +Speak--speak, woman!" + +"Dear--dear--Oh! what shall I say?" sobbed the silly mother. +"Emily--Emily, poor dear Julian--" + +"What the devil, ma'am, of Julian?" The general turned white as a sheet, +and rang the bell, in singular calmness; probably for a dram of brandy. +Saunders answered it so instantly, that I rather suspect he was waiting +just outside. + +The moment Mrs. Tracy saw the gray-headed butler, anticipating all that +he might say, she brushed past him, and hurriedly ran up-stairs. + +"What's all this, Mr. Saunders? where's Miss Warren?" And the poor old +guardian seemed ready to faint at his reply: but he heard it out +patiently. + +"I am very sorry to say, general, that Miss Emily has been forced to +take refuge at Sir Abraham Tamworth's: but she's well, sir, and safe, +sir; quite well and safe," the good man hastened to say, "only I'm +afraid that Mr. Julian had been taking liberties with--" + +I dare not write the general's imprecation: then, as he clenched the +arms of his easy-chair, as with the grasp of the dying, he asked, in a +quick wild way-- + +"But what was it?--what happened?" + +"Nothing to fear, sir--nothing at all, general;--I am thankful to say, +that all I saw, and all we all saw, was Miss Emily pulling at the +bell-rope with blood upon her face, and Mr. Julian on the floor: but I +took the young lady to Sir Abraham's immediately, general, at her own +desire." + +The father arose sternly; his first feeling was to kill Julian; but the +second, a far better one, predominated--he must go and see Emily at +once. + +So, faintly leaning on the butler's arm, the poor old man (whom a moiety +of ten minutes, with its crowding fears, had made to look some ten years +older,) proceeded to the square, and knocked up Sir Abraham at midnight, +and the admiral came down, half asleep, in dressing-gown and slippers, +vexed at having been knocked up from his warm berth so uncomfortably: it +put him sorely in remembrance of his hardships as a middy. + +"Kind neighbour, thank you, thank you; where's Emmy? take me to my +Emmy;" and the iron-hearted veteran wept like a driveller. + +Sir Abraham looked at him queerly: and then, in a cheerful, friendly +way, replied-- + +"Dear general, do not be so moved: the girl's quite safe with us; you'll +see her to-morrow morning. All's right; she was only frightened, and +George has given the fellow a proper good licking: and the girl's a-bed, +you know; and, eh? what?"-- + +For the poor old man, like one bereaved, said, supplicatingly-- + +"In mercy take me to her--precious child!" + +"My dear sir--pray consider--it's impossible; fine girl, you know;--Lady +Tamworth, too--can't be, can't be, you know, general." + +And the mystified Sir Abraham looked to Saunders for an explanation-- + +"Was his master drunk?" + +"I must speak to her, neighbour; I must, must, and will--dear, dear +child: come up with me, sir, come; do not trifle with a breaking heart, +neighbour!" + +There was a heart still in that hard-baked old East Indian. + +It was impossible to resist such an appeal: so the two elders crept up +stairs, and knocked softly at her chamber-door. Clearly, the girl was +asleep: she had sobbed herself to sleep; the general had been looked for +all day long, and she was worn with watching; he could hardly come at +midnight; so the dear affectionate child had sobbed herself to sleep. + +"Allow me, Sir Abraham." And General Tracy whispered something at the +key-hole in a strange tongue. + +Not Aladdin's "open Sesame" could have been more magical. In a moment, +roused up suddenly from sleep, and forgetting every thing but those +tender recollections of gentle care in infancy, and kindness all through +life, the child of nature startled out of bed, drew the bolt, and in +beauteous disarray, fell into that old man's arms! + +It was enough; he had seen her eye to eye--she lived: and the +white-haired veteran, suffered himself to be led away directly from the +landing, like a child, by his sympathizing neighbour. + +"My heart is lighter now, Sir Abraham: but I am a poor weak old man, and +owe you an explanation for this outburst; some day--some day, not now. +O, if you could guess how I have nursed that pretty babe when alone in +distant lands; how I have doated on her little winning ways, and been +gladdened by the music of her prattle; how I have exulted to behold her +loveliness gradually expanding, as she was ever at my side, in peril as +in peace, in camp as in quarters, in sickness as in health, +still--still, the blessed angel of a bad man's life--a wicked, hard old +man, kind neighbour--if you knew more--more, than for her sake I dare +tell you--and if you could conceive the love my Emmy bears for me, you +would not think it strange--think it strange--" He could not say a +syllable more; and the admiral, with Mr. Saunders, too, who joined them +in the study, looked very little able to console that poor old man. For +they all had hearts, and trickling eyes to tell them. + +Then having arranged a shake-down for his master in Sir Abraham's +study--for the guardian would not leave his dear one ever +again--Saunders went home, purposing to attend with razors in the +morning. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + +INTERCALARY. + + +THE Tamworths did not altogether live at Burleigh Singleton--it was far +too petty a place for them; dullness all the year round (however +pleasant for a month or so, as a holiday from toilsome pleasures) would +never have done for Lady Tamworth and her daughters: but they regularly +took Prospect House for six weeks in the summer season, when tired of +Portland Place, and Huntover, their fine estate in Cheshire: and so, +from constant annual immigration, came as much to be regarded +Burleighites, as swifts and swallows to be ranked as British birds. I +only hint at this piece of information, for fear any should think it +unlikely, that grandees of Sir Abraham's condition could exist for ever +in a place where the day-before-yesterday's '_Times_' is first +intelligence. + +Moreover, as another interjectional touch, it is only due to my +life-likenesses to record, that Mrs. Green's, although a terrace-house, +and ranked as humble number seven, was, nevertheless, a tolerably +spacious mansion, well suited for the dignity of a butler to repose in: +for Mrs. Green had added an entire dwelling on the inland side, as, like +most maritime inhabitants, she was thoroughly sick of the sea, and never +cared to look at it, though living there still, from mere disinclination +to stir: so, then, it was quite a double house, both spacious and +convenient. As for the inglorious incident of Julian's latch-key, I +should not wonder if many wide street-doors to many marble halls are +conscious of similar convenient fastenings, if gentlemen of Julian's +nocturnal tastes happen to be therein dwelling. Another little matter is +worth one word. The house had been Mrs. Green's, a freehold, and was, +therefore, now her heir's; but the general, as an executor, remained +there still, until his business was finished; in fact, he took his +year's liberty. + +He had returned from India rolling in gold; for some great princess or +other--I think they called her a Begum or a Glumdrum, or other such like +Gulliverian appellative--had been singularly fond of him, and had loaded +him in early life with favours--not only kisses, and so forth, but +jewellery and gold pagodas. And lately, as we know, Puttymuddyfudgepoor, +with its radiating rajahs and nabobs, had proved a mine of wealth: for a +crore is ten lacs, and a lac of rupees is any thing but a lack of +money--although rupees be money, and the "middle is distributed;" in +spite of logic, then, a lack means about twelve thousand pounds: and +four of them, according to Cocker, some fifty thousand. It would appear +then, that with the produce of the Begum's diamonds, converted into +money long ago, and some of them as big as linnet's eggs--and not to +take account of Mrs. Green's trifling pinch of the five Exchequer bills, +all handed over at once to Emily--the General's present fortune was +exactly one hundred and twenty-three thousand pounds. + +Of course, _he_ wasn't going to bury himself at Burleigh Singleton much +longer; and yet, for all that stout intention of houses and lands, and +carriages and horses, in almost any other county or country, it is as +true as any thing in this book, that he was a resident still, a +lease-holder of Aunt Green's house, long after the _denouement_ of this +story; in many things an altered man, but still identical in one; the +unchangeable resolve (though never to be executed) of leaving Burleigh +at farthest by next Michaelmas. Most folks who talk much, do little; and +taciturn as the general now is, and has been ever throughout life, it +will surprise nobody who has learned from hard experience how silly and +harmful a thing is secresy (exceptionables excepted), to find that he +grew to be a garrulous old man, gossipping for ever of past, present, +future, and, not least, about his deeds at Puttymuddyfudgepoor. + +General Tracy is by this time awake again; if ever indeed he slept on +that uncomfortable shakedown; and, after Mr. Saunders and the +razor-strop, has greeted brightly-beaming Emily with more than usual +tenderness. Her account of the transaction made his very blood boil; +especially as her pretty pouting lips were lacerated cruelly inside: +that rude blow on the mouth had almost driven the teeth through them. +How confidingly she told her artless tale; how gently did her fond +protector kiss that poor pale cheek; and how sternly did he vow full +vengeance on the caitiff! Not even Emily's intercession could avail to +turn his wrath aside. He could hardly help flying off at once to do +something dreadful; but common courtesy to all the Tamworth family +obliged him to defer for an hour all the terrible things he meant to do. +So he began to bolt his breakfast fiercely as a cannibal, and saluted +Lady Tamworth and her daughters with such savage looks, that the captain +considerately suggested: + +"Here, general," (handing him a most formidable carving-knife,) "charge +that boar's head, grinning defiance at us on the side-board; it will do +you good to hew his brawny neck. My mother, I am sure, for one, will +thank you to do the honours there instead of me. Isn't it a comfort now, +to know that I broke the handle of my hunting-whip across the fellow's +back, and wore all the whip-cord into skeins. Come, I say, general, +don't eat us all round; and pray have mercy on that poor, flogged, +miserable sinner." + +This banter did him good, especially as he saw Emily smiling; so he +relaxed his knit brow, condescended to look less like Giant Blunderbore, +soon became marvellous chatty, and ate up two French rolls, an egg, some +anchovies, a round of toast, and a mighty slice of brawn; these, washed +down with a couple of cups of tea, soothed him into something like +complacency. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX. + +JULIAN'S DEPARTURE. + + +LONG before the general got home, still in exalted dudgeon (indeed soon +after the general had left home over night), the bird had flown; for the +better part of valour suggested to our evil hero, that it would be +discreet to render himself a scarce commodity for a season; and as soon +as ever his mother had run up to his room-door to tell him of his +danger, when her lord was cross-questioning the butler, he resolved upon +instant flight. Accordingly, though sore and stiff, he hurried up, +dressed again, watched his father out, and tumbling over Mrs. Tracy, who +was sobbing on the stairs, ran for one moment to the general's room; +there he seized a well-remembered cash-box, and instinctively possessed +himself of those new, neat, double-barrelled pistols: a bully never goes +unarmed. These brief arrangements made, off he set, before his father +could have time to return from Pacton Square. + +Therefore, when the general called, we need not marvel that he found him +not; no one but the foolish mother (so neglected of her son, yet still +excusing him) stood by to meet his wrath. He would not waste it on her; +so long as Julian was gone, his errand seemed accomplished; for all he +came to do was to expel him from the house. So, as far as regarded Mrs. +Tracy, her husband, wotting well how much she was to blame, merely +commanded her to change her sleeping-room, and occupy Mr. Julian's in +future. + +The silly woman was even glad to do it; and comforted herself from time +to time with prying into her own boy's exemplary manuscripts, memoranda +of moralities, and so forth; with weeping, like Lady Constance, over his +empty "unpuffed" clothes; with reading ever and anon his choice +collection of standard works, among which '_Don Juan_' and Mr. Thomas +Paine were by far the most presentable; and with tasting, till it grew +to be a habit, his private store of spirituous liquors. Thus did she +mourn many days for long-lost Julian. + +I am quite aware what became of him. The wretched youth, mad for Emily's +love, and tortured by the tyranny of passion, had nothing else to live +for or to die for. He accordingly took refuge in the hovel of a +smuggler, an old friend of his, not many miles away, disguised himself +in fisherman's costume, and bode his opportunity. + +Beauteous girl! how often have I watched thee with straining eyes and +aching heart, as thou wentest on thy summer's walk so oftentimes to +Oxton, there to exercise thy bountiful benevolence in comforting the +sick, gladdening the wretched, and lingering, with love's own look, in +Charles's village school; how often have I prayed, that guardian angels +might be about thy path as about thy bed! For the prowling tiger was on +thy track, poor innocent one, and many, many times nothing but one of +God's seeming accidents hath saved thee. Who was that strange man so +often in the way? At one time a wounded Spanish legionist, with head +bound up; at another, an old beggar upon crutches; at another, a floury +miller with a donkey and a sack; at another, a black looking man, in +slouching sailor's hat and fishing-boots? + +Fair, pure creature! thou hast often dropped a shilling in that beggar's +hand, and pitied that poor maimed soldier; once, too, a huge gipsy woman +would have had thee step aside, and hear thy fortunes. Heaven guarded +thee then, sweet Emily; for both girl and lover though thou art, thou +would'st not listen to the serpent's voice, however fair might be the +promises. And Heaven guarded thee ever, bidding some one pass along the +path just as the ruffian might have gagged thy smiling mouth, and +hurried thee away amongst his fellows; and more than once, especially, +those school children, bursting out of Charles's school at dusk, have +unconsciously escorted thee in safety from the perils of that tiger on +thy track. + + + + +CHAPTER XX. + +ENLIGHTENMENT. + + +THE general could not now be kept in ignorance of Charles's expedition; +in fact, he had found his heart, and began resolutely to use it. So, the +very day on which he had lost Julian, he intended very eagerly to seek +out Charles; for the Oxford search had failed, and no wonder. Now, +though Emily had told, as we well know, to both mother and son her +secret, the father was not likely to be any the wiser; for he now never +spoke to his wife, and could not well speak to his son. However, one +day, an hour after an overland letter, a very exhilarating one, dated +Madras, whereof we shall hear anon, fair Emily, in the fullness of her +heart, could not help saying, + +"Dearest sir, you are often thinking of poor lost Charles, I know; and +you are very anxious about him too, though nobody but myself, who am +always with you, can perceive it: what if you heard he was safe and +well?" + +"Have you heard any tidings of my poor boy, Emmy?" + +She looked up archly, and said, "Why not?" her beautiful eyes adding, as +plainly as eyes could speak, "I love him, and you know it; of course I +have heard frequently from dear, dear Charles." + +But the guardian met her looks with a keen and chilling answer: "Why +not! why not! Does he dare to write to you, and you to love him? Oh, +that I had told them both a year ago! But where is he now, child? Don't +cry, I will not speak so angrily again, my Emmy." + +"I hardly dare to tell you, dearest sir: you have always been as a +father to me, and I never knew any other; but there are things I cannot +explain to myself, and I was very wretched; and so, kind guardian, +Charles--Charles was so good--" + +"What has he done?--where has he gone?" hastily asked his father. + +"Oh, don't, don't be angry with us; in a word, he is gone to Madras, to +find out Nurse Mackie, and to tell me who I am." + +The poor old man, who had treasured up so long some mystery, probably a +very diaphanous one, for Emily's own dear sake in the world's esteem, +and from the long bad habit of reserve, fell back into his chair as if +he had been shot; but he did not faint, nor gasp, nor utter a sound; he +only looked at her so long and sorrowfully, that she ran to him, and +covered his pale face with her own brown curls, kissing him, and wiping +from his cheek her starting tears. + +"Emmy, dear--I can tell you--and I--no, no, not now, not now; if he +comes back--then--then; poor children! Oh, the sin of secresy!" + +"But, dearest sir, do not be so sad; Charles has happy news, he says." + +"Happy, child? Good Heaven! would it could be so!" + +"Indeed, indeed, a week ago he was as miserable as any could be, and so +was I; for he heard something terrible about me--I don't know what--but +I feared I was a--Pariah! However, now he is all joy, and coming home +again as soon as possible." + +The general shook, his head mournfully, as physicians do when hope is +gone; but still he looked perplexed and thoughtful. + +"You will show me the letters, dear, I dare say: but I do not command +you, Emmy; do as you like." + +"Certainly, my own kindest guardian--all, all, and instantly." + +And flying up to her room, she returned with as much closely-written +manuscript as would have taken any but a lover's eye a full week to +decipher. The general, not much given to literary matters, looked quite +scared at such a prospect. + +"Wait, Emmy; not all, not all; show me the last." + +I dare say Emily will forgive me if I get it set up legibly in print. +May I, dear? + + + + +CHAPTER XXI. + +CHARLES AT MADRAS. + + +LUCKILY enough for all mankind in general, and our lovers in particular, +Charles's last letter was very unlike some that had preceded it; for +instead of the usual "Oh, my love"'s, "sweet, sweet eyes," "darling"'s, +and all manner of such chicken-hearted nonsense, it was positively +sensible, rational, not to say utilitarian: though I must acknowledge +that here and there it degenerates into the affectionate, or +Stromboli-vein of letter-writing, at opening especially; and really now +and then I shall take leave to indicate omitted inflammations by a *. + +"DEAREST, DEAREST EMMY, + + * * * * * + +[and so forth, a very galaxy of stars to the bottom of this page; enough +to put the compositor out of his terrestrial senses.] + +"You see I have recovered my spirits, dearest, and am not now afraid to +tell you how I love you. Oh, that detestable Captain Forbes! let him not +cross my path, gossiping blockhead! on pain of carrying about 'til +deth,' in the middle of his face, a nose two inches longer. I heartily +wish I had never listened for an instant to such vile insinuations; and +when I look at this red right hand of mine, that dared to pen the trash +in that black postscript, I look at it as Cranmer did, and (but that it +is yours, Emmy, not mine), could wish it burnt. But no fears now, my +girl, huzza, huzza! I believe every one about me thinks me daft; and so +I am for very joyfulness; notwithstanding, let me be didactic, or you +will say so too. I really will endeavour to rein in, and go along in the +regular hackney trot, that you may partly comprehend me. Well, then, +here goes; try your paces, Dobbin. + +"On the morning of Sunday, April 11th, 1842, the good ship +Elphinston--(that's the way to begin, I suppose, as per ledger, +log-book, and midshipman's epistles to mamma)--in fact, dear, we cast +anchor just outside a furious wall of surf, which makes Madras a very +formidable place for landing; and every one who dares to do so certain +of a watering. There lay the city, most invitingly to storm-tost tars, +with its white palaces, green groves, and yellow belt of sand, blue +hills in the distance, and all else _coleur de rose_. But--but, Emmy, +there was no getting at this paradise, except by struggling through a +couple of miles of raging foam, that would have made mince-meat of the +Spanish Armada, and have smashed Sir William Elphinston to pieces. How, +then, did we manage to survive it? for, thank God always, here I am to +tell the tale. Listen, Emmy dear, and I will try not to be tedious. + +"We were bundled out of the rolling ship into some huge flat-bottomed +boats, like coal-barges, and even so, were grated and ground several +times by the churning waves on the ragged reefs beneath us: and, just as +I was enjoying the see-saw, and trying to comfort two poor drenched +women-kind who were terribly afraid of sharks, a huge, cream-coloured +breaker came bustling alongside of us, and roaring out 'Charles Tracy,' +gobbled me up bodily. Well, dearest, it wasn't the first time I had +floundered in the waters [noble Charles! noble Charles! he had long +forgiven Julian]; so I was battling on as well as I could, with a stout +heart and a steady arm, when--don't be afraid--a _Catamaran_ caught me! +If you haven't fainted (bless those pretty eyes of your's, my Emmy!) +read on; and you will find that this alarming sort of animal is neither +an albatross nor an alligator, but simply--a life-boat with a Triton in +the stern. Yes, God's messenger of life to me and happiness to you, my +girl, came in the shape of a kindly, chattering, blue-skinned, human +creature, who dragged me out of the surf, landed me safely, and, I need +not say, got paid with more than hearty thanks. So, I scuffled to the +custom-house to look after my traps and fellow-passengers, like a +dripping merman. + +"'Who is that miserable old woman, bothering every body?' asked I of a +very civil searcher, profuse in his salaams. + +"'Oh, Sahib, you will know for yourself, presently: she's always hanging +about here, to get news of somebody in England, I believe--and to try to +find a charitable captain who will take her all the way for nothing: +rather too much of a good thing, you know, Sahib.' + +[We really cannot undertake to scribble broken English: so we will +translate any thing that may mysteriously have been chatted by +havildars, and coolies; and all manner of strange names.] + +"'Poor old soul--she looks very wretched: what's her name?' asked I, +carelessly. + +"'Oh, I never troubled to inquire, Sahib: I believe she was an old +servant left behind as lumber, and she pesters every one, day by day, +about some 'bonnie bonnie bairn.'' + +"In a moment, Emmy, I had seized on dear nurse Mackie! + +"Very old, very deaf, very infirm--she fancied I was driving her away, +as many others might have done; and, with a truly piteous face, +pleaded-- + +"'Gude sir, have mercy on a puir auld soul--and let her ask for her +sweet young mistress, only once, sir--only once more.' + +"'Emily Warren?' said I. + +"Her wrinkled face brightened over as with glory--and she answered-- + +"'Bless the mouth that spake it, and these ears that hear her name! +yes--yes--yes--they call her so; where is she? how is she? have you seen +her? is she yet alive?' + +"Leading away the affectionate old soul from the crowd that was +collecting round us, I left orders about luggage as a traveller should, +and then told her all I knew: and I know you pretty well, I think, my +Emmy. + +"Her joy was like a mad woman's: the dear old Hecate pranced, and +danced, and sung, and shouted like nothing but a mother when she finds +her long-lost child: not that she's your mother, Emmy dear. +No--no--matters are better than that: all she vouchsafes, though, to +tell me is, that you are a lady born and bred, and--for I cannot find +the words to inform your pure mind clearer--that 'you are not what he +thinks you.'" + +[Here followeth another twinkling universe of stars; + + * * * * * * * + +and thereafter our cavalier condescendeth again to matters of fact.] + +"Nurse Mackie of course comes back with me next packet; this letter goes +by the overland mail more quickly than we can; gladly would I go too, +but the old woman, whose life is essential to your rights, would die of +fatigue by the way; as it is, I am obliged to coddle her, and feed her, +and ptisan her, like a sick baby, bless her dear old heart that loves my +darling Emmy! She has a pack of papers with her, which she will not +open, till the general is by her side: if she unfortunately dies before +we can return, I am to have them, and all will be right. But the old +soul is so afraid of being left behind (as you throw away the +orange-peel after you have squeezed it), that she will not tell me a +word about them yet; so, I only gather what I can from her cautious +garrulity, hints about a Begum and a captain, and the Stuarts, and a +Putty-what-d'ye-call-it. And it is all in document, as well as +_viva-voce_ (this means 'gossip,' dear). So now you may be expecting us, +as soon as ever we can get to you. Tell the general all this, and give +him my best love, next after your's Emmy; for he is my father still, and +my very heart yearns after him: O, that he were kinder with me as I see +he is with you, dear, and more open with us all! Also, kiss, if she will +let you, my mother for me, and I hope you will have hinted to her long +ago, that I am only playing truant. How is poor--poor Julian? he will +understand me, if you tell him I forgive him, and will never say one +word about our little tiff. And now dearest Emmy--" + +[The remainder of this letter must, believe me, be as starry as before.] + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER XXII. + +REVELATIONS. + + +GENERAL TRACY gave a long-drawn sigh: and tears--tears of true +affection--stood in those most fish-like eyes, as he mournfully said, +"Bless him, bless dear Charles, almost as much as you, my own sweet +Emmy. Heaven send it be true--for Heaven can work miracles. But without +a miracle, Emily, in sober sadness I declare it, you must forget--_your +brother Charles, my daughter_!" + +Emily fell flat upon her face, so cold, so white, that he believed her +dead. + +Oh! that he had never--never said that word: or better still, poor +father, that you had never kept the dreadful secret from them. The +adultery, indeed, was sin; but years of ill-concealings have multiplied +its punishment. Wretched father--wretched children! that must bear an +erring father's curse. + +Oh! that Jeanie Mackie may have reasons, proofs; and be not an impostor +after all, dressing up a tale that over-sanguine Charles may bring her +back again to Scotland. Well--well! I am full of sadness and +perplexities: but we shall hear it out anon. Heaven help them! + +Emily was taken very ill, and had a long fit of sickness. Day and +night--night and day, did her poor wasting anxious father watch by her +bed-side, gentle as the gentlest nurse--tender as the tenderest of +mothers. And, indeed, the Lord of Life and Wisdom was gracious to them +both; raising up the poor weak child again; and teaching that old man, +through this daughter of his shame and sin in youth, that religion is a +cure for all things. Ay, "the blessed angel of a bad man's life," +indeed--indeed was she; and he humbly knelt, as little children kneel, +that hard and dried old man; and his eyes caught the ray of Heaven's +mercy, looking up in joy to read forgiveness; and his heart was bathed +in penitence--the rock flowed out amain; and his mind was quickened into +faith--he lived, he breathed "a new-born babe," that poor and bad old +man, given to the prayers of his own daughter! + +All this while, Mrs. Tracy, thrown upon her own resources, has been +continually tasting dear Julian's store, and finding out excuses for his +trivial peccadilloes. And when, from the recesses of his desk, she had +routed out (in company with sundry more, rather contrasting with a +mother's pure advice) a few of her own letters, which had not yet been +destroyed, she would doat by the hour on these proofs of his affection. +And then, her spirits were so low; and his choice smuggled Hollands so +requisite to screw them up to par again; and no sooner had they rallied, +than they would once more begin to droop; so she cried a good deal, and +kept her bed; and very often did not remember exactly, whether she was +lying down there, or figuring on the Esplanade with Julian, and--all +that sort of thing: accordingly, it is not to be wondered at if, in +Aunt Green's double-house, the general and Emily saw very little of her, +and during all this illness, had almost forgotten her existence. +Nevertheless, she was alive still, and as vast as ever--though a course +of strong waters had shattered her nerves considerably; even more so, +than her real mother's grief at Julian's protracted absence. + +Never had he been heard of since he left, hard heart; though he might +have guessed a mother's sorrow, and was not far away, and often lingered +near the house in strange disguises. It would have been easy for him, in +some clever way or other, latch-key and all, to have gained access to +her, and comforted her, and given her some real proof, that all the love +she had shed on him had not been utterly thrown away; but he didn't--he +didn't; and I know not of a darker trait in Julian's whole career; he +was insensible to love--a mother's love. + +For love is the weapon which Omnipotence reserved to conquer rebel man; +when all the rest had failed. Reason he parries; Fear he answers blow to +blow; future interest he meets with present pleasure; but Love, that sun +against whose melting beams the Winter cannot stand, that soft-subduing +slumber which wrestles down the giant, there is not one human creature +in a million--not a thousand men in all earth's huge quintillion, whose +clay-heart is hardened against love. + +Yet was Julian one of those select ones; an awful instance of that +possible, that actual, though happily that scarcest of all characters, a +man, + + "Black, with _no_ virtue, and a thousand crimes." + +The amiable villain--one whose generosity redeems his guilt, whose +kindliness outweighs his folly, or whose beauty charms the eye to +overlook his baseness--this too common hero is an object, an example +fraught with perilous interest. Charles Duval, the polite; Paul +Clifford, the handsome; Richard Turpin, brave and true; Jack Sheppard, +no ignoble mind and loving still his mother; these, and such as these, +with Schiller's '_Robbers_' and the like, are dangerous to gaze on, as +Germany, if not England too, remembers well. But, not more true to life, +though far less common to be met with, is Julian's incorrigible mind: +one, in whose life are no white days; one, on whose heart are no bright +spots; when Heaven's pity spoke to him, he ridiculed; as, when His +threatenings thundered, he defied. Of this world only, and tending to a +worse appetite was all he lived for: and the core of appetite is iron +selfishness. + +The filched cash-box proved to be too well-filled for him to trouble +himself with thinking of his mother yet awhile: and his smuggling +acquaintances, a rough-featured, blasphemous crew, set him as their +chief, so long as he swore loudest, drank deepest, and had money at +command. He hid the money, that they should not secretly steal from him +that to which he owed his bad supremacy; and his double-barrels, shotted +to the muzzle, were far too formidable for any hope of getting at it by +open brute force. Nevertheless, they were "fine high-spirited" fellows +those, bold, dark men, of Julian's own kidney; who toasted in their cups +each other's crimes, and the ghost or two that ought to have been +haunting them. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII. + +CONVALESCENCE. + + +VERY slowly did Emily recover, for the blow had been more than she could +bear: nothing but religion gave her any chance at all: and the phials, +blisterings, bleedings, would have been in vain, in vain--she must have +died long ago--had it not been for the remembrance of God's love, +resignation to His will, and trust in the wisdom of his Providence. But +these specific remedies gradually brought her round, while the kind-eyed +doctors praised their own prescriptions: and after many rallyings and +relapses, delirious ramblings, and intervals of hallowed Christian +peace, the eye of Love's meek martyr brightened up once more, and health +flushed again upon her cheek. + +She recovered, God be praised! for her death would have been poor +Charles's too; and the same grave that yawned for her and him would have +closed upon their father also. Even as it was, when she arose from off +the weary bed of sickness, it was to be a nurse herself, and watch +beside that patient, weak old man. He could not bear her out of his +sight all the fever through; but eagerly would listen to her hymns and +prayers, joining in them faintly like a dying saint. With the saddening +secret, which had so long pressed upon his mind, he seemed to have +thrown off his old nature, as a cast skin: and now he was all frankness +for reserve, all piety for profaneness, all peacefulness for blusterings +and wrath. + +He remembered then poor Julian and his mother: taking blame to himself, +justly, deeply, for neglected duties, chilling lack of sympathy, and +that dull domestic sin, that still continued evil of unnatural +omissions--stern reserve. And he would gladly have seen Julian by his +bedside, to have freely forgiven the lad, and welcomed him home again, +and begun once more, in openness and charity, all things fair and new: +but Julian was not to be found, though rewards were offered, and +placards posted up, and emissaries from the Detective Police-force +sought him far and wide. Alas! the bold bad man had heard with scorn of +his father's penitence, and knew that he would gladly have received +him;--but what cared he for kindnesses or pardons? He only lived to +waylay Emily. + +As for Mrs. Tracy, she was seldom in a state to appear; but one day she +managed to refrain a little, and came to see her husband, almost sober. +I was, authorially speaking, behind the door, and saw and heard as +follows: + +The old man, worn and emaciate, was weakly sitting up in bed, and Emma +by his side, with the Bible in her lap: she casually shut it as the +mother entered. + +"Well, Miss Warren, there's a time for all things; but this is neither +morning, noon, nor night: nor Sunday either, nor holiday, that I know +of; it's eleven o'clock on Tuesday, Miss--and I think you might as well +leave the general at peace, without troubling him for ever with your +prayer-books and your Bibles." + +"Jane, my dear, I requested it of Emily; come and sit by me, and take my +hand, wife." + +"Thank you, sir, you are very obliging: not while that young woman is in +the room.--You ought to be ashamed of yourself, General Tracy." + +Poor Emmy ran away to weep. It seems that, in her delirium, she had +spoken many things, and the servants blabbed them out to Mrs. Tracy. + +"Ah, my poor wife, indeed I am: both ashamed and sorry--heartily sorry. +But God forgives me, Jenny, and I hope that you will too." + +"Upon, my word, general, you carry it off with a high hand: and, not +content, sir, with insulting me in my own home by bringing here your +other women's children, you have expelled poor dear, dear Julian." + +"Jane, if you will remember, he ran away himself; and you know that now +I gladly would receive him: we are all prodigal sons together, and if +God can bear with us, Jane, we ought to look kindly on each other." + +"Ha! that's always the way with old sinners like you--canting +hypocrites! Be a man, General Tracy, if you can, and talk sense. I never +did any harm or sin in all my life yet, and don't intend to: and my +poor boy Julian's well enough, if they'd only let him alone; but nobody +understands his heart but me. Good boy, I'm sure there's virtue enough +left in him, if he loves his mother."--_If_ he loves his mother. + +"Jane, dear, I sent for you to kiss you; for I could not die in peace, +nor live in peace (whichever God may please), without your pardon, Jane, +for a thousand unkindnesses--but, especially for the sin that gave me +Emily. Forgive me this, my wife." + +"Never, sir!" rejoined that miserable mind; and fancied that she was +acting virtuously. She thrust aside the kindly proffered hand; scowled +at him with darkened brow; drew up her commanding height; and, calling +Mrs. Siddons to remembrance, brushed away in the indignant attitude of a +tragedy queen. + +Emmy ran again to her father, and the vain bad mother to her bottle; we +must leave them to their various avocations. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV. + +CHARLES DELAYED. + + +FEW things could well be more unlikely than that Emily should hear of +Charles again before she saw him: for, having left Madras as speedily as +might be, now that his mission was so easily, yet so naturally, +accomplished--having posted, as we know, his overland letter--and having +got on board the fast-sailing ship Samarang, Captain Trueman, Charles, +in the probable course of things, if he wrote at all, must have been his +own postman. But the Fates--(our Christianity can afford to wink now and +then at Clotho, Lachesis, and Atropos; for, at any rate, they are as +reasonable creatures as Chance, Luck, and Accident,)--the Fates willed +it otherwise: and, accordingly, it is in my power to lay before the +reader another genuine lucubration of Charles Tracy. + +A change had come over the spirit of their dream, those youthful lovers: +and agonizing doubt must rack their hearts, threatening to rend them +both asunder. It is evident to me that Charles's letter (which Emily +showed to me with a melancholy face) was on principle less warm, less +dottable with stars, and more conversant with things of this world; +high, firm, honourable principle; intending very gently, very gradually, +to wean her from him, if he could; for his faith in Jeanie Mackie had +been shaken, and--but let us hear him tell us of it all himself. + + "I.E.M. Samarang. St. Helena. + +"You will wonder, my dear Emily, to hear again before you see me: but I +am glad of this providential opportunity, as it may serve to prepare us +both. Naturally enough you will ask, why Charles cannot accompany this +letter? I will tell you, dear, in one word--Mrs. Mackie is now lying +very ill on shore; and, as far as our poor ship is concerned, you shall +hear about it all anon. Several of the passengers, who were in a hurry +to get home, have left us, and gone in the packet-boat that takes you +this letter: gladly, as you know, would I have accompanied them, for I +long to see you, poor dear girl; but it was impossible to leave the old +woman, upon whom alone, under God, our hopes of earthly happiness +depend: if, alas! we still can dream about such hopes. + +"Oh, Emily--I heartily wish that, having finished my embassage by that +instantaneous finding of the old Scotch nurse, I had never been so +superfluous as to have left those letters of introduction, wherewith you +kindly supplied me, in an innocent wish to help our cause. But I felt +solitary too, waiting at Madras for the next ship to England; and in my +folly, forgetful of the single aim with which I had come, Jeanie Mackie, +to wit, I thought I might as well use my present opportunities, and see +what I could of the place and its inhabitants. + +"With that view, I left my letters at Government House, at Mr. +Clarkson's, Colonel Bunting's, Mrs. Castleton's, and elsewhere, +according to direction; and immediately found answer in a crowd of +invitations. I need not vex you nor myself, Emmy, writing as I do with a +heavy, heavy heart, by describing gayeties in which I felt no pleasure, +even when amongst them, for my Emmy was not there: splendour, +prodigality, and red-hot rooms, only made endurable by perpetually +fanning punkahs: pompous counsellors, authorities, and other men in +office, and a glut of military uniforms: vulgar wealth, transparent +match-making, and predominating dullness: along with some few of the +charities and kindnesses of life (Mrs. Bunting, in particular, is an +amiable, motherly, good-hearted woman), all these you will readily fancy +for yourself. + +"My trouble is deeper than any thing so slight as the common satiations +of _ennui_: for I have heard in these circles in which your--my--the +general, I mean, chiefly mixed, so much of that ill-rumour that it +cannot all be false: they knew it all, and were certain of it all, too +well, Emily, dear. And I have been pestering Nurse Mackie night and day; +but the old woman is so afraid of being left behind any where, or thrown +overboard, or dropped, upon some desert rock, that she is quite cross, +and won't say a single word in answer, even when I tell her all these +terrible tales. Her resolution is, not to reveal one syllable more, +until she sets foot on England; and several people at Madras annoyed me +exceedingly by saying, that this kind of thing is an old trick with +people who wish to be sent home again. She has hidden away her papers +somewhere; not that I was going to steal them: but it shows how little +trust she puts in any thing, or any one, except the keeping of her own +secret. However, she does adhere obstinately, and hopefully for us, to +her original hint, 'you are not what he thinks you;' although she will +not condescend to any single proof, or explanation, against the mighty +mass of evidence, which probabilities, and common rumour, and the +general's own belief, have heaped together. When I call you Emmy, +too--the old soul, in her broad Scotch way, always corrects me, and +invokes a blessing upon 'A-amy:' so there is a mystery somewhere: at +least, I fervently hope there is: and, if the old woman has been playing +us false, let us resign ourselves to God, my girl; for our fate will be +that matters are as people say they are--and then my old black +postscript ends too truly with a wo, wo, wo--! + +"But I must shake off all this lethargy of gloom, dearest, dearest +girl--how can I dare to call you so? Let me, therefore, rush for comfort +into other thoughts; and tell you at once of the fearful dangers we have +now mercifully escaped; for the Samarang lies like a log in this +friendly port, dismasted, and next to a wreck. + +"I proceed to show you about it; perhaps I shall be tedious--but I do it +as a little rest, my own soul's love, from anxious, earnest, +heart-distracting prayers continually, continually, that the sorrow +which I spoke of be not true. Sometimes, a light breaks in, and I +rejoice in the most sanguine hope: at others, gloom-- + +"But a truce to all this, I say. Here shall follow didactically the +cause why the good ship Samarang is not by this time in the Docks. + +"We were lying somewhere about the tropical belt, Capricorn you know, +(O, those tender lessons in geography, my Emmy!) quite becalmed; the sea +like glass, and the sky like brass, and the air in a most stagnant heat: +our good ship motionless, dead in a dead blue sea it was + +'Idle as a painted ship upon a painted ocean.' + +"The sails were hanging loosely in the shrouds: every one set, from +sky-scraper to stud-sail, in hopes to catch a breath of wind. My +fellow-passengers and the crew, almost melted, were lying about, as weak +as parboiled eels: it was high-noon, all things silent and subdued by +that intolerable blaze; for the vertical sun, over our multiplied +awnings and umbrellas, burnt us up, fierce as a furnace. + +"I was leaning over the gangway, looking wistfully at the cool, clear, +deep sea, wherefrom the sailors were trying to persuade a shark to come +on board us, when, all at once, in the south-east quarter, I noticed a +little round black cloud, thrown up from the horizon like a +cricket-ball. As any thing is attractive in such sameness as perpetual +sea and sky, my discovery was soon made known, and among the first to +our captain. + +"Calling for his Dolland, and bidding his second lieutenant run quick to +the cabin and look at the barometer, he viewed the little cloud in +evident anxiety, and shook his head with a solemn air: more than one +light-hearted woman thinking he was quizzing them. + +"Up came Lieutenant Joyce, looking as if he had seen a ghost in the +cabin. + +"'The mercury, sir, is falling just as rapidly as it would rise if you +plunged it into boiling water: an inch a minute or so!" + +"Our captain saw the danger instantly, and, brave as Trueman is, I never +saw a man look paler. + +"To drive all the passengers below, and pen them in with closed hatches +and storm-shutters, (so hot, Emmy, that the black-hole of Calcutta must +have been an ice-house to it: how the foolish people abused our wise +skipper, and more than one pompous old Indian threatened him with an +action for false imprisonment!) this huddling away was the first effort; +and simultaneously with it, the crew were all over the rigging, furling +sails, hurriedly, hurriedly. + +"Meanwhile (for I was last on deck), that little cloud seemed whirling +within itself, and many others gathered round it, all dancing about on +the horizon, as if sheaves of mischief tossed about by devils: I don't +wish to be poetical, Emmy, for my heart is very, very sad; but if ever +the powers of the air sow the wind and reap the whirlwind, they were +gathering in their harvest at that door. Underneath the skipping clouds, +which came on quickly, leaping over each other, as when the wain is +loaded by a score of hands, I noticed a sea approaching, such as Pharaoh +must have seen, when the wall of waters fell upon him; and premonitory +winds came whistling by, and two or three sails were flapping in them +still, and I was hurried down stairs after all the rest of us. + +"Then, on a sudden, it appeared not winds, nor waves, nor thunder, but +as if the squadroned cavalry of heaven had charged across the seas, and +crushed our battered ship beneath their horse-hoofs! We were flung down +flat on our beam ends; and the two or three unfurled sails, bursting +with the noise of a cannon, were scattered miles away to lee-ward as if +they had been paper. As for the poor fellows in the rigging, the spirit +of the storm had already made them his: twenty of our men were swept +away by that tornado. + +"Then there was hewing and cleaving on deck, the clatter of many axes +and hatchets: for we were in imminent danger of being capsized, keel +uppermost, and our only chance was to cut away the masts. + +"The muscles of courage were tried then, my Emmy, and the strength which +religion gives a man. I felt sensibly held up by the Everlasting Arms: I +could listen to the still small Voice in the midst of a crash which +might have been the end of all things: though in darkness, God had given +me light; though in uttermost peril, my peace was never calmer in our +little village school. + +"And the billows were knocking at the poor ship's side like sledge +hammers; and the lightnings fell around us scorchingly, with forked +bolts, as arrows from the hand of a giant; the thunders overhead, close +overhead, crashing from a concave cloud that hung about us heavily--a +dense, black, suffocating curtain--roared and raved as nothing earthly +can, but thunder in the tropics; the rain was as a cataract, literally +rushing in a mass: the winds appeared not winds, nor whirlwinds, but +legions of emancipated demons shrieking horribly, and flapping their +wide wings; a flock of night-birds flying from the dawn; and all else +was darkness, confusion, rolling and rocking about, the screams of +women, the shouts of men, curses and prayers, agony, despair, +and--peace, deep peace. + +"On a sudden, to our great astonishment, all was silent again, +oppressively silent; and, but for the swell upon the seas, all still. +The tornado had rushed by: that troop of Tartar horse, having sacked the +village, are departed, now in full retreat: the blackness and the fury +are beheld on our lee, hastening across the broad Atlantic to Cuba or +Jamaica: and behold, a tranquil temperate sky, a kindly rolling sea, a +favouring breeze, and--not a sail, but some slight jury-rig, to catch +it. + +"Many days we drifted like a log upon the wave; provisions running +short, and water--water under tropical suns--scantily dealt out in +tea-cups. Then, poor old Mackie's health gave way; and I dreaded for her +death: one living witness is worth a cart-load of cold documents. So I +nursed and watched her constantly: till the foolish folks on board began +to say I was her son: ah! me, for your sake I wish it had been so. + +"And at length, just as some among the sailors were hinting at a mutiny +for spirits, and our last case of Gamble's meat was opened for the sick, +our look-out on the jury-mast gave the welcome note of 'Land!' and soon, +to us on deck, the heights of St. Helena rose above the sea. Towed in by +friendly aid, here we are, then, precious Emily, refitting: and, as it +must be a week yet before we can be ready, I have taken my old woman to +a lodging upon land, and rejoice (what have I to do with joy?) to see +her speedily recovering." + +The remainder of Charles's long letter is so stupid, so gloomy, so +loving, and so little to the purpose, that I take an editor's privilege, +and omit it altogether. Of course he was coming home again, as soon as +the Samarang and Jeanie Mackie would permit. + + + + +CHAPTER XXV. + +TRIALS. + + +THE general recovered; as slowly, indeed, as Emily had, but it is +gratifying to add, as surely. And now that loving couple might be seen, +weakly creeping out together, when the day was finest: tottering white +December leaning on a sickly fragile May. There were no concealments now +between them, no reservings, and heart-stricken Emily heard from her +repentant father's lips the story of her birth: she was, he said, his +own daughter by a native princess, the Begum Dowlia Burruckjutli. + +A bitter--bitter truth was that: the destruction of all her hopes, +pleasures, and affections. It had now become to her a sin to love that +dearest one of all things lovely on this earth: duty, paramount and +stern, commanded her, without a shadow of reprieve, to execute on +herself immediately the terrible sentence of banishing her own +betrothed: nay, more, she must forget him, erase his precious image from +her heart, and never, never see that brother more. And Charles must feel +the same, and do the like; oh! sorrow, passing words! and their two +commingled souls must be violently wrenched apart; for such love in them +were crime. + +Dear children of affection--it is a dreadful lesson this for both of +you; but most wise, most needful--or the hand that guideth all things, +never would have sent it. Know ye not for comfort, that ye are of those +to whom all things work together for good? Know ye not for counsel, that +the excess of love is an idolatry that must be blighted? It is well, +children, it is well, that ye should thus carry your wounded hearts for +balm to the altar of God; it is well that ye should bow in meekness to +His will, in readiness to His wisdom. Ye are learning the lesson +speedily, as docile children should; and be assured of high reward from +the Teacher who hath set it you. Poor Charles! white and wan, thy cheek +is grown transparent with anxiety, and thy blue eye dim with hope +deferred: poor Emmy, sick and weak, thou weariest Heaven with thy +prayers, and waterest thy couch with thy tears. Yet, a little while; +this discipline is good: storm and wind, frost and rushing rains, are as +needful to the forest-tree as sun and gentle shower; the root is +strengthening, and its fibres spreading out: and loving still each other +with the best of human love, ye justly now have found out how to anchor +all your strongest hopes, and deepest thoughts, on Him who made you for +himself. Who knoweth? wisely acquiescing in His will, humbly trusting to +His mercy, and bringing the holocaust of your inflamed affections as an +offering of duty to your God--who knoweth? Cannot He interpose? will He +not befriend you? For His arm is power, and His heart is love. + +Days rolled on in dull monotony, and grew to weeks more slowly than +before; earthly hopes had been levelled with the dust; life had +forgotten to be joyous: there was, indeed, the calm, the peace, the +resignation, the heavenly ante-past, and the soul-entrancing prayer; but +human life to Emily was flat, wearisome, and void; she felt like a nun, +immolated as to this world: even as Charles, too, had resolved to be an +anchorite, a stern, hard, mortified man, who once had feelings and +affections. The reaction in both those fond young hearts had even +overstept the golden mean: and Mercy interposed to make all right, and +to bless them in each other once again. + +Only look at this _billet-doux_ from Charles, just come in, and dated +Plymouth: + +"Huzzah--for Emily and England: huzzah for the land of freedom! no +secrets now--dear, dear old Jeanie Mackie has given me proofs positive: +all I have to wish is that she could move: but she is very ill; so, as +we touched here on the voyage up channel, I landed her and myself, +thinking to kiss, within a day, my darling Emmy. But I cannot get her +out of bed this morning, and dare not leave her: though an hour's delay +seems almost insupportable. If I possibly can manage it, I will bring +the dear old faithful creature, wrapped in blankets, by chaise +to-morrow. Tell my father all this: and say to him--he will understand, +perhaps, though you may not, my blessed girl--say to him, that 'he is +mistaken, and all are mistaken--you are not what they think you.' A +thousand kisses. Expect, then, on bright to-morrow to see your happy, +happy + "CHARLES." + +"P.S. Hip! hip! hip!--huzzah!" + +Dearest Emily had taken up the note with fears and trembling: she laid +it down, as they that reap in joy; and I never in my life saw any thing +so beautiful as her eyes at that glad minute; the smile through the +tear, the light through the gloom, the verdure of high summer springing +through the Alpine snows, the mild and lustrous moon emerging from a +baffled thunder-cloud. + +And, although the general mournfully shook his head, distrustfully and +despondingly; though he only uttered, "Poor children--dear +children--would to Heaven that it could be so;"--and he, for one, was +evidently innoculated, as before, with all the old thoughts of gloom, +sadness, and anxiety;--still Emily hoped--for Charles hoped--and Jeanie +Mackie was so certain. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVI. + +JULIAN. + + +NEXT day, a fine summer afternoon, when our feeble convalescents had +gone out together, they found the fresh air so invigorating, and +themselves so much stronger, that they prolonged their walk half-way to +Oxton. The pasture-meadows, rich and rank, were alive with flocks and +herds; the blue sea lazily beat time, as, ticking out the seconds, it +melodiously broke upon the sleeping shore; the darkly-flowing Mullet +swept sounding to the sea between its tortuous banks; and upon that old +high foot-path skirting the stream, now shady with hazels, and now +flowery with meadow-sweet, crept our chastened pair. + +Just as they were nearing a short angle in the river, the spot where +Charles had been preserved, they noticed for the first time a +rough-looking fisherman, who, unseen, had tracked their steps some +hundred yards; he had a tarpaulin over his shoulder, very unnecessarily, +as it would seem, on so fine and warm a day; and a slouching +sou'-wester, worn askew, flapped across the strange man's face. + +He came on quickly, though cautiously, looking right and left; and Emily +trembled on her guardian's feeble arm. Yes--she is right; the fisherman +approaches--she detects him through it all: and now he scorns disguise; +flinging off his cap and the tarpaulin, stands before them--Julian! + +"So, sir--you tremble now, do you, gallant general: give me the girl." +And he levelled at his father one of those double-barrelled pistols, +full-cock. + +"Julian, my son, I forgive you, Julian; take my hand, boy." + +"What--coward? now you can cringe, and fawn, eh? back with you!--the +girl, I say." For poor Emily, wild with fear, was clinging to that weak +old man. + +Julian levelled again; indeed, indeed it was only as a threat; +but his hand shook with passion--the weapon was full-cock, +hair-triggered--shotted heavily as always--hark, hark!--And his father +fell upon the turf, covered with blood! + +When a wicked man tampers with unintended crime, even accident falls out +against him. Many a one has richly merited death for many other sins, +than that isolated, haply accidental one which he has hanged for. + +Julian, horror-stricken, pale and trembling, flew instinctively to help +his father: but Emily has circled him already with her arms; and listen, +Julian--your dying father speaks to you. + +"Boy, I forgive--I forgive: but--Emily, no, no, cannot, cannot +be--Julian--she--she is your _sister_!" and the old man swooned away, +from loss of blood and the excitement of that awful scene. + +Not a word in reply said that poor sinner, maddened with his life-long +crimes, the fratricide in will, the parricide in deed, and all for--a +sister. But growing whiter as he stood, a marble man with bristling +hair, he slowly drew the other pistol from his pocket, put the muzzle to +his mouth, and, firing as he fell, leapt into the darkly-flowing Mullet! + +The current, all too violent to sink in, and uncommissioned now to +save, hurried its black burden to the sea; and a crimson streak of gore +marked the track of the suicide. + +The old man was not dead; but a brace of bullets taking effect upon his +feeble frame--one through the shoulder, and another which had grazed his +head--had been quite enough to make him seem so. Forgetful of all but +that dear sufferer, and totally ignorant of Julian's fate--for she +neither saw nor heard any thing, nor feared even for her own imminent +peril, while her father lay dying on the grass--Emily had torn off her +scarf, and bound up, as well as she could, the ghastly scored head and +broken shoulder. She succeeded in staunching the blood--for no great +vessel had been severed--and so simple an application as grass dipped in +water, proved to be a good specific. Then, to her exceeding joy, those +eyes opened again, and that dear tongue faintly whispered--"Bless you." + +Oh, that blessing! for it fell upon her heart: and fervently she knelt +down there, and thanked the Great Preserver. + +And now, for friendly help; there is no one near: and it is growing +dusk; and she dared not leave him there alone one minute--for +Julian--dreaded Julian, may return, and kill him. What shall she do? How +to get him home? Alas, alas! he may die where he is lying. + +Hark, Emmy, hark! The shouts of happy children bursting out of school! +See, dearest--see: here they come homewards merrily from Oxton. + +Thus, rewarded through the instrumentality of her own benevolence, help +was speedily obtained; and Mrs. Sainsbury's invalid-chair, hurried to +the spot by an escort of indignant rustics, soon conveyed the recovering +patient to the comforts of his own home, and the appliances of medical +assistance. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVII. + +CHARLES'S RETURN; AND MRS. MACKIE'S EXPLANATION. + + +AND now the happy day was come at length; that day formerly so +hoped-for, latterly so feared, but last of all, hailed with the joy that +trembles at its own intensity. The very morning after the sad occurrence +it has just been my lot to chronicle--while the general was having his +wounds dressed, slight ones, happily, but still he was not safe, as +inflammation might ensue--while Mrs. Tracy was indulging in her third +tumbler, mixed to whet her appetite for shrimps--and while Emily was +deciphering, for the forty thousandth time, Charles's sanguine +_billet-doux_--lo! a dusty chaise and smoking posters, and a sun-burnt +young fellow springing out, and just upon the stairs--they were locked +in each other's arms! + +Oh, the rapture of that instant! it can but happen once within a life. +Ye that have loved, remember such a meeting; and ye that never loved, +conceive it if you can; for my pen hath little skill to paint so bright +a pleasure. It is to be all heart, all pulse, all sympathy, all +spirit--but the warm soft kiss, that rarified bloom of the Material. + +How the sick old nurse got out, cased in many blankets; how she was +bundled up stairs, and deposited safely on a sofa, no poet is alive to +sing: to those who would record the payment of postillions, let me leave +so sweet a theme. + +The first fond greeting over, and those tumults of affection sobered +down, Charles rejoiced to find how lovingly the general met him; the +kind and good old man fell upon his neck, as the father in the parable. +Many things were then to be made known: and many questions answered, as +best might be, about a mother and a brother; but well aware of all +things ourselves, let us be satisfied that Charles heard in due time all +they had to tell him; though neither Emily nor the general could explain +what had become of Julian after that terrible encounter. In their +belief, he had fled for very life, thinking he had killed his father. +Poor wretched man, thought Charles--on that same spot, too, where he +would have murdered me! And for his mother--why came she not down +eagerly and happily, as mothers ever do, to greet her long-lost son? Do +not ask, Charles; do not press the question. Think her ill, dying, +dead--any thing but--drunken. He ran to her room-door; but it was +locked--luckily. + +Now, Charles--now speedily to business; happy business that, if I may +trust the lover's flushing cheek, and Emily's radiant eyes; but a +mournful one too, and a fearful, if I turn my glance to that poor old +man, wounded in body and stricken in mind--who waits to hear, in more +despondency than hope, what he knows to be the bitter truth--the truth +that must be told, to the misery of those dear children. + +Faint and weak though she appeared, Jeanie Mackie's waning life +spirited up for the occasion; her dim eye kindled; her feeble frame was +straight and strong; energy nerved her as she spoke; this hour is the +errand of her being. + +Long she spoke, and loudly, in her broad Scotch way; and the general +objected many things, but was answered to them all; and there was close +cross-questioning, slow-caution, keen examination of documents and +letters: catechisms, solecisms, Scottisms; reminiscences rubbed up, +mistakes corrected; and the grand result of all, Emily a Stuart, and the +general not her father! I am only enabled to give a brief account of +that important colloquy. + +It appears, that when Captain Tracy's company was quartered to the west +of the Gwalior, sent thither to guard the Begum Dowlia against sundry of +her disaffected subjects, a certain Lieutenant James Stuart was one +among those welcome brave allies. That our gallant Tracy was the +beautiful Begum's favourite soon became notorious to all; and not less +so, that the Begum herself was precisely in the same interesting +situation as Mrs. James Stuart. The two ladies, Pagan and Christian, +were, technically speaking, running a race together. Well, just as times +drew nigh, poor Lieutenant Stuart was unfortunately killed in an +insurrection headed by some fanatics, who disapproved of foreign +friends, and perhaps of their princess's situation. His death proved +fatal also to that kind and faithful wife of his--a dark Italian lady of +high family, whose love for James had led her to follow him even into +Central Hindoostan: she died in giving birth to a babe; and Jeanie +Mackie, the lieutenant's own foster-mother, who waited on his wife +through all their travels, assisted the poor orphan into this bleak +world, and loved it as her own. + +Two days after all this, the Begum herself had need of Mrs. Mackie: for +it was prudent to conceal some things, if she could, from certain +Brahmins, who were to her what John Knox had erstwhile been to Mary: and +Jeanie Mackie, burdened with her little Amy Stuart, aided in the birth +of a female Tracy-Begum. So, the nurse tended both babes; and more than +once had marvelled at their general resemblance; Amy's mother looked out +again from those dark eyes; there was not a shade between the children. + +Now, Mrs. Mackie perceived, in a very little while, how fond both +Christian and Pagan appeared of their own child; and how little notice +was taken by any body of the poor Scotch gentleman's orphan. +Accordingly, with a view to give her favourite all worldly advantages, +she adroitly changed the children; and, while she was still kind and +motherly to the little Tracy-Begum, she had the satisfaction to see her +pet supposititiously brought up in all the splendours of an Eastern +court. + +Years wore away, for Captain Tracy was quite happy, the Begum being a +fine showy woman, and the pretty child his playmate and pastime: so he +never cared to stir from his rich quarters, till the company's orders +forced him: and then Puttymuddyfudgepoor hailed him accumulatively both +major and colonel. + +When he found that he must go, he insisted on carrying off the child; +and the Begum was as resolute against it. Then Mrs. Mackie, eager to +expedite little Stuart in her escape, went to the princess, told her how +that, in anticipation of this day, she had changed the children, and got +great rewards for thus restoring to the mother her own offspring. + +The remainder of that old Scotch nurse's very prosy tale may be left to +be imagined: for all that was essential has been stated: and the +documents in proof of all were these-- + +First: The marriage certificates of James Stuart and Ami di Romagna, +duly attested, both in the Protestant and Romanist forms. + +Secondly: Divers letters to Lieutenant Stewart from his friends at +Glenmuir; others to Mrs. Stuart, from her father, the old Marquis di +Romagna, at Naples: several trinkets, locks of hair, the wedding-ring, +&c. + +Thirdly: A grant written in the Hindoostanee character, from the Begum +Dowlia, promising the pension of thirty rupees a month to Jeanie Mackie, +for having so cleverly preserved to her the child: together with a +regular judicial acknowledgement, both from several of Tracy's own +sepoys, and from the Begum herself, that the girl, whom Captain Tracy +was so fond of, was, to the best of their belief, Amy Stuart. + +Fourthly: A miniature of Mrs. James Stuart, exactly portraying the +features of her daughter--this bright, beautiful, dark-eyed face--our +own beloved Emily Warren. + +And to all that accumulated evidence, Jeanie Mackie bore her living +testimony; clearly, unhesitatingly, and well assured, in the face of God +and man. + +Doubt was at an end; fear was at an end; hope was come, and joy. Happy +were the lovers, happy Jeanie Mackie, but happiest of all appeared the +general himself. For now she might be his daughter indeed, sweet Emmy +Tracy still, dear Charles's loving wife. And he blessed them as they +knelt, and gave them to each other; well-rewarded children of affection, +who had prayed in their distress! + + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII. + +JULIAN TURNS UP: AND THERE'S AN END OF MRS. TRACY. + + +THERE is a muddy sort of sand-bank, acting as a delta to the Mullet, +just where it spreads from deep to shallow, and falls into the sea. +Strange wild fowl abound there, coming from the upper clouds in flocks; +and at high water, very little else but rushes can be seen, to testify +its sub-marine existence. + +A knot of fishermen, idling on the beach, have noticed an uncommon +flight of Royston crows gathered at the island, with the object, as it +would appear, of battening on a dead porpoise, or some such body, just +discernible among the rushes. Stop--that black heap may be kegs of +whiskey;--where's the glass? + +Every one looked: it warn't barrels--and it warn't a porpoise: what was +it, then? they had universally nothing on earth to do, so they pushed +off in company to see. + +I watched the party off, and they poked among the rushes, and heaved out +what seemed to me a seal: so I ran down to the beach to look at the +strange creature they had captured. Something wrapped in a sail; no +doubt for exhibition at per head. + +But they brought out that black burden solemnly, laying it on the beach +at Burleigh: a crowd quickly collected round them, that I could not see +the creature: and some ran for a magistrate, and some for a parson. Then +men in office came--made a way through the crowd, and I got near: so +near, that my foolish curiosity lifted up the sail, and I beheld--what +had been Julian. + +O, sickening sight: for all which the pistol had spared of that swart +and hairy face, had been preyed upon by birds and fishes! + +There was a hurried inquest: the poor general and Emily deposed to what +they knew, and the rustics, who escorted him from Oxton. The verdict +could be only one--self-murder. + +So, by night, on that same swampy island, when the tide was low, they +buried him, deeply staked into the soil, lest the waves should disinter +him, without a parting prayer. Such is the end of the wicked. + +In a day or two, I noticed that a rude wooden cross had been set over +the spot: and it gratified me much to hear that a rough-looking crew of +smugglers had boldly come and fixed it there, to hallow, if they could, +a comrade's grave. + +However, these poor fellows had been cheated hours before: Charles's +brotherly care had secured the poor remains, and the vicar winked a +blind permission: so Charles buried them by night in the church-yard +corner, under the yew, reading many prayers above them. + +Two fierce-looking strange men went to that burial with reverent looks, +as it were chief mourners; and when all the rites were done, I heard +them gruffly say to Charles, "God bless you, sir, for this!" + +When the mother heard those tidings of her son, she was sobered on the +instant, and ran about the house with all a mother's grief, shrieking +like a mad woman. But all her shrieks and tears could not bring back +poor Julian; deep, deep in the silent grave, she cannot wake him--cannot +kiss him now. Ah well! ah well! + +Then did she return to his dear room, desperate for him--and Hollands +once, twice, thrice, she poured out a full tumbler of the burning fluid, +and drank it off like water; and it maddened her brain: her mind was in +a phrensy of delirium, while her body shook as with a palsy. + +Let us draw the curtain; for she died that night. + +They buried her in Aunt Green's grave: what a meeting theirs will be at +the day of resurrection! + + + + +CHAPTER XXIX. + +THE OLD SCOTCH NURSE GOES HOME. + + +SIX months at least--this is clearly not a story of the unities--six +months' interval must now elapse before the wedding-day. Charles and +Emmy--for he called her Emmy still, though Jeanie Mackie would persist +in mouthing it to "Aamy,"--wished to have it delayed a year, in respect +for the memory of those who, with all their crime and folly, were not +the less a mother and a brother: but the general would not hear of such +a thing; he was growing very old, he said; although actually he seemed +to have taken out a new lease of life, so young again and buoyant was +the new-found heart within him; and thus growing old, he was full of +fatherly fear that he should not live to see his children's happiness. +It was only reasonable and proper that our pair of cooing doves should +acquiesce in his desire. + +Meanwhile, I am truly sorry to say it, Jeanie Mackie died; for it would +have been a good novel-like incident to have suffered the faithful old +creature to have witnessed her favourite's wedding, and then to have +been forthwith killed out of the way, by--perishing in the vestry. +However, things were ordered otherwise, and Jeanie Mackie did not live +to see the wedding: if you wish to know how and where she died, let me +tell you at once. + +Scotland--Argyleshire--Glenmuir; this was the focus of her hopes and +thoughts--that poor old Indian exile! She had left it, as a buxom +bright-haired lassie: but oaks had now grown old that she had planted +acorns; and grandmothers had died palsied, whom she remembered born; +still, around the mountains and the lakes, those changeless features of +her girlhood's rugged home, the old woman's memory wandered; they were +pictured in her mind's eye hard, and clear, and definite as if she +looked upon them now. And her soul's deep hope was to see them once +again. + +There was yet another object which made her yearn for Scotland. +Lieutenant Stuart had been the younger of two brothers, the eldest born +of whom became, upon his father's, the old laird's, death, Glenmuir and +Glenmurdock. Now, though twice married, this elder brother, the new +laird, never had a child; and the clear consequence was, that Amy Stuart +was likely to become sole heiress of her ancestor's possessions. The +lieutenant's marriage with an Italian and a Romanist had been, +doubtless, any thing but pleasant to his friends; the strict old +Presbyterians, and the proud unsullied family of Stuart, could not +palate it at all. Nevertheless, he did marry the girl, according to the +rites of both churches, and there was an end of it; so, innumerable +proverbs coming to their aid about "curing and enduring" and "must +be's," and the place where "marriages are made," &c., the several aunts +and cousins were persuaded at length to wink at the iniquity, and to +correspond both with Mrs. James and her backsliding lieutenant. Of the +offspring of that marriage, and her orphaned state, and of Mrs. Mackie's +care, and the indefinite detention in central Hindostan, they had heard +often-times; for, as there is no corner of the world where a Scot may +not be met with, so, with laudable nationality, they all hang together; +and Glenmuir was written to frequently, all about the child, through +Jeanie Mackie, "her mark," and a scholarly sergeant, Duncan Blair. + +Amy's rights--or Emmy let us call her still, as Charles did--were now, +therefore, the next object of Mrs. Mackie's zeal; and all parties +interested willingly listened to the plan of spending one or two of +those weary weeks in rubbing up relationships in Scotland; the general +also was not a little anxious about heritage and acres. Accordingly, off +they set in the new travelling-carriage, with due notice of approach, +heartily welcomed, to Dunstowr Castle, the fine old feudal stronghold of +Robert Stuart, Laird of Glenmuir and Glenmurdock. + +The journey, the arrival, and the hearty hospitality; and how the gray +old chieftain kissed his pretty niece; and how welcome her betrothed +Charles and her kind life-long guardian, and her faithful nurse were +made; and how the beacons blazed upon the hill-tops, and the mustering +clan gathered round about old Dunstowr; and how the laird presented to +them all their beautiful future mistress, and how Jeanie Mackie and her +documents travelled up to Edinburgh, where writers to the signet +pestered her heart-sick with over-caution; and how the case was all +cleared up, and the distant disappointed cousin, who had irrationally +hoped to be the heir, was gladdened, if not satisfied, with a pension +and a cantle of Glenmuir; and how all was joyfulness and feasting, when +Amy Stuart was acknowledged in her rights--the bagpipes and the wassail, +salmon, and deer, and black-cock, with a river of mountain dew: let +others tell who know Dunstowr; for as I never was there, of course I +cannot faithfully describe it. Should such an historian as I condescend +to sheer inventions? + +With respect to Jeanie Mackie, I could learn no more than this: she was +sprightly and lively, and strong as ever, though in her ninetieth year, +till her foster-child was righted, and the lawyers had allowed her her +claim. But then there seemed nothing else to live for; so her life +gradually faded from her eye, as an expiring candle; and she would doze +by the hour, sitting on a settle in the sun, basking her old heart in +the smile of those old mountains. None knew when she died, to a minute; +for she died sitting in the sun, in the smile of those old mountains. + +They buried her, with much of rustic pomp, in the hill-church of +Glenmuir, where all her fathers slept around her; and Emily and Charles, +hand-in-hand, walked behind her coffin mournfully. + + + + +CHAPTER XXX. + +FINAL. + + +GLADLY would the laird have had marriage at Dunstower, and have given +away the beauteous bride himself: but there must still be two months +more of decent mourning, and the general had long learned to sigh for +the maligned delights of Burleigh Singleton. So, Glenmuir could only get +a promise of reappearance some fine summer or other: and, after another +day's deer-stalking, which made the general repudiate telescopes from +that day forth (the poor man's eyes had actually grown lobster-like with +straining after antlers)--the travelling-carriage, and four lean kine +from Inverary, whisked away the trio towards the South. + +And now, in due time, were the Tamworths full of joy--congratulating, +sympathizing, merrymaking; and the three young ladies behaved admirably +in the capacity of pink and silver bridesmaids; while George proved +equally kind in attending (as he called it) Charles's "execution," +wherein he was "turned off;" and the admiral, G.C.B. was so +hand-in-glove with the general, H.E.I.C.S., that I have reason to +believe they must have sworn eternal friendship, after the manner of the +modern Germans. + +How beautiful our Emmy looked--I hate the broad Scotch Aamy--how bright +her flashing eyes, and how fragrantly the orange-blossoms clustered in +her rich brown hair; let him speak lengthily, whose province it may be +to spin three volumes out of one: for me, I always wish to recollect +that readers possess, on the average, at least as much imagination as +writers. And why should you not exercise it now? Is not Emmy in her +bridal-dress a theme well worth a revery? + +For a similar reason, I must clearly disappoint feminine expectation, by +forbearing to descant upon Charles's slight but manly form, and his +Grecian beauty, &c., all the better for the tropics, and the trials and +the troubles he had passed. + +When Captain Forbes, just sitting down to his soup in the Jamaica +Coffee-house, read in the _Morning Post_, the marriage of Charles Tracy +with Amy Stuart, he delivered himself mentally as follows: + +"There now! Poets talk of 'love,' and I stick to 'human nature.' When +that fine young fellow sailed with me, hardly a year ago, in the Sir +William Elphinston, he was over head and heels in love with old Jack +Tracy's pretty girl, Emily Warren: but I knew it wouldn't last long: I +don't believe in constancy for longer than a week. It does one's heart +good to see how right one is; here's what I call proof. My sentimental +spark kisses Emily Warren, and marries Amy Stuart." The captain, happier +than before, called complacently for Cayenne pepper, and relished his +mock-turtle with a higher gusto. + +It is worth recording, that the same change of name mystified slanderous +friends in the Presidency of Madras. + +And now, kind-eyed reader, this story of '_The Twins_' must leave off +abruptly at the wedding. As in its companion-tale, '_The Crock of +Gold_,' one grand thesis for our thoughts was that holy wise command, +"Thou shall not covet," and as its other comrade '_Heart_' is founded on +"Thou shalt not bear false witness," so in this, the seed-corn of the +crop, were five pure words, "Thou shalt not commit adultery." Other +morals doubtless grew up round us, for all virtue hangs together in a +bunch: the harms of secresy, false witness, inordinate affections, and +red murder: but in chief, as we have said. + +Moreover, I wish distinctly to make known, for dear "domestic" sake, +that so far from our lovers' happiness having been consummated (that is, +finished) in the honey-moon--it was only then begun. How long they are +to live thus happily together, Heaven, who wills all things good, alone +can tell; I wish them three score years. Little ones, I hear, arrive +annually--to the unqualified joy, not merely of papa and mamma, but also +of our communicative old general, his friend the G.C.B., and (all but +most of any) the Laird of Glenmuir and Glenmurdock, whose heart has been +entirely rejoiced by Charles Tracy having added to his name, and to his +children's names, that of Stuart. + +Mr. and Mrs. Tracy Stuart are often at Glenmuir; but oftener at +Burleigh, where the general, I fancy, still resides. He protests that he +never will keep a secret again: long may he live to say so! + + + END OF THE TWINS. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Twins, by Martin Farquhar Tupper + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE TWINS *** + +***** This file should be named 16574.txt or 16574.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/5/7/16574/ + +Produced by Jonathan Ingram, Janet Blenkinship and the +Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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