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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/34933-8.txt b/34933-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..ac38ea4 --- /dev/null +++ b/34933-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,3634 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Mystery and Confidence (vols. 3 of 3), by +Elizabeth Pinchard + +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: Mystery and Confidence (vols. 3 of 3) + A Tale + +Author: Elizabeth Pinchard + +Release Date: January 13, 2011 [EBook #34933] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MYSTERY AND CONFIDENCE *** + + + + +Produced by Mark C. Orton, Mary Meehan and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This +file was produced from images generously made available +by The Internet Archive) + + + + + + + + + + MYSTERY AND CONFIDENCE: + + _A TALE._ + + BY ELIZABETH PINCHARD. + + IN THREE VOLUMES. + + VOL. III. + + + + LONDON: + PRINTED FOR HENRY COLBURN, + PUBLIC LIBRARY, CONDUIT-STREET, HANOVER-SQUARE, + AND SOLD BY GEORGE GOLDIE, EDINBURGH, + AND JOHN CUMMING, DUBLIN. + + 1814. + + B. CLARKE, Printer, Well-street, London. + + + + +MYSTERY + +AND + +CONFIDENCE. + + + + +CHAP. I. + + ----Infected minds + To their deaf pillows will discharge their secrets. + ----A great perturbation in nature, + To receive at once the benefit of sleep, and do the effect of watching. + + MACBETH. + + +Laura, St. Aubyn, O'Brien, and Mordaunt, were seated on one side the +fire, with the sandwich tray before them; on the other side, thrown on a +sofa, Ellen saw a tall thin young man, who, deeply absorbed in thought, +noticed not her entrance. One pale, sickly looking hand hung motionless +by his side, the other shaded his eyes, and over his brow his black hair +fell in disordered curls; his dress, though that of a gentleman, was +evidently neglected, and his whole appearance was + + "Drooping, woeful, wan, like one forlorn; + Or crazed by care, or cross'd by hopeless love!" + +As Ellen entered, St. Aubyn rose, and with subdued emotion, said in a +low tone: + +"My love, we waited for you;" then somewhat louder;--"My Lord De +Montfort, will you allow me to introduce you to...." he faltered, and +looked as if he dreaded to pronounce the name ... "to my wife ... to ... +Lady St. Aubyn?" + +As he spoke, Lord De Montfort started from his reverie, shook back the +curls which shaded his face, and shewed a fine, but pale and emaciated +countenance. For an instant his bright black eyes flashed, and his +cheeks crimsoned with a sudden emotion. He hastily took two or three +steps forward, as if to greet some well-known friend; but seeing Ellen, +who, half alarmed, leaned upon St. Aubyn, he gazed upon her for a moment +with such an earnest yet melancholy expression as extremely affected +her. She courtesied, and he bent his head with the air of a perfect +gentleman, but spoke not, and then threw himself on his sofa again. + +Ellen perceived that St. Aubyn's frame shook with subdued emotion, and +her own trembled with an indefinable sensation. + +"Come, Lady St. Aubyn," said Laura, "sit here by the fire; you look pale +and cold; you should not indeed expose yourself to the night air in +crossing the hall and staircase." + +Ellen gladly sat down, and while they were taking their little meal, she +glanced her eyes towards the youth, whose mysterious manner impressed +her with feelings of no very pleasing import: she saw that under the +shade of his bent brows he was attentively gazing upon her. The +portentous gloom of his countenance seemed to her troubled imagination +to forebode some direful event, and she grew so pale, that Laura +perceiving it, put a glass of wine into her hand, and begged her to +drink it. Before she would comply, St. Aubyn said:-- + +"Ellen, neither my entreaties, nor those of his former friend, Miss +Cecil, can prevail on Lord De Montfort to take the slightest +refreshment; try, my love, if you can induce him to take a glass of wine +with you." + +Ellen with sudden effort conquering the agitation of her spirits, said: +"Indeed, my Lord, I shall be very happy if Lord De Montfort will do me +that honour. May I, my Lord," speaking to him, "make it my request that +you will do so?" + +The soft persuasive tones of her voice seemed to touch him; he rose, and +with a voice deep, melancholy, and impressive, said: + +"At _your_ request, Madam!" + +He advanced, and took from Laura a glass of wine she offered to him; he +bowed to Ellen, and lifted the glass to his lips, but instantly +exclaimed, while his whole person shook with agitation: + +"I _cannot_ drink it! In _this_ house! Oh, God!" + +He let fall the glass, and covering his face with his hands, rushed out +of the room. + +O'Brien instantly followed him, while the little party which remained +sat in silent dismay and astonishment. Yet St. Aubyn's emotion partook +more of vexation than surprize: he paced the room with hasty strides for +a few minutes, and then approaching Ellen, said, clasping her hand in +his, which trembled with agitation--"This scene has been too much for +you, my love: could I have imagined De Montfort's demeanor would have +been so wild, I would not have brought him hither; yet let us make +allowances for him--he doated on his sister." St. Aubyn's voice seemed +elevated with deep contending passions: for a moment he paused, then +added, "You had better go to your rest, my love, and you, Laura: I do +not suppose this young man will return to-night." + +He rung, and inquired of the servant in waiting where the two gentlemen +then were. "They have been in the study, my Lord," said the man; "but +are now gone to their chambers, which Mrs. Bayfield sent to say were +ready for them." + +The ladies rose to retire, just as Mr. O'Brien returned: he brought +apologies from his pupil to Lady St. Aubyn, saying that Lord de Montfort +regretted extremely his distress should have shewed itself so visibly, +and doubtless alarmed her. "Forgive him, Madam," said O'Brien: "this is +the first time he has been in this house, or even in England, since the +death of Lady St. Aubyn: and recollections of the sister he lost so +young, the sister he adored, have been too much for him." + +"Surely," said Laura, "he must have been uncommonly attached to her, +since six years have not effaced her from his memory." She sighed--the +tear stood in her eye; for she thought--"It is scarcely as many months +since I lost the sweetest sister in the world, yet she is comparatively +forgotten." + +"He cherishes every recollection of her," said O'Brien, "with officious +care: he constantly wears her portrait next his heart. Before we left +Spain, he insisted on visiting her grave, and was so deeply affected, I +feared for his reason. To you, my Lord St. Aubyn, I ought to apologize +for details which I see distress you, but I thought it was necessary to +account for my pupil's strange deportment." + +St. Aubyn bowed; but traces of vexation were legible in his expressive +face. Mr. Mordaunt made some inquiries after the present state of Lord +de Montfort, to which Mr. O'Brien replied he had left him in bed, and +tolerably composed; that he had consented to breakfast with the family +the next morning, when he hoped personally to apologize to the Countess +for the alarm he had given her. + +The ladles now retired, and each went to her respective apartment. Lady +St. Aubyn passed through her own room into that where the infant lay: +both the child and his nurse slept quietly. She knelt a moment by the +bed-side, and offered a fervent prayer to heaven for the health and +happiness of her infant, and for its father, who seemed menaced by some +mysterious disturbance. The contrast presented by the soft sleep, the +placid innocence of the baby's face, to the scene of anxiety and +confusion she had left, deeply affected her. Tears stole down her +cheeks, and wetted the little hands she held pressed to her lips. At +length, rousing herself, she returned to her bed-chamber, where Jane +waited to undress her: "Make haste, Jane," she said, "I am weary." Jane +obeyed in silence; for her Lady's pensive looks had power to quiet even +her loquacious propensities. + +In a few minutes Ellen was laid on her pillow, and the tumultuous +throbbing of her heart began to subside. In about half an hour she heard +St. Aubyn go to the room he occupied at present, and fancied, after his +valet left him, she could distinctly hear him pacing the apartment, and +sighing heavily: but this perhaps was chiefly fancy; for the wind still +howled and sobbed round the Castle, and through its large hall and long +galleries. Sometimes it sounded like the low moans of one in grief or +pain: then in shriller gusts it shook the lofty battlements, or swept +over the tops of the high trees, which bent and rustled beneath its +power. + +Ellen, restless, uneasy, impressed with the melancholy countenance and +strange conduct of their mysterious guest, vainly endeavoured to sleep, +and turned from side to side, soothed only in the intervals of the storm +by hearing the soft breathings of her infant, whose couch (the door +being open between the rooms) was so near her, that she could accurately +distinguish every breath he drew. Two or three times she was inclined to +rise, and steal him from his nurse's side to partake her bed; for she +felt how glad she should be in that unquiet hour to feel his little +cheek pressing against hers, and hold him to her anxious heart; but +fearing to disturb, or give him cold, she relinquished her purpose, and +endeavoured to compose herself to rest. + +At length, just after the Castle clock had struck two, she felt as if +sleep were stealing over her fatigued senses; but starting from a +momentary forgetfulness, she heard a light footstep, yet sounding as if +the person walking wore no shoes, approaching her bed-room door. It was +she knew unfastened; for lest the child should be ill, or want +additional assistance, it was always left so. Starting, she listened: +her breath grew short, and her heart beat audibly, as the steps +approached nearer and nearer; yet not losing her presence of mind she +drew aside her curtain, and fixing her eyes on the door, prepared to fly +into the inner room, should, as she now began to expect, a midnight +robber meet her view. + +Slowly, slowly, opened the door, and a tall thin figure, wrapped in a +loose night-gown, just appeared within it. "Sister! sister!" said a +voice, low, tremulous, and impressive: "sister, are you awake? You bade +me call you early." + +The figure! the voice!--Oh, what became of Ellen, when in both she +recognized the wild, the mysterious, De Montfort! In his pale hand he +bore a lamp, the flashing light of which fell at intervals on his gloomy +countenance: while his bright black eyes were indeed open, but, oh! +"their sense was shut." + +Again, as he advanced into the room, he repeated in the same low +mournful tone, "Sister _Rosolia_! What, sleeping still? You said you +would rise early, and walk with me." Then pausing, he seemed to stand as +if listening for an answer; but suddenly, with a start of recollection +and a heavy sigh, he exclaimed, "Oh yes, I remember! too well I +remember! You cannot rise: you will never rise again!--_You are dead! +you are dead! you are dead!_" + +Again a solemn pause ensued, and sighs, which seemed to rend his bosom, +alone broke the terrific silence of the moment. + +Again he spoke with an energy of action, as if his sleeping agitations +were breaking into frenzy, addressing himself as in answer to one who +had spoken to him. + +"But did he murder you? Was it St. Aubyn? Tell me, I conjure you, and +answer _truly_. Condemn not your own soul, and O, Rosolia, involve not +mine in condemnation by a lie!--A lie!--_Can the dead lie?_--And you are +come to me _here_--aye, _here_, in this very chamber, where in our +innocent school-days you used to sleep--to tell me the truth--the +_truth_, Rosolia." + +And now with quicker steps he paced the chamber, as if pursuing one who +fled before him, yet, with that wonderful instinctive power which often +attends the sleep-walker, avoiding every obstacle. + +"Nay, fly me not!" he exclaimed: "deceive me not; for I have seen an +angel in _thy place_ to-night; and if thou art not a false and lying +spirit, thou wilt not lead me to injure her." Then pausing again, as if +listening to some one who spoke, he said, with quickness-- + +"I know it! I know it! That _pistol_--that _ring_! Yes, yes, yes, yes! +Those indeed were direful evidences of his guilt!--Years, years, I have +passed in thinking of them!--Yet he says, he swears, he is +innocent--that it was _De Sylva_--that _thou_ wert guilty! Oh, tell me, +Rosolia, was it--was it so?--But I will pray for thy soul." + +He knelt, and placing the lamp before him on the floor, its dismal light +fell on his sad countenance, and shewed his eyes upturned, and his lips +moving as in fervent prayer, while at intervals he crossed himself, and +bowed his forehead to the earth. Then rising with a sudden start, he +exclaimed-- + +"Hark, O'Brien calls! He will hear me--he shall not know my thoughts. It +might not be St. Aubyn who shed thy blood: yet, oh, Rosolia--oh, my +sister, it _was_ thy blood I saw! And here is some of it on my hand." + +He shook his hand violently, and appearing to look at it earnestly, he +uttered a low, mournful, and distracted cry of terror, and rushed out of +the room. + +Alarm and horror had kept Ellen silent--she fainted not; yet scarcely +could she be said to live. But as soon as his receding footsteps +convinced her he was really gone, she hastily threw on some of her +clothes, and flew, scarcely in her senses, to St. Aubyn's room. His door +was fast, but with repeated knockings she aroused him, and great indeed +was his consternation to see her so pale, so almost convulsed with fear +and agitation. + +"My dearest life!" he exclaimed: "what, for heaven's sake, is the matter +with the child?" + +"Oh! I have left him! I have forsaken him!" said she in terror, "all the +doors open too, and that poor distracted youth may perhaps return, and +who knows what injury he may do him! Oh! let us fly to the child," and +she made some hasty steps towards the door. + +"Recollect yourself, my Ellen," said the astonished St. Aubyn: "you are +dreaming--sit down in this chair by the fire, and compose your spirits." + +"Oh! no, it was no dream," said the shuddering Ellen, "I saw him as I +see you now! he came to my room and said such dreadful things!"-- + +"Who came to your room?" exclaimed St. Aubyn: "who dared to intrude, to +disturb and alarm you thus?" + +"Oh! he was sleeping, I believe! but in his sleep--Oh heavens! he talked +so dreadfully--of such horrid things--and called upon his sister in such +tones! Oh! I never, never shall forget them!" + +"Was it De Montfort?" asked the dismayed St. Aubyn. + +"Oh yes, oh yes--De Montfort! Oh, his eyes, his face, his voice! I +never, never, shall forget them!" she repeated with renewed agitation. + +"Unhappy young man!" said St. Aubyn, with a sigh. "Would to God thou +had'st never come hither! Affright not yourself, my Ellen, with his wild +wanderings. By this time, I had hoped the wretch, who caused this +dreadful mischief, might have been found, and all might have been +cleared. Years have I sought in vain. Still, still, he evades my +search--perhaps exists no longer. + +"It is, however, time to reveal the past to you; but now you are too +much alarmed to hear the long and melancholy tale: return to your bed, +my Ellen; try to rest for my sake, for your babe's, who must suffer, +should his tender nurse be ill: go to repose, and I will watch by you +till morning; then, dear, and for ever dear creature, all shall be +revealed; but remember your promise, in spite of all appearances--still +to believe me innocent!" + +Prevailed on at length to return to her own chamber, yet Ellen entreated +St. Aubyn to examine the gallery, and see if De Montfort might not be +again returned to visit the room he seemed to know so well; and even +when assured he was not there, she still shuddered and turned pale, as +fancy pictured him standing with his lamp in the door-way, or pacing +with disordered steps the chamber floor. + +After obtaining a few hours rest, which somewhat restored her, Ellen, by +appointment, joined St. Aubyn in his study at a very early hour, where +he had promised to explain, as far as he could, the strange and +vexatious events which had so long involved him in the greatest +uneasiness. + +Sad was St. Aubyn's countenance, and the cheek of Ellen was yet pale +from her recent agitation when they met. St. Aubyn, tenderly taking her +hand, said, "I half regret, my Ellen, that my selfish love withdrew you +from that sweet content and cheerfulness which surrounded your peaceful +abode when first we met, to partake with me cares and alarms which +otherwise you never would have known." + +"My dear St. Aubyn, do not talk so," said Ellen, with a tender tear: +"all the cares, all the alarms you speak of, were they ten times +doubled, could not outweigh, in my estimation, the happiness of being +one hour your wife. Oh believe, my beloved Lord, _that_ fate I would +have chosen, even though I had been sure the next would have brought my +death." + +"Matchless creature!" said St. Aubyn, clasping her to his bosom: "in +such love, such tenderness, I am overpaid for all the griefs which +former events have brought upon me, for all the anxiety with which the +present hour surrounds me!--Repeat to me, dearest, as well as you can +remember, what you heard from the unfortunate Edmund in his nocturnal +visit to your apartment." + +Ellen, while her cheek was blanched by the fearful recollection, and her +whole frame trembled as she called to mind that terrific visit, +endeavoured to obey, yet she feared to shock him, by repeating those +words which seemed to connect his name with the idea of guilt and +murder; but contrary to her expectation, he heard her without surprize, +and with calm, though sorrowful composure: he sighed heavily indeed, but +no alarm or perturbation appeared in either his countenance or gesture. +As she ended, he said, "All this I knew; but too well knew what horrible +suspicions this unhappy youth has formed, nay own he had great reason to +conceive them. Poor Edmund! these dismal thoughts, working in his mind, +and, as it appears, concealed from all others, have preyed upon it till +reason seems shaken, and his troubled spirit wakes even while his bodily +organs are locked in sleep! No wonder in this dreadful tumult of his +imagination he came to your room, for that room used to be his sister's +when she visited my mother before our unfortunate marriage was even +thought of; and often, doubtless, in the days of his childhood, he has +gone to her door to waken her at her request, and chid her for sleeping +so late when he wanted her to walk with him: for dearly did he love her; +and in those days she was innocent, and she was happy! Alas! poor +Rosolia, whatever were thy faults, thy fate was dreadful!" + +He sighed, and was a moment silent. + + + + +CHAP. II. + + Such an act, + That blurs the grace and blush of modesty, + Calls virtue, hypocrite; takes off the rose + From the fair forehead of an innocent love, + And plants a blister there--makes marriage vows + As false as divers oaths. + + HAMLET. + + O ye gods, + Render me worthy of this noble wife, + The secrets of my heart thy bosom shall partake. + + JULIUS CÆSAR. + + +"I need not," said St. Aubyn, "say much on the subject of my first +acquaintance with Lady Rosolia de Montfort. You have heard, I believe, +that _her_ father was a near relation of _mine_, and that her mother was +a Spanish Lady of a high noble family, and were Roman Catholics. The +lady's friends were exceedingly averse to the match, and at length +consented only on condition that the sons of the marriage should be bred +Roman Catholics; and after the father's death, should he die during +their minority, be placed under the care of the mother's relations. +Rosolia would probably also have been a Catholic, but her mother died +young, and she was placed in the care of my mother and Lady Juliana +Mordaunt. In the vacations she was generally here, where my mother +constantly, and my aunt frequently, resided; and here also Edmund almost +always spent the time of his school recesses, though twice they went to +Spain with their father, and spent a few months amongst their mother's +connections. + +"Rosolia grew up very handsome, but the character of her beauty was not +such as suited my taste: there was too much hauteur in her countenance; +too much pride in the mind which informed it to please me; yet from our +early youth the friends on both sides were anxious to unite us. I had at +that time no particular predilection for any of her sex, nor could I +object any thing against her, though certainly not exactly the sort of +woman I should have chosen; her partiality in my favour, however, +appeared evident, and was too flattering to be resisted by a young man +like me, from a young woman who had crowds of admirers, most of them my +superiors in fortune and quality. + +"We were married, therefore, when I was about five-and-twenty, and +Rosolia six years my junior. For two years that my mother lived, we +remained a great deal with her, and in the country, under her eye and +that of Lady Juliana. Rosolia did not discover those unpleasant traits, +which, though they lay dormant, were not conquered. + +"On my mother's death, we removed for a time to London, and there +Rosolia lay in of a son, the only child we ever had. But, ah! how +different a mother was Rosolia from you, my Ellen! No care for her +infant subdued the excessive vivacity she now began to display, no +maternal tenderness subjugated, or even softened, the levity of conduct +which now became manifest, and ultimately was her bane. The society of +every idle coxcomb was preferred to mine: my remonstrances, and those of +my respectable aunt, nay, even of her own father, were unheeded. My +disposition, naturally inclined to jealousy, took fire at the lightness +of her carriage; but she held me in contempt, often in derision; and as +the tongue of slander had not yet fixed on the name of any particular +person to connect with her, I was obliged to submit to see her +_flirting_, as it is called, first with one admirer, then another, _and +the last fool as welcome as the former_. My aunt, wearied and vexed at +our domestic unhappiness, in a great measure forsook us, and contracted +a dislike of Lady St. Aubyn, which, in some degree, extended to all her +family. Edmund was still our frequent guest, but his partiality for his +sister would not allow him to see a fault in her, and indeed his extreme +youth made me conceal from him, as much as possible, the uneasy terms on +which we lived together. We had been married about three years, and our +little boy was six months old when Rosolia's father died: by his will, +he appointed me the guardian of Edmund's estates, till he should attain +the age of twenty-four, and requested that I would see him placed under +the care of the Duke de Castel Nuovo, in agreement with the terms of his +own marriage-contract with the daughter of that nobleman. + +"This request I could not refuse, yet knew not how to leave my wife in +England; for if her conduct were so reproachable while we were together, +what had I to expect if I left her solely to her own guidance? Yet such +was the perversity of her temper, I doubted whether she would accompany +me abroad: to that, however, she consented, prompted, I believe, more by +a wish to be as much as possible with her brother, than to oblige me. +But nothing could induce her to leave the child behind, though my aunt +offered to take it solely under her own care during our absence, +although Rosolia herself never saw it, except for about five minutes, +once or twice in the day. + +"This singular obstinacy inspired my aunt with an idea (which I confess +I partly shared) that Rosolia's intention was to leave the babe with her +paternal relations; for though she called herself a protestant, she +certainly had much inclination towards the ceremonies of the Catholic +Church, and, I grieve to say, held all religious principles so lightly, +that to distress me and vex my aunt, she was but too capable of placing +her child in the hands of Catholics, that it might be bred up in a +religion she knew my aunt abhorred, and I had no good opinion of. To +counteract this, or any other scheme which might be formed to take the +child from me, as well as to ensure its being well taken care of, Lady +Juliana insisted that our good Bayfield should accompany us, and made +her promise never to let the child be absent from her sight. But these +precautions, in the event, proved useless; for the poor babe caught the +small-pox soon after we landed at Cadiz, where we remained a short time, +and died in my arms, attended with undeviating care by the worthy +Bayfield: for, oh, my Ellen, your tender nature will recoil when I tell +you its unfeeling mother refused to see it from the time the disorder +came to its height, though she herself had had it, because its +appearance was too shocking to her delicacy! Every care, however, that +could be obtained, was lavished on it, but in vain. + +"Poor Edmund grieved sincerely at this event, and shared my lonely and +sorrowful hours; for he had been attached to the infant with excessive +affection, and always felt for me the sincerest regard, while I +considered him as my own brother, and thought no attention too much to +serve or please him. + +"Soon after the death of the child we proceeded to Seville, and, in the +gaiety of that city, the attentions she received from her mother's +relations, and the flattering compliments paid to her beauty by the +crowds of gentlemen who now surrounded her, Rosolia soon lost whatever +traces of sorrow remained for the loss of her infant. She was handsomer +than ever, and shone in all the elegance of dress and the blaze of +unnumbered jewels, with which my lavish fondness, in the early part of +our marriage, and the liberality of her Spanish relations, had profusely +supplied her. Her grandfather, the Duke de Castel Nuovo, at whose palace +in Seville Edmund was to be placed, happened to be absent, having been +suddenly called to Madrid on some important state business, and wrote to +beg I would remain a month or two at his palace, when he hoped he should +return thither to receive his grandson from my hands, to see his +granddaughter, and thank me for the kindness with which I had taken so +long a journey. Having nothing immediately to recall me to England, I +was not sorry to see more of this interesting country; and hearing of a +beautiful villa to be let on the bank of Guadalaxara, I removed thither +with my family, preferring it to a residence in the Duke's palace. + +"Nothing could exceed the beauty of our little domain, or the rich +luxuriance of the country in which it stood. This villa was only two +miles from Seville, where at that time several regiments were stationed, +and all the officers of rank eagerly sought an introduction to me and +the beautiful Rosolia. Amongst them was a man of the name of De Sylva." + +At this name Ellen started, for she had heard it from Edmund, in his +wild wanderings the night before; though, till that instant, she could +not recollect it. + +"Why do you start, my love?" said St. Aubyn; "does some intuitive +emotion whisper to you that this was the wretch whose villainy involved +me in so much misery?" + +"It was the name," said Ellen, "which I could not recollect just now; +the name I heard from Edmund." + +"No doubt," replied St. Aubyn, "it dwelt upon his mind; for but last +night I again endeavoured to convince him of that villain's guilt. But +to proceed. + +"This De Sylva was a young man of a very fine person and elegant +manners; one, in short, exactly fitted to win the favour of any woman, +who looked more to exterior appearance than intrinsic merit. He was, I +afterwards learned, a determined gamester, of broken, if not ruined +fortunes, without principles, and stained with many vices; yet this man +I too soon perceived the light Rosolia had selected as her chief +favourite. If she danced, he was her partner; and often was her lovely +person exhibited in the fascinating but immoral dances of her country: +an exhibition, oh, how unfit for an English matron!--how hateful to the +delicacy of my sentiments. I am perhaps too fastidious; but I again +repeat, such a display, even of grace and beauty, in a married woman, is +displeasing, but carried to the excess Rosolia did, detestable. How can +we wonder at the alarming strides vice has made in this country, when we +see even wives and mothers, in the slightest drapery, and with an almost +unlimited freedom of manners, courting the notice of men whom they know +to be characters which neither honour, nor even the ties of friendship, +can restrain from the gratification of their passions. + +"Forgive, my Ellen, this digression, by you so little needed; but I +linger and dwell on any subject which can a moment detain me from those +dreadful scenes I must soon describe. I was speaking of the intimacy +which now took place between this De Sylva and Lady St. Aubyn. In +dancing, walking, or riding, he was her constant attendant; and in the +last exercise she excited the admiration of all who beheld her. Her +English side-saddle and riding-dress, and the ease with which she +managed her spirited Arabian, drew the most flattering plaudits from the +gay military admirers who constantly surrounded her; and most of all +from De Sylva, whose manners at last became so particular and presuming, +I could not avoid noticing it, and telling Rosolia if he altered not his +conduct, I should be under the necessity of forbidding him my house. + +"At first she only laughed at my threats, and turned every thing I said +into ridicule, but still persisted in the same manner of living, till I +perceived, that even in that gay country her conduct was disapproved by +all who witnessed it, and who had not lost all sense of decorum; even +two or three of the older officers, men of rank and consequence, began +to look gravely upon her, and with a sort of displeasure at me, as if +they thought me too supine in not more warmly asserting my own honour. I +now determined, therefore, to remove her from the place where she had so +many opportunities of meeting this young man, which, without an _eclat_ +I wished to avoid, I could not prevent, as I believed her innocent +though imprudent, and to visit some of the most interesting scenes in +that part of the country where we now were, hoping that a tour, which I +knew she had never made, would give a new turn to the sentiments of +Rosolia: we removed, therefore, with our suite, from the beautiful villa +we had lately occupied, and travelled the first day to Cormona, where we +visited its castle, of immense extent, but now wholly in ruins; from +thence we went by excellent, but very ancient roads, to Cordova, where +we also saw every thing worth notice, and spent a few days very +agreeably; at least they would have been agreeable, had Rosolia seemed +in the least inclined to enjoy the new scenes presented to her, or the +civilities of the inhabitants of this ancient town, where our rank and +relationship to the Duke de Castel Nuovo ensured us a hospitable +reception from all the noble families whose manner of life is cheerful +and pleasant. + +"After leaving Cordova, we travelled through the delightful vale of the +Guadalaxara, which runs between the ridges of hills embellished with +hanging woods and olive-yards. Nothing could exceed the beauty of the +scene through which we now for two days travelled. No mind, which had +not entirely lost all power of enjoying the charms of nature, could have +been dead to the enchanting scenes which the banks of the lovely +Guadalaxara now presented in ever-varying succession. Extensive plains, +beautifully tinted by rows of olive-trees, towers and ancient castles +rising at intervals on the side of the stream, afforded a variety of +charming and picturesque views, from which Edmund and myself derived the +warmest pleasure. Alas! the heart of Rosolia was shut to them all. At +length we reached a small but pretty villa at the foot of the Sierra +Morena, which I had learned some time before was unoccupied, and had +hired, and caused to be prepared for our reception. Edmund's health had +appeared to be somewhat shaken by the very warm climate of our abode +near Seville, and it was thought the cool air from those mountains would +brace and invigorate his drooping frame. Here, then, we rested in this +quiet retreat, whence I made occasional excursions, sometimes on foot, +sometimes on horseback, in the picturesque environs of our new abode. +Sometimes I extended them to the northern side of the Sierra, and +visited the romantic country of La Mancha, which Cervantes has +immortalized. + +"It is impossible to describe the various beauties these mountains +present; the clear torrent of the Rio de las Pedras, falling over beds +of rocks, through glens of beautiful woods; the wild and unfrequented +solitudes, covered with a rich variety of flowering and sweet-scented +shrubs, and the interesting new colony of La Corolina, of which I hope, +some day, to give you a fuller account; all rendered these excursions +delightful to me; the more so, as they occupied my thoughts, and carried +me from a woman whose capricious humours and inconsistent conduct +rendered my home irksome and distasteful. + +"Rosolia, angry at being withdrawn from the society she so much prized, +and still more so at being deprived of De Sylva's company, now assumed +manners the most aggravating, and caprices the most extraordinary. +Sometimes, for a day or two together, the sound of her voice never +reached the ear of any human being; but sunk, in affected apathy, she +pretended scarcely to see or hear any thing that was passing. Then she +would suddenly assume the gayest air, and for hours would scarcely cease +speaking; following me incessantly; never allowing me to read or reflect +a moment; singing, playing on her harp, or with castenets in her hands, +dancing with a gaiety that was as unpleasing as it appeared unnatural, +till her forced spirits being quite exhausted, she would fall into +violent hysterics, and be conveyed to bed, whence she would not rise +again in many days. + +"Think only, my dear Ellen, what a life this was for me. With no other +companion (for Edmund was still a mere boy), and dreading every hour to +what the caprices of the next might lead. At length, all at once, she +affected a new humour, and was continually rambling alone, even so late +in the evening, that in the neighbourhood of those wild mountains, I +feared some evil would befall her; but vain were my representations, +vain my entreaties. She told me, she thought it hard to be denied the +only pleasure my jealous temper had left her, and that I had better +revive the old Spanish customs of lattices and duennas, and lock her up +altogether. These, and many such provoking speeches, silenced me; but I +saw that our good Bayfield was suffering from some unknown cause. She +was frequently in tears, and betrayed, at times, a degree of agitation +which astonished me; for in general her composure was remarkable. I +conjectured, that, dissatisfied with her lady, as indeed she had but too +much reason to be, the worthy woman pined to revisit England; but on my +pressing her on this subject, she assured me, that wherever I was, there +she was best pleased to be; and only wished she _knew how best to shew +her devotion to my interests_. + +"These last words seemed spoken with particular meaning, but she evaded +any explanation. A new vexation now assailed both her and me: several of +Lady St. Aubyn's valuable jewels were from time to time missing, and +vainly sought. + +"Rosolia affected the most perfect indifference about them, saying, +since she had no one to wear them, she cared nothing for jewels: but +Bayfield, who was the only person, who, except her lady, had access to +the place where the jewels were kept, was excessively disturbed at their +frequent losses. At last, a very fine and remarkable ring of mine, +composed of an antique cameo, set with brilliants of great value, was +also gone. I began to suspect my valet of these repeated thefts, though +I had obtained of him the most excellent character; and he had been +three or four years in my service without the slightest suspicion of +dishonesty in any respect. + +"Determined, however, to watch this man, I said nothing of the loss of +my ring, thinking if I appeared to have no suspicion I should the easier +detect him. + +"About a week after this circumstance, being restless, and unable to +sleep, I rose from my bed at midnight, and sat for some time at my +window, watching the bright moon, which in that clear climate gave a +light scarcely inferior to that of day: but judge of my surprize, when I +saw the figure of a man emerge slowly from a grove of cork trees, at +some little distance; and after looking cautiously around, pass close +under my windows, and approach those of Lady St. Aubyn's apartment. We +had for some time inhabited separate rooms, as she complained of +restless nights, and chose to have her chamber to herself. I fancied +that I had now detected the robber, who, by some means, having gained +access to those chambers, had, from time to time, stolen the jewels I +mentioned; but in a moment I saw Rosolia's window open, and herself +appear at it. She spoke a few words to this man, on whom the moonlight +falling more clearly, I distinctly perceived the height, figure, and I +fancied the features of De Sylva. + +"Rosolia instantly threw down a light rope ladder, and the man, whoever +he was, began to mount it; but on a sudden she turned from the window, +as if disturbed by the entrance of some one to her room; and making a +sign to him with a hurried air, he hastily descended: she immediately +closed the window, and the man ran to the grove from which he had first +appeared. + +"All this scene passed so quickly, I had scarcely time to recollect +myself, or determine what I ought to do--but hastily seizing my pistols, +which lay always loaded in my room, I descended a private staircase +leading to the garden, and with quicksteps, followed the man, who lay +concealed in the grove. I walked with as little noise as I could, +fearing, lest, if he heard me, he might make his escape, and I should be +deprived of the satisfaction I expected, so that I was close to him +before he perceived me, and seizing him with a powerful grasp, I dragged +him into the moonlight, and there saw it was indeed De Sylva." + + + + +CHAP. III. + + Ou suis-je? O Ciel ou suis je? ou porte je mes voeux? + Zayre, Nerestan--couple ingrat, couple affreux, + Traitres arracher moi ce jour que je respire, + Ce jour souillè par vous. + ----Ah que vois-je? Ah ma soeur + Zayre!... Elle n'est plus.--Ah monstre ah jour horrible! + + ZAYRE PAR VOLTAIRE. + + +"Rage almost choked me as I exclaimed:--'Villain! you here, and lurking +under my windows at this hour!' He shook with cowardly apprehension, and +attempted some excuse, which, however, his terror rendered inarticulate: +still the momentary pause gave me time for recollection, and disdaining +to assault an unarmed man, I threw him one of my pistols, and bade him +defend himself: again in faltering tones he murmured some assurances +that he merely came to see Lady St. Aubyn's favourite servant, a Spanish +girl named Theresa; but this hacknied excuse was too shallow to obtain a +moment's credit, and I still pressed him to an instant decision of this +affair. He now, somewhat more firmly, requested me to recollect, that if +we fought, and he fell, what would be the appearance of a man found in +my grounds murdered, as it would seem; and on the other hand he appealed +to my generosity, what would be his situation should I be killed, and +above all, what a slur would be cast on the reputation of Lady St. Aubyn +by such a business. Calmed by these representations, which certainly had +some justice in them, I finally consented to wait till the next evening: +the time between, he told me, he should pass at a little Posada in the +neighbourhood, where, he said, he had a friend waiting for him, who +would come with him to a spot I mentioned near the mountains; and during +the same space I said I would ride to Almana (the next small town), +where a gentleman resided with whom I had some acquaintance, and on whom +I would prevail to be my second in this affair: then bidding him retain +the pistol, and bring it prepared, as I should do its fellow, to the +place of meeting, I sternly told him, that should I see him again +lurking beneath my walls, I would not wait the event of the next +evening, but treat him as a midnight robber deserved to be treated. I +then left him and returned to the house: a faint light yet gleamed from +the windows of Rosolia's room, but the rope ladder was withdrawn, and +the curtains closed, so that I concluded she had given up all +expectation of seeing De Sylva again that night. I watched, however, +till morning, but all was still, and I then threw myself on my bed to +obtain one hour's repose; after which I rose, and spent some time in +settling my affairs, and writing some letters, to be delivered in case I +should fall in the duel with De Sylva. + +"After this I went to Lady St. Aubyn's room: at the door I met Bayfield, +who, pale, and with her eyes swollen with weeping, looked as if she had, +like myself, watched all night. + +"My good Bayfield,' said I, 'where is your Lady, and why do you look +thus alarmed and haggard?' + +"She answered me, but with some confusion, that her Lady was just +dressed, and that she had been induced to watch in the chamber next Lady +St. Aubyn's almost all night, having heard some noises which had induced +her to _rise at midnight_, and go to her Lady's apartment, whom she +found also much agitated, and therefore had remained there till morning. +I made no doubt, and I afterwards found this conjecture was just, that +my faithful old servant's suspicions having been excited, she had gone +to her room, and by interrupting her, had caused the sudden dismissal of +De Sylva, and had since passed the night in bewailing Rosolia's evil +propensities. Without staying for any explanation, however, I left her, +and passed into the Countess's apartment: she started at the sight of +me, for of late we had seldom met but at meals, and her guilty +conscience taught her to consider my visit as extraordinary. I told her +sternly to be seated and hear me, and I then related to her the events +of the preceding night: at first she trembled and turned pale, but soon +recovering her effrontery, she attempted, as usual, to make a jest of +what she affected to term my ridiculous jealousy. + +"Mark me, Rosolia!" cried I rising, and eagerly grasping her arm, for, +with affected scorn, she attempted to rush past me. 'Mark me! I am no +longer thus to be deceived. _This evening, this evening shall revenge my +too long endured injuries_--the _wretch_ who has so deeply wronged me, +_this arm shall punish_.' + +"At that moment, while my angry looks were fixed upon her countenance, +where rage and disdain contended with shame and fear, Edmund entered the +room, and must, I knew, have heard the threats I uttered: he started and +looked amazed, for frequent as were our altercations, they had never +before risen to a height so alarming. + +"I left them together, and taking my horse, rode to Almana, where, most +unfortunately, I did not find my friend at home; and after waiting his +return till I feared I should not arrive at my villa in time enough to +keep my appointment, I left the place alone, and merely going into the +house to take my pistol, I hastened to the appointed spot. There I +waited, vainly waited, for nearly two hours: no De Sylva arrived; and +concluding that he then meant not to keep his appointment, and some +vague fears pressing on my mind that possibly Rosolia might be the +partner of his flight, I hurried back to the villa. It was almost dark +when I arrived, and just as I entered the hall, heated, disordered, not +having changed my dress since the night before, and in the confusion of +my thoughts not even concealing the pistol I had carried in my hand, I +met Edmund, who eagerly asked me where his sister was. + +"I know not,' said I; but a thousand suspicions darted into my bosom, +and gave to my countenance and manner an agitation which must have +appeared to him extraordinary. 'Is she not in her own apartment? I have +been out all day and have not seen her since I left her with you this +morning.' + +"Nor I,' said Edmund, 'since half an hour before I saw you return on +horseback; she then complained of a violent head-ache, and said she +would try if the evening air would remove it: I offered to walk with +her, but she said she would rather be alone, for she had enough to +occupy her thoughts: she kissed me too,' added Edmund, 'and bade me +farewell, sighing bitterly, and saying her heart was heavy and full of +terror: why then,' said I, 'will you go alone, sister? why not let me +walk with you? I really think there _is_ danger in being out late so +near the mountains.' She forced a smile, and replied, she feared nothing +from the mountains: all her misery and terrors arose at home.' + +"Ungrateful Rosolia,' I replied, as Edmund told me this; to which he +answered:-- + +"Ah, my Lord, it grieves me to see you both so unhappy; I hope my +grandfather's return will soon restore in some degree your domestic +comfort; he will persuade Rosolia to be more accommodating to your +wishes.' + +"I sighed, and asked him which way his sister had gone. + +"Through the cork grove,' he replied, 'and towards the Hermitage, which +is I know her favourite retreat.' + +"'Surely,' said I, 'she would not remain in that lonely place till this +late hour; yet, so strange for sometime has been her conduct, I know not +what to suppose: call the servants, my dear Edmund, to bring lights, for +in that gloomy retreat it will be quite dark, and let us go in search of +her.' + +"We set out accordingly, attended by two men servants and my good +Bayfield, who, fearing, as she said, her Lady might be ill, insisted on +accompanying us. The place to which we directed our steps was a quarter +of a mile from the villa, and, as I had said, by the time we had reached +it the darkness of night had come on. + +"This gloomy cell stood at the foot of a rock deep embowered in thick +groves: a mountain stream fell from a considerable height near it, and +the dash of its waters alone broke the silence of this secluded retreat, +which was called the Hermitage, from the peculiar style in which it was +fitted up. For some time before we reached it we made the surrounding +thickets resound with Rosolia's name: but all was silent, save the +murmuring breeze and the dashing of the waterfall. I concluded that my +wife was gone off with the infamous De Sylva, and my whole frame shook +with rage and agitation. + +"Why do you tremble so, my Lord?' said the affrighted Edmund, who hung +upon my arm: 'do you think any harm has happened to my sister?' + +"I know not,' I replied, 'but I fear it, greatly fear it!' + +"Just then we entered the gloomy Hermitage: all was dark and still; the +echo of our steps alone broke the awful silence. The men who accompanied +us lifted their torches to throw a fuller light into the cell; and--ah! +my Ellen, I dread to shock your tender nature by describing the horrid +scene which met our view.--Imagine our sensations when we saw the +unfortunate Rosolia extended on the earth! her white garments dyed in +_blood_! in that blood which some hand, either accidentally or by +design, had shed! for on raising the body, by this time stiff and cold, +a wound was discovered in the back of her head, which was evidently the +effect of a pistol-ball, and had caused her death. You tremble and turn +pale, my love: it grieves me to distress you, but think what was _my_ +distress, when Edmund, who, in frantic despair, had thrown himself by +his murdered sister, found the fatal weapon which had done this deed of +horror, and I saw at once it was the fellow pistol to that I had in my +hand when he met me in the hall, remarkable for its peculiar +construction and workmanship; the very one, in short, which I had given +to De Sylva. Never, never shall I forget the glance of his dark eyes at +that moment: I saw the direful suspicions he, at that instant, +conceived, and which were still more fatally confirmed by what +immediately followed. + +"My poor Bayfield, full of grief and horror, was arranging, with all the +care circumstances would admit, the removal of the body to the house, +when seeing something glitter amidst the horrible darkness which +surrounded us, and our fading torches scarcely broke, she stooped and +picked up _my ring_, that well-known ring, which I indeed had lost, but +had not said so; and which she, from some impulsive feeling, perhaps +fearing the sight of it in that place might implicate me in the late sad +event, attempted to conceal in her bosom. + +"What is that?" exclaimed the half-frantic Edmund, darting towards her +and seizing her hand. '_Your ring_, my Lord, _your ring_! at this +time--in this place. The pistol too--those dreadful threatenings of +revenge.--Ah God! Ah God!--what horrible conviction flashes on +me.--Rosolia! poor dear sister!--Ah, basely, basely murdered!' and he +fell senseless on the ground. + +"The domestics who attended us were Spaniards, and did not understand a +word he said: but Bayfield stood the image of dismay. + +"Ah, my Lord,' said she, 'fly, if indeed your hand by accident has done +this deed, for think what will become of you amidst the bigotted +Catholics, who will seek to revenge it.' + +"Fly!' I repeated, 'my good old friend! Can you believe me guilty?' + +"Oh no, my dear Lord,' she replied, never, never! but think what these +unfortunate appearances will say against you to those who know you less +than I do.' + +"Whatever they say, I will brave,' I exclaimed: 'nor care I much after +this dreadful moment what becomes of me; but never will I, by an +ignominious flight, tacitly avow myself guilty, when I know and surely +cannot fail to prove my innocence.' + +"In a few minutes one of the men, who, on Edmund's falling into the +deathlike trance from which we yet vainly sought to recover him, had +fled towards the house for more assistance, returned with almost all the +domestics, who eagerly crowded to satisfy their curiosity, and whose +astonishment and impatient questions may be easily conceived. Between +them they conveyed into the house their murdered mistress, and the still +insensible Edmund, whose spirit we at one time imagined had really +followed hers. To paint the confusion which ensued would be impossible: +one express was instantly sent off to the Duke de Castel Nuovo, and +several men I sent into the mountains and round the neighbourhood to +seek for De Sylva, by whose hand I doubted not the fatal wound, either +by accident or design, had been given. I described his person and +appearance, saying that such a man had been seen lurking about the house +the night before. + +"Some of the servants having remarked the capricious character, and, of +late, the melancholy manners of Rosolia, suggested an idea that she had +destroyed herself; but the situation of the wound prevented such a +possibility. Forgive me, my love, these shocking details: they are +indeed unsuited to the tenderness of your nature; but without a very +accurate account of this unfortunate event, it would be impossible for +you to judge what evidences there were of my apparent guilt, or real +innocence. + +"Edmund slowly recovered from his deep swoon, but his reason for a time +was flown, and all the skill of the medical people about us failed for +weeks to recover it. Yet still he knew me--still with an expression of +the most vindictive hatred his eyes pursued me. His words frequently +pointed out the nature of his suspicions; but he raved so constantly, +that they remained unnoticed, save by me and Bayfield: too fatally, +alas! we understood them. To her I fully explained all that had passed, +and she told me she had no hesitation in believing that De Sylva was the +author of this direful tragedy. To find that villain appeared +impossible: my servants returned, after a week's search in every +direction, without having discovered the slightest trace of him. Indeed, +to track a fugitive in that wild romantic country is extremely +difficult: immense woods, deep caves, and the recesses of vast ruins, +might easily shelter such a one from pursuit. + +"To the servants I held out an idea that some banditti from the +mountains had found their Lady in her lonely walk, as indeed they all +knew I often had feared would be the case, and had murdered her for the +sake of the money and jewels she had about her; and in truth many of +them had seen her go out with some rich ornaments, which she generally +wore, and which certainly were removed from the body. + +"On searching the Hermitage the next morning, a parcel was found, +containing a complete Spanish habit for a boy, and a letter--at least a +part of one, for part was torn away, and the remainder contained only +these words: + + _At the Hermitage this evening + we must fly directly + St. Aubyn will wait for + come alone_ + +"I easily imagined this was part of a letter from De Sylva, appointing +Rosolia to meet him at the Hermitage. 'St. Aubyn will wait for' +evidently alluded to my waiting for him at the place he had appointed to +meet me; yet even these words seemed fatally to implicate me in this +horrid transaction: whereas, if the whole had been preserved, it would +have entirely exculpated me from blame: so unfortunately did +circumstances combine to throw the appearance of guilt upon me. + +"When my messenger returned from Madrid, I learned that the venerable +Duke de Castel Nuovo was too ill to travel: he left the whole management +of this melancholy affair in my hands, expressing himself convinced that +some of the banditti, who it was well known infested the Sierra Morena, +had been the murderers of his granddaughter. He entreated me to take the +greatest care of Edmund, and invited me, when he should be sufficiently +recovered, to accompany him to Madrid, or if I could not make that +convenient, to send him by some person in whom I could confide, and who +would see him placed safely under his own care; and concluded by very +kind expressions of regret that it had been so totally out of his power +to pay me those personal attentions during my stay in Spain, which he +had so anxiously wished to do. + +"Thus then I found myself completely exonerated from all suspicion of +having had any share of the late dreadful event, except in the mind of +Edmund, who had by this time recovered his reason, and was by slow +degrees regaining his health, yet still looked on me with horror and +aversion, and was buried in the most profound and gloomy melancholy. + +"Unable long to bear this state of estrangement and anxiety, I one day +went to his room, and sitting down by the couch on which he lay, 'I see, +Edmund,' said I, 'too plainly I see, the horrible suspicions you have +formed, and the gloomy hatred so unnatural to your character, which +preys upon your vitals. Neither can you long support a state so +wretched. St. Aubyn was not born to be the object of suspicions so +cruel, nor Edmund to endure them. Hear me then patiently; and though, in +tenderness to the memory of the unfortunate Rosolia, I would, if +possible, have concealed her misconduct from the whole world, and most +of all from you, yet circumstances call on me so imperatively to +disclose it, that I can no longer be silent.' + +"I then, my Ellen, related to him every circumstance, as I have done to +you; and though he evidently wavered, yet so strong was the prejudice he +had conceived, that he was not wholly convinced. + +"For the pistol," said he, 'you have in some measure accounted: it +might, if this story be true, have been placed there by De Sylva: his +accursed hand it might have been which shed that blood--that precious +blood, which yet in imagination I see flowing at my feet! But ah! St. +Aubyn, whence came that _ring_--that well known ring, which I so often +have heard you declare you valued more than all the jewels in your +possession?' + +"Fully to account for that,' said I, 'is not in my power; but on my +honour, I assure you, I had missed it several days, though, in hopes of +discovering the thief, I did not mention it. You know several of +Rosolia's jewels have lately been lost; and many times, since we have +been here, she has asked me for sums of money, though here she could +have had no use for them; but willing to gratify her in even her +fancies, while they did not militate against my peace and honour, I +never denied her, or desired any explanation; yet, in searching her +escritoire and drawers, no money has been found. This leads me to +believe, nay, to be sure, that either the wretch, De Sylva, stole this +ring and the other valuable articles missing, or she gave them to him in +the meetings which Bayfield now owns she is convinced they _have of +late_ frequently had.' + +"Impossible, impossible!' cried the noble but prejudiced youth: 'Rosolia +could not have condescended to favour, even with her friendship, so mean +a wretch as one who would have received money or jewels at her hands. +This story, my Lord, hangs ill together, and for it I have only your +word--the word of one to whom it is of the utmost importance that I +should believe it. But think, O think, what a chain of circumstances +appear in proof against you!--The threats _I_ heard you utter, that your +own hand should that very evening revenge your injuries! My meeting you, +heated and confused, after two hours absence, no one knew whither, with +one pistol in your hand--the fellow pistol found discharged by the dear +murdered Rosolia--and, more than all, your ring, which Bayfield, +impressed no doubt by similar suspicions, strove to conceal! Place all +these in array against you, and tell me, tell me yourself, what I must, +what I ought to believe.' + +"'It is enough,' I replied: 'I yield myself then to your will. Take me, +if such is your desire, to a prison, to death: your evidence I well +perceive will be sufficient to convict me--to rob me of my honour and my +life. But do you reckon for nothing your former knowledge of my +character and disposition? Am I a man likely to have committed such a +deed?--to have invented such a tale to excuse it, if I had? I swear to +you, Edmund, by all that is most sacred, _I am innocent_--I will swear +it to the latest moment of my existence.' + +"Moved by these words, by the remembrance of all my former friendship +for him--permit me to say, by the remembrance of years which I had so +spent as to impress him with a firm opinion of my virtue and veracity, +the generous youth paused awhile, and at length said-- + +"Well then, my Lord, since in this contrariety of assertion and evidence +it is impossible that I should know what to believe, I will for the +present, at least, act as if I thought you innocent. Seek this De +Sylva--seek him if you will throughout the world. I will breathe no +word, hint no suspicion, that may impede you in the search. Should you +be able to bring his confession in evidence of your integrity, I will +then entreat your pardon for my disbelief. If, on the contrary, any new +appearances of guilt arise against you--should any new discoveries +inimical to your innocence be made, I shall still know how to reach you. + +"Here let us part! As soon as my weak state will permit, I leave this +fatal, this detested roof, and will join my grandfather at Madrid: from +his letters I learn what you have led him to believe on this shocking +subject. If, indeed, your tale be true, I ought most thankfully to +acknowledge the lenient tenderness with which you have treated my poor +sister's reputation.--But oh! could she, could she be so guilty?----At +all events, it is well the Duke should credit your statement. At his +age, the doubts which shake me thus would kill him!--Let us meet no more +at present--Should De Sylva be found, write to me: write in English, and +the people about me will not understand your letter. All farther search +into this matter I must postpone till the commencement of my majority +shall leave me my own master; then I must once more visit England, such +is my father's will, to take possession of my estates in that country, +and to receive the accounts from you. Then, my Lord, we will finally +consider all the proofs which shall then have been obtained of your +innocence or guilt; and I shall then either bewail the faults of +Rosolia, or revenge her death, either by my sword or the hand of the +law, as I may think most proper. I shall then be a man, and more able, +both by improved judgment and bodily strength, to assert my own +convictions. Most earnestly do I wish, long ere that period arrives, +your character may be cleared: yet, ah! how can I wish it, if by that +acquittal my poor Rosolia must be proved so guilty!' + +"In a few days after this conversation, Edmund, under the care of a +person in whom I could confide, set out for Madrid; and I soon after +discharging all my servants, except Mrs. Bayfield and my valet, whom I +sent to England, left also this fatal spot. I hired a mule, and alone +passed through the Sierra into La Mancha; and at Civedad I engaged a +servant, not choosing to take one with me who had known any thing of the +late painful transactions. On mules we proceeded, making every inquiry +for De Sylva. Not even my servant knew my real name and rank; as I +thought by concealing these I might have a better chance of finding the +villain I sought: but still my search was vain. From Toledo, where I +rested a short time, I wrote to some of the officers of De Sylva's +regiment at Seville, to know if he had returned thither, though it +appeared most improbable he should have done so: but I was desirous of +trying every chance by which he might be discovered. In answer, I learnt +De Sylva had obtained leave of absence about two months before; but +though it had been some time expired, he was not yet returned: so that +the charge of desertion was now added to those others, which I doubted +not induced him to keep himself concealed. I travelled through Spain, +avoiding Madrid, where I knew my friend and correspondent, the Marquis +of Northington, who was resident there in a diplomatic capacity, would +make every search for De Sylva; and passing the Pyrenees, entered the +frontier of France, though with great risk and hazard, had I been known +to be English; but I passed everywhere for a Spaniard, speaking the +language as a native, having from my childhood been accustomed to speak +it with Rosolia and Edmund; and I fancied in those wild mountains I +might meet with De Sylva, who was likely to assort with the desperate +characters with which they at that time abounded. But vain was my +search, and at length I returned to England; and thinking that in +London, perhaps, I might find this wretch connected with gamesters, I +sought him at every house where such persons are likely to be found; but +still, still the search was fruitless. + +"I then came hither for awhile, to rest my wearied spirits. Here, +vanquished by the constant harassings I had so long undergone, I fell +into a severe fit of illness, through which my good Bayfield nursed me +with the tenderest care; and as she alone knew all the griefs which +oppressed me, I could without restraint give vent to my sorrows in her +presence. + +"Immediately after my recovery I had a letter from my friend Lord +Northington, who had at my request, by himself and his agents, made +every possible inquiry for De Sylva. He informed me that a person of +suspicious character had lately been arrested, and stood charged with +various crimes; and amongst the rest, of desertion; that from my +description of him, he fancied this man to be De Sylva. I instantly +wrote to Edmund, that I hoped the object of my long search was found; +that I should go to Spain immediately, and would see him as soon as any +thing was ascertained: but alas! after all my trouble and fatigue this +man proved to be totally unlike De Sylva, and in no way connected with +him. + +"Mortified and disappointed, I yet went to Seville, where Edmund then +was. The Duke de Castel Nuovo had been dead a few months, and his +grandson, under the care of Mr. O'Brien, and some other ecclesiastics, +appointed by the Duke's will to be the guardians of his person and his +Spanish estates during his minority. It was not without difficulty that +I obtained a private conference with him; for these Catholics were +jealous of my supposed influence over his mind. + +"I found him greatly altered in person, and evidently a prey to gloomy +and anxious thoughts, which the life he led amongst persons of severe +and superstitious habits did not tend to dissipate. His prejudices I +still found unconquerable, and that he was determined on coming to +England, should I be unable clearly to substantiate my innocence, either +to avenge his sister's death by the sword, or to impeach me as her +murderer--a dreadful alternative, and one from which I knew not how to +free myself: for to find De Sylva seemed impossible, and if found, I +knew not how to bring him to confession; and even of his having been at +my villa, near the Sierra Morena, I had no witness but Mrs. Bayfield, +whose evidence in my favour might, and most probably would, be deemed +partial. + +"Thus, and with this shocking prospect constantly before me, the time +has passed since the fatal day of Rosolia's death. Anxious for your +peace and safety, I wrote to Edmund, who ought to have been here three +months ago, and entreated him to delay coming hither till this time, +stating my reasons, with which he complied, and arrived in England only +a week since. Hither he was obliged to come, as Mordaunt had all the +papers belonging to his estates in his possession. You know he has been +too ill lately to go from home, and his signature was absolutely +necessary. + +"After O'Brien and Mordaunt went into the library last night, I again +endeavoured to convince Edmund of my innocence; and although I think now +his judgment is matured, and his passions have had time to cool, he is +more inclined to believe me, and to let the matter rest where it is, I +could by no means get him explicitly to acquit me; and this house +reviving the memory of his sister, and all the past events so forcibly, +no doubt was the cause of his nocturnal wandering. + +"What will be the event of all this I know not; but if I find him still +inexorable in a conference I mean this day to hold with him, I think +appearances are so much against me, I must at least for a time withdraw +with you and our boy to some safe retreat. + +"I have wearied you, my Ellen, and am myself weary with speaking so +long, on such an agitating subject: but tell me, my love, oh! tell me, +that you at least think me guiltless of this direful act!" + +"Guiltless!" cried Ellen (whose many tender exclamations and agitated +interruptions had given frequent proof of the interest with which she +had heard this melancholy narrative). "Oh, heavens! the evidence of my +own senses would fail to make me think you otherwise. But in this case +all appears to me so clear, so easy to be traced, that I am astonished +the generous youth you have described can hesitate in his belief a +moment.--Ah! my dear St. Aubyn, let _me_ speak to him; let me tell him +of your virtues, of your gentle nature, of your tender and affectionate +disposition. Surely he will hear me: surely he must yield to the +conviction these must give, that you were not, could not have been +guilty of a deed so horrid!" + +"Yes, my dearest, my beloved Ellen," replied St. Aubyn, "it shall be so. +Your soft, your persuasive words and looks will, I am sure, impress him +with conviction that the man you love cannot be a villain. + +"Yet, Ellen, do not meanly compromise my honour or your own dignity; +argue, and even, if you can, persuade him to believe me innocent: but if +in this you fail, do not sue to him. I could not accept of life and +honour merely from his _forbearance_; yet for your sake, and that of our +child, I will in some measure set my proud spirit aside, and yield to +terms I would otherwise disdain." + +Here they parted, and Ellen retired to her dressing-room, to refresh her +wearied spirits, to kiss and weep over her infant, and to offer up a +fervent prayer for every grace of speech, which might subdue and +convince the prejudiced but generous Edmund. + + + + +CHAP. IV. + + We do not know + How he may soften at the sight o' the child. + The silence often of pure innocence + Persuades when speaking fails. + + WINTER'S TALE. + + +With an air how different from the usual cheerful greetings of the +morning at St. Aubyn Castle, did the party now there assemble in the +breakfast-room. + +The Earl and Countess, wearied with the alarm of the night and the late +agitating conversation, scarcely could assume spirits to smile upon +their guests and give them that hospitable reception which every one +generally felt assured of from them. Lady Juliana, stiff and severe of +countenance, scarcely deigned a bow to the salutations of Mr. O'Brien; +and the pale melancholy Edmund, who, constraining his feelings, advanced +towards Lady St. Aubyn, and attempted an apology for what had passed the +evening before, for of his nocturnal wanderings, and her consequent +alarm, he had not the least idea: from St. Aubyn he appeared to shrink +with less aversion than usual, but when seated at the breakfast-table, +his eyes and whole attention seemed fixed on Ellen, who, pale and +mournful as were her looks, yet spoke with such gentle sweetness, as +appeared instantly to attract him, while the soft and pensive character +her beauty had assumed was precisely formed to sooth and tranquillize +the too vehement emotions of this deeply feeling young man. Her power, +indeed, over the heart, of which all who saw her were sensible, arose +from the united charms of voice, person, and demeanor, all of which were +so sweetly harmonized with each other as to form one charming and +consistent whole, and that, so regulated by the most perfect purity of +manners, the most refined delicacy of sentiment, and the most +affectionate tenderness of heart, as ensured not only the admiration, +but the respect and love of all who knew her; yet more, of all she +sought to win or soften. No wonder then if the young and generous heart +of Edmund leaned towards her, and felt before the breakfast hour was +over that for worlds he could not have pained or wronged her. + +Mr. Mordaunt had fixed one o'clock at noon to finish the settlement of +all legal concerns between Lord St. Aubyn and Lord De Montfort, the weak +state of his health not permitting him to come earlier to the Castle. As +soon as breakfast was over, therefore, St. Aubyn invited his guests to +walk or ride round the grounds. O'Brien gladly consented, and Laura said +she should like to ride with them; but Edmund coldly refused, saying if +he went out at all, he should merely stroll by himself a short distance, +as he felt languid and unwell. "To you then, my Ellen," said St. Aubyn, +"I recommend our noble guest. I need not I am sure request you to pay +him every attention; if possible, prevail on him to stay and dine with +us: he talks of going the instant his business is completed." + +"I hope, my Lord," said Ellen to De Montfort, "you will not do so. The +evenings now close in abruptly, and it will be late before you reach the +end of the first stage from hence." + +He bowed in silence. + +The gentlemen and Miss Cecil went to prepare for their ride; and Ellen, +ringing the bell, desired Jane to bring her netting-box thither, for she +feared if she went as usual to the nursery, Edmund might escape her, and +no other opportunity offer for the conference on which her heart was +set. + +Lady Juliana, as usual, went to her own room, where she always chose to +spend two or three hours of her morning alone. + +Edmund had, by the time Ellen was seated at her work, thrown himself in +a meditating attitude on a sofa, and was apparently lost in a reverie; +yet his eyes were frequently fixed on her, and his countenance seemed to +soften as he gazed upon her. She soon saw the little party ride into the +park, and then feeling herself secure from interruption, she considered +how best to begin her intended conversation:--her heart fluttered, and +her fingers entangled her work so completely, that it was impossible to +proceed with it. Painful, indeed, was her situation; for to converse on +topics so deeply interesting with a young man so very lately an entire +stranger was indeed a severe task for the gentle, the timid Ellen. +Rousing her spirits, however, for she felt that time fled swiftly, she +with a tremulous voice said, + +"My Lord, I fear you will think I take too great a liberty with one so +lately a stranger, if I venture to enter on a subject of the most +delicate nature, indeed; but one to me so deeply interesting, I cannot +consent to let this opportunity pass, since it may be the last I shall +ever have of speaking to your Lordship without witnesses." + +From the moment she began to speak, De Montfort started from his +reverie, and fixed on her an earnest attention, which had, however, so +much softness in it, as emboldened her to proceed in a voice somewhat +firmer and more assured. + +"You may believe, my Lord," she said, "that Lord St. Aubyn has not +withheld from me the real cause of the painful scene I last night +witnessed, and a decree of agitation in you, not to be accounted for, +but by a recital which out of tenderness he till this morning never +ventured to make to me." + +"Has he then," said Edmund (in that low, solemn, impressive tone which +so deeply interested his hearers) "has he then ventured to reveal to you +that horrid event, that deed of blood, the guilt of which he has never +been able to throw from him?" + +"He has, my Lord, explained to me the meaning of many painful hints; of +much uneasiness which I have perceived in him from the first of our +acquaintance: but ah! generous, though misled, Lord de Montfort, can you +really believe him guilty? Can you doubt the innocence of a man whose +life of virtue, whose tender affectionate nature, surely point him out +as of all men the least likely to have committed an action so horrid! +Surely he cannot have fully and clearly explained to you all the +circumstances which preceded this sad event. May I, without too much +wounding your feelings, venture to recapitulate what he has told me. +Surely a story so clear, so consistent, must at once exonerate him from +having had any part in that guilty, that horrid deed." + +He bowed assent, and Ellen as succinctly, but as clearly as possible, +brought into one point of view, all the circumstances which were +favourable to St. Aubyn, yet veiling with the most touching delicacy and +consideration those which bore hardest on the fame of Rosolia; affecting +to believe that the wretch De Sylva (whom she asserted St. Aubyn and +Mrs. Bayfield had certainly seen at her window the night before) had +come without her knowledge, and that the same man, meeting her in the +lonely hermitage, had committed the shocking deed for the sake of the +valuables she wore. + +It seemed as if Edmund had chiefly resisted the evidences in St. Aubyn's +favour, lest by yielding to them, he must have pronounced his sister +guilty: whether this being now less pressed upon him, or that Ellen +herself, fully convinced of St. Aubyn's innocence, and perhaps less +impassioned than he had been when stating the same story, had placed +circumstances more clearly before him, he evidently gave greater +credence to the tale than he had ever before done. Her sweetness of +voice and manner, and the graceful tenderness with which she spoke of +St. Aubyn's virtues; or his honourable and disinterested conduct to her, +both before and since their marriage, and of the perfect love which +bound them to each other, and wrapt her life in his; tears of tenderness +and blushes of indignation marked the varying sensations which filled +her bosom at the bare idea of his being suspected of such a crime, and +animated her beauty with new graces, appeared to impress him deeply with +sentiments of admiration and esteem. When she paused, he sighed and +said:-- + +"Is it in nature to resist such a pleader, or to believe the man so +loved by one so pure and spotless, can be himself capable of the +blackest crimes? No, Lady St. Aubyn, were your natures so dissimilar it +would be impossible that you could so love, so confide in him." + +At that instant a soft plaintive voice was heard at the opening door, +the voice of an infant. Edmund started, for he had forgotten Lady St. +Aubyn had recently become a mother, and a painful recollection pressed +on his heart of the infant so dearly loved, so deeply lamented, the +child of his idolized Rosolia! + +The nurse now appeared with the babe in her arms, for wondering at her +Lady's usually lengthened absence from the nursery, she came to request +some directions concerning the child: supposing all the gentlemen were +gone out together, when she saw Lord de Montfort she would have +retreated but Ellen advancing, took the infant in her arms and said: + +"Give him to me, nurse; I will but shew him to Lord de Montfort, and +bring him to the nursery myself:" then unfolding his mantle, she pressed +him to her tender bosom: and when the nurse was gone, with light +graceful steps advancing towards Edmund, (who rose from his seat to meet +her) she said: + +"See here, my Lord, a still more powerful pleader; one pure and spotless +indeed, whose opening prospects must be clouded, whose innocent name +must be blasted, if you persist in your intentions, if you seek his +father's destruction. Look at this babe, and tell me if your gentle +nature can doom him to such cruel misfortunes as your denunciation of +his father must bring upon his guiltless head." + +Edmund, the noble Edmund, stooped, and gazing on the child, was not +ashamed to shed tears of tenderness and compassion on his sweet face. +The lovely creature opened its eyes, and with the same soft look of +confiding innocence which marked his mother's features, stretched out +his little hands and smiled. + +"Oh! this is too much! indeed too much!" exclaimed De Montfort. "I must +not be a man to see this sweet, this lovely infant, and you, angelic +woman, and dare to breathe one injurious wish against that man on whom +the happiness of both depends! From henceforth I dismiss for ever all my +revengeful, perhaps my ill-founded schemes: never shall word or look of +mine attempt to injure the happy, the enviable St. Aubyn. Surely Heaven +would not have favoured him with felicity so rare, had a deed so cruel +as that of which I suspected him stained his soul! I will try to think, +to believe so. Assure yourself, at least, loveliest of women, that from +me he has nothing more to fear; and may Heaven's choicest blessings be +showered on you, and on this sweet, this lovely infant!" + +He bent one knee to the ground, and, with reverential awe, kissed +Ellen's hand, lifting his expressive eyes towards that Heaven he was +invoking in her favour: then rising, he took the babe from her arms, +kissed its hands, its cheeks, its lips, and returning it to its mother, +with hasty and agitated steps quitted the apartment: leaving her +impressed with feelings of joy, gratitude, and the tenderest esteem for +this noble, though somewhat eccentric being. + +Folding her babe to her fond maternal heart, which seemed to feel even +increased affection for it from the late trying scenes, she passed with +it to the nursery, where Laura found her a few minutes after, and +announced the return of the gentlemen from their ride. + +"Where is St. Aubyn?" said Ellen, with a countenance where tears and +smiles contended: "I must see him immediately." + +"It is near the time appointed by Mr. Mordaunt to conclude Lord de +Montfort's business," said Laura, "and I believe he is gone to his +study: but what is the matter, Ellen, you look agitated yet joyful? I +never saw you more radiant in beauty; something I am sure has happened +to light up your face in this manner." + +Ellen smiled, and said, "Oh, flatterer! but I cannot stay to tell you +now; only I hope I have been fortunate enough to adjust a difference of +long standing between Lord de Montfort and St. Aubyn, and I am impatient +to tell my Lord the result of my morning's conversation with the +former--here, take the babe, Laura, and keep him if you will till I come +again, unless Lady Juliana comes, as usual, and snatches him away." She +then hastened to St. Aubyn, whom she found alone, and had just time to +tell him the result of the conference she had held with Edmund, but not +the particulars, before Mr. Mordaunt and the other gentlemen assembled. + +As De Montfort entered the study, Lady St. Aubyn was quitting it, but he +stopped her one moment, and said in a low voice, "Stay, madam, and +witness your power over me." Then advancing, he held out his hand to St. +Aubyn, and said to him in Italian, which he knew O'Brien did not +understand, "Be all our animosity banished for ever." Yet so strong had +been, and perhaps still were his prejudices, that the hand he offered +trembled, and he turned pale, when St. Aubyn took it. + +"I never felt any, Edmund," said he. "I made large allowances for you, +and felt towards you a brother's love: my friendship and best offices +are your's at all times." + +He then apologized to the gentlemen present for speaking a strange +language, and accounted for this little scene, by saying, that an +unhappy disagreement which had taken place long ago between himself and +Lord de Montfort was now fortunately adjusted. + +Ellen just staid long enough to congratulate St. Aubyn in a low voice on +this happy termination of an affair which cost him so much uneasiness, +and turning to Edmund, she said, "You dine with us, my Lord:" he bowed +in silent acquiescence, and she retired, happiest at that moment of the +happy. + +Lord de Montfort and Mr. O'Brien remained that day at the Castle, and +the former, though still at times sunk in reverie, yet was composed; and +sometimes almost cheerful. A weight seemed removed from his mind, and +though his manner to St. Aubyn was still constrained and distant, there +were moments when he appeared with difficulty to prevent himself from +appearing friendly and cordial. + +Ellen saw, that were they often together, Edmund's long-rooted and +cherished prejudices would insensibly wear away; and on that account +regretted that he would not be prevailed on to stay longer than till the +next morning. + +That evening, Laura Cecil, who had been quite pleased to see De Montfort +resuming in some degree the manners which in his boyhood made him so +agreeable, returned to Rose Hill, where Sir Edward Leicester was soon +expected, to whom, it was supposed, she would be married before +Christmas. + +Lord St. Aubyn willingly consented that Ellen should inform his faithful +Bayfield of her knowledge of their transactions in Spain, and the happy +reconciliation between her Lord and Lord de Montfort; and Bayfield, who +almost idolized Ellen before, now considering her as the cause of an +event so desirable, felt her love and veneration redoubled. + +In the course of the evening, Lord St. Aubyn hinted to Mr. O'Brien, that +some of his family had been disturbed by Lord de Montfort's having left +his room while sleeping, and Mr. O'Brien said, that after any great +emotion, his pupil sometimes did so, but that it rarely happened, +frequently not for months together; in reality, no farther disturbance +took place, and the two gentlemen departed the next morning, leaving the +inhabitants of the Castle with very different sensations from those they +had felt at their first arrival. + + + + +CHAP. V. + + My noble gossips, you have been too liberal; + I thank you for it--so shall this _child_, + When _he_ has so much English. + + HENRY VIII. + + +Lady St. Aubyn had received so little pleasure from visiting London the +preceding winter, that she earnestly requested not to remove from the +Castle till after Christmas, when Laura entreated her to spend a month +or six weeks there after her marriage, and wished, as the Countess had +not yet been presented, that ceremony might take place when she was +herself introduced: Lord and Lady Delamore were also expected to be in +London at that time, and Ellen promised herself great pleasure from +becoming acquainted with her. It was therefore determined, that she +should meet Sir Edward, and Laura (who would then be Lady Leicester), in +town the beginning of February, and remain quietly in the country till +that time, where she would have leisure to fulfil those maternal duties +she had voluntarily taken upon herself, and from the due exercise of +which her sweet child grew, and improved every day. + +Before they left the Castle, the young heir was christened with all due +splendor. Sir William Cecil and Sir Edward Leicester, Lady Juliana and +Miss Cecil, were sponsors. The christening suit of fine Brussels lace +for the infant, over white satin, and a similar dress for the fair +mother, were the gift of Lady Juliana; the other sponsors were also very +liberal in their presents to their godson. + +The hilarity attending this ceremony was not confined within the walls +of the Castle, where, however, all the genteeler part of the +neighbourhood were elegantly entertained, while all the poorer sort were +most hospitably regaled under some temporary buildings and marquees +erected for the purpose in the park, where immense fires dispelled the +coldness of winter, at the same time that they served to dress the +provisions intended to regale the crowd assembled round them. Each +family was also liberally supplied with bread, meat, clothing, and +money, according to its numbers and their respective wants; and as Lady +St. Aubyn and Miss Cecil, attended by Bayfield and Jane, did not +themselves disdain to visit the cottages, and see what was really +requisite for the comfort of their inhabitants, every thing was ordered +with intelligence and regularity, and imposition almost totally +prevented. + +Mrs. Neville, the poor officer's widow mentioned before, had for some +time been settled as manager of the Schools of Industry, and other +useful institutions, which Lady St. Aubyn had set on foot during the +summer: her eldest daughter was gone to "that bourne from which no +traveller returns;" but the others, healthy and happy, were in training +for such situations as they seemed calculated to fill. Mrs. Neville was +also very useful in distributing the gifts to the poor, and the +preparations for their entertainment. + +A grand display of fireworks finished the amusements of the evening, for +St. Aubyn observed that was the only species of mere entertainment which +all ranks and ages could partake of; and in the present instance, he +wished not only to benefit, but to gratify all his neighbours. + +Miss Alton and Mrs. Dawkins were amongst the company received at the +Castle, and so delighted were they with the young heir, so charmed with +the splendour and elegance of the repast, that, contrary to usual +custom, no lamentations or tender sympathetic sighs disturbed the gaiety +of the day. + +Soon after this grand fête, the whole family set out for London; and +Lady St. Aubyn, not satisfied with any superintendent of her nursery but +Mrs. Bayfield, begged she might go with them, and be removed entirely +from the more fatiguing post she had hitherto filled. + +Jane, now called Mrs. Williamson, having been for some time under Mrs. +Bayfield's direction, was placed in her vacant department, and another, +somewhat more fashionable, lady's woman engaged to attend the Countess. + +In London they met the new married pair, and the bride's fair sister, +Lady Delamore, whose extraordinary beauty excited Ellen's admiration, +while her likeness to the sweet departed Juliet involuntarily claimed +her affection. + +With such very agreeable friends, and under the respectable protection +of Lady Juliana, Lady St. Aubyn found London a very different scene from +what it had appeared to her the year before: she now possessed also a +greater degree of confidence in herself, and having no longer any thing +to fear, the gloomy hints of St. Aubyn, and her consequent dread, being +for ever explained and removed, she felt a more cheerful flow of +spirits, and enjoyed the amusements which were so amply in her power: +yet still those spirits were softened by the most retiring delicacy; and +those amusements, partaken with moderation and decorum. Still her high +character stood unblemished, and even elevated in the public opinion; +and the splendour of her beauty, which every one thought but now come to +its full perfection, attracted none but _respectful_ admirers. + +The St. Aubyns frequently saw Lord de Montfort, who had purchased a +house in town, and was living in very high style, though still under the +direction of Mr. O'Brien, but evidently choosing to be more his own +master than he had been in Spain, to which country he seemed at present +to have no thoughts of returning; his grandfather's will having left him +free to choose his own residence, though he was under a necessity of +visiting Spain at least once in two years. + +To Lord St. Aubyn he was polite, though distant: strangers could not +have perceived any thing in his manner indicative of dislike or +resentment; but those who knew what had passed, could at times discover +a particular cast of his eye, a certain tone in speaking to the Earl, +which marked a _recollection_, at least, of former enmity, and were by +St. Aubyn hardly to be endured. + +To Ellen he at all times shewed an attention so devoted, and his +expressive eyes displayed so much admiration, that some of those who +witnessed them began to fancy they had discovered the cause of that +gloom which still overshadowed him, and had, from the time of his first +arrival, excited the remarks of every one, and made him the object of +the insipid jests and witless railleries of those who could conceive no +cause but _love_ for the dejection of a young man who could scarcely +count the thousands which swelled his rent-roll. + + Love! ill-star'd passion! doom'd vain scorn to bear, + To meet the busy mocker's idle jest; + Nor then allow'd its misery to declare; + Nor then indulge the woe but half supprest. + +For of the pure, though enthusiastic attachment he felt for Ellen, such +minds could form no idea. + +One evening, at the play, whither Lady St. Aubyn went with a large +party, amongst whom were Lady Meredith and several gentlemen in her +train, they saw in the box opposite to theirs Lord de Montfort leaning +against the side of it, in his usual state of gloomy apathy--his eyes +half closed, his fine hair disordered, and his whole person expressing a +sort of desolation, which waked emotions of pity in Ellen's gentle +heart: she could not see him without compassion, he appeared so +completely an insulated being, and even in the very morning of life, so +totally without any kind connection or affectionate friend to soothe his +melancholy--that melancholy, of which she so well knew the original +cause, that, as she looked towards him, she could not forbear a sigh; +and the sorrow she really felt appeared in her expressive countenance. + +Lady Meredith, who had been attentively watching her with a degree of +malice, of which Ellen had not supposed her capable, now gently touched +Lady St. Aubyn with her fan, and said-- + +"Upon my word, my dear, I could in pity to the love-sick woe-begone De +Montfort have almost wished he could have seen that soft look, and heard +that tender sigh: no doubt it would have gone a great way towards +rendering him a more cheering object, and that I am sure we should all +have rejoiced in, for at present he really casts a gloom over all our +amusements." + +"I do not understand you," said Ellen, with surprize. + +"Indeed!" replied Lady Meredith: "I hardly supposed you would have +carried affectation so far. Here, Hamilton," added she, laughing and +turning to the gentleman next her, "Lady St. Aubyn cannot imagine why +her pity and a very kind look should have any effect on Lord de +Montfort." + +"Pity and a gentle look from so much beauty," replied Sir James +Hamilton, with affected gravity, "must certainly have a most powerful +effect on the heart of any man--assuredly still more on that of one so +devoted as De Montfort's appears to be." + +"I know not, Sir," said Ellen, with modest grace, yet with spirit, "if I +am to consider this as a specimen of that fashionable sort of wit which +you call quizzing or hoaxing. Are not these the _elegant_ terms of the +day? But I am willing to think it no more, as I am convinced you cannot +seriously lose sight of the respect you owe me as a married woman, so +far as to imagine Lord de Montfort can feel, or I permit, a greater +degree of attachment than his long connection with Lord St. Aubyn may +well account for." + +Then turning to St. Aubyn, she said in a gay tone-- + +"Help me, my Lord, to convince Lady Meredith that Lord de Montfort has +really not fallen violently in love with me: how far he may entertain +such a sentiment for her, I will not pretend to say." + +St. Aubyn laughed, and said-- + +"For his own sake, Ellen, I hope he has not been so improvident as to +dispose of his heart in your favour; though I should be happy to hear he +had selected any fair one at liberty to reward his passion." + +This well-timed appeal to her husband, and the unembarrassed manner with +which both had spoken, effectually silenced those who hoped to have +extracted much amusement from the confusion of the timid and delicate +Ellen. + +Presently afterwards, on meeting her eyes, De Montfort's seemed lighted +up with pleasure, and quitting his box, he came to that where she sat. +St. Aubyn seeing a little smile still playing on the countenances of +Lady Meredith and some of her gay friends, determined to shew his +perfect confidence in his wife, turned round to him, and said-- + +"De Montfort, how are you? I am quite glad you found us out, for nothing +is more stupid than being at the play without a party. We have plenty of +room: go and sit between Lady Meredith and Lady St. Aubyn; I am sure I +shall make you happy by placing you there, they are both such +favourites: we have just been disputing which of them you preferred." + +"You did me great honour," replied Edmund, "in speaking of me at all." + +"St. Aubyn only jests," said Ellen: "we were not, I assure you, debating +on the subject." + +"No, indeed," replied Lady Meredith, laughing, "that question may be +easily settled: we were all unanimously agreed, I assure you, my Lord." + +Edmund, not exactly liking the turn of her countenance, was going to +reply with some warmth, and probably might, with that chivalric +gallantry which marked his character, have openly avowed, what he +undoubtedly thought, that Ellen was the first and most admirable of +women, if she had not stopt him by saying-- + +"Oh, pray Lord De Montfort, let Lady Meredith enjoy the diversion she is +seeking: she has been in a teasing humour the whole evening." + +"Pray, Lady Meredith," said Lady Juliana, with a grave air, "let us have +no more of this rattle: Lady St. Aubyn is not fashionable enough to wish +to be the _favourite_ of any man but her husband." + +"Oh, for heaven's sake!" cried Lady Meredith, "do not let us make a +serious business of it. Be assured, my dear Lady St. Aubyn, I had no +intention of getting you a grave lecture: though really," she added, in +a low tone, "I was quite in hopes you were going to be a little like +other people, and not be kept in awe any longer by that starched +specimen of old maidenism. You cannot think, my dear, how much a little +flirting would improve your beauty: then it gives an air of ease and +fashion, which, _entre nous_, is the only thing you want to make you +quite enchanting." + +Ellen only smiled at this rattle, but with an air so little encouraging, +she soon put an end to it; yet, to one less fixed in principle, Lady +Meredith would have been a dangerous companion; and certain it is, more +women are ruined by listening to precepts of this nature, half in +earnest, half in jest, accompanied by a sort of _persiflage_ which few +can withstand, than even by the wiles of men: against these a woman of +virtue is on her guard; but she listens without fear to a female older +than herself, and whom she thinks better versed in the ways of the +world, till insensibly she adopts the same sentiments, and acquires that +hateful worldly tone which affects to laugh at every thing serious and +praiseworthy. + +Ellen, however, was not so easily misled: her natural penetration +detected the fallacy; and all the shafts of Lady Meredith's ridicule +fell, by her, unheeded. + +On the way home, Lady Juliana inveighed bitterly against the flirting +manners and ill-judged raillery of Lady Meredith, who, she said, instead +of improving as she grew older, was every year worse and worse, and was +enough to spoil the conduct of a whole nation of women. + +"Pray, my dear," said she, "don't you be led by her nonsense: I hope she +will not persuade you to follow her example. Indeed, nephew, I wondered +at you for placing that odd, wild-looking young De Montfort next my +niece: he does not please me at all." + +In short, the old lady was so thoroughly out of humour, that they were +very glad to set her down at her own house. + +Two or three days after this, Lord de Montfort took leave of the St. +Aubyns, before he left London, on his way with a party of young men to +see Oxford and Cambridge, and afterwards to go to the Lakes, not meaning +to be again in London till September. He carried with him the most +exalted opinion of Lady St. Aubyn, but he thought of her rather as an +angel than a woman, and was devoted to her with a purity of attachment +inconceivable by the worldly-minded. + + + + +CHAP. VI. + + She sees once more those lovely plains expand, + Where the first flow'ret lured her infant hand. + No where she thinks the sun so mildly gleams, + As on the banks where first she drank its beams: + So green no other mead, so smiles no other land! + Thou little spot, where first I suck'd the light, + Thou witness of my earliest smile and tear-- + Loved haunt! + + SOTHEBY'S OBERON. + + +Nothing more of any moment occurred during the stay of Lord and Lady St. +Aubyn in London, for De Montfort's departure, and the perfect attachment +which subsisted between the noble pair, silenced those tongues, and +stopped those remarks, which Edmund's too obvious admiration had +prepared to annoy Lady St. Aubyn. + +They left London early in April, and spent the month of May at St. +Aubyn's, being old-fashioned and _tasteless_ enough not to find any +pleasure in broiling through the hot months in the metropolis, and +leaving the + + "Opening lawns, deep glooms, and airy summits," + +of their own domain untenanted in the most attractive season of the +year. + +From St. Aubyn's Castle, the long talked of journey into Wales was to +commence. Ellen longed once more to revisit the haunts of her infancy, +and to see her father and her early friends; and St. Aubyn willingly +consented to gratify her. + +The child was to travel with them, attended by the faithful Bayfield and +his nurses: they waited till the end of May, knowing that the bad roads +of North Wales would be hardly passable at an earlier period. + +They went from St. Aubyn's to Shrewsbury, and from thence to Carnarvon, +stopping on the way, as in their former journey, to see all that was +worthy of observation; and as this route was entirely different from +that they had before taken, many new objects presented themselves to +their notice. Amongst other picturesque scenes, they passed the woody +banks of the Dee, whence they obtained a striking view of the beautiful +and romantic town of Llangollen, with its church, and elegant bridge, +embosomed in trees. + +At Llangollen they rested, and though it has in itself nothing +particularly interesting, yet its environs afford much sublime and +pleasing scenery: amongst these the Vale of Crucis is one of the most +lovely secluded situations that fancy can portray; it is adorned by the +fine remains of Valle Crucis Abbey, and its back-ground, formed by a +lofty mountain, on whose summit stands the venerable ruin of Castle +Dinas Bran. + +After seeing all that was deserving observation in this charming spot, +they proceeded through a fine romantic country to Carnarvon, and from +thence to Llanwyllan. + +The latter part of the roads were intolerably bad, and the English +servants, who had never seen any thing like them, were in momentary +expectation of having their necks broken; indeed, Lord Mordaunt's nurses +walked several miles, fearing lest the baby should be injured; and in +truth, even Ellen, though fearless for herself, felt a little uneasy for +the infant. + +All these perils and dangers, however, at length happily past, and +Ellen's heart beat with ecstacy when she saw the white chimnies of +Llanwyllan Farm peeping above the ancient oaks around it. The carriages +stopt before the house, and in an instant Ellen was folded in the arms +of her father: her fair face pressed tenderly to the rough cheek of the +good old man, while the mingled drops of filial love and parental +affection fell in showers from their eyes: repeatedly Powis clasped his +lovely daughter to his heart, and felt enraptured, that though "so great +a lady, his dear Ellen had not forgotten him:" at length he was at +leisure to see and speak to his noble son-in-law, and the awkward air of +respect he endeavoured to assume was soon changed to one of more cordial +affection by the kind greeting Lord St. Aubyn gave him. In the meantime +Ellen stept into the hall where the nurses and servants were waiting, +and taking the infant from Mrs. Bayfield, returned with him into the +parlour, and with delighted looks, placed him in her father's arms. + +Oh, moment of exquisite bliss! moment which might have repaid the +sorrows of many years! Can there be in this world an instant of such +pure delight as the daughter feels when she places her first-born on the +bosom of a venerable parent. + + Some feelings are to mortals given + With less of earth in them than heaven; + And if there be a human tear + From passion's dross refined and clear, + A tear so limpid and so meek + It would not stain an angel's cheek; + 'Tis that which pious fathers shed + Upon a duteous daughter's head. + + SCOTT'S LADY OF THE LAKE. + +Mrs. Ross's domestic talents had been exerted to the utmost to prepare +Llanwyllan Farm in the best possible manner for its noble guests: she +did not indeed quite understand all the various arrangements which are +absolutely necessary for the tolerable comfort of such a family; but +with the assistance of Dame Grey, who picqued herself on remembering how +things used to be when she lived at 'Squire Davis's, and the ready aid +of the active Joanna, every thing was far beyond Ellen's expectations; +and as she encouraged no fine lady-like airs in her nursery attendants, +nor even in her own woman, none of those vexatious murmurs disturbed her +which servants often have the happy art of contriving where no real +cause for complaint exists; and certainly the furniture for the nursery +was not quite so rich as Lady Juliana had chosen for that at the Castle: +the nurses found that the young Lord slept quite as well, and his cheeks +bloomed quite as freshly beneath the clean white cotton hangings of this +little couch as under the quilted satin cradle at St. Aubyn's. + +The whole party was speedily arranged, for there was plenty of room and +abundance of provisions. + +The Earl and Countess had brought no more servants than were absolutely +necessary; and Bayfield, highly as she was respected by her noble +employers, was not above directing the management of their table, or any +other domestic office which could make her useful, and though Powis, at +first, thinking her a much greater lady than he had been accustomed to +associate with, was very much disposed to treat her as his equal; she +soon convinced him by her respectful conduct towards her lady's father +that she considered herself as greatly his inferior. + +As soon as Ellen had looked round the house, and seen the arrangements +for her child's accommodation settled, she began to be anxious to see +her good friends the Rosses; and finding from her father they talked of +not coming till the next day, she begged him to give her his arm, and +she would walk to the Parsonage: all fatigue, she said, had vanished +from the moment she found herself beneath her father's roof. + +"Come, my dear father," said she, "let us all go: the baby shall come +too: the dear good people will be delighted to see us; they will give us +some tea, and we can return here to eat our fruit supper: you know we +never used to eat anything else at night, and I hope the cream is as +good as it used to be when I managed the dairy." + +Powis looked with delight on the sweet unaffected creature, who was, as +he expressed himself afterwards to Mrs. Ross, "Not a bit set up by her +high fortune, but just as she used to be when only Ellen Powis." + +The infant now "awaking from his rosy nap," and arrayed with the nicest +care, his lovely face shaded by a rich lace border to his cap, and his +fine cambric robe cut to shew his fair bosom and dimpled arms, with his +beautiful mother in a plain white gown and straw hat, attended by St. +Aubyn and Powis, set out for the Parsonage. + +On the way, Ellen spoke with the sweetest condescension to all she met, +and many of the villagers who knew she was arrived contrived to throw +themselves in her way. + +Mrs. Howel, who used to do her many little services at the market-town, +happened now to cross her path, and profoundly courtesying, would have +passed on, but Ellen, saying--"Excuse me a moment, my dear St. Aubyn," +turned and ran after her. + +"How do you do, Mrs. Howel?" said she, holding out her hand, which the +good woman hardly ventured to touch, again courtesying. + +Ellen made kind inquiries for all her family by name; and seeing her old +neighbour's eyes involuntarily wandering towards the child, as if she +anxiously wished, but was ashamed to ask a nearer view of him, she +beckoned the nurse to bring him towards her, and said:-- + +"Do look at my little boy, Mrs. Howel: is he not a fine fellow?" + +"Ah, Madam," said the good woman, "he is the loveliest babe I ever saw, +except your Ladyship, at the same age.--God bless him, and God bless +you, Madam; for you deserve every kind of happiness." + +"Thank you, thank you, my good neighbour. Come to the Farm and see us +when it is convenient: at present, my Lord is waiting for me, so +good-bye." And she lightly ran on, leaving the farmer's wife charmed and +delighted by her sweetness and kind attention. + +They soon reached the Parsonage, and were received with unaffected joy. + +Great indeed, at first, was the bustle of poor Mrs. Ross, who, not +hoping for such an honour, was not drest, nor her parlour, though always +neat, in that high state of preparation it would have been had she +expected them; but she was soon convinced that the string of apologies +she meditated were totally unnecessary, by finding the warm-hearted +Ellen first in her own arms, and leaving them to fly to those of Joanna, +and then with sweet filial reverence bending to the kind parental +embrace of the venerable Ross. St. Aubyn and the good Powis, in the +meantime, stood gazing on her with rapturous emotion, and both thinking +there never was so enchanting a creature. The babe was admired, +caressed, and finally pronounced a prodigy of beauty and early +apprehension, and his sweet good-humoured smiles were uninterrupted even +by one frown, though handed from one to the other with raptures which +would have made an infant of a less amiable disposition cross and +fretful. + +"Well, my excellent friend," said St. Aubyn, aside to Ross, "you see +once more your lovely pupil, from whom you parted with so much regret, +not, I hope, injured either in person or mind by her intercourse with +the great world. Oh, my good Sir, how infinitely am I indebted to you +for implanting principles in her youthful bosom which have stood the +test of many trying scenes. You and I must have a great deal of +conversation, and I know you will be charmed to hear how admirably she +conducts herself on all occasions." + +"I _am_ charmed," said Ross, while an affectionate tear stood in his +eye, "charmed with all I see and hear of both: indeed, my Lord, that +lovely unaffected creature adorns the rank to which you have raised her: +the choice you made reflects as much honour on your penetration as I +hope it will ensure happiness to your future life; nor could any young +person have better stood the trying test of sudden elevation, of that +admiration which doubtless has surrounded her. Now see how sweetly she +returns to us without one high air, one look of dissatisfaction at the +inferiority of accommodations or manners she must see. + + "Polite as all her life in courts had been, + Yet good as she the courts had never seen." + +"You have, indeed," said St. Aubyn, "most happily characterized her; but +you cannot think half so highly of her as I have reason to do." + +By this time the tea was over; and Ellen, wrapping up her boy, sent him +home; but instead of returning with him, she remained at the Parsonage +all the evening, delighted herself, and delighting all around her. + +"Well," said Mrs. Ross, after her visitors were departed, "well, I never +saw any thing in my life so strange! Why, I thought to have seen a fine +lady, all dressed in silks and jewels, and looking stiff and +formal-like; and I thought to have said, my Lady Countess, and your +Ladyship--and behold! here she comes in a plain white gown, but little +better than one I scolded her for wearing once--you remember it, +Joanna?--And flies to me, kisses me, and calls me dear mamma, as she +used to do; and if I had been to have died for it, I could not call her +any thing but Ellen, and child, the whole evening almost, except once or +twice I recollected myself, and said my Lady, when we were at the window +together, and she put her dear arms round my neck, and said dear mamma, +I am _your_ Ellen!--and then she is grown such a beauty!--to be sure, +she always was as pretty a creature as could be I thought, but now she +looks somehow so sensible, and so happy; and then her carriage is so +easy, and yet so grand, that if I did not know to the contrary, I should +think she was born a great princess.--And then the sweet baby--with his +little laughing mouth, and pretty eyes!--And my Lord too, to be so +kind--that I once as good as told I wished he would go away from +Llanwyllan: and so I did wish it, for could I ever have thought it would +come to such honour and happiness for Ellen!" + +Ross and Joanna listened with smiles to this long harangue, and though +not quite so fluent in their praises, were at least equally charmed and +delighted with herself. + +St. Aubyn and his Ellen remained thus beloved and happy at Llanwyllan +for some time, during which Ellen visited with the utmost kindness every +farmhouse of which she had formerly known the inhabitants, and +gladdening every poor cottage not only with her smiles, but with more +substantial marks of her favour and benevolence. + +In the course of the first fortnight Ellen learned that there was a +mutual attachment between her friend Joanna and a young clergyman, who +did the duty of a parish not more than three miles from those filled by +the worthy Ross, and learning from that good man that he had no +objection to the match, for that Mr. Griffiths was a man of excellent +character, and well suited to Joanna, both in age and temper, and that +the only possible objection was the narrowness of his income, and there +being no parsonage-house on the living he served, nor any house within +many miles where they could reside, she consulted with her Lord, and the +next opportunity said to Ross: + +"My dear Sir, I have a proposal to make to you. It is the mutual request +of my Lord and myself, and you cannot think how much you will oblige us +by complying." + +"I know not," said Ross, "what I could refuse to either of you." + +"My father," said she, "complains much of the loneliness of his winter +evenings; yet he does not like to remove from Llanwyllan and come to +live near us, as we earnestly wished him to do; but he says our modes of +life are so different from those to which he has been accustomed, and +the journey appears so alarmingly long to him, who has never been fifty +miles from home, that he says he must be contented with the hope of +seeing us here sometimes, and end his life where he began it. But ah, my +dear Sir, his wishes, as well as our's, are, that you and Mrs. Ross +would remove to Llanwyllan Farm, and leave this house for Joanna and +your future son-in-law. You are now, we all think, too much advanced in +life to serve three churches, as you have done for many years: give up +two of them to Mr. Griffiths, with the stipend attached to them: and +surely, surely, my dearest Sir, you will not refuse from Ellen, from +your little pupil, a trifling token of her love to make your life and +dear Mrs. Ross's comfortable, and to enable you to give Joanna to her +lover with a sufficiency to make them easy." + +She rose, and putting a pocket-book into his hand, said, "Not one word: +I will not hear one word. For once, your Ellen will be obstinate, and +not listen even to _you_." + +She ran out of the room, and seeking Joanna, made her put on her bonnet, +and come with her to dine at the Farm, leaving a gay message with Mrs. +Ross, that she should hope to hear a favourable answer to her request +the next day. + +This hint was sufficient to send the good lady to know of Ross what Lady +St. Aubyn meant: she found him overwhelmed with tender gratitude. The +pocket-book contained notes to a large amount, with a slip of paper +containing these words: + + My dear Sir, + + I have adapted the enclosed rather to your very limited wishes + than to my own sense of what I ought to have done. Pray let + this little transaction never be mentioned more, unless any + plan more pleasing to you than that I shall propose when I give + you this should occur to you. If my request be at all + unpleasant to you, pray reject it without hesitation. + + Your ever obliged + + ELLEN ST. AUBYN. + +Ross now explained to his wife what had passed, and they both agreed no +plan could be devised more desirable for all parties; and that it would +be both rude and ungrateful to refuse a present, which, however, they +sincerely wished had been of less value. + +All was soon finally settled to the great joy of Powis, who was +delighted with the idea of his friendly inmates. The young lovers also +were full of grateful joy, and Ellen relinquished the idea she had at +one time entertained of taking Joanna home with her: Ross objected to +it, as he did not wish her to be introduced into scenes of life so +different from those she had been, or ever would be again accustomed to; +and Griffiths did not like the idea of her going to such a distance: +nay, Joanna herself, much as she had wished to see St. Aubyn Castle, +seemed now very well contented to remain for life in the vale of +Llanwyllan. + + + + +CHAP. VII. + + The sky it seems would pour down stinking pitch, + But that the sea, mounting to the welkin's cheek, + Dashes the fire out. O, I have suffer'd + With those that I saw suffer! A brave vessel, + Who had, no doubt, some noble creatures in her, + Dash'd all to pieces. Oh! the cry did knock + Against my very heart!--Poor souls, they perish'd! + + SHAKESPEARE'S TEMPEST. + + +St. Aubyn had related to Ross the conclusion of those circumstances +which he had confided to him before his marriage with Ellen, and though +that venerable man rejoiced that Edmund's vindictive intentions had been +so happily conquered, neither he nor the Earl felt entirely satisfied on +the subject. + +Lord De Montfort was certainly an excentric character, and it was +possible his impetuous feelings might yet take another direction, +especially if the bigotted Catholics, by whom he generally was +surrounded, should obtain any intimation of those apparent facts which +militated so much against the character of St. Aubyn, and which only his +own word opposed; and that they might do so, was by no means improbable, +when his occasional night-wanderings were remembered, in which, as he +had done to Ellen, he might hereafter to some other reveal what would +induce them to insist on an explanation. + +Ellen, it was true, had so touched him with admiration and tenderness, +that he could not resist her influence, but now removed from any chance +of seeing her again, there was no saying what new turn his ardent +imagination would take. + +All these ideas, which St. Aubyn had carefully concealed from his wife, +he communicated to his venerable friend, who could not deny their +rationality. The wishes of both centered in one point, and that was the +discovery of De Sylva; and nothing could be more improbable than that he +should now be found after years had elapsed, in which the agents of St. +Aubyn, and of the Marquis of Northington, had sought him in vain, though +their search had been extended through every great city in Spain, +Portugal, France, Italy, and England: it was, in fact, most likely, +either that he was dead, or had so completely changed his appearance and +name as to be living obscurely, perhaps on one of the very spots where +they had vainly endeavoured to find him. + +These wishes and reflections they never discussed except when without +other witnesses, being mutually unwilling to impart any of their +anxieties to Lady St. Aubyn, who, happy in her benevolent plans, in the +society of her father and early friends, in the improving beauty and +health of her lovely boy, and the undeviating and increasing love of St. +Aubyn, seemed not to have a care remaining. + +From Charles Ross, about this time, his father received letters, +expressive of the happiness he felt in his present situation, and of +gratitude to Lord St. Aubyn, who had procured it for him, adding, he +hoped to remain on his present station for some months, as they were +constantly taking prizes, and his share already amounting to a +considerable sum of money. + +The Earl or Countess never mentioned either to his parents or sister his +mad mistake respecting them during his stay in London, nor the +mischievous consequences of it, unwilling to give them pain by a +knowledge of those unpleasant transactions. + +The situation of Llanwyllan was not above a mile from the sea-shore, and +frequently Ellen and Joanna, attended by the nurses and child, walked +thither, Lady St. Aubyn thinking that the fine breeze invigorated and +strengthened both herself and little Constantine; nor had the +indulgences which her unexpected elevation had procured for her rendered +her unequal to a long country ramble, or less pleased to explore the +haunts of her infancy. Frequently St. Aubyn and Mr. Griffiths, who was a +sensible intelligent young man, with the education and manners of a +gentleman, were their escorts: but there was nothing to fear on this +unfrequented shore, for though ships often passed at a distance, there +was not even a fishing town within three miles of their accustomed walk. + +About the middle of July, the weather for three or four days became so +excessively hot, as seemed to preclude any exercise, except very late in +the evening: this uncommon degree of warmth was followed by a tremendous +storm of thunder and lightning; and though the weather cleared a little +in the middle of the day, the evening again closed with a renewal of the +tempestuous weather, attended by a violent wind. + +While the weather had been tolerable, the Rosses had walked to the Farm +to spend the remainder of the day, and were there when the tempest began +again with added horrors, and indeed not one of the party was totally +without alarm, lest the violence of the wind should injure the ancient +mansion. + +One of the men who had been sent to Carnarvon in the morning on some +commission, and whose road lay near the sea, returned about nine +o'clock. The thunder and lightning had by that time abated, but the +violent wind continued, attended by torrents of rain and excessive +darkness. This man said he had seen a large ship near the coast, and +evidently in great danger, from the beach on which she was driving being +rocky and inaccessible, the tide coming in, and the wind blowing from +the sea, which he said was rougher than he had ever seen it, and the +ship laboured so much he feared she must be lost. + +This account soon travelled from the servants'-hall to the parlour: the +cheeks of the females were blanched by terror, and Mrs. Ross, clasping +her hands together, exclaimed, + +"God preserve my poor Charles!" + +"He is far enough from hence, my dear," said the good Ross, "and in all +probability quite out of the way of this tremendous weather." + +"Perhaps so," said Mrs. Ross, "but I never hear the wind blow without +thinking of him, and a sailor's life is so uncertain, one never knows +where they are, or what they are exposed to." + +While she spoke, they distinctly heard the sound of a gun fired at sea. + +"Hark!" said St. Aubyn, "that is a signal gun! and again! +another!--those are guns of distress: can we do nothing for these poor +creatures?" + +"Oh! try, pray try," said Ellen: "but without exposing yourselves to +danger, it is, I fear, impossible." + +"There will be no danger for us in going down to the shore," said St. +Aubyn. "You and I, my young friend," (speaking to Griffiths) "with the +men servants, and all the assistance we can collect in the village, will +hasten thither: we can at least light some fires on the beach, or make +signals of some kind or other, which may be of service; you, my dear +Sir," (speaking to Powis) "and Mr. Ross, will stay and sooth the fears +of the ladies." + +"Oh, but," said Ellen, "do not expose yourselves too much: the weather +is dreadful." + +"We will take care of ourselves, my love, depend upon it: there are +plenty of box-coats in the hall; we will wrap ourselves up, and if we +save one life our trouble will be amply repaid." + +"God bless you for your goodness," said Mrs. Ross, "and prosper your +undertaking! Oh! these poor sailors have perhaps mothers and sisters +praying for them, as we do for poor Charles." She wept, and Joanna and +Ellen could not restrain their tears. + +The gentlemen, attended by all St. Aubyn's male servants, and several +stout workmen belonging to the Farm, now sallied forth with lanterns, +and such torches as could be hastily prepared: their numbers were +considerably augmented by many of the villagers, who, independent of the +rewards St. Aubyn offered, were prompted by humanity and curiosity to +assist. + +They soon reached the shore, on which a high tide was violently beating; +and by the flashes of lightning, which, though fainter and less +frequent, still at intervals broke the total darkness of the night, they +soon discerned a ship of considerable size, now very near the shore; her +sails rent in pieces, and scarcely a mast standing, driving towards +them, and firing minute guns as signals of distress. They all saw that +to prevent her being stranded on that rocky and impracticable coast was +totally impossible, and therefore some of the men were dispatched to the +village for ropes and other articles which might be used in saving the +lives of the crew. In the meantime, those remaining on the shore +collected all the rubbish they could find, and lighted two or three +large fires, shouting when the wind lulled a little, to encourage the +sailors, which a minute after was answered by a shout from the men on +board. + +In less than an hour after their arrival, the ship was driven on a ledge +of rocks, almost at the foot of the cliff on which St. Aubyn and his +party stood; and they saw some of the crew crowding into two small +boats, and others coming on shore on pieces of timber, or whatever they +could find. At intervals they rose or disappeared, as the waves were +more or less powerful; but in the end, a considerable number, more dead +than alive, were thrown on the land. + +Several of the men, cheered by large promises from St. Aubyn, waded as +far as possible into the sea, and assisted some of the crew with ropes +and by other means, so that at last more than fifty men were saved. + +To paint the gratitude of these poor creatures, their mingled +exclamations of joy for their escape, and horror at the recollection of +their danger, would be a vain attempt. Some of them appeared to be +foreigners, and two or three wore the dress of Turks. Amid the darkness +and confusion that prevailed, however, it was scarcely possible to +distinguish one person from another. Several of the English sailors (for +the ship had evidently been English, and the foreigners were apparently +prisoners of war), were busily engaged in succouring a man who had come +to shore with scarcely any signs of life, and about whom they appeared +very assiduous. + +St. Aubyn's people had brought spirits and other cordials to the +sea-shore, and after administering such present refreshment as their +wants seemed to require, he now put all that were able to walk under the +care of Griffiths, desiring him not to take them to the Farm, fearing +lest the sight should be too affecting to its female inhabitants, but +dispose of them in the best manner he could, amongst the cottages or +barns belonging to the farmhouses; for in the abodes of all, his bounty +and kindness had procured a welcome reception for any whom he chose to +send; he requested Griffiths also just to shew himself at the Farm, to +say they were safe, and then return again. Some of his party he +dispatched for carts, with blankets, &c. to convey to the village such +of the men who were unable to walk. + +The storm by this time had nearly subsided, and a late moon began to +struggle through the black clouds which still hung upon the horizon: +pieces of the unfortunate vessel, with seamens' chests and other +articles, were from time to time thrown ashore; several bodies also came +to land, and St. Aubyn found, though at least fifty had been saved, +several lives were unfortunately lost. + +St. Aubyn now saw that the young man, about whom the sailors had been so +assiduous, and whom they called Captain, was beginning to revive, and +approached to speak some words of consolation and kindness. One of the +sailors was giving him a glass of wine, while another held a lantern +almost close to him; for the faint light of the moon hardly served to +distinguish objects. But what was the surprize, what the tumultuous +emotions of St. Aubyn, when, as the light fell full upon the +shipwrecked, half-expiring object before him, he retraced the features +of Charles Ross!--of him, for whom, but two hours before, his mother had +expressed so many tender fears, and poured so many fervent prayers, +though not even imagining he shared the actual danger which excited +them. + +St. Aubyn started, but with tender caution, lest the surprize should +overpower the unfortunate man, whispered to his servants not to name him +or the place where they were; and approaching still nearer, he took +Charles's cold hand, and drawing his own hat over his face, bade him be +comforted, for all would yet be well. + +The poor young man, too languid to do more than glance his eyes over the +person who addressed him, spoke a few words in a faint voice, expressive +of his thanks, and then feebly murmured a request to know on what coast +he and his friends had been thrown. + +"On no unfriendly, no inhospitable shore, assure yourself," replied St. +Aubyn. "Whatever property the sea spares will be cautiously protected +for you and your followers. Many chests have been thrown on shore; and +as the weather is becoming calm, when the morning dawns, the boats of +your ship shall go off to the wreck, and every thing of value, if +possible, be saved." + +"I am then on English ground?" + +"On the coast of Wales." + +"Of Wales! Oh, heavens!----What part of Wales?" + +"Be not impatient: you shall know all in good time." + +"That voice," said Charles--"surely I have heard that voice before." + +"I have been a great traveller," replied St. Aubyn: "we may have met +elsewhere." + +Charles asked a few more questions, to which St. Aubyn cautiously +replied; and a cart being by this time arrived from the village, Charles +and two or three others were placed in it, under the escort of +Griffiths, to whom the Earl recounted the late interesting discovery, +requesting him to take care that Charles was not too suddenly surprised +with a knowledge of where he was. + +Griffiths saw him safely lodged in the best place that could be found +for him; and leaving St. Aubyn's valet to watch by him, and take care +that no one spoke to him till his return, hastened with Lord St. Aubyn +to Powis's, where they found the whole family had been up all night, +anxious beyond expression; and when Ellen saw St. Aubyn dripping wet, +his hat and great coat heavy with the rain and spray of the sea, she +tenderly reproached him for so exposing himself, while Joanna's looks +read the same lecture to Griffiths: but both were so rejoiced at the +good their exertions had effected, that the chiding was little heeded; +and soon, by the assistance of dry clothing, they made a more +comfortable appearance; and after dispatching as many necessaries as +could be collected to the poor mariners, and above all to Charles +(though yet his being so near was kept a profound secret to his parents +and friends), the whole party retired to rest, which indeed the fatigues +of the night rendered extremely necessary to all. + + + + +CHAP. VIII. + + The image of a wicked heinous fault + Lives in his eye: that close aspect of his + Does shew the mood of a much-troubled heart! + + KING JOHN. + + +St. Aubyn would not disturb the repose of Ellen that night, or rather +that morning, for the sun had risen before they retired, by mentioning +the discovery of Charles amongst the shipwrecked mariners; but his own +anxiety how best to break the matter to Ross and his wife would not +allow him to sleep late, in spite of the fatigue he had undergone. + +As soon as he was drest, he went to the cottage where Charles had been +placed, and found him greatly recovered: he had been greatly exhausted +during the storm, which had lasted longer at sea than at land: he had +laboured with unceasing activity to save the ship, of which he was the +commander, though he had not the rank of captain, and had not left her +till all hope of her escaping was lost: he was also considerably +bruised, for he would not embark in the boats, but had floated to land +on a piece of timber. Rest, however, had in some measure recruited his +strength, and though still languid, he hoped to be able to rise in the +course of the day, and see what could be done to save his property, and +that of his shipmates. + +All this St. Aubyn learned from his valet, who sat by the young man, and +prevented any one from approaching who might too suddenly have informed +him his parents were so near. + +St. Aubyn, however, now judged it proper this information should reach +him: he went therefore to the little room where Charles lay--it was +darkened as much as possible; and St. Aubyn sat down by his bed-side +without being recognized. He inquired with great kindness for the health +of the invalid, to which Charles replied he was better: "But surely," +added he, "I have heard that voice before: even amid the horrors of last +night, when it was so generously exerted in comforting me, and directing +others for the comfort of my poor shipmates, it struck me as one deeply +engraved on my memory, though I cannot recollect the name of its owner." + +"It is a voice," said St. Aubyn, "you certainly have heard before: I +recognize your's also, and know your name--it is Ross." + +"It is, indeed," said Charles: "pray tell me your's, for it is cheering +to think I am not quite amongst strangers." + +"You will be convinced you are not, when I tell you my name is St. +Aubyn." + +"St. Aubyn? _Lord_ St. Aubyn?" + +"The same." + +"Oh, how much do I owe to you!" exclaimed Charles: "I blush to remember +my former ingratitude and folly." + +"Speak no more of it--it is quite forgotten." + +"Ah, my Lord, how good you are. But did you not say last night we were +on the coast of Wales? Tell me, I beseech you, on what part of that +coast. I begin to hope, knowing Lady St. Aubyn's former residence." + +He paused breathless, with contending emotions. + +"Lady St. Aubyn and myself," replied St. Aubyn calmly, "are on a visit +to some _friends_ in this neighbourhood. The storm of last night, and +the hearing a ship was in distress, induced me to take out my servants +and some others to see if we could be of any service to the unfortunate +mariners. One of the friends we were with blessed me, and prayed that my +undertaking might prosper. Her prayers were heard: they were the fervent +supplication of a _mother_ for her _son_, though then she knew not nor +could believe he was implicated in the danger." + +"Ah! Heavens!" exclaimed Charles, "it was _my_ mother! Speak, my Lord, +speak! Are we not at, or near Llanwyllan?" + +"Be composed, and I will tell you." + +"I am composed, and able to hear all." + +"You are at Llanwyllan. Your father, mother, and Joanna, were obliged by +the storm of last night to remain at Powis's: there I left them sleeping +in peace, not knowing or imagining their son and brother was so near." + +The tears ran down the cheeks of Charles, and his heart swelled high +with thankfulness both to his earthly and heavenly preserver. + +After a few minutes, for St. Aubyn was glad to see his emotions find a +relief so desirable, and would not interrupt him, he grasped the hand +which the Earl had given him, and would have said something expressive +of his gratitude, but St. Aubyn prevented him by saying: + +"Not a word on that score, Mr. Ross: mine was the impulse of mere +humanity, and I rejoice truly that it led me to save a life so dear to +friends greatly respected by me and Lady St. Aubyn. Make your mind easy. +I hope in the course of the day you will be in a state to be placed +beneath your father's roof; in the meantime I will prepare his mind, and +those of your mother and sister, for a meeting so tender; and there is +also another friend at Llanwyllan who will be glad to see you: your +former playmate and youthful companion, Ellen, will rejoice in your +safety. Be at rest; all will go well, and I trust even your property +will go secured, for boats are already gone off to the wreck, and I have +sent such persons as I can depend on, to see all that is saved protected +from depredation." + +"You are too good, my Lord; too good!" said Charles, quite overpowered. + +"I must now leave you," said St. Aubyn: "our mutual friends will expect +me, and I have an arduous task in prospect, for I dread the effect on +the minds of your parents of the disclosure I must now make to them." + +He now took his leave, directing every possible care to be taken of the +invalid. + +St. Aubyn waited till after breakfast to unfold to Ross and his wife the +late events; when that meal was concluded, they talked of returning to +the Parsonage, but he requested them not to go, for he had something of +great consequence to tell them: he then in the gentlest and most +judicious manner revealed to them the discovery of the night before, and +they supported the communication better than he had expected. + +The pious Ross lifted his eyes and heart to Heaven in thankfulness for +his son's wonderful escape, while Mrs. Ross and Joanna sobbed upon each +others bosom, and mingled tears with their expressions of joy and +gratitude. Ellen dropt a tear of tender sympathy, and rejoiced, without +fear of offending the no longer jealous St. Aubyn, in the safety of her +early friend. + +In the afternoon, Charles found himself able to rise, and St. Aubyn sent +his carriage to convey him to the Parsonage, where Ellen and himself +were ready to receive him, and to support the spirits of his venerable +parents and tender sister. + +They all bore the meeting with tolerable composure, and, the first +emotions past, were eager to hear how Charles, whom they had supposed to +be cruising near Gibraltar, happened to be exposed to the fury of a +storm on the coast of North Wales. + +He told them, that almost immediately after the date of the last letters +he wrote to them, orders had been received for the return of the vessel +he commanded to England, and after refitting at Falmouth to join a small +squadron which was cruising off the coast of France: that on his return +homeward he had fallen in with a French frigate, superior to his own in +force, but which, after an obstinate battle, during which his own vessel +had been much injured he had succeeded in taking; that he had put some +of his own officers and men aboard the prize, and had taken some of the +French and some Algerines, whom they had previously captured, on board +his own ship; that the violence of the storm and the disabled state of +his vessel, prevented him from making the port he wished to have done, +and finally had driven him on that coast, the darkness of the night not +allowing him to ascertain where-abouts he was: what was become of his +prize he knew not, but as she was a better sailer than his own ship, it +was probable she had reached some port on the coast of Cornwall in +safety. + +"And now, my dear mother," said Charles, "if we can but secure my chest, +we shall find in it a snug little hoard of dollars, and a few pretty +valuable jewels, which I intend to dispose of as a marriage portion for +Joanna, if any body will have her," (and he glanced archly at Griffiths, +whose tender solicitude about his sister had not escaped him) "and if +not, I shall be entitled to a tolerable share of prize-money, for which +I have fought hard, and will serve to make you and my father easy. To be +sure I must stand a court-martial for the loss of his Majesty's ship, +but that is only a matter of form, and I am sure that my men will bear +witness I did all in my power to save her--and a pretty creature she +was: I never wish to sail in a better, but she was not lost through my +fault, so I must be contented." + +They smiled at his sailor-like nonchalance, and were very glad to hear +his sea-chest and all its contents were safely landed. + +Amongst St. Aubyn's humane cares for his own countrymen, the unfortunate +prisoners thus cast on a strange shore were not forgotten. He saw that +their more immediate wants were supplied, and wrote to the proper +persons in London to know what was to be their future lot, contenting +himself in the meantime with having a slight guard kept over them; +though of their attempting to escape in their present state, some +wounded, all weak and helpless, there was not much probability. + +One of the French captives turned out to be a Catholic priest, a +venerable and respectable man, who had been for many years resident at +Gibraltar, from whence, learning he might now with safety return to +France, he had embarked in the vessel Charles Ross had captured, hoping +to end his days where he had begun them, on the banks of the Garonne. + +This circumstance had not been known till two days after the shipwreck, +and the good Ross considering this unfortunate man as the servant of the +same master, though speaking another language, and differing in many +points of belief, had invited him to share his own table; and Mrs. Ross +had, like the pious Shunamite, prepared for him "a little chamber with a +bed," where he might be at rest. + +On the evening of that day, the weather being extremely fine, Lady St. +Aubyn and Joanna expressed a wish to walk to the sea-shore to look at +the wreck, and see the place where Charles and his friends had landed. + +All the more painful vestiges of the shipwreck had been removed, and the +bodies of the unfortunate sailors which had floated on shore had been +interred in the church-yard, where Griffiths had read the funeral +service. + +St. Aubyn and Charles had some little business relative to the survivors +to transact, but they desired Griffiths to attend the ladies, and they +would shortly follow. Mrs. Bayfield also wished to see the place where +the shipwreck happened, and Ellen desired her little Constantine might +go also, as she thought the sea air did him good. They set out therefore +early in the evening, for the storm had cooled the air, and they wished +to spend some time on the shore. + +They soon reached the beach, and found the sea so calm, so beautiful, it +seemed unlike the same element which had wrought such destruction the +night before. + +Griffiths pointed out to them the wreck, which, as it was now low water, +appeared very near the shore, and shewed them the precise spot where +Charles and the rest had landed. + +They both shuddered and turned pale at the painful retrospection, and +Joanna again expressed her thankfulness to St. Aubyn and Griffiths, +whose exertions had saved them. + +While they were walking up and down the beach, they met two or three of +the English sailors, who were upon the look-out for any other articles +the sea might have left upon the sands, and speaking to them received +their thanks and blessings for the care and kindness they had +experienced. + +On a large piece of timber near the edge of the water sat one of the +Algerines: he looked excessively weak and sickly, and as they approached +him, he surveyed them with a look of gloomy despair. + +"How ill that man looks," said Ellen to one of the sailors: "he seems +likely to die." + +"Yes, my Lady, and die he will, for he with difficulty crawled hither, +he is so ill; and the woman where he lodges says he bewails himself all +night, and takes no rest." + +"Poor creature!" said Ellen: "he laments, doubtless, his native land, +and the friends he has left behind." + +"I believe, my Lady," replied the sailor, "he laments his crimes, for +one of the French prisoners that speaks a little English tells me this +fellow owns he has been a great sinner, and that he was bred a +Christian, but renounced his religion and denied his God for the lucre +of gain, amongst the Turks, and Mahometans, and such like." + +"Horrible!" said Ellen: "are there such wretches?" + +As she spoke, the poor miserable being approached her with feeble steps, +and in French asked her if she would have the goodness to purchase a +trinket he had to sell--all he had left of better days. + +Ellen spoke French but imperfectly: she could read and understand it +pretty well, but did not attempt to converse in it; she knew, however, +what he said, and though her nature shuddered at a being of whom she had +heard such a shocking account, endeavoured to answer him with civility: +her voice, however, was low, and her accent not perfectly intelligible +to the Algerine; and thinking she intended to accept his offer, he drew +from his bosom a cross, composed of large rubies set in gold, and put it +into her hand: he sighed heavily; and the sight of this ornament, which +seemed to corroborate the story that this man had been bred a Christian, +gave to Ellen a painful sensation: she endeavoured to make him +understand that his wants should be relieved without his parting from +the trinket, which she offered again to him. + +At that moment Mrs. Bayfield, with the nurses and little Constantine, +came towards them: she cast her eyes upon the Algerine--she trembled, +again she looked; she caught the glance of his dark gloomy eyes, and the +sound of his voice met her ears: instantly she exclaimed: + +"_That_ wretch!" and snatching the infant from his nurse, she folded him +to her bosom and fled away, crying as she ran--"Come, my Lady, oh, come +for God's sake! leave that monster: come, Miss Ross--run! fly! he will +murder us all." + +Wild and extraordinary as this panic seemed to Ellen, her feet +involuntarily obeyed, and with the cross still in her hand, she suddenly +fled from this poor sickly wretch, who, unable to follow, stood amazed +at their apparently frantic demeanour. + +Joanna and Griffiths ran after the Countess; though still no one knew +the cause of this extraordinary alarm; and so eagerly did the affrighted +Bayfield speed, that though encumbered with the child, and advanced as +she was in years, they could not easily overtake her. + +While they hastened on, each unable to account for the strange terror +which had seized them all, they were met by St. Aubyn and Charles Ross, +who, passing Bayfield at some little distance, were unobserved by her, +and seeing Ellen and Joanna apparently terrified, ran by a shorter cut +to meet them. + +"What on earth has happened?" said St. Aubyn, seeing them pale and +almost breathless. "Ellen! Joanna! what has happened? Has any one +frightened you? Griffiths, what has alarmed them thus?" + +"Indeed, my Lord," said Griffiths, "I am as ignorant as you are; the +ladies were talking to the poor sick Turk on the shore, and Mrs. +Bayfield on a sudden seized the child from his nurse, ran away, and +called to us to follow, for we should be all murdered: Lady St. Aubyn +and Joanna instantly obeyed, and I followed, but why, or what was the +cause of the alarm, I am unable to imagine." + +"I believe--I think," panted Ellen, "that Bayfield knew something of the +man we were speaking to, for she trembled as she looked at him, and said +he would murder us, or words to that effect." + +"What is that in your hand, Ellen?" said St. Aubyn. "Heavenly powers! +What is it?" + +His limbs trembled, and he grew so pale, she thought he was fainting. + +"It is a cross, my Lord," she replied, "a cross that the man--the +Turk--offered to sell to me.--I forgot that I had it in my hand." + +She gave it to him; he cast his eyes upon it and exclaimed:-- + +"That man! Where is he? Merciful heaven! Can it be!" + +And suddenly recovering himself, he darted towards the place where the +sick Algerine was slowly endeavouring to follow them. + +"Go with him," said Ellen; "follow him, Charles; go, Mr. Griffiths: +surely he cannot know this man; perhaps some mischief may ensue." + +They instantly obeyed; and now Ellen and Joanna standing still and +looking earnestly after St. Aubyn, saw him with the rapidity of +lightning fly to the Algerine: what he said they could not hear, but +with an action of the most eager impatience, they saw him with one hand +tear the turban from the brow of the Turk, and with the other seized him +violently by the collar, while the poor trembling wretch sunk prostrate +on the ground before him. By this time Griffiths and Charles Ross had +reached them. St. Aubyn spoke, and instantly they seized the Algerine, +raised, or rather dragged him from the ground, but kept him from moving, +though indeed to move far was not in his power. + +Ellen, unable longer to restrain her impatience to learn the meaning of +this scene, now hastened towards them, though trembling so much Joanna +could scarcely support her. As they approached, St. Aubyn exclaimed in a +voice hoarse with contending passions:-- + +"Come not here, my Ellen; let not purity like thine breathe the air +contaminated by that monster! + +"Robber! Murderer! Vile apostate from thy God!" he cried, with gestures +almost frantic, to the shaking wretch before him. "The hand of vengeance +has at length overtaken thee, and long and dreadful is the account thou +now must render. Yes, look at me; I am the man you so deeply injured; I +am St. Aubyn. + +"Go, Ellen," again he cried, "leave us; Joanna, go with her; Griffiths, +attend them; Charles and I are enough to secure this villain; besides +here are sailors who will assist us." + +Ellen obeyed in silence as fast as her terrors would permit, for now she +no longer doubted of the cause of all this scene, which to Joanna and +Griffiths appeared as if some sudden madness had seized first Bayfield +and then St. Aubyn. + + + + +CHAP. IX. + + Oh, it is monstrous, monstrous! + Methought the billows spake and told me of it: + The wind did sing it to me; and the thunder, + That deep and dreadful organ-pipe, + ----did bass my trespass! + + TEMPEST. + + ----The seasons thus-- + As ceaseless round a jarring world they roll, + Still find them happy, and consenting spring + Sheds her own rosy garland on their heads. + + THOMSON. + + +Slowly and with trembling steps Ellen left the beach, and went towards +the village: not many yards had they proceeded ere they were met by +Bayfield and two or three of the men-servants. The poor woman had at +length been prevailed on to relinquish her infant charge to his nurse, +who had overtaken her; and fortunately meeting the men-servants, who, +impelled by curiosity, were going to the beach to look at the wreck, she +turned back with them, fearing lest any injury should befall her Lord or +Lady. + +"Thank God, Madam," said the good creature, who still trembled and +looked pale, "that you are safe! the dear child is safe also: but where +is my Lord? Oh, my dear Lord! sure he has not trusted himself with that +wretch alone." + +"Be calm, Bayfield, be pacified," said Ellen: "you terrify us with these +emotions: your Lord is safe; Mr. Charles Ross and the sailors are with +him: but who is this man you seem so much to fear? The poor creature +looks not likely to injure any one, for he appears half-dead." + +"Oh, my Lady, don't pity him," cried Bayfield: "but are you sure he has +no pistols about him? It was a pistol you know, my Lady----, but I +forget myself: one word, Madam, if you please." She drew Ellen aside and +said--"Your Ladyship will not wonder at my alarm, when I tell you the +man you were talking with was the very person my Lord has sought in vain +so long; it was that wretch De Sylva! Oh, I remember the glance of his +dark malicious eye: it has never left my remembrance since the evening I +by accident met him with my late Lady walking in the Cork Grove, three +or four days before her death, when I did not know he was within many +miles of the place; and starting at seeing them together, he gave me +such a look; I never shall forget it: I thought he looked at me just the +same on the beach, and I expected every moment when he would draw out a +pistol and shoot some of us--perhaps the baby out of spite to my Lord, +and that made me run away in that manner: oh, I was not myself, nor +shall I be again this night. Oh that my Lord de Montfort was here to +have all his cruel doubts put an end to for ever, for sure the villain +will confess all now." + +Ellen heard her with silent but tumultuous emotion, and hastened as much +as possible towards the Parsonage, sending the men however to meet their +lord. + +The Parsonage being nearer to the beach than the Farm was, Ellen and her +friends stopped there, and begged Mr. Griffiths would hasten back to St. +Aubyn, and say where he would find her: she then requested Ross would go +into his study with her, and there, knowing he was perfectly acquainted +with the circumstances which had happened to St. Aubyn in Spain, she +entreated his advice how to proceed, and that he would endeavour to calm +the violent emotions which the discovery of De Sylva had excited in the +bosom of St. Aubyn. + +"Surely," said the pious Ross, "the hand of heaven is evident in this +extraordinary event! The kind humanity which prompted Lord St. Aubyn to +save the poor mariners in the storm, was not only the means by which the +life of my son was preserved, and the grey hairs of his mother and +myself prevented from going down with sorrow to the grave, but has also, +I hope, procured for himself the satisfaction he most earnestly wished, +by bringing De Sylva once more within his reach. Wonder-working +Providence! from what apparently improbable causes does thy Almighty +hand bring forth the most interesting events!" + +As he spoke, a bustle was heard without, and St. Aubyn rushed into the +room, pale, agitated, almost breathless. Charles Ross, Griffiths, and +two or three sailors, followed, leading, or rather bearing the miserable +De Sylva: miserable indeed was his whole appearance: his Turkish turban +had been torn from his head, and his long black hair streamed round his +face in wild disorder. That face which St. Aubyn remembered a few years +before glowing with animation and manly beauty, was now pale, haggard, +and displayed marks of premature old age.--Those eyes, once so full of +life and gaiety, now rolled in horrible dismay; and that form, so agile, +so graceful when with the unfortunate Rosolia he led the sprightly +dance, was now bowed by sickness, and shrunk by fear.--Oh, what havock +does guilt make in the human face and figure! such as he stood, with +looks that terrified each beholder. De Sylva was then but little more +than thirty years of age, yet the vigour of his constitution, exhausted +by excess, his soul a prey to every agony which racks the criminal--his +course was run; the grave opened to receive him, and a few short days it +was evident must terminate his life and sins together. + +"Retire, my love," said St. Aubyn to his trembling wife: "this is no +place for you: you know I perceive who this wretched being is: this +cross, which he offered to you, was that which the ill-fated Rosolia +wore the very evening she went to meet this villain in the Hermitage: +see here my cypher upon this plate of gold, for this, with the rich +necklace from which it depended, was my gift.--Go, my love: the story +which this wretched man has engaged to tell is unfitted for your tender +sensibility to partake of." + +Ellen instantly and gladly obeyed, and the sailors also were sent away, +for the unhappy man, faint and exhausted, was too ill to make any +attempt at escaping, nor could he speak till some restoratives had been +administered. + +During this pause, Ross suggested to St. Aubyn the propriety of having +some person present to receive De Sylva's confession who was able to +take it exactly as delivered, of which St. Aubyn, who alone was +sufficiently master of the French language to do so, was rendered +incapable by his extreme agitation; besides, it occurred to Ross, that +this person should be totally unconnected with Lord St. Aubyn, that his +testimony might be totally free and uninfluenced. + +St. Aubyn perfectly agreed with him, but was at a loss on whom to fix, +when suddenly Ross recollected the Catholic priest, who was at that +moment actually in the house, and whom St. Aubyn had never seen. + +This respectable old man was accordingly summoned, and St. Aubyn in a +few words explained to him the nature of the service required of him; +and he readily agreed to take, and witness, the deposition of De Sylva. + +He spoke in French, and with frequent breaks and interruption, which his +weakness and emotion occasioned. + +"I am by birth a Frenchman, but entered the Spanish service at an early +age, my father being dead, and my maternal relations of that nation +engaging to take care of my future promotion. + +"I need not, my Lord, repeat the commencement of my acquaintance with +you, nor the kindness with which you received me at your villa near +Seville, a reception, the hospitality of which I afterwards so ill +repaid. + +"The beauty of Lady St. Aubyn attracted every eye, and mine in +particular, for her eye beamed kindly on me in return. + +"I will not, my Lord, offend you by detailing the progress of our +intimacy: you became displeased at it, and suddenly removed her to a +villa near Sierra Morena. By the aid of Theresa, her favourite maid, she +contrived to let me know where she was gone; and as soon as I could +obtain leave of absence, I followed her." + +"We met frequently in the woods about the villa, and once were met +walking in the Cork Grove by your housekeeper, Mrs. Bayfield, and I had +reason to believe she afterwards watched her Lady's actions. + +"Lady St. Aubyn, tired of the dreary life she led, proposed to escape +with me and go to Paris: to this end she furnished me with several sums +of money, and a great number of valuable jewels, amongst them a very +fine ring, which, she told me, was yours, my Lord, and highly valued by +you; and she owned that she had taken that ring in particular, because +she knew the loss would vex you; and she hoped, as Bayfield only had +access to the jewels, the loss of this valued jewel would lead you to +suspect her, and bring disgrace upon the woman we both hated." + +Here St. Aubyn hid his face, and groaned: he grieved to hear the woman +he had once loved could have been so atrociously wicked. + +"A few nights after this, my Lord," continued De Sylva, "you saw me +attempting to climb by a rope ladder the window of Lady St. Aubyn's +apartment: what followed is well known to you; but nothing was ever +farther from my intentions than meeting you at the place appointed; on +the contrary, I informed Rosolia by means of Theresa of what had passed, +and named that very hour to meet her at the Hermitage, whither I +proposed to bring a boy's habit, and elope with her under that disguise; +for which purpose I procured two horses, and stationed them in a thicket +between the Hermitage and the Posada at the foot of the mountain, where +I had resided since my arrival in that neighbourhood. + +"I told you, my Lord, I had a friend there; but that was false, and I +only said it to induce you to wait till the next evening, that we might +have each a friend to witness our encounter. + +"Rosolia watched you from the house after your return from Alhama, +whence, as you came alone, we concluded you had vainly sought your +friend; and, I am ashamed to say, in the few minutes we were together, +how much we diverted ourselves at the idea of your vain and fruitless +trouble." + +"Go on, Sir," cried St. Aubyn, fiercely--"spare this detail, and hasten +to the conclusion of this detestable story." + +"Rosolia then," resumed De Sylva, "told her brother she had a bad +head-ache, and would endeavour to walk it off. From this young man she +was grieved to part, and left him with emotion. She hastened to the +Hermitage: we had no time to lose: she had brought with her all the +valuables she could collect, and had round her neck the fine necklace of +rubies you had given her at Seville, and that very cross I just now +offered to those ladies on the beach. + +"I pressed her to change her dress quickly, and was retiring for a few +minutes, while she adjusted her male attire. + +"Fearing a surprize, and thinking it might be wanted to defend us in our +flight, I had brought with me the pistol, you, my Lord, gave me the +night before: this I took in my hand, lest any one should approach to +seek Lady St. Aubyn, determined if any did, to put an end to their +existence; and (I will confess all) I should not have been sorry had +Bayfield crossed my path. + +"But as I turned to leave the Hermitage, my foot struck against an +inequality in the floor, and endeavouring to recover myself, the pistol +went off in my hand, and the ball entered the head of the unfortunate +Rosolia. + +"She fell instantly--one groan alone escaped her. I approached, hoping +she was only alarmed by the report, or but slightly hurt; but to my +astonishment and horror she was a breathless corpse. + +"In this dreadful moment, my first idea was instant flight, since that +alone could save me.--But why, thought I, since she is dead, should I +leave behind those valuable ornaments?--And O!--how hardened was my +heart! + +"The woman I had admired, and professed to love, had that instant +breathed her last--fallen by my hand, though from an unintended stroke, +and in the very moment, when, by a guilty flight, she had resolved to +give me the greatest proof of love, and unite her fate with mine: yet so +little impression did these dreadful circumstances make upon me, that I +had sufficient composure to unclasp the costly necklace from her neck, +and the bracelets from her arms, though that body, lately so blooming +and so animated, was not yet cold in death.--Such is the love of the +wicked! + +"By some means, as I afterwards discovered, I dropt, and lost the +valuable ring I mentioned before; and as I knew I had it just before I +entered this fatal Hermitage, I concluded it was there I had lost it. + +"I now fled as fast as possible towards the place where my horses stood, +and mounting one, and leading the other, I galloped off at full speed. + +"Concluding the first search for me would be amongst the mountains, I +took a road immediately opposite, and reached the little town of Andurar +that night: I there sold my horses, and bought a change of garments, +lest those I wore should identify my person; for I concluded I should be +suspected of the murder, either wilful or accidental, of the unfortunate +Countess; but I was also convinced I should have two or three hours the +start of my pursuers, as she was in the constant habit of rambling about +at least that time, and consequently would not be missed. + +"I travelled, however, chiefly by night, lurking by day either in thick +woods, or the remains of Moorish castles, and only venturing near a town +or village when provisions were indispensably necessary; for now the +fear of being arrested as a deserter, my leave of absence having been +some time expired, made the strictest caution necessary for my security. + +"In about a week I reached Almaneca, and disposing of some of my jewels, +I embarked on board a vessel which was going to Venice, where I meant to +remain some time, and then assuming another name, to go to Paris, where +I knew my speaking French like a native would prevent me from being +recognized. We had not been but three days at sea when an Algerine +corsair bore down upon us, and after a short but severe conflict we were +captured, and carried into Algiers. + +"Here, robbed of all my ill-gained riches, except that cross, which some +remains of affection for the memory of the unfortunate Rosolia had +induced me to conceal so cautiously that it was not discovered, I found +myself a prisoner, and seemed doomed to end my days in slavery. + +"It was my fortune to be purchased by a master high in favour with the +Dey, who, pleased with my vivacity, and the skill I had in music, +received me into his favour, and at length tempted me with such high +offers, if I would become a Mahometan, that I, who never knew what true +religion was, and held my principles too lightly to be very strenuous in +their support, soon consented to be what he would have me, and solemnly +abjuring the Christian faith, I became his adopted son, and heir to all +his riches. By this means too I was certain of escaping any search that +might be made for me; for who could think of looking for De Sylva under +the turban of a Turk, and in the adopted son of the Bey Abdallah? + +"About a year ago my adoptive father died; and weary of the supine and +inactive life the Turks usually lead, I determined to fit out an armed +vessel, and amuse myself by sailing up the Archipelago, and visiting +some of the Grecian islands, not without a latent intention of quitting +Algiers altogether, and returning to some European state: to which end I +carried with me all the wealth I could make portable: this design I +executed accordingly, but I had not long quitted Algiers, when we were +attacked and captured by a French frigate. + +"From that moment I have never known peace. + +"Fearing to be discovered, knowing that the punishment for desertion +must be mine, should we touch at any Spanish port, and I should be +recognized; dreading to be accused of the murder of Lady St. Aubyn, of +which, though innocent, I could not clear myself; and, above all, my +conscience awakened, by being once more amongst Christians, to the sin I +had been guilty of in apostatizing from my religion, I have led a life +of fear, inquietude, and anguish--a life which I feel will soon be +terminated: and, oh, how dreadful the reflection that my punishment is +but beginning. + +"Oh, Sir," added the poor wretch, throwing himself at the feet of the +venerable priest, who, as well as all present, had heard the detail of +his crimes with horror, "you are a priest, a Catholic of that church I +so wickedly abandoned. Can you give me hope? Will you pray for me?" + +"I am a priest, and a Catholic," replied the old man, "and shall be +willing and desirous of giving you all the consolation in my power. At +present you have given the best proof of repentance, by the confession +you have made, and to confirm it, you must sign it with your name, and +acknowledge the truth of what I have written, before all present." + +He then gave the paper to De Sylva to read, who signed it, and declared +it was correct. + +"I would swear it," he added, in heart-broken accents: "but oh! by what +can a wretch like me swear, and be believed!" + +He was now conveyed to a decent bed in Ross's house, who, like a true +Christian pastor, would not abandon him to his despair; but placed by +his bed-side, strove in conjunction with the Catholic priest, De la +Tour, by the most consoling attentions, and hopes founded on his present +repentance, to beat away the busy meddling fiend, who laid strong siege +unto the wretch's soul. + +The miserable De Sylva lingered nearly a week, racked with guilty fears, +and scarcely daring to hope for mercy: yet for mercy his pious +comforters bade him hope, since he repented deeply, and sought it in +that holy name, which, though once he had denied, he now most humbly +acknowledged. + +On the sixth evening he expired. + + "Forbear to judge, for we are sinners all." + +As soon as De Sylva's confession had been received, St. Aubyn sent an +express messenger to the proper persons in London, requesting permission +to dispatch Jean Batiste de la Tour, a French priest, into Oxfordshire, +where he understood Lord de Montfort then was at one of his seats, with +papers of the utmost importance to that nobleman and to himself, De la +Tour having witnessed the confession of a prisoner since dead, which +involved concerns of the most material interest. He also requested +permission for De la Tour to remain attached to Lord de Montfort's +suite, or to be at liberty on his parole at Castle St. Aubyn, till he +could obtain the consent of government to his returning to his native +country; for St. Aubyn could not bear that this helpless and venerable +old man should remain as a prisoner of war, and end his days in a +strange country. + +The answer was favourable to his Lordship's wishes, and Charles Ross +undertook to escort De la Tour into Oxfordshire: in the meantime a +detachment arrived to guard the other prisoners to the depôt in +Shropshire. + +Ross and De la Tour departed together, taking with them the deposition +of De Sylva, the cross of the unfortunate Rosolia, which had been found +in his possession, and every other document which could carry conviction +to the mind of De Montfort. + +Tranquillity seemed now restored to the village of Llanwyllan, but in +spite of the satisfaction St. Aubyn felt in being thus completely able +to exonerate himself from whatever suspicion might yet lurk in the bosom +of Edmund, his own mind was by no means tranquil. + +Painful was the retrospect the confession of De Sylva had forced upon +him: every misery he had so many years before experienced seemed +renewed, and his imagination dwelt upon the horrid scenes of the +Hermitage. The bleeding body of Rosolia lay again in fancy before him, +and his pity for her wretched fate "cut off even in the blossom of her +sins," made him forget all the crimes she had been guilty of towards +him. + +For many days he continued exceedingly dejected, and it required all +Ellen's tender attentions, and the cheering smiles of his lovely boy, to +chase from his mind those painful impressions which the late discovery +had planted there. + +In as short a time as was possible, a messenger returned from Lord de +Montfort. He acknowledged his full conviction of St. Aubyn's innocence, +and implored his pardon for those years of uneasiness his suspicions had +made him suffer: he expressed the greatest gratitude for the forbearing +kindness of St. Aubyn's whole conduct towards his unhappy sister, of +which he now had such convincing proofs, and a horror of her guilt, +which was too overwhelming to be dwelt upon. De la Tour he requested to +retain in his suite till arrangements could be made for his returning to +France, should the old man ultimately wish to do so. + +In a short time after this letter arrived, Ellen received one from Lady +Juliana, in which she expressed some dissatisfaction at their long stay +in Wales, and bade them consider that at her time of life she could not +hope to enjoy much more of their society, and the smiles of her darling +Constantine, whose growth and improvement she longed to witness. + +This letter determined Lord and Lady St. Aubyn to quit Wales as soon as +possible: indeed, the autumn was now advancing, and they feared for +their young traveller the miserable roads, and of course wished to be at +the Castle before the summer was ended. + +Lady St. Aubyn had however set her heart on being witness to Joanna's +marriage, and seeing every thing arranged for the removal of the Rosses +to the Farm: it was also necessary for Charles Ross to go to London on +his own concerns; Joanna therefore was induced to give her hand to +Griffiths sooner than she had intended, and early in August the ceremony +was performed by the venerable Ross. Lord St. Aubyn gave away the bride, +and when the ceremony was ended, said-- + +"May you, my dear Joanna, and your worthy husband, but experience as +much happiness as I and my dear Ellen have since this altar witnessed +our mutual vows, and you will indeed be as happy as humanity can hope to +be." + +Ellen tenderly embraced her early friend, and with tears of affection +joined in the kind wishes of her beloved Lord. + +The whole of the bride's wardrobe had been the present of Lady St. +Aubyn, who shewed her judgment, by ordering every thing excellent in its +kind, but nothing fine or shewy. + +Lord St. Aubyn presented the newly-married couple with several useful +and handsome articles of plate and furniture; and when they left +Llanwyllan, they had the happiness of knowing that the worthy Powis +would be rendered truly comfortable by his new inmates, and that all +Ellen's first connections were blessed to the extent of their wishes. + +Charles Ross travelled part of the way with Lord and Lady St. Aubyn, +full of grateful thanks for all their kindness to him and his family; +and having conquered every aspiring wish, he was delighted to witness +the happiness of his once-loved Ellen, without envying that of her +excellent Lord. + +They had soon after the pleasure of hearing that all matters relative to +his late disastrous voyage had been happily and honourably adjusted, his +prize had safely reached the destined port, and through Lord St. Aubyn's +interest, Charles Ross was soon promoted to the rank of Captain and the +command of a fine frigate. + +The St. Aubyns found Lady Juliana waiting their arrival at St. Aubyn +Castle: and her intended chidings for their long stay were turned into +tears of joy at the sight of her darling Constantine, now able to walk +alone, and with expressive looks of love endeavouring to articulate, +though yet but imperfectly, the sweet names of papa and mamma, and soon +learning to distinguish Lady Juliana with smiles of affection, and +little arms twined round her neck, whenever she approached him. + +Just before Christmas, Sir Edward and Lady Leicester arrived at +Rose-hill, where they spent some weeks. De Montfort passed that evening +at the Castle, with several other visitors. The once gloomy and +eccentric Edmund was become another creature; and his manners, now +animated and cheerful, were very elegant, and the trifling degree of +singularity which still at times shewed itself in his expressions, only +seemed to give an air of originality to his character. + + * * * * * + +We have now brought our narrative to a close; for scenes of continued +peace and happiness, however desirable to the possessors, are but +insipid in delineation. + +St. Aubyn and his charming wife long enjoyed that serene happiness their +virtues merited; and diversifying the scene, by occasional excursions +into Wales, they had there the comfort of finding their friends +surrounded by blessings, for which they were to them indebted. At the +Castle, or in London, surrounded by their lovely young family, they +still acknowledged that in domestic life they found their dearest +felicity; and with no more sorrow than is inseparable from humanity, +their years glided on amidst the joys of friendship, and the delights of +connubial and parental love. + + +THE END. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Mystery and Confidence (vols. 3 of 3), by +Elizabeth Pinchard + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MYSTERY AND CONFIDENCE *** + +***** This file should be named 34933-8.txt or 34933-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/4/9/3/34933/ + +Produced by Mark C. 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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: Mystery and Confidence (vols. 3 of 3) + A Tale + +Author: Elizabeth Pinchard + +Release Date: January 13, 2011 [EBook #34933] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MYSTERY AND CONFIDENCE *** + + + + +Produced by Mark C. Orton, Mary Meehan and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This +file was produced from images generously made available +by The Internet Archive) + + + + + + +</pre> + + + + + + +<h1>MYSTERY AND CONFIDENCE:</h1> + +<h3><i>A TALE.</i></h3> + +<h2>BY A LADY.</h2> + +<h3>IN THREE VOLUMES.</h3> + +<h3>VOL. III.</h3> + + +<h3>LONDON:<br /> +PRINTED FOR HENRY COLBURN,<br /> +PUBLIC LIBRARY, CONDUIT-STREET, HANOVER-SQUARE,<br /> +AND SOLD BY GEORGE GOLDIE, EDINBURGH,<br /> +AND JOHN CUMMING, DUBLIN.</h3> + +<h3>1814.</h3> + +<h3><span class="smcap">B. Clarke</span>, Printer, Well-Street, London.</h3> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CONTENTS</h2> + +<!-- Autogenerated TOC. Modify or delete as required. --> +<p> +<a href="#CHAP_I">CHAP. I.</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAP_II">CHAP. II.</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAP_III">CHAP. III.</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAP_IV">CHAP. IV.</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAP_V">CHAP. V.</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAP_VI">CHAP. VI.</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAP_VII">CHAP. VII.</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAP_VIII">CHAP. VIII.</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAP_IX">CHAP. IX.</a><br /> +</p> +<!-- End Autogenerated TOC. --> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>MYSTERY<br /> +AND<br /> +CONFIDENCE.</h2> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAP_I" id="CHAP_I"></a>CHAP. I.</h2> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i14">——Infected minds<br /></span> +<span class="i12">To their deaf pillows will discharge their secrets.<br /></span> +<span class="i12">——A great perturbation in nature,<br /></span> +<span class="i12">To receive at once the benefit of sleep, and do the effect of watching.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i20"><span class="smcap">Macbeth.</span><br /></span> +</div></div> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p>Laura, St. Aubyn, O'Brien, and Mordaunt, were seated on one side the +fire, with the sandwich tray before them; on the other side, thrown on a +sofa, Ellen saw a tall thin young man, who, deeply absorbed in thought, +noticed not her entrance. One pale, sickly looking hand hung motionless +by his side, the other shaded his eyes, and over his brow his black hair +fell in disordered curls; his dress, though that of a gentleman, was +evidently neglected, and his whole appearance was</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i2">"Drooping, woeful, wan, like one forlorn;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Or crazed by care, or cross'd by hopeless love!"<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>As Ellen entered, St. Aubyn rose, and with subdued emotion, said in a +low tone:</p> + +<p>"My love, we waited for you;" then somewhat louder;—"My Lord De +Montfort, will you allow me to introduce you to...." he faltered, and +looked as if he dreaded to pronounce the name ... "to my wife ... to ... +Lady St. Aubyn?"</p> + +<p>As he spoke, Lord De Montfort started from his reverie, shook back the +curls which shaded his face, and shewed a fine, but pale and emaciated +countenance. For an instant his bright black eyes flashed, and his +cheeks crimsoned with a sudden emotion. He hastily took two or three +steps forward, as if to greet some well-known friend; but seeing Ellen, +who, half alarmed, leaned upon St. Aubyn, he gazed upon her for a moment +with such an earnest yet melancholy expression as extremely affected +her. She courtesied, and he bent his head with the air of a perfect +gentleman, but spoke not, and then threw himself on his sofa again.</p> + +<p>Ellen perceived that St. Aubyn's frame shook with subdued emotion, and +her own trembled with an indefinable sensation.</p> + +<p>"Come, Lady St. Aubyn," said Laura, "sit here by the fire; you look pale +and cold; you should not indeed expose yourself to the night air in +crossing the hall and staircase."</p> + +<p>Ellen gladly sat down, and while they were taking their little meal, she +glanced her eyes towards the youth, whose mysterious manner impressed +her with feelings of no very pleasing import: she saw that under the +shade of his bent brows he was attentively gazing upon her. The +portentous gloom of his countenance seemed to her troubled imagination +to forebode some direful event, and she grew so pale, that Laura +perceiving it, put a glass of wine into her hand, and begged her to +drink it. Before she would comply, St. Aubyn said:—</p> + +<p>"Ellen, neither my entreaties, nor those of his former friend, Miss +Cecil, can prevail on Lord De Montfort to take the slightest +refreshment; try, my love, if you can induce him to take a glass of wine +with you."</p> + +<p>Ellen with sudden effort conquering the agitation of her spirits, said: +"Indeed, my Lord, I shall be very happy if Lord De Montfort will do me +that honour. May I, my Lord," speaking to him, "make it my request that +you will do so?"</p> + +<p>The soft persuasive tones of her voice seemed to touch him; he rose, and +with a voice deep, melancholy, and impressive, said:</p> + +<p>"At <i>your</i> request, Madam!"</p> + +<p>He advanced, and took from Laura a glass of wine she offered to him; he +bowed to Ellen, and lifted the glass to his lips, but instantly +exclaimed, while his whole person shook with agitation:</p> + +<p>"I <i>cannot</i> drink it! In <i>this</i> house! Oh, God!"</p> + +<p>He let fall the glass, and covering his face with his hands, rushed out +of the room.</p> + +<p>O'Brien instantly followed him, while the little party which remained +sat in silent dismay and astonishment. Yet St. Aubyn's emotion partook +more of vexation than surprize: he paced the room with hasty strides for +a few minutes, and then approaching Ellen, said, clasping her hand in +his, which trembled with agitation—"This scene has been too much for +you, my love: could I have imagined De Montfort's demeanor would have +been so wild, I would not have brought him hither; yet let us make +allowances for him—he doated on his sister." St. Aubyn's voice seemed +elevated with deep contending passions: for a moment he paused, then +added, "You had better go to your rest, my love, and you, Laura: I do +not suppose this young man will return to-night."</p> + +<p>He rung, and inquired of the servant in waiting where the two gentlemen +then were. "They have been in the study, my Lord," said the man; "but +are now gone to their chambers, which Mrs. Bayfield sent to say were +ready for them."</p> + +<p>The ladies rose to retire, just as Mr. O'Brien returned: he brought +apologies from his pupil to Lady St. Aubyn, saying that Lord de Montfort +regretted extremely his distress should have shewed itself so visibly, +and doubtless alarmed her. "Forgive him, Madam," said O'Brien: "this is +the first time he has been in this house, or even in England, since the +death of Lady St. Aubyn: and recollections of the sister he lost so +young, the sister he adored, have been too much for him."</p> + +<p>"Surely," said Laura, "he must have been uncommonly attached to her, +since six years have not effaced her from his memory." She sighed—the +tear stood in her eye; for she thought—"It is scarcely as many months +since I lost the sweetest sister in the world, yet she is comparatively +forgotten."</p> + +<p>"He cherishes every recollection of her," said O'Brien, "with officious +care: he constantly wears her portrait next his heart. Before we left +Spain, he insisted on visiting her grave, and was so deeply affected, I +feared for his reason. To you, my Lord St. Aubyn, I ought to apologize +for details which I see distress you, but I thought it was necessary to +account for my pupil's strange deportment."</p> + +<p>St. Aubyn bowed; but traces of vexation were legible in his expressive +face. Mr. Mordaunt made some inquiries after the present state of Lord +de Montfort, to which Mr. O'Brien replied he had left him in bed, and +tolerably composed; that he had consented to breakfast with the family +the next morning, when he hoped personally to apologize to the Countess +for the alarm he had given her.</p> + +<p>The ladles now retired, and each went to her respective apartment. Lady +St. Aubyn passed through her own room into that where the infant lay: +both the child and his nurse slept quietly. She knelt a moment by the +bed-side, and offered a fervent prayer to heaven for the health and +happiness of her infant, and for its father, who seemed menaced by some +mysterious disturbance. The contrast presented by the soft sleep, the +placid innocence of the baby's face, to the scene of anxiety and +confusion she had left, deeply affected her. Tears stole down her +cheeks, and wetted the little hands she held pressed to her lips. At +length, rousing herself, she returned to her bed-chamber, where Jane +waited to undress her: "Make haste, Jane," she said, "I am weary." Jane +obeyed in silence; for her Lady's pensive looks had power to quiet even +her loquacious propensities.</p> + +<p>In a few minutes Ellen was laid on her pillow, and the tumultuous +throbbing of her heart began to subside. In about half an hour she heard +St. Aubyn go to the room he occupied at present, and fancied, after his +valet left him, she could distinctly hear him pacing the apartment, and +sighing heavily: but this perhaps was chiefly fancy; for the wind still +howled and sobbed round the Castle, and through its large hall and long +galleries. Sometimes it sounded like the low moans of one in grief or +pain: then in shriller gusts it shook the lofty battlements, or swept +over the tops of the high trees, which bent and rustled beneath its +power.</p> + +<p>Ellen, restless, uneasy, impressed with the melancholy countenance and +strange conduct of their mysterious guest, vainly endeavoured to sleep, +and turned from side to side, soothed only in the intervals of the storm +by hearing the soft breathings of her infant, whose couch (the door +being open between the rooms) was so near her, that she could accurately +distinguish every breath he drew. Two or three times she was inclined to +rise, and steal him from his nurse's side to partake her bed; for she +felt how glad she should be in that unquiet hour to feel his little +cheek pressing against hers, and hold him to her anxious heart; but +fearing to disturb, or give him cold, she relinquished her purpose, and +endeavoured to compose herself to rest.</p> + +<p>At length, just after the Castle clock had struck two, she felt as if +sleep were stealing over her fatigued senses; but starting from a +momentary forgetfulness, she heard a light footstep, yet sounding as if +the person walking wore no shoes, approaching her bed-room door. It was +she knew unfastened; for lest the child should be ill, or want +additional assistance, it was always left so. Starting, she listened: +her breath grew short, and her heart beat audibly, as the steps +approached nearer and nearer; yet not losing her presence of mind she +drew aside her curtain, and fixing her eyes on the door, prepared to fly +into the inner room, should, as she now began to expect, a midnight +robber meet her view.</p> + +<p>Slowly, slowly, opened the door, and a tall thin figure, wrapped in a +loose night-gown, just appeared within it. "Sister! sister!" said a +voice, low, tremulous, and impressive: "sister, are you awake? You bade +me call you early."</p> + +<p>The figure! the voice!—Oh, what became of Ellen, when in both she +recognized the wild, the mysterious, De Montfort! In his pale hand he +bore a lamp, the flashing light of which fell at intervals on his gloomy +countenance: while his bright black eyes were indeed open, but, oh! +"their sense was shut."</p> + +<p>Again, as he advanced into the room, he repeated in the same low +mournful tone, "Sister <i>Rosolia</i>! What, sleeping still? You said you +would rise early, and walk with me." Then pausing, he seemed to stand as +if listening for an answer; but suddenly, with a start of recollection +and a heavy sigh, he exclaimed, "Oh yes, I remember! too well I +remember! You cannot rise: you will never rise again!—<i>You are dead! +you are dead! you are dead!</i>"</p> + +<p>Again a solemn pause ensued, and sighs, which seemed to rend his bosom, +alone broke the terrific silence of the moment.</p> + +<p>Again he spoke with an energy of action, as if his sleeping agitations +were breaking into frenzy, addressing himself as in answer to one who +had spoken to him.</p> + +<p>"But did he murder you? Was it St. Aubyn? Tell me, I conjure you, and +answer <i>truly</i>. Condemn not your own soul, and O, Rosolia, involve not +mine in condemnation by a lie!—A lie!—<i>Can the dead lie?</i>—And you are +come to me <i>here</i>—aye, <i>here</i>, in this very chamber, where in our +innocent school-days you used to sleep—to tell me the truth—the +<i>truth</i>, Rosolia."</p> + +<p>And now with quicker steps he paced the chamber, as if pursuing one who +fled before him, yet, with that wonderful instinctive power which often +attends the sleep-walker, avoiding every obstacle.</p> + +<p>"Nay, fly me not!" he exclaimed: "deceive me not; for I have seen an +angel in <i>thy place</i> to-night; and if thou art not a false and lying +spirit, thou wilt not lead me to injure her." Then pausing again, as if +listening to some one who spoke, he said, with quickness—</p> + +<p>"I know it! I know it! That <i>pistol</i>—that <i>ring</i>! Yes, yes, yes, yes! +Those indeed were direful evidences of his guilt!—Years, years, I have +passed in thinking of them!—Yet he says, he swears, he is +innocent—that it was <i>De Sylva</i>—that <i>thou</i> wert guilty! Oh, tell me, +Rosolia, was it—was it so?—But I will pray for thy soul."</p> + +<p>He knelt, and placing the lamp before him on the floor, its dismal light +fell on his sad countenance, and shewed his eyes upturned, and his lips +moving as in fervent prayer, while at intervals he crossed himself, and +bowed his forehead to the earth. Then rising with a sudden start, he +exclaimed—</p> + +<p>"Hark, O'Brien calls! He will hear me—he shall not know my thoughts. It +might not be St. Aubyn who shed thy blood: yet, oh, Rosolia—oh, my +sister, it <i>was</i> thy blood I saw! And here is some of it on my hand."</p> + +<p>He shook his hand violently, and appearing to look at it earnestly, he +uttered a low, mournful, and distracted cry of terror, and rushed out of +the room.</p> + +<p>Alarm and horror had kept Ellen silent—she fainted not; yet scarcely +could she be said to live. But as soon as his receding footsteps +convinced her he was really gone, she hastily threw on some of her +clothes, and flew, scarcely in her senses, to St. Aubyn's room. His door +was fast, but with repeated knockings she aroused him, and great indeed +was his consternation to see her so pale, so almost convulsed with fear +and agitation.</p> + +<p>"My dearest life!" he exclaimed: "what, for heaven's sake, is the matter +with the child?"</p> + +<p>"Oh! I have left him! I have forsaken him!" said she in terror, "all the +doors open too, and that poor distracted youth may perhaps return, and +who knows what injury he may do him! Oh! let us fly to the child," and +she made some hasty steps towards the door.</p> + +<p>"Recollect yourself, my Ellen," said the astonished St. Aubyn: "you are +dreaming—sit down in this chair by the fire, and compose your spirits."</p> + +<p>"Oh! no, it was no dream," said the shuddering Ellen, "I saw him as I +see you now! he came to my room and said such dreadful things!"—</p> + +<p>"Who came to your room?" exclaimed St. Aubyn: "who dared to intrude, to +disturb and alarm you thus?"</p> + +<p>"Oh! he was sleeping, I believe! but in his sleep—Oh heavens! he talked +so dreadfully—of such horrid things—and called upon his sister in such +tones! Oh! I never, never shall forget them!"</p> + +<p>"Was it De Montfort?" asked the dismayed St. Aubyn.</p> + +<p>"Oh yes, oh yes—De Montfort! Oh, his eyes, his face, his voice! I +never, never, shall forget them!" she repeated with renewed agitation.</p> + +<p>"Unhappy young man!" said St. Aubyn, with a sigh. "Would to God thou +had'st never come hither! Affright not yourself, my Ellen, with his wild +wanderings. By this time, I had hoped the wretch, who caused this +dreadful mischief, might have been found, and all might have been +cleared. Years have I sought in vain. Still, still, he evades my +search—perhaps exists no longer.</p> + +<p>"It is, however, time to reveal the past to you; but now you are too +much alarmed to hear the long and melancholy tale: return to your bed, +my Ellen; try to rest for my sake, for your babe's, who must suffer, +should his tender nurse be ill: go to repose, and I will watch by you +till morning; then, dear, and for ever dear creature, all shall be +revealed; but remember your promise, in spite of all appearances—still +to believe me innocent!"</p> + +<p>Prevailed on at length to return to her own chamber, yet Ellen entreated +St. Aubyn to examine the gallery, and see if De Montfort might not be +again returned to visit the room he seemed to know so well; and even +when assured he was not there, she still shuddered and turned pale, as +fancy pictured him standing with his lamp in the door-way, or pacing +with disordered steps the chamber floor.</p> + +<p>After obtaining a few hours rest, which somewhat restored her, Ellen, by +appointment, joined St. Aubyn in his study at a very early hour, where +he had promised to explain, as far as he could, the strange and +vexatious events which had so long involved him in the greatest +uneasiness.</p> + +<p>Sad was St. Aubyn's countenance, and the cheek of Ellen was yet pale +from her recent agitation when they met. St. Aubyn, tenderly taking her +hand, said, "I half regret, my Ellen, that my selfish love withdrew you +from that sweet content and cheerfulness which surrounded your peaceful +abode when first we met, to partake with me cares and alarms which +otherwise you never would have known."</p> + +<p>"My dear St. Aubyn, do not talk so," said Ellen, with a tender tear: +"all the cares, all the alarms you speak of, were they ten times +doubled, could not outweigh, in my estimation, the happiness of being +one hour your wife. Oh believe, my beloved Lord, <i>that</i> fate I would +have chosen, even though I had been sure the next would have brought my +death."</p> + +<p>"Matchless creature!" said St. Aubyn, clasping her to his bosom: "in +such love, such tenderness, I am overpaid for all the griefs which +former events have brought upon me, for all the anxiety with which the +present hour surrounds me!—Repeat to me, dearest, as well as you can +remember, what you heard from the unfortunate Edmund in his nocturnal +visit to your apartment."</p> + +<p>Ellen, while her cheek was blanched by the fearful recollection, and her +whole frame trembled as she called to mind that terrific visit, +endeavoured to obey, yet she feared to shock him, by repeating those +words which seemed to connect his name with the idea of guilt and +murder; but contrary to her expectation, he heard her without surprize, +and with calm, though sorrowful composure: he sighed heavily indeed, but +no alarm or perturbation appeared in either his countenance or gesture. +As she ended, he said, "All this I knew; but too well knew what horrible +suspicions this unhappy youth has formed, nay own he had great reason to +conceive them. Poor Edmund! these dismal thoughts, working in his mind, +and, as it appears, concealed from all others, have preyed upon it till +reason seems shaken, and his troubled spirit wakes even while his bodily +organs are locked in sleep! No wonder in this dreadful tumult of his +imagination he came to your room, for that room used to be his sister's +when she visited my mother before our unfortunate marriage was even +thought of; and often, doubtless, in the days of his childhood, he has +gone to her door to waken her at her request, and chid her for sleeping +so late when he wanted her to walk with him: for dearly did he love her; +and in those days she was innocent, and she was happy! Alas! poor +Rosolia, whatever were thy faults, thy fate was dreadful!"</p> + +<p>He sighed, and was a moment silent.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAP_II" id="CHAP_II"></a>CHAP. II.</h2> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i22">Such an act,<br /></span> +<span class="i12">That blurs the grace and blush of modesty,<br /></span> +<span class="i12">Calls virtue, hypocrite; takes off the rose<br /></span> +<span class="i12">From the fair forehead of an innocent love,<br /></span> +<span class="i12">And plants a blister there—makes marriage vows<br /></span> +<span class="i12">As false as divers oaths.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i20"><span class="smcap">Hamlet.</span><br /></span> +</div></div> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i22">O ye gods,<br /></span> +<span class="i12">Render me worthy of this noble wife,<br /></span> +<span class="i12">The secrets of my heart thy bosom shall partake.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i20"><span class="smcap">Julius Cæsar.</span><br /></span> +</div></div> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p>"I need not," said St. Aubyn, "say much on the subject of my first +acquaintance with Lady Rosolia de Montfort. You have heard, I believe, +that <i>her</i> father was a near relation of <i>mine</i>, and that her mother was +a Spanish Lady of a high noble family, and were Roman Catholics. The +lady's friends were exceedingly averse to the match, and at length +consented only on condition that the sons of the marriage should be bred +Roman Catholics; and after the father's death, should he die during +their minority, be placed under the care of the mother's relations. +Rosolia would probably also have been a Catholic, but her mother died +young, and she was placed in the care of my mother and Lady Juliana +Mordaunt. In the vacations she was generally here, where my mother +constantly, and my aunt frequently, resided; and here also Edmund almost +always spent the time of his school recesses, though twice they went to +Spain with their father, and spent a few months amongst their mother's +connections.</p> + +<p>"Rosolia grew up very handsome, but the character of her beauty was not +such as suited my taste: there was too much hauteur in her countenance; +too much pride in the mind which informed it to please me; yet from our +early youth the friends on both sides were anxious to unite us. I had at +that time no particular predilection for any of her sex, nor could I +object any thing against her, though certainly not exactly the sort of +woman I should have chosen; her partiality in my favour, however, +appeared evident, and was too flattering to be resisted by a young man +like me, from a young woman who had crowds of admirers, most of them my +superiors in fortune and quality.</p> + +<p>"We were married, therefore, when I was about five-and-twenty, and +Rosolia six years my junior. For two years that my mother lived, we +remained a great deal with her, and in the country, under her eye and +that of Lady Juliana. Rosolia did not discover those unpleasant traits, +which, though they lay dormant, were not conquered.</p> + +<p>"On my mother's death, we removed for a time to London, and there +Rosolia lay in of a son, the only child we ever had. But, ah! how +different a mother was Rosolia from you, my Ellen! No care for her +infant subdued the excessive vivacity she now began to display, no +maternal tenderness subjugated, or even softened, the levity of conduct +which now became manifest, and ultimately was her bane. The society of +every idle coxcomb was preferred to mine: my remonstrances, and those of +my respectable aunt, nay, even of her own father, were unheeded. My +disposition, naturally inclined to jealousy, took fire at the lightness +of her carriage; but she held me in contempt, often in derision; and as +the tongue of slander had not yet fixed on the name of any particular +person to connect with her, I was obliged to submit to see her +<i>flirting</i>, as it is called, first with one admirer, then another, <i>and +the last fool as welcome as the former</i>. My aunt, wearied and vexed at +our domestic unhappiness, in a great measure forsook us, and contracted +a dislike of Lady St. Aubyn, which, in some degree, extended to all her +family. Edmund was still our frequent guest, but his partiality for his +sister would not allow him to see a fault in her, and indeed his extreme +youth made me conceal from him, as much as possible, the uneasy terms on +which we lived together. We had been married about three years, and our +little boy was six months old when Rosolia's father died: by his will, +he appointed me the guardian of Edmund's estates, till he should attain +the age of twenty-four, and requested that I would see him placed under +the care of the Duke de Castel Nuovo, in agreement with the terms of his +own marriage-contract with the daughter of that nobleman.</p> + +<p>"This request I could not refuse, yet knew not how to leave my wife in +England; for if her conduct were so reproachable while we were together, +what had I to expect if I left her solely to her own guidance? Yet such +was the perversity of her temper, I doubted whether she would accompany +me abroad: to that, however, she consented, prompted, I believe, more by +a wish to be as much as possible with her brother, than to oblige me. +But nothing could induce her to leave the child behind, though my aunt +offered to take it solely under her own care during our absence, +although Rosolia herself never saw it, except for about five minutes, +once or twice in the day.</p> + +<p>"This singular obstinacy inspired my aunt with an idea (which I confess +I partly shared) that Rosolia's intention was to leave the babe with her +paternal relations; for though she called herself a protestant, she +certainly had much inclination towards the ceremonies of the Catholic +Church, and, I grieve to say, held all religious principles so lightly, +that to distress me and vex my aunt, she was but too capable of placing +her child in the hands of Catholics, that it might be bred up in a +religion she knew my aunt abhorred, and I had no good opinion of. To +counteract this, or any other scheme which might be formed to take the +child from me, as well as to ensure its being well taken care of, Lady +Juliana insisted that our good Bayfield should accompany us, and made +her promise never to let the child be absent from her sight. But these +precautions, in the event, proved useless; for the poor babe caught the +small-pox soon after we landed at Cadiz, where we remained a short time, +and died in my arms, attended with undeviating care by the worthy +Bayfield: for, oh, my Ellen, your tender nature will recoil when I tell +you its unfeeling mother refused to see it from the time the disorder +came to its height, though she herself had had it, because its +appearance was too shocking to her delicacy! Every care, however, that +could be obtained, was lavished on it, but in vain.</p> + +<p>"Poor Edmund grieved sincerely at this event, and shared my lonely and +sorrowful hours; for he had been attached to the infant with excessive +affection, and always felt for me the sincerest regard, while I +considered him as my own brother, and thought no attention too much to +serve or please him.</p> + +<p>"Soon after the death of the child we proceeded to Seville, and, in the +gaiety of that city, the attentions she received from her mother's +relations, and the flattering compliments paid to her beauty by the +crowds of gentlemen who now surrounded her, Rosolia soon lost whatever +traces of sorrow remained for the loss of her infant. She was handsomer +than ever, and shone in all the elegance of dress and the blaze of +unnumbered jewels, with which my lavish fondness, in the early part of +our marriage, and the liberality of her Spanish relations, had profusely +supplied her. Her grandfather, the Duke de Castel Nuovo, at whose palace +in Seville Edmund was to be placed, happened to be absent, having been +suddenly called to Madrid on some important state business, and wrote to +beg I would remain a month or two at his palace, when he hoped he should +return thither to receive his grandson from my hands, to see his +granddaughter, and thank me for the kindness with which I had taken so +long a journey. Having nothing immediately to recall me to England, I +was not sorry to see more of this interesting country; and hearing of a +beautiful villa to be let on the bank of Guadalaxara, I removed thither +with my family, preferring it to a residence in the Duke's palace.</p> + +<p>"Nothing could exceed the beauty of our little domain, or the rich +luxuriance of the country in which it stood. This villa was only two +miles from Seville, where at that time several regiments were stationed, +and all the officers of rank eagerly sought an introduction to me and +the beautiful Rosolia. Amongst them was a man of the name of De Sylva."</p> + +<p>At this name Ellen started, for she had heard it from Edmund, in his +wild wanderings the night before; though, till that instant, she could +not recollect it.</p> + +<p>"Why do you start, my love?" said St. Aubyn; "does some intuitive +emotion whisper to you that this was the wretch whose villainy involved +me in so much misery?"</p> + +<p>"It was the name," said Ellen, "which I could not recollect just now; +the name I heard from Edmund."</p> + +<p>"No doubt," replied St. Aubyn, "it dwelt upon his mind; for but last +night I again endeavoured to convince him of that villain's guilt. But +to proceed.</p> + +<p>"This De Sylva was a young man of a very fine person and elegant +manners; one, in short, exactly fitted to win the favour of any woman, +who looked more to exterior appearance than intrinsic merit. He was, I +afterwards learned, a determined gamester, of broken, if not ruined +fortunes, without principles, and stained with many vices; yet this man +I too soon perceived the light Rosolia had selected as her chief +favourite. If she danced, he was her partner; and often was her lovely +person exhibited in the fascinating but immoral dances of her country: +an exhibition, oh, how unfit for an English matron!—how hateful to the +delicacy of my sentiments. I am perhaps too fastidious; but I again +repeat, such a display, even of grace and beauty, in a married woman, is +displeasing, but carried to the excess Rosolia did, detestable. How can +we wonder at the alarming strides vice has made in this country, when we +see even wives and mothers, in the slightest drapery, and with an almost +unlimited freedom of manners, courting the notice of men whom they know +to be characters which neither honour, nor even the ties of friendship, +can restrain from the gratification of their passions.</p> + +<p>"Forgive, my Ellen, this digression, by you so little needed; but I +linger and dwell on any subject which can a moment detain me from those +dreadful scenes I must soon describe. I was speaking of the intimacy +which now took place between this De Sylva and Lady St. Aubyn. In +dancing, walking, or riding, he was her constant attendant; and in the +last exercise she excited the admiration of all who beheld her. Her +English side-saddle and riding-dress, and the ease with which she +managed her spirited Arabian, drew the most flattering plaudits from the +gay military admirers who constantly surrounded her; and most of all +from De Sylva, whose manners at last became so particular and presuming, +I could not avoid noticing it, and telling Rosolia if he altered not his +conduct, I should be under the necessity of forbidding him my house.</p> + +<p>"At first she only laughed at my threats, and turned every thing I said +into ridicule, but still persisted in the same manner of living, till I +perceived, that even in that gay country her conduct was disapproved by +all who witnessed it, and who had not lost all sense of decorum; even +two or three of the older officers, men of rank and consequence, began +to look gravely upon her, and with a sort of displeasure at me, as if +they thought me too supine in not more warmly asserting my own honour. I +now determined, therefore, to remove her from the place where she had so +many opportunities of meeting this young man, which, without an <i>eclat</i> +I wished to avoid, I could not prevent, as I believed her innocent +though imprudent, and to visit some of the most interesting scenes in +that part of the country where we now were, hoping that a tour, which I +knew she had never made, would give a new turn to the sentiments of +Rosolia: we removed, therefore, with our suite, from the beautiful villa +we had lately occupied, and travelled the first day to Cormona, where we +visited its castle, of immense extent, but now wholly in ruins; from +thence we went by excellent, but very ancient roads, to Cordova, where +we also saw every thing worth notice, and spent a few days very +agreeably; at least they would have been agreeable, had Rosolia seemed +in the least inclined to enjoy the new scenes presented to her, or the +civilities of the inhabitants of this ancient town, where our rank and +relationship to the Duke de Castel Nuovo ensured us a hospitable +reception from all the noble families whose manner of life is cheerful +and pleasant.</p> + +<p>"After leaving Cordova, we travelled through the delightful vale of the +Guadalaxara, which runs between the ridges of hills embellished with +hanging woods and olive-yards. Nothing could exceed the beauty of the +scene through which we now for two days travelled. No mind, which had +not entirely lost all power of enjoying the charms of nature, could have +been dead to the enchanting scenes which the banks of the lovely +Guadalaxara now presented in ever-varying succession. Extensive plains, +beautifully tinted by rows of olive-trees, towers and ancient castles +rising at intervals on the side of the stream, afforded a variety of +charming and picturesque views, from which Edmund and myself derived the +warmest pleasure. Alas! the heart of Rosolia was shut to them all. At +length we reached a small but pretty villa at the foot of the Sierra +Morena, which I had learned some time before was unoccupied, and had +hired, and caused to be prepared for our reception. Edmund's health had +appeared to be somewhat shaken by the very warm climate of our abode +near Seville, and it was thought the cool air from those mountains would +brace and invigorate his drooping frame. Here, then, we rested in this +quiet retreat, whence I made occasional excursions, sometimes on foot, +sometimes on horseback, in the picturesque environs of our new abode. +Sometimes I extended them to the northern side of the Sierra, and +visited the romantic country of La Mancha, which Cervantes has +immortalized.</p> + +<p>"It is impossible to describe the various beauties these mountains +present; the clear torrent of the Rio de las Pedras, falling over beds +of rocks, through glens of beautiful woods; the wild and unfrequented +solitudes, covered with a rich variety of flowering and sweet-scented +shrubs, and the interesting new colony of La Corolina, of which I hope, +some day, to give you a fuller account; all rendered these excursions +delightful to me; the more so, as they occupied my thoughts, and carried +me from a woman whose capricious humours and inconsistent conduct +rendered my home irksome and distasteful.</p> + +<p>"Rosolia, angry at being withdrawn from the society she so much prized, +and still more so at being deprived of De Sylva's company, now assumed +manners the most aggravating, and caprices the most extraordinary. +Sometimes, for a day or two together, the sound of her voice never +reached the ear of any human being; but sunk, in affected apathy, she +pretended scarcely to see or hear any thing that was passing. Then she +would suddenly assume the gayest air, and for hours would scarcely cease +speaking; following me incessantly; never allowing me to read or reflect +a moment; singing, playing on her harp, or with castenets in her hands, +dancing with a gaiety that was as unpleasing as it appeared unnatural, +till her forced spirits being quite exhausted, she would fall into +violent hysterics, and be conveyed to bed, whence she would not rise +again in many days.</p> + +<p>"Think only, my dear Ellen, what a life this was for me. With no other +companion (for Edmund was still a mere boy), and dreading every hour to +what the caprices of the next might lead. At length, all at once, she +affected a new humour, and was continually rambling alone, even so late +in the evening, that in the neighbourhood of those wild mountains, I +feared some evil would befall her; but vain were my representations, +vain my entreaties. She told me, she thought it hard to be denied the +only pleasure my jealous temper had left her, and that I had better +revive the old Spanish customs of lattices and duennas, and lock her up +altogether. These, and many such provoking speeches, silenced me; but I +saw that our good Bayfield was suffering from some unknown cause. She +was frequently in tears, and betrayed, at times, a degree of agitation +which astonished me; for in general her composure was remarkable. I +conjectured, that, dissatisfied with her lady, as indeed she had but too +much reason to be, the worthy woman pined to revisit England; but on my +pressing her on this subject, she assured me, that wherever I was, there +she was best pleased to be; and only wished she <i>knew how best to shew +her devotion to my interests</i>.</p> + +<p>"These last words seemed spoken with particular meaning, but she evaded +any explanation. A new vexation now assailed both her and me: several of +Lady St. Aubyn's valuable jewels were from time to time missing, and +vainly sought.</p> + +<p>"Rosolia affected the most perfect indifference about them, saying, +since she had no one to wear them, she cared nothing for jewels: but +Bayfield, who was the only person, who, except her lady, had access to +the place where the jewels were kept, was excessively disturbed at their +frequent losses. At last, a very fine and remarkable ring of mine, +composed of an antique cameo, set with brilliants of great value, was +also gone. I began to suspect my valet of these repeated thefts, though +I had obtained of him the most excellent character; and he had been +three or four years in my service without the slightest suspicion of +dishonesty in any respect.</p> + +<p>"Determined, however, to watch this man, I said nothing of the loss of +my ring, thinking if I appeared to have no suspicion I should the easier +detect him.</p> + +<p>"About a week after this circumstance, being restless, and unable to +sleep, I rose from my bed at midnight, and sat for some time at my +window, watching the bright moon, which in that clear climate gave a +light scarcely inferior to that of day: but judge of my surprize, when I +saw the figure of a man emerge slowly from a grove of cork trees, at +some little distance; and after looking cautiously around, pass close +under my windows, and approach those of Lady St. Aubyn's apartment. We +had for some time inhabited separate rooms, as she complained of +restless nights, and chose to have her chamber to herself. I fancied +that I had now detected the robber, who, by some means, having gained +access to those chambers, had, from time to time, stolen the jewels I +mentioned; but in a moment I saw Rosolia's window open, and herself +appear at it. She spoke a few words to this man, on whom the moonlight +falling more clearly, I distinctly perceived the height, figure, and I +fancied the features of De Sylva.</p> + +<p>"Rosolia instantly threw down a light rope ladder, and the man, whoever +he was, began to mount it; but on a sudden she turned from the window, +as if disturbed by the entrance of some one to her room; and making a +sign to him with a hurried air, he hastily descended: she immediately +closed the window, and the man ran to the grove from which he had first +appeared.</p> + +<p>"All this scene passed so quickly, I had scarcely time to recollect +myself, or determine what I ought to do—but hastily seizing my pistols, +which lay always loaded in my room, I descended a private staircase +leading to the garden, and with quicksteps, followed the man, who lay +concealed in the grove. I walked with as little noise as I could, +fearing, lest, if he heard me, he might make his escape, and I should be +deprived of the satisfaction I expected, so that I was close to him +before he perceived me, and seizing him with a powerful grasp, I dragged +him into the moonlight, and there saw it was indeed De Sylva."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAP_III" id="CHAP_III"></a>CHAP. III.</h2> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i12">Ou suis-je? O Ciel ou suis je? ou porte je mes voeux?<br /></span> +<span class="i12">Zayre, Nerestan—couple ingrat, couple affreux,<br /></span> +<span class="i12">Traitres arracher moi ce jour que je respire,<br /></span> +<span class="i12">Ce jour souillè par vous.<br /></span> +<span class="i12">——Ah que vois-je? Ah ma soeur<br /></span> +<span class="i12">Zayre!... Elle n'est plus.—Ah monstre ah jour horrible!<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i20"><span class="smcap">Zayre par Voltaire.</span><br /></span> +</div></div> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p>"Rage almost choked me as I exclaimed:—'Villain! you here, and lurking +under my windows at this hour!' He shook with cowardly apprehension, and +attempted some excuse, which, however, his terror rendered inarticulate: +still the momentary pause gave me time for recollection, and disdaining +to assault an unarmed man, I threw him one of my pistols, and bade him +defend himself: again in faltering tones he murmured some assurances +that he merely came to see Lady St. Aubyn's favourite servant, a Spanish +girl named Theresa; but this hacknied excuse was too shallow to obtain a +moment's credit, and I still pressed him to an instant decision of this +affair. He now, somewhat more firmly, requested me to recollect, that if +we fought, and he fell, what would be the appearance of a man found in +my grounds murdered, as it would seem; and on the other hand he appealed +to my generosity, what would be his situation should I be killed, and +above all, what a slur would be cast on the reputation of Lady St. Aubyn +by such a business. Calmed by these representations, which certainly had +some justice in them, I finally consented to wait till the next evening: +the time between, he told me, he should pass at a little Posada in the +neighbourhood, where, he said, he had a friend waiting for him, who +would come with him to a spot I mentioned near the mountains; and during +the same space I said I would ride to Almana (the next small town), +where a gentleman resided with whom I had some acquaintance, and on whom +I would prevail to be my second in this affair: then bidding him retain +the pistol, and bring it prepared, as I should do its fellow, to the +place of meeting, I sternly told him, that should I see him again +lurking beneath my walls, I would not wait the event of the next +evening, but treat him as a midnight robber deserved to be treated. I +then left him and returned to the house: a faint light yet gleamed from +the windows of Rosolia's room, but the rope ladder was withdrawn, and +the curtains closed, so that I concluded she had given up all +expectation of seeing De Sylva again that night. I watched, however, +till morning, but all was still, and I then threw myself on my bed to +obtain one hour's repose; after which I rose, and spent some time in +settling my affairs, and writing some letters, to be delivered in case I +should fall in the duel with De Sylva.</p> + +<p>"After this I went to Lady St. Aubyn's room: at the door I met Bayfield, +who, pale, and with her eyes swollen with weeping, looked as if she had, +like myself, watched all night.</p> + +<p>"My good Bayfield,' said I, 'where is your Lady, and why do you look +thus alarmed and haggard?'</p> + +<p>"She answered me, but with some confusion, that her Lady was just +dressed, and that she had been induced to watch in the chamber next Lady +St. Aubyn's almost all night, having heard some noises which had induced +her to <i>rise at midnight</i>, and go to her Lady's apartment, whom she +found also much agitated, and therefore had remained there till morning. +I made no doubt, and I afterwards found this conjecture was just, that +my faithful old servant's suspicions having been excited, she had gone +to her room, and by interrupting her, had caused the sudden dismissal of +De Sylva, and had since passed the night in bewailing Rosolia's evil +propensities. Without staying for any explanation, however, I left her, +and passed into the Countess's apartment: she started at the sight of +me, for of late we had seldom met but at meals, and her guilty +conscience taught her to consider my visit as extraordinary. I told her +sternly to be seated and hear me, and I then related to her the events +of the preceding night: at first she trembled and turned pale, but soon +recovering her effrontery, she attempted, as usual, to make a jest of +what she affected to term my ridiculous jealousy.</p> + +<p>"Mark me, Rosolia!" cried I rising, and eagerly grasping her arm, for, +with affected scorn, she attempted to rush past me. 'Mark me! I am no +longer thus to be deceived. <i>This evening, this evening shall revenge my +too long endured injuries</i>—the <i>wretch</i> who has so deeply wronged me, +<i>this arm shall punish</i>.'</p> + +<p>"At that moment, while my angry looks were fixed upon her countenance, +where rage and disdain contended with shame and fear, Edmund entered the +room, and must, I knew, have heard the threats I uttered: he started and +looked amazed, for frequent as were our altercations, they had never +before risen to a height so alarming.</p> + +<p>"I left them together, and taking my horse, rode to Almana, where, most +unfortunately, I did not find my friend at home; and after waiting his +return till I feared I should not arrive at my villa in time enough to +keep my appointment, I left the place alone, and merely going into the +house to take my pistol, I hastened to the appointed spot. There I +waited, vainly waited, for nearly two hours: no De Sylva arrived; and +concluding that he then meant not to keep his appointment, and some +vague fears pressing on my mind that possibly Rosolia might be the +partner of his flight, I hurried back to the villa. It was almost dark +when I arrived, and just as I entered the hall, heated, disordered, not +having changed my dress since the night before, and in the confusion of +my thoughts not even concealing the pistol I had carried in my hand, I +met Edmund, who eagerly asked me where his sister was.</p> + +<p>"I know not,' said I; but a thousand suspicions darted into my bosom, +and gave to my countenance and manner an agitation which must have +appeared to him extraordinary. 'Is she not in her own apartment? I have +been out all day and have not seen her since I left her with you this +morning.'</p> + +<p>"Nor I,' said Edmund, 'since half an hour before I saw you return on +horseback; she then complained of a violent head-ache, and said she +would try if the evening air would remove it: I offered to walk with +her, but she said she would rather be alone, for she had enough to +occupy her thoughts: she kissed me too,' added Edmund, 'and bade me +farewell, sighing bitterly, and saying her heart was heavy and full of +terror: why then,' said I, 'will you go alone, sister? why not let me +walk with you? I really think there <i>is</i> danger in being out late so +near the mountains.' She forced a smile, and replied, she feared nothing +from the mountains: all her misery and terrors arose at home.'</p> + +<p>"Ungrateful Rosolia,' I replied, as Edmund told me this; to which he +answered:—</p> + +<p>"Ah, my Lord, it grieves me to see you both so unhappy; I hope my +grandfather's return will soon restore in some degree your domestic +comfort; he will persuade Rosolia to be more accommodating to your +wishes.'</p> + +<p>"I sighed, and asked him which way his sister had gone.</p> + +<p>"Through the cork grove,' he replied, 'and towards the Hermitage, which +is I know her favourite retreat.'</p> + +<p>"'Surely,' said I, 'she would not remain in that lonely place till this +late hour; yet, so strange for sometime has been her conduct, I know not +what to suppose: call the servants, my dear Edmund, to bring lights, for +in that gloomy retreat it will be quite dark, and let us go in search of +her.'</p> + +<p>"We set out accordingly, attended by two men servants and my good +Bayfield, who, fearing, as she said, her Lady might be ill, insisted on +accompanying us. The place to which we directed our steps was a quarter +of a mile from the villa, and, as I had said, by the time we had reached +it the darkness of night had come on.</p> + +<p>"This gloomy cell stood at the foot of a rock deep embowered in thick +groves: a mountain stream fell from a considerable height near it, and +the dash of its waters alone broke the silence of this secluded retreat, +which was called the Hermitage, from the peculiar style in which it was +fitted up. For some time before we reached it we made the surrounding +thickets resound with Rosolia's name: but all was silent, save the +murmuring breeze and the dashing of the waterfall. I concluded that my +wife was gone off with the infamous De Sylva, and my whole frame shook +with rage and agitation.</p> + +<p>"Why do you tremble so, my Lord?' said the affrighted Edmund, who hung +upon my arm: 'do you think any harm has happened to my sister?'</p> + +<p>"I know not,' I replied, 'but I fear it, greatly fear it!'</p> + +<p>"Just then we entered the gloomy Hermitage: all was dark and still; the +echo of our steps alone broke the awful silence. The men who accompanied +us lifted their torches to throw a fuller light into the cell; and—ah! +my Ellen, I dread to shock your tender nature by describing the horrid +scene which met our view.—Imagine our sensations when we saw the +unfortunate Rosolia extended on the earth! her white garments dyed in +<i>blood</i>! in that blood which some hand, either accidentally or by +design, had shed! for on raising the body, by this time stiff and cold, +a wound was discovered in the back of her head, which was evidently the +effect of a pistol-ball, and had caused her death. You tremble and turn +pale, my love: it grieves me to distress you, but think what was <i>my</i> +distress, when Edmund, who, in frantic despair, had thrown himself by +his murdered sister, found the fatal weapon which had done this deed of +horror, and I saw at once it was the fellow pistol to that I had in my +hand when he met me in the hall, remarkable for its peculiar +construction and workmanship; the very one, in short, which I had given +to De Sylva. Never, never shall I forget the glance of his dark eyes at +that moment: I saw the direful suspicions he, at that instant, +conceived, and which were still more fatally confirmed by what +immediately followed.</p> + +<p>"My poor Bayfield, full of grief and horror, was arranging, with all the +care circumstances would admit, the removal of the body to the house, +when seeing something glitter amidst the horrible darkness which +surrounded us, and our fading torches scarcely broke, she stooped and +picked up <i>my ring</i>, that well-known ring, which I indeed had lost, but +had not said so; and which she, from some impulsive feeling, perhaps +fearing the sight of it in that place might implicate me in the late sad +event, attempted to conceal in her bosom.</p> + +<p>"What is that?" exclaimed the half-frantic Edmund, darting towards her +and seizing her hand. '<i>Your ring</i>, my Lord, <i>your ring</i>! at this +time—in this place. The pistol too—those dreadful threatenings of +revenge.—Ah God! Ah God!—what horrible conviction flashes on +me.—Rosolia! poor dear sister!—Ah, basely, basely murdered!' and he +fell senseless on the ground.</p> + +<p>"The domestics who attended us were Spaniards, and did not understand a +word he said: but Bayfield stood the image of dismay.</p> + +<p>"Ah, my Lord,' said she, 'fly, if indeed your hand by accident has done +this deed, for think what will become of you amidst the bigotted +Catholics, who will seek to revenge it.'</p> + +<p>"Fly!' I repeated, 'my good old friend! Can you believe me guilty?'</p> + +<p>"Oh no, my dear Lord,' she replied, never, never! but think what these +unfortunate appearances will say against you to those who know you less +than I do.'</p> + +<p>"Whatever they say, I will brave,' I exclaimed: 'nor care I much after +this dreadful moment what becomes of me; but never will I, by an +ignominious flight, tacitly avow myself guilty, when I know and surely +cannot fail to prove my innocence.'</p> + +<p>"In a few minutes one of the men, who, on Edmund's falling into the +deathlike trance from which we yet vainly sought to recover him, had +fled towards the house for more assistance, returned with almost all the +domestics, who eagerly crowded to satisfy their curiosity, and whose +astonishment and impatient questions may be easily conceived. Between +them they conveyed into the house their murdered mistress, and the still +insensible Edmund, whose spirit we at one time imagined had really +followed hers. To paint the confusion which ensued would be impossible: +one express was instantly sent off to the Duke de Castel Nuovo, and +several men I sent into the mountains and round the neighbourhood to +seek for De Sylva, by whose hand I doubted not the fatal wound, either +by accident or design, had been given. I described his person and +appearance, saying that such a man had been seen lurking about the house +the night before.</p> + +<p>"Some of the servants having remarked the capricious character, and, of +late, the melancholy manners of Rosolia, suggested an idea that she had +destroyed herself; but the situation of the wound prevented such a +possibility. Forgive me, my love, these shocking details: they are +indeed unsuited to the tenderness of your nature; but without a very +accurate account of this unfortunate event, it would be impossible for +you to judge what evidences there were of my apparent guilt, or real +innocence.</p> + +<p>"Edmund slowly recovered from his deep swoon, but his reason for a time +was flown, and all the skill of the medical people about us failed for +weeks to recover it. Yet still he knew me—still with an expression of +the most vindictive hatred his eyes pursued me. His words frequently +pointed out the nature of his suspicions; but he raved so constantly, +that they remained unnoticed, save by me and Bayfield: too fatally, +alas! we understood them. To her I fully explained all that had passed, +and she told me she had no hesitation in believing that De Sylva was the +author of this direful tragedy. To find that villain appeared +impossible: my servants returned, after a week's search in every +direction, without having discovered the slightest trace of him. Indeed, +to track a fugitive in that wild romantic country is extremely +difficult: immense woods, deep caves, and the recesses of vast ruins, +might easily shelter such a one from pursuit.</p> + +<p>"To the servants I held out an idea that some banditti from the +mountains had found their Lady in her lonely walk, as indeed they all +knew I often had feared would be the case, and had murdered her for the +sake of the money and jewels she had about her; and in truth many of +them had seen her go out with some rich ornaments, which she generally +wore, and which certainly were removed from the body.</p> + +<p>"On searching the Hermitage the next morning, a parcel was found, +containing a complete Spanish habit for a boy, and a letter—at least a +part of one, for part was torn away, and the remainder contained only +these words:</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0"><i>At the Hermitage this evening</i><br /></span> +<span class="i12"><i>we must fly directly</i><br /></span> +<span class="i14"><i>St. Aubyn will wait for</i><br /></span> +<span class="i8"><i>come alone</i><br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>"I easily imagined this was part of a letter from De Sylva, appointing +Rosolia to meet him at the Hermitage. 'St. Aubyn will wait for' +evidently alluded to my waiting for him at the place he had appointed to +meet me; yet even these words seemed fatally to implicate me in this +horrid transaction: whereas, if the whole had been preserved, it would +have entirely exculpated me from blame: so unfortunately did +circumstances combine to throw the appearance of guilt upon me.</p> + +<p>"When my messenger returned from Madrid, I learned that the venerable +Duke de Castel Nuovo was too ill to travel: he left the whole management +of this melancholy affair in my hands, expressing himself convinced that +some of the banditti, who it was well known infested the Sierra Morena, +had been the murderers of his granddaughter. He entreated me to take the +greatest care of Edmund, and invited me, when he should be sufficiently +recovered, to accompany him to Madrid, or if I could not make that +convenient, to send him by some person in whom I could confide, and who +would see him placed safely under his own care; and concluded by very +kind expressions of regret that it had been so totally out of his power +to pay me those personal attentions during my stay in Spain, which he +had so anxiously wished to do.</p> + +<p>"Thus then I found myself completely exonerated from all suspicion of +having had any share of the late dreadful event, except in the mind of +Edmund, who had by this time recovered his reason, and was by slow +degrees regaining his health, yet still looked on me with horror and +aversion, and was buried in the most profound and gloomy melancholy.</p> + +<p>"Unable long to bear this state of estrangement and anxiety, I one day +went to his room, and sitting down by the couch on which he lay, 'I see, +Edmund,' said I, 'too plainly I see, the horrible suspicions you have +formed, and the gloomy hatred so unnatural to your character, which +preys upon your vitals. Neither can you long support a state so +wretched. St. Aubyn was not born to be the object of suspicions so +cruel, nor Edmund to endure them. Hear me then patiently; and though, in +tenderness to the memory of the unfortunate Rosolia, I would, if +possible, have concealed her misconduct from the whole world, and most +of all from you, yet circumstances call on me so imperatively to +disclose it, that I can no longer be silent.'</p> + +<p>"I then, my Ellen, related to him every circumstance, as I have done to +you; and though he evidently wavered, yet so strong was the prejudice he +had conceived, that he was not wholly convinced.</p> + +<p>"For the pistol," said he, 'you have in some measure accounted: it +might, if this story be true, have been placed there by De Sylva: his +accursed hand it might have been which shed that blood—that precious +blood, which yet in imagination I see flowing at my feet! But ah! St. +Aubyn, whence came that <i>ring</i>—that well known ring, which I so often +have heard you declare you valued more than all the jewels in your +possession?'</p> + +<p>"Fully to account for that,' said I, 'is not in my power; but on my +honour, I assure you, I had missed it several days, though, in hopes of +discovering the thief, I did not mention it. You know several of +Rosolia's jewels have lately been lost; and many times, since we have +been here, she has asked me for sums of money, though here she could +have had no use for them; but willing to gratify her in even her +fancies, while they did not militate against my peace and honour, I +never denied her, or desired any explanation; yet, in searching her +escritoire and drawers, no money has been found. This leads me to +believe, nay, to be sure, that either the wretch, De Sylva, stole this +ring and the other valuable articles missing, or she gave them to him in +the meetings which Bayfield now owns she is convinced they <i>have of +late</i> frequently had.'</p> + +<p>"Impossible, impossible!' cried the noble but prejudiced youth: 'Rosolia +could not have condescended to favour, even with her friendship, so mean +a wretch as one who would have received money or jewels at her hands. +This story, my Lord, hangs ill together, and for it I have only your +word—the word of one to whom it is of the utmost importance that I +should believe it. But think, O think, what a chain of circumstances +appear in proof against you!—The threats <i>I</i> heard you utter, that your +own hand should that very evening revenge your injuries! My meeting you, +heated and confused, after two hours absence, no one knew whither, with +one pistol in your hand—the fellow pistol found discharged by the dear +murdered Rosolia—and, more than all, your ring, which Bayfield, +impressed no doubt by similar suspicions, strove to conceal! Place all +these in array against you, and tell me, tell me yourself, what I must, +what I ought to believe.'</p> + +<p>"'It is enough,' I replied: 'I yield myself then to your will. Take me, +if such is your desire, to a prison, to death: your evidence I well +perceive will be sufficient to convict me—to rob me of my honour and my +life. But do you reckon for nothing your former knowledge of my +character and disposition? Am I a man likely to have committed such a +deed?—to have invented such a tale to excuse it, if I had? I swear to +you, Edmund, by all that is most sacred, <i>I am innocent</i>—I will swear +it to the latest moment of my existence.'</p> + +<p>"Moved by these words, by the remembrance of all my former friendship +for him—permit me to say, by the remembrance of years which I had so +spent as to impress him with a firm opinion of my virtue and veracity, +the generous youth paused awhile, and at length said—</p> + +<p>"Well then, my Lord, since in this contrariety of assertion and evidence +it is impossible that I should know what to believe, I will for the +present, at least, act as if I thought you innocent. Seek this De +Sylva—seek him if you will throughout the world. I will breathe no +word, hint no suspicion, that may impede you in the search. Should you +be able to bring his confession in evidence of your integrity, I will +then entreat your pardon for my disbelief. If, on the contrary, any new +appearances of guilt arise against you—should any new discoveries +inimical to your innocence be made, I shall still know how to reach you.</p> + +<p>"Here let us part! As soon as my weak state will permit, I leave this +fatal, this detested roof, and will join my grandfather at Madrid: from +his letters I learn what you have led him to believe on this shocking +subject. If, indeed, your tale be true, I ought most thankfully to +acknowledge the lenient tenderness with which you have treated my poor +sister's reputation.—But oh! could she, could she be so guilty?——At +all events, it is well the Duke should credit your statement. At his +age, the doubts which shake me thus would kill him!—Let us meet no more +at present—Should De Sylva be found, write to me: write in English, and +the people about me will not understand your letter. All farther search +into this matter I must postpone till the commencement of my majority +shall leave me my own master; then I must once more visit England, such +is my father's will, to take possession of my estates in that country, +and to receive the accounts from you. Then, my Lord, we will finally +consider all the proofs which shall then have been obtained of your +innocence or guilt; and I shall then either bewail the faults of +Rosolia, or revenge her death, either by my sword or the hand of the +law, as I may think most proper. I shall then be a man, and more able, +both by improved judgment and bodily strength, to assert my own +convictions. Most earnestly do I wish, long ere that period arrives, +your character may be cleared: yet, ah! how can I wish it, if by that +acquittal my poor Rosolia must be proved so guilty!'</p> + +<p>"In a few days after this conversation, Edmund, under the care of a +person in whom I could confide, set out for Madrid; and I soon after +discharging all my servants, except Mrs. Bayfield and my valet, whom I +sent to England, left also this fatal spot. I hired a mule, and alone +passed through the Sierra into La Mancha; and at Civedad I engaged a +servant, not choosing to take one with me who had known any thing of the +late painful transactions. On mules we proceeded, making every inquiry +for De Sylva. Not even my servant knew my real name and rank; as I +thought by concealing these I might have a better chance of finding the +villain I sought: but still my search was vain. From Toledo, where I +rested a short time, I wrote to some of the officers of De Sylva's +regiment at Seville, to know if he had returned thither, though it +appeared most improbable he should have done so: but I was desirous of +trying every chance by which he might be discovered. In answer, I learnt +De Sylva had obtained leave of absence about two months before; but +though it had been some time expired, he was not yet returned: so that +the charge of desertion was now added to those others, which I doubted +not induced him to keep himself concealed. I travelled through Spain, +avoiding Madrid, where I knew my friend and correspondent, the Marquis +of Northington, who was resident there in a diplomatic capacity, would +make every search for De Sylva; and passing the Pyrenees, entered the +frontier of France, though with great risk and hazard, had I been known +to be English; but I passed everywhere for a Spaniard, speaking the +language as a native, having from my childhood been accustomed to speak +it with Rosolia and Edmund; and I fancied in those wild mountains I +might meet with De Sylva, who was likely to assort with the desperate +characters with which they at that time abounded. But vain was my +search, and at length I returned to England; and thinking that in +London, perhaps, I might find this wretch connected with gamesters, I +sought him at every house where such persons are likely to be found; but +still, still the search was fruitless.</p> + +<p>"I then came hither for awhile, to rest my wearied spirits. Here, +vanquished by the constant harassings I had so long undergone, I fell +into a severe fit of illness, through which my good Bayfield nursed me +with the tenderest care; and as she alone knew all the griefs which +oppressed me, I could without restraint give vent to my sorrows in her +presence.</p> + +<p>"Immediately after my recovery I had a letter from my friend Lord +Northington, who had at my request, by himself and his agents, made +every possible inquiry for De Sylva. He informed me that a person of +suspicious character had lately been arrested, and stood charged with +various crimes; and amongst the rest, of desertion; that from my +description of him, he fancied this man to be De Sylva. I instantly +wrote to Edmund, that I hoped the object of my long search was found; +that I should go to Spain immediately, and would see him as soon as any +thing was ascertained: but alas! after all my trouble and fatigue this +man proved to be totally unlike De Sylva, and in no way connected with +him.</p> + +<p>"Mortified and disappointed, I yet went to Seville, where Edmund then +was. The Duke de Castel Nuovo had been dead a few months, and his +grandson, under the care of Mr. O'Brien, and some other ecclesiastics, +appointed by the Duke's will to be the guardians of his person and his +Spanish estates during his minority. It was not without difficulty that +I obtained a private conference with him; for these Catholics were +jealous of my supposed influence over his mind.</p> + +<p>"I found him greatly altered in person, and evidently a prey to gloomy +and anxious thoughts, which the life he led amongst persons of severe +and superstitious habits did not tend to dissipate. His prejudices I +still found unconquerable, and that he was determined on coming to +England, should I be unable clearly to substantiate my innocence, either +to avenge his sister's death by the sword, or to impeach me as her +murderer—a dreadful alternative, and one from which I knew not how to +free myself: for to find De Sylva seemed impossible, and if found, I +knew not how to bring him to confession; and even of his having been at +my villa, near the Sierra Morena, I had no witness but Mrs. Bayfield, +whose evidence in my favour might, and most probably would, be deemed +partial.</p> + +<p>"Thus, and with this shocking prospect constantly before me, the time +has passed since the fatal day of Rosolia's death. Anxious for your +peace and safety, I wrote to Edmund, who ought to have been here three +months ago, and entreated him to delay coming hither till this time, +stating my reasons, with which he complied, and arrived in England only +a week since. Hither he was obliged to come, as Mordaunt had all the +papers belonging to his estates in his possession. You know he has been +too ill lately to go from home, and his signature was absolutely +necessary.</p> + +<p>"After O'Brien and Mordaunt went into the library last night, I again +endeavoured to convince Edmund of my innocence; and although I think now +his judgment is matured, and his passions have had time to cool, he is +more inclined to believe me, and to let the matter rest where it is, I +could by no means get him explicitly to acquit me; and this house +reviving the memory of his sister, and all the past events so forcibly, +no doubt was the cause of his nocturnal wandering.</p> + +<p>"What will be the event of all this I know not; but if I find him still +inexorable in a conference I mean this day to hold with him, I think +appearances are so much against me, I must at least for a time withdraw +with you and our boy to some safe retreat.</p> + +<p>"I have wearied you, my Ellen, and am myself weary with speaking so +long, on such an agitating subject: but tell me, my love, oh! tell me, +that you at least think me guiltless of this direful act!"</p> + +<p>"Guiltless!" cried Ellen (whose many tender exclamations and agitated +interruptions had given frequent proof of the interest with which she +had heard this melancholy narrative). "Oh, heavens! the evidence of my +own senses would fail to make me think you otherwise. But in this case +all appears to me so clear, so easy to be traced, that I am astonished +the generous youth you have described can hesitate in his belief a +moment.—Ah! my dear St. Aubyn, let <i>me</i> speak to him; let me tell him +of your virtues, of your gentle nature, of your tender and affectionate +disposition. Surely he will hear me: surely he must yield to the +conviction these must give, that you were not, could not have been +guilty of a deed so horrid!"</p> + +<p>"Yes, my dearest, my beloved Ellen," replied St. Aubyn, "it shall be so. +Your soft, your persuasive words and looks will, I am sure, impress him +with conviction that the man you love cannot be a villain.</p> + +<p>"Yet, Ellen, do not meanly compromise my honour or your own dignity; +argue, and even, if you can, persuade him to believe me innocent: but if +in this you fail, do not sue to him. I could not accept of life and +honour merely from his <i>forbearance</i>; yet for your sake, and that of our +child, I will in some measure set my proud spirit aside, and yield to +terms I would otherwise disdain."</p> + +<p>Here they parted, and Ellen retired to her dressing-room, to refresh her +wearied spirits, to kiss and weep over her infant, and to offer up a +fervent prayer for every grace of speech, which might subdue and +convince the prejudiced but generous Edmund.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAP_IV" id="CHAP_IV"></a>CHAP. IV.</h2> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i12">We do not know<br /></span> +<span class="i12">How he may soften at the sight o' the child.<br /></span> +<span class="i12">The silence often of pure innocence<br /></span> +<span class="i12">Persuades when speaking fails.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i20"><span class="smcap">Winter's Tale.</span><br /></span> +</div></div> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p>With an air how different from the usual cheerful greetings of the +morning at St. Aubyn Castle, did the party now there assemble in the +breakfast-room.</p> + +<p>The Earl and Countess, wearied with the alarm of the night and the late +agitating conversation, scarcely could assume spirits to smile upon +their guests and give them that hospitable reception which every one +generally felt assured of from them. Lady Juliana, stiff and severe of +countenance, scarcely deigned a bow to the salutations of Mr. O'Brien; +and the pale melancholy Edmund, who, constraining his feelings, advanced +towards Lady St. Aubyn, and attempted an apology for what had passed the +evening before, for of his nocturnal wanderings, and her consequent +alarm, he had not the least idea: from St. Aubyn he appeared to shrink +with less aversion than usual, but when seated at the breakfast-table, +his eyes and whole attention seemed fixed on Ellen, who, pale and +mournful as were her looks, yet spoke with such gentle sweetness, as +appeared instantly to attract him, while the soft and pensive character +her beauty had assumed was precisely formed to sooth and tranquillize +the too vehement emotions of this deeply feeling young man. Her power, +indeed, over the heart, of which all who saw her were sensible, arose +from the united charms of voice, person, and demeanor, all of which were +so sweetly harmonized with each other as to form one charming and +consistent whole, and that, so regulated by the most perfect purity of +manners, the most refined delicacy of sentiment, and the most +affectionate tenderness of heart, as ensured not only the admiration, +but the respect and love of all who knew her; yet more, of all she +sought to win or soften. No wonder then if the young and generous heart +of Edmund leaned towards her, and felt before the breakfast hour was +over that for worlds he could not have pained or wronged her.</p> + +<p>Mr. Mordaunt had fixed one o'clock at noon to finish the settlement of +all legal concerns between Lord St. Aubyn and Lord De Montfort, the weak +state of his health not permitting him to come earlier to the Castle. As +soon as breakfast was over, therefore, St. Aubyn invited his guests to +walk or ride round the grounds. O'Brien gladly consented, and Laura said +she should like to ride with them; but Edmund coldly refused, saying if +he went out at all, he should merely stroll by himself a short distance, +as he felt languid and unwell. "To you then, my Ellen," said St. Aubyn, +"I recommend our noble guest. I need not I am sure request you to pay +him every attention; if possible, prevail on him to stay and dine with +us: he talks of going the instant his business is completed."</p> + +<p>"I hope, my Lord," said Ellen to De Montfort, "you will not do so. The +evenings now close in abruptly, and it will be late before you reach the +end of the first stage from hence."</p> + +<p>He bowed in silence.</p> + +<p>The gentlemen and Miss Cecil went to prepare for their ride; and Ellen, +ringing the bell, desired Jane to bring her netting-box thither, for she +feared if she went as usual to the nursery, Edmund might escape her, and +no other opportunity offer for the conference on which her heart was +set.</p> + +<p>Lady Juliana, as usual, went to her own room, where she always chose to +spend two or three hours of her morning alone.</p> + +<p>Edmund had, by the time Ellen was seated at her work, thrown himself in +a meditating attitude on a sofa, and was apparently lost in a reverie; +yet his eyes were frequently fixed on her, and his countenance seemed to +soften as he gazed upon her. She soon saw the little party ride into the +park, and then feeling herself secure from interruption, she considered +how best to begin her intended conversation:—her heart fluttered, and +her fingers entangled her work so completely, that it was impossible to +proceed with it. Painful, indeed, was her situation; for to converse on +topics so deeply interesting with a young man so very lately an entire +stranger was indeed a severe task for the gentle, the timid Ellen. +Rousing her spirits, however, for she felt that time fled swiftly, she +with a tremulous voice said,</p> + +<p>"My Lord, I fear you will think I take too great a liberty with one so +lately a stranger, if I venture to enter on a subject of the most +delicate nature, indeed; but one to me so deeply interesting, I cannot +consent to let this opportunity pass, since it may be the last I shall +ever have of speaking to your Lordship without witnesses."</p> + +<p>From the moment she began to speak, De Montfort started from his +reverie, and fixed on her an earnest attention, which had, however, so +much softness in it, as emboldened her to proceed in a voice somewhat +firmer and more assured.</p> + +<p>"You may believe, my Lord," she said, "that Lord St. Aubyn has not +withheld from me the real cause of the painful scene I last night +witnessed, and a decree of agitation in you, not to be accounted for, +but by a recital which out of tenderness he till this morning never +ventured to make to me."</p> + +<p>"Has he then," said Edmund (in that low, solemn, impressive tone which +so deeply interested his hearers) "has he then ventured to reveal to you +that horrid event, that deed of blood, the guilt of which he has never +been able to throw from him?"</p> + +<p>"He has, my Lord, explained to me the meaning of many painful hints; of +much uneasiness which I have perceived in him from the first of our +acquaintance: but ah! generous, though misled, Lord de Montfort, can you +really believe him guilty? Can you doubt the innocence of a man whose +life of virtue, whose tender affectionate nature, surely point him out +as of all men the least likely to have committed an action so horrid! +Surely he cannot have fully and clearly explained to you all the +circumstances which preceded this sad event. May I, without too much +wounding your feelings, venture to recapitulate what he has told me. +Surely a story so clear, so consistent, must at once exonerate him from +having had any part in that guilty, that horrid deed."</p> + +<p>He bowed assent, and Ellen as succinctly, but as clearly as possible, +brought into one point of view, all the circumstances which were +favourable to St. Aubyn, yet veiling with the most touching delicacy and +consideration those which bore hardest on the fame of Rosolia; affecting +to believe that the wretch De Sylva (whom she asserted St. Aubyn and +Mrs. Bayfield had certainly seen at her window the night before) had +come without her knowledge, and that the same man, meeting her in the +lonely hermitage, had committed the shocking deed for the sake of the +valuables she wore.</p> + +<p>It seemed as if Edmund had chiefly resisted the evidences in St. Aubyn's +favour, lest by yielding to them, he must have pronounced his sister +guilty: whether this being now less pressed upon him, or that Ellen +herself, fully convinced of St. Aubyn's innocence, and perhaps less +impassioned than he had been when stating the same story, had placed +circumstances more clearly before him, he evidently gave greater +credence to the tale than he had ever before done. Her sweetness of +voice and manner, and the graceful tenderness with which she spoke of +St. Aubyn's virtues; or his honourable and disinterested conduct to her, +both before and since their marriage, and of the perfect love which +bound them to each other, and wrapt her life in his; tears of tenderness +and blushes of indignation marked the varying sensations which filled +her bosom at the bare idea of his being suspected of such a crime, and +animated her beauty with new graces, appeared to impress him deeply with +sentiments of admiration and esteem. When she paused, he sighed and +said:—</p> + +<p>"Is it in nature to resist such a pleader, or to believe the man so +loved by one so pure and spotless, can be himself capable of the +blackest crimes? No, Lady St. Aubyn, were your natures so dissimilar it +would be impossible that you could so love, so confide in him."</p> + +<p>At that instant a soft plaintive voice was heard at the opening door, +the voice of an infant. Edmund started, for he had forgotten Lady St. +Aubyn had recently become a mother, and a painful recollection pressed +on his heart of the infant so dearly loved, so deeply lamented, the +child of his idolized Rosolia!</p> + +<p>The nurse now appeared with the babe in her arms, for wondering at her +Lady's usually lengthened absence from the nursery, she came to request +some directions concerning the child: supposing all the gentlemen were +gone out together, when she saw Lord de Montfort she would have +retreated but Ellen advancing, took the infant in her arms and said:</p> + +<p>"Give him to me, nurse; I will but shew him to Lord de Montfort, and +bring him to the nursery myself:" then unfolding his mantle, she pressed +him to her tender bosom: and when the nurse was gone, with light +graceful steps advancing towards Edmund, (who rose from his seat to meet +her) she said:</p> + +<p>"See here, my Lord, a still more powerful pleader; one pure and spotless +indeed, whose opening prospects must be clouded, whose innocent name +must be blasted, if you persist in your intentions, if you seek his +father's destruction. Look at this babe, and tell me if your gentle +nature can doom him to such cruel misfortunes as your denunciation of +his father must bring upon his guiltless head."</p> + +<p>Edmund, the noble Edmund, stooped, and gazing on the child, was not +ashamed to shed tears of tenderness and compassion on his sweet face. +The lovely creature opened its eyes, and with the same soft look of +confiding innocence which marked his mother's features, stretched out +his little hands and smiled.</p> + +<p>"Oh! this is too much! indeed too much!" exclaimed De Montfort. "I must +not be a man to see this sweet, this lovely infant, and you, angelic +woman, and dare to breathe one injurious wish against that man on whom +the happiness of both depends! From henceforth I dismiss for ever all my +revengeful, perhaps my ill-founded schemes: never shall word or look of +mine attempt to injure the happy, the enviable St. Aubyn. Surely Heaven +would not have favoured him with felicity so rare, had a deed so cruel +as that of which I suspected him stained his soul! I will try to think, +to believe so. Assure yourself, at least, loveliest of women, that from +me he has nothing more to fear; and may Heaven's choicest blessings be +showered on you, and on this sweet, this lovely infant!"</p> + +<p>He bent one knee to the ground, and, with reverential awe, kissed +Ellen's hand, lifting his expressive eyes towards that Heaven he was +invoking in her favour: then rising, he took the babe from her arms, +kissed its hands, its cheeks, its lips, and returning it to its mother, +with hasty and agitated steps quitted the apartment: leaving her +impressed with feelings of joy, gratitude, and the tenderest esteem for +this noble, though somewhat eccentric being.</p> + +<p>Folding her babe to her fond maternal heart, which seemed to feel even +increased affection for it from the late trying scenes, she passed with +it to the nursery, where Laura found her a few minutes after, and +announced the return of the gentlemen from their ride.</p> + +<p>"Where is St. Aubyn?" said Ellen, with a countenance where tears and +smiles contended: "I must see him immediately."</p> + +<p>"It is near the time appointed by Mr. Mordaunt to conclude Lord de +Montfort's business," said Laura, "and I believe he is gone to his +study: but what is the matter, Ellen, you look agitated yet joyful? I +never saw you more radiant in beauty; something I am sure has happened +to light up your face in this manner."</p> + +<p>Ellen smiled, and said, "Oh, flatterer! but I cannot stay to tell you +now; only I hope I have been fortunate enough to adjust a difference of +long standing between Lord de Montfort and St. Aubyn, and I am impatient +to tell my Lord the result of my morning's conversation with the +former—here, take the babe, Laura, and keep him if you will till I come +again, unless Lady Juliana comes, as usual, and snatches him away." She +then hastened to St. Aubyn, whom she found alone, and had just time to +tell him the result of the conference she had held with Edmund, but not +the particulars, before Mr. Mordaunt and the other gentlemen assembled.</p> + +<p>As De Montfort entered the study, Lady St. Aubyn was quitting it, but he +stopped her one moment, and said in a low voice, "Stay, madam, and +witness your power over me." Then advancing, he held out his hand to St. +Aubyn, and said to him in Italian, which he knew O'Brien did not +understand, "Be all our animosity banished for ever." Yet so strong had +been, and perhaps still were his prejudices, that the hand he offered +trembled, and he turned pale, when St. Aubyn took it.</p> + +<p>"I never felt any, Edmund," said he. "I made large allowances for you, +and felt towards you a brother's love: my friendship and best offices +are your's at all times."</p> + +<p>He then apologized to the gentlemen present for speaking a strange +language, and accounted for this little scene, by saying, that an +unhappy disagreement which had taken place long ago between himself and +Lord de Montfort was now fortunately adjusted.</p> + +<p>Ellen just staid long enough to congratulate St. Aubyn in a low voice on +this happy termination of an affair which cost him so much uneasiness, +and turning to Edmund, she said, "You dine with us, my Lord:" he bowed +in silent acquiescence, and she retired, happiest at that moment of the +happy.</p> + +<p>Lord de Montfort and Mr. O'Brien remained that day at the Castle, and +the former, though still at times sunk in reverie, yet was composed; and +sometimes almost cheerful. A weight seemed removed from his mind, and +though his manner to St. Aubyn was still constrained and distant, there +were moments when he appeared with difficulty to prevent himself from +appearing friendly and cordial.</p> + +<p>Ellen saw, that were they often together, Edmund's long-rooted and +cherished prejudices would insensibly wear away; and on that account +regretted that he would not be prevailed on to stay longer than till the +next morning.</p> + +<p>That evening, Laura Cecil, who had been quite pleased to see De Montfort +resuming in some degree the manners which in his boyhood made him so +agreeable, returned to Rose Hill, where Sir Edward Leicester was soon +expected, to whom, it was supposed, she would be married before +Christmas.</p> + +<p>Lord St. Aubyn willingly consented that Ellen should inform his faithful +Bayfield of her knowledge of their transactions in Spain, and the happy +reconciliation between her Lord and Lord de Montfort; and Bayfield, who +almost idolized Ellen before, now considering her as the cause of an +event so desirable, felt her love and veneration redoubled.</p> + +<p>In the course of the evening, Lord St. Aubyn hinted to Mr. O'Brien, that +some of his family had been disturbed by Lord de Montfort's having left +his room while sleeping, and Mr. O'Brien said, that after any great +emotion, his pupil sometimes did so, but that it rarely happened, +frequently not for months together; in reality, no farther disturbance +took place, and the two gentlemen departed the next morning, leaving the +inhabitants of the Castle with very different sensations from those they +had felt at their first arrival.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAP_V" id="CHAP_V"></a>CHAP. V.</h2> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i12">My noble gossips, you have been too liberal;<br /></span> +<span class="i12">I thank you for it—so shall this <i>child</i>,<br /></span> +<span class="i12">When <i>he</i> has so much English.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i20"><span class="smcap">Henry VIII.</span><br /></span> +</div></div> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p>Lady St. Aubyn had received so little pleasure from visiting London the +preceding winter, that she earnestly requested not to remove from the +Castle till after Christmas, when Laura entreated her to spend a month +or six weeks there after her marriage, and wished, as the Countess had +not yet been presented, that ceremony might take place when she was +herself introduced: Lord and Lady Delamore were also expected to be in +London at that time, and Ellen promised herself great pleasure from +becoming acquainted with her. It was therefore determined, that she +should meet Sir Edward, and Laura (who would then be Lady Leicester), in +town the beginning of February, and remain quietly in the country till +that time, where she would have leisure to fulfil those maternal duties +she had voluntarily taken upon herself, and from the due exercise of +which her sweet child grew, and improved every day.</p> + +<p>Before they left the Castle, the young heir was christened with all due +splendor. Sir William Cecil and Sir Edward Leicester, Lady Juliana and +Miss Cecil, were sponsors. The christening suit of fine Brussels lace +for the infant, over white satin, and a similar dress for the fair +mother, were the gift of Lady Juliana; the other sponsors were also very +liberal in their presents to their godson.</p> + +<p>The hilarity attending this ceremony was not confined within the walls +of the Castle, where, however, all the genteeler part of the +neighbourhood were elegantly entertained, while all the poorer sort were +most hospitably regaled under some temporary buildings and marquees +erected for the purpose in the park, where immense fires dispelled the +coldness of winter, at the same time that they served to dress the +provisions intended to regale the crowd assembled round them. Each +family was also liberally supplied with bread, meat, clothing, and +money, according to its numbers and their respective wants; and as Lady +St. Aubyn and Miss Cecil, attended by Bayfield and Jane, did not +themselves disdain to visit the cottages, and see what was really +requisite for the comfort of their inhabitants, every thing was ordered +with intelligence and regularity, and imposition almost totally +prevented.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Neville, the poor officer's widow mentioned before, had for some +time been settled as manager of the Schools of Industry, and other +useful institutions, which Lady St. Aubyn had set on foot during the +summer: her eldest daughter was gone to "that bourne from which no +traveller returns;" but the others, healthy and happy, were in training +for such situations as they seemed calculated to fill. Mrs. Neville was +also very useful in distributing the gifts to the poor, and the +preparations for their entertainment.</p> + +<p>A grand display of fireworks finished the amusements of the evening, for +St. Aubyn observed that was the only species of mere entertainment which +all ranks and ages could partake of; and in the present instance, he +wished not only to benefit, but to gratify all his neighbours.</p> + +<p>Miss Alton and Mrs. Dawkins were amongst the company received at the +Castle, and so delighted were they with the young heir, so charmed with +the splendour and elegance of the repast, that, contrary to usual +custom, no lamentations or tender sympathetic sighs disturbed the gaiety +of the day.</p> + +<p>Soon after this grand fête, the whole family set out for London; and +Lady St. Aubyn, not satisfied with any superintendent of her nursery but +Mrs. Bayfield, begged she might go with them, and be removed entirely +from the more fatiguing post she had hitherto filled.</p> + +<p>Jane, now called Mrs. Williamson, having been for some time under Mrs. +Bayfield's direction, was placed in her vacant department, and another, +somewhat more fashionable, lady's woman engaged to attend the Countess.</p> + +<p>In London they met the new married pair, and the bride's fair sister, +Lady Delamore, whose extraordinary beauty excited Ellen's admiration, +while her likeness to the sweet departed Juliet involuntarily claimed +her affection.</p> + +<p>With such very agreeable friends, and under the respectable protection +of Lady Juliana, Lady St. Aubyn found London a very different scene from +what it had appeared to her the year before: she now possessed also a +greater degree of confidence in herself, and having no longer any thing +to fear, the gloomy hints of St. Aubyn, and her consequent dread, being +for ever explained and removed, she felt a more cheerful flow of +spirits, and enjoyed the amusements which were so amply in her power: +yet still those spirits were softened by the most retiring delicacy; and +those amusements, partaken with moderation and decorum. Still her high +character stood unblemished, and even elevated in the public opinion; +and the splendour of her beauty, which every one thought but now come to +its full perfection, attracted none but <i>respectful</i> admirers.</p> + +<p>The St. Aubyns frequently saw Lord de Montfort, who had purchased a +house in town, and was living in very high style, though still under the +direction of Mr. O'Brien, but evidently choosing to be more his own +master than he had been in Spain, to which country he seemed at present +to have no thoughts of returning; his grandfather's will having left him +free to choose his own residence, though he was under a necessity of +visiting Spain at least once in two years.</p> + +<p>To Lord St. Aubyn he was polite, though distant: strangers could not +have perceived any thing in his manner indicative of dislike or +resentment; but those who knew what had passed, could at times discover +a particular cast of his eye, a certain tone in speaking to the Earl, +which marked a <i>recollection</i>, at least, of former enmity, and were by +St. Aubyn hardly to be endured.</p> + +<p>To Ellen he at all times shewed an attention so devoted, and his +expressive eyes displayed so much admiration, that some of those who +witnessed them began to fancy they had discovered the cause of that +gloom which still overshadowed him, and had, from the time of his first +arrival, excited the remarks of every one, and made him the object of +the insipid jests and witless railleries of those who could conceive no +cause but <i>love</i> for the dejection of a young man who could scarcely +count the thousands which swelled his rent-roll.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Love! ill-star'd passion! doom'd vain scorn to bear,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">To meet the busy mocker's idle jest;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Nor then allow'd its misery to declare;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Nor then indulge the woe but half supprest.<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>For of the pure, though enthusiastic attachment he felt for Ellen, such +minds could form no idea.</p> + +<p>One evening, at the play, whither Lady St. Aubyn went with a large +party, amongst whom were Lady Meredith and several gentlemen in her +train, they saw in the box opposite to theirs Lord de Montfort leaning +against the side of it, in his usual state of gloomy apathy—his eyes +half closed, his fine hair disordered, and his whole person expressing a +sort of desolation, which waked emotions of pity in Ellen's gentle +heart: she could not see him without compassion, he appeared so +completely an insulated being, and even in the very morning of life, so +totally without any kind connection or affectionate friend to soothe his +melancholy—that melancholy, of which she so well knew the original +cause, that, as she looked towards him, she could not forbear a sigh; +and the sorrow she really felt appeared in her expressive countenance.</p> + +<p>Lady Meredith, who had been attentively watching her with a degree of +malice, of which Ellen had not supposed her capable, now gently touched +Lady St. Aubyn with her fan, and said—</p> + +<p>"Upon my word, my dear, I could in pity to the love-sick woe-begone De +Montfort have almost wished he could have seen that soft look, and heard +that tender sigh: no doubt it would have gone a great way towards +rendering him a more cheering object, and that I am sure we should all +have rejoiced in, for at present he really casts a gloom over all our +amusements."</p> + +<p>"I do not understand you," said Ellen, with surprize.</p> + +<p>"Indeed!" replied Lady Meredith: "I hardly supposed you would have +carried affectation so far. Here, Hamilton," added she, laughing and +turning to the gentleman next her, "Lady St. Aubyn cannot imagine why +her pity and a very kind look should have any effect on Lord de +Montfort."</p> + +<p>"Pity and a gentle look from so much beauty," replied Sir James +Hamilton, with affected gravity, "must certainly have a most powerful +effect on the heart of any man—assuredly still more on that of one so +devoted as De Montfort's appears to be."</p> + +<p>"I know not, Sir," said Ellen, with modest grace, yet with spirit, "if I +am to consider this as a specimen of that fashionable sort of wit which +you call quizzing or hoaxing. Are not these the <i>elegant</i> terms of the +day? But I am willing to think it no more, as I am convinced you cannot +seriously lose sight of the respect you owe me as a married woman, so +far as to imagine Lord de Montfort can feel, or I permit, a greater +degree of attachment than his long connection with Lord St. Aubyn may +well account for."</p> + +<p>Then turning to St. Aubyn, she said in a gay tone—</p> + +<p>"Help me, my Lord, to convince Lady Meredith that Lord de Montfort has +really not fallen violently in love with me: how far he may entertain +such a sentiment for her, I will not pretend to say."</p> + +<p>St. Aubyn laughed, and said—</p> + +<p>"For his own sake, Ellen, I hope he has not been so improvident as to +dispose of his heart in your favour; though I should be happy to hear he +had selected any fair one at liberty to reward his passion."</p> + +<p>This well-timed appeal to her husband, and the unembarrassed manner with +which both had spoken, effectually silenced those who hoped to have +extracted much amusement from the confusion of the timid and delicate +Ellen.</p> + +<p>Presently afterwards, on meeting her eyes, De Montfort's seemed lighted +up with pleasure, and quitting his box, he came to that where she sat. +St. Aubyn seeing a little smile still playing on the countenances of +Lady Meredith and some of her gay friends, determined to shew his +perfect confidence in his wife, turned round to him, and said—</p> + +<p>"De Montfort, how are you? I am quite glad you found us out, for nothing +is more stupid than being at the play without a party. We have plenty of +room: go and sit between Lady Meredith and Lady St. Aubyn; I am sure I +shall make you happy by placing you there, they are both such +favourites: we have just been disputing which of them you preferred."</p> + +<p>"You did me great honour," replied Edmund, "in speaking of me at all."</p> + +<p>"St. Aubyn only jests," said Ellen: "we were not, I assure you, debating +on the subject."</p> + +<p>"No, indeed," replied Lady Meredith, laughing, "that question may be +easily settled: we were all unanimously agreed, I assure you, my Lord."</p> + +<p>Edmund, not exactly liking the turn of her countenance, was going to +reply with some warmth, and probably might, with that chivalric +gallantry which marked his character, have openly avowed, what he +undoubtedly thought, that Ellen was the first and most admirable of +women, if she had not stopt him by saying—</p> + +<p>"Oh, pray Lord De Montfort, let Lady Meredith enjoy the diversion she is +seeking: she has been in a teasing humour the whole evening."</p> + +<p>"Pray, Lady Meredith," said Lady Juliana, with a grave air, "let us have +no more of this rattle: Lady St. Aubyn is not fashionable enough to wish +to be the <i>favourite</i> of any man but her husband."</p> + +<p>"Oh, for heaven's sake!" cried Lady Meredith, "do not let us make a +serious business of it. Be assured, my dear Lady St. Aubyn, I had no +intention of getting you a grave lecture: though really," she added, in +a low tone, "I was quite in hopes you were going to be a little like +other people, and not be kept in awe any longer by that starched +specimen of old maidenism. You cannot think, my dear, how much a little +flirting would improve your beauty: then it gives an air of ease and +fashion, which, <i>entre nous</i>, is the only thing you want to make you +quite enchanting."</p> + +<p>Ellen only smiled at this rattle, but with an air so little encouraging, +she soon put an end to it; yet, to one less fixed in principle, Lady +Meredith would have been a dangerous companion; and certain it is, more +women are ruined by listening to precepts of this nature, half in +earnest, half in jest, accompanied by a sort of <i>persiflage</i> which few +can withstand, than even by the wiles of men: against these a woman of +virtue is on her guard; but she listens without fear to a female older +than herself, and whom she thinks better versed in the ways of the +world, till insensibly she adopts the same sentiments, and acquires that +hateful worldly tone which affects to laugh at every thing serious and +praiseworthy.</p> + +<p>Ellen, however, was not so easily misled: her natural penetration +detected the fallacy; and all the shafts of Lady Meredith's ridicule +fell, by her, unheeded.</p> + +<p>On the way home, Lady Juliana inveighed bitterly against the flirting +manners and ill-judged raillery of Lady Meredith, who, she said, instead +of improving as she grew older, was every year worse and worse, and was +enough to spoil the conduct of a whole nation of women.</p> + +<p>"Pray, my dear," said she, "don't you be led by her nonsense: I hope she +will not persuade you to follow her example. Indeed, nephew, I wondered +at you for placing that odd, wild-looking young De Montfort next my +niece: he does not please me at all."</p> + +<p>In short, the old lady was so thoroughly out of humour, that they were +very glad to set her down at her own house.</p> + +<p>Two or three days after this, Lord de Montfort took leave of the St. +Aubyns, before he left London, on his way with a party of young men to +see Oxford and Cambridge, and afterwards to go to the Lakes, not meaning +to be again in London till September. He carried with him the most +exalted opinion of Lady St. Aubyn, but he thought of her rather as an +angel than a woman, and was devoted to her with a purity of attachment +inconceivable by the worldly-minded.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAP_VI" id="CHAP_VI"></a>CHAP. VI.</h2> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i12">She sees once more those lovely plains expand,<br /></span> +<span class="i12">Where the first flow'ret lured her infant hand.<br /></span> +<span class="i12">No where she thinks the sun so mildly gleams,<br /></span> +<span class="i12">As on the banks where first she drank its beams:<br /></span> +<span class="i12">So green no other mead, so smiles no other land!<br /></span> +<span class="i12">Thou little spot, where first I suck'd the light,<br /></span> +<span class="i12">Thou witness of my earliest smile and tear—<br /></span> +<span class="i12">Loved haunt!<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i20"><span class="smcap">Sotheby's Oberon.</span><br /></span> +</div></div> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p>Nothing more of any moment occurred during the stay of Lord and Lady St. +Aubyn in London, for De Montfort's departure, and the perfect attachment +which subsisted between the noble pair, silenced those tongues, and +stopped those remarks, which Edmund's too obvious admiration had +prepared to annoy Lady St. Aubyn.</p> + +<p>They left London early in April, and spent the month of May at St. +Aubyn's, being old-fashioned and <i>tasteless</i> enough not to find any +pleasure in broiling through the hot months in the metropolis, and +leaving the</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Opening lawns, deep glooms, and airy summits,"<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>of their own domain untenanted in the most attractive season of the +year.</p> + +<p>From St. Aubyn's Castle, the long talked of journey into Wales was to +commence. Ellen longed once more to revisit the haunts of her infancy, +and to see her father and her early friends; and St. Aubyn willingly +consented to gratify her.</p> + +<p>The child was to travel with them, attended by the faithful Bayfield and +his nurses: they waited till the end of May, knowing that the bad roads +of North Wales would be hardly passable at an earlier period.</p> + +<p>They went from St. Aubyn's to Shrewsbury, and from thence to Carnarvon, +stopping on the way, as in their former journey, to see all that was +worthy of observation; and as this route was entirely different from +that they had before taken, many new objects presented themselves to +their notice. Amongst other picturesque scenes, they passed the woody +banks of the Dee, whence they obtained a striking view of the beautiful +and romantic town of Llangollen, with its church, and elegant bridge, +embosomed in trees.</p> + +<p>At Llangollen they rested, and though it has in itself nothing +particularly interesting, yet its environs afford much sublime and +pleasing scenery: amongst these the Vale of Crucis is one of the most +lovely secluded situations that fancy can portray; it is adorned by the +fine remains of Valle Crucis Abbey, and its back-ground, formed by a +lofty mountain, on whose summit stands the venerable ruin of Castle +Dinas Bran.</p> + +<p>After seeing all that was deserving observation in this charming spot, +they proceeded through a fine romantic country to Carnarvon, and from +thence to Llanwyllan.</p> + +<p>The latter part of the roads were intolerably bad, and the English +servants, who had never seen any thing like them, were in momentary +expectation of having their necks broken; indeed, Lord Mordaunt's nurses +walked several miles, fearing lest the baby should be injured; and in +truth, even Ellen, though fearless for herself, felt a little uneasy for +the infant.</p> + +<p>All these perils and dangers, however, at length happily past, and +Ellen's heart beat with ecstacy when she saw the white chimnies of +Llanwyllan Farm peeping above the ancient oaks around it. The carriages +stopt before the house, and in an instant Ellen was folded in the arms +of her father: her fair face pressed tenderly to the rough cheek of the +good old man, while the mingled drops of filial love and parental +affection fell in showers from their eyes: repeatedly Powis clasped his +lovely daughter to his heart, and felt enraptured, that though "so great +a lady, his dear Ellen had not forgotten him:" at length he was at +leisure to see and speak to his noble son-in-law, and the awkward air of +respect he endeavoured to assume was soon changed to one of more cordial +affection by the kind greeting Lord St. Aubyn gave him. In the meantime +Ellen stept into the hall where the nurses and servants were waiting, +and taking the infant from Mrs. Bayfield, returned with him into the +parlour, and with delighted looks, placed him in her father's arms.</p> + +<p>Oh, moment of exquisite bliss! moment which might have repaid the +sorrows of many years! Can there be in this world an instant of such +pure delight as the daughter feels when she places her first-born on the +bosom of a venerable parent.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Some feelings are to mortals given<br /></span> +<span class="i0">With less of earth in them than heaven;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And if there be a human tear<br /></span> +<span class="i0">From passion's dross refined and clear,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">A tear so limpid and so meek<br /></span> +<span class="i0">It would not stain an angel's cheek;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">'Tis that which pious fathers shed<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Upon a duteous daughter's head.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0"><span class="smcap">Scott's Lady of the Lake.</span><br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>Mrs. Ross's domestic talents had been exerted to the utmost to prepare +Llanwyllan Farm in the best possible manner for its noble guests: she +did not indeed quite understand all the various arrangements which are +absolutely necessary for the tolerable comfort of such a family; but +with the assistance of Dame Grey, who picqued herself on remembering how +things used to be when she lived at 'Squire Davis's, and the ready aid +of the active Joanna, every thing was far beyond Ellen's expectations; +and as she encouraged no fine lady-like airs in her nursery attendants, +nor even in her own woman, none of those vexatious murmurs disturbed her +which servants often have the happy art of contriving where no real +cause for complaint exists; and certainly the furniture for the nursery +was not quite so rich as Lady Juliana had chosen for that at the Castle: +the nurses found that the young Lord slept quite as well, and his cheeks +bloomed quite as freshly beneath the clean white cotton hangings of this +little couch as under the quilted satin cradle at St. Aubyn's.</p> + +<p>The whole party was speedily arranged, for there was plenty of room and +abundance of provisions.</p> + +<p>The Earl and Countess had brought no more servants than were absolutely +necessary; and Bayfield, highly as she was respected by her noble +employers, was not above directing the management of their table, or any +other domestic office which could make her useful, and though Powis, at +first, thinking her a much greater lady than he had been accustomed to +associate with, was very much disposed to treat her as his equal; she +soon convinced him by her respectful conduct towards her lady's father +that she considered herself as greatly his inferior.</p> + +<p>As soon as Ellen had looked round the house, and seen the arrangements +for her child's accommodation settled, she began to be anxious to see +her good friends the Rosses; and finding from her father they talked of +not coming till the next day, she begged him to give her his arm, and +she would walk to the Parsonage: all fatigue, she said, had vanished +from the moment she found herself beneath her father's roof.</p> + +<p>"Come, my dear father," said she, "let us all go: the baby shall come +too: the dear good people will be delighted to see us; they will give us +some tea, and we can return here to eat our fruit supper: you know we +never used to eat anything else at night, and I hope the cream is as +good as it used to be when I managed the dairy."</p> + +<p>Powis looked with delight on the sweet unaffected creature, who was, as +he expressed himself afterwards to Mrs. Ross, "Not a bit set up by her +high fortune, but just as she used to be when only Ellen Powis."</p> + +<p>The infant now "awaking from his rosy nap," and arrayed with the nicest +care, his lovely face shaded by a rich lace border to his cap, and his +fine cambric robe cut to shew his fair bosom and dimpled arms, with his +beautiful mother in a plain white gown and straw hat, attended by St. +Aubyn and Powis, set out for the Parsonage.</p> + +<p>On the way, Ellen spoke with the sweetest condescension to all she met, +and many of the villagers who knew she was arrived contrived to throw +themselves in her way.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Howel, who used to do her many little services at the market-town, +happened now to cross her path, and profoundly courtesying, would have +passed on, but Ellen, saying—"Excuse me a moment, my dear St. Aubyn," +turned and ran after her.</p> + +<p>"How do you do, Mrs. Howel?" said she, holding out her hand, which the +good woman hardly ventured to touch, again courtesying.</p> + +<p>Ellen made kind inquiries for all her family by name; and seeing her old +neighbour's eyes involuntarily wandering towards the child, as if she +anxiously wished, but was ashamed to ask a nearer view of him, she +beckoned the nurse to bring him towards her, and said:—</p> + +<p>"Do look at my little boy, Mrs. Howel: is he not a fine fellow?"</p> + +<p>"Ah, Madam," said the good woman, "he is the loveliest babe I ever saw, +except your Ladyship, at the same age.—God bless him, and God bless +you, Madam; for you deserve every kind of happiness."</p> + +<p>"Thank you, thank you, my good neighbour. Come to the Farm and see us +when it is convenient: at present, my Lord is waiting for me, so +good-bye." And she lightly ran on, leaving the farmer's wife charmed and +delighted by her sweetness and kind attention.</p> + +<p>They soon reached the Parsonage, and were received with unaffected joy.</p> + +<p>Great indeed, at first, was the bustle of poor Mrs. Ross, who, not +hoping for such an honour, was not drest, nor her parlour, though always +neat, in that high state of preparation it would have been had she +expected them; but she was soon convinced that the string of apologies +she meditated were totally unnecessary, by finding the warm-hearted +Ellen first in her own arms, and leaving them to fly to those of Joanna, +and then with sweet filial reverence bending to the kind parental +embrace of the venerable Ross. St. Aubyn and the good Powis, in the +meantime, stood gazing on her with rapturous emotion, and both thinking +there never was so enchanting a creature. The babe was admired, +caressed, and finally pronounced a prodigy of beauty and early +apprehension, and his sweet good-humoured smiles were uninterrupted even +by one frown, though handed from one to the other with raptures which +would have made an infant of a less amiable disposition cross and +fretful.</p> + +<p>"Well, my excellent friend," said St. Aubyn, aside to Ross, "you see +once more your lovely pupil, from whom you parted with so much regret, +not, I hope, injured either in person or mind by her intercourse with +the great world. Oh, my good Sir, how infinitely am I indebted to you +for implanting principles in her youthful bosom which have stood the +test of many trying scenes. You and I must have a great deal of +conversation, and I know you will be charmed to hear how admirably she +conducts herself on all occasions."</p> + +<p>"I <i>am</i> charmed," said Ross, while an affectionate tear stood in his +eye, "charmed with all I see and hear of both: indeed, my Lord, that +lovely unaffected creature adorns the rank to which you have raised her: +the choice you made reflects as much honour on your penetration as I +hope it will ensure happiness to your future life; nor could any young +person have better stood the trying test of sudden elevation, of that +admiration which doubtless has surrounded her. Now see how sweetly she +returns to us without one high air, one look of dissatisfaction at the +inferiority of accommodations or manners she must see.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Polite as all her life in courts had been,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Yet good as she the courts had never seen."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>"You have, indeed," said St. Aubyn, "most happily characterized her; but +you cannot think half so highly of her as I have reason to do."</p> + +<p>By this time the tea was over; and Ellen, wrapping up her boy, sent him +home; but instead of returning with him, she remained at the Parsonage +all the evening, delighted herself, and delighting all around her.</p> + +<p>"Well," said Mrs. Ross, after her visitors were departed, "well, I never +saw any thing in my life so strange! Why, I thought to have seen a fine +lady, all dressed in silks and jewels, and looking stiff and +formal-like; and I thought to have said, my Lady Countess, and your +Ladyship—and behold! here she comes in a plain white gown, but little +better than one I scolded her for wearing once—you remember it, +Joanna?—And flies to me, kisses me, and calls me dear mamma, as she +used to do; and if I had been to have died for it, I could not call her +any thing but Ellen, and child, the whole evening almost, except once or +twice I recollected myself, and said my Lady, when we were at the window +together, and she put her dear arms round my neck, and said dear mamma, +I am <i>your</i> Ellen!—and then she is grown such a beauty!—to be sure, +she always was as pretty a creature as could be I thought, but now she +looks somehow so sensible, and so happy; and then her carriage is so +easy, and yet so grand, that if I did not know to the contrary, I should +think she was born a great princess.—And then the sweet baby—with his +little laughing mouth, and pretty eyes!—And my Lord too, to be so +kind—that I once as good as told I wished he would go away from +Llanwyllan: and so I did wish it, for could I ever have thought it would +come to such honour and happiness for Ellen!"</p> + +<p>Ross and Joanna listened with smiles to this long harangue, and though +not quite so fluent in their praises, were at least equally charmed and +delighted with herself.</p> + +<p>St. Aubyn and his Ellen remained thus beloved and happy at Llanwyllan +for some time, during which Ellen visited with the utmost kindness every +farmhouse of which she had formerly known the inhabitants, and +gladdening every poor cottage not only with her smiles, but with more +substantial marks of her favour and benevolence.</p> + +<p>In the course of the first fortnight Ellen learned that there was a +mutual attachment between her friend Joanna and a young clergyman, who +did the duty of a parish not more than three miles from those filled by +the worthy Ross, and learning from that good man that he had no +objection to the match, for that Mr. Griffiths was a man of excellent +character, and well suited to Joanna, both in age and temper, and that +the only possible objection was the narrowness of his income, and there +being no parsonage-house on the living he served, nor any house within +many miles where they could reside, she consulted with her Lord, and the +next opportunity said to Ross:</p> + +<p>"My dear Sir, I have a proposal to make to you. It is the mutual request +of my Lord and myself, and you cannot think how much you will oblige us +by complying."</p> + +<p>"I know not," said Ross, "what I could refuse to either of you."</p> + +<p>"My father," said she, "complains much of the loneliness of his winter +evenings; yet he does not like to remove from Llanwyllan and come to +live near us, as we earnestly wished him to do; but he says our modes of +life are so different from those to which he has been accustomed, and +the journey appears so alarmingly long to him, who has never been fifty +miles from home, that he says he must be contented with the hope of +seeing us here sometimes, and end his life where he began it. But ah, my +dear Sir, his wishes, as well as our's, are, that you and Mrs. Ross +would remove to Llanwyllan Farm, and leave this house for Joanna and +your future son-in-law. You are now, we all think, too much advanced in +life to serve three churches, as you have done for many years: give up +two of them to Mr. Griffiths, with the stipend attached to them: and +surely, surely, my dearest Sir, you will not refuse from Ellen, from +your little pupil, a trifling token of her love to make your life and +dear Mrs. Ross's comfortable, and to enable you to give Joanna to her +lover with a sufficiency to make them easy."</p> + +<p>She rose, and putting a pocket-book into his hand, said, "Not one word: +I will not hear one word. For once, your Ellen will be obstinate, and +not listen even to <i>you</i>."</p> + +<p>She ran out of the room, and seeking Joanna, made her put on her bonnet, +and come with her to dine at the Farm, leaving a gay message with Mrs. +Ross, that she should hope to hear a favourable answer to her request +the next day.</p> + +<p>This hint was sufficient to send the good lady to know of Ross what Lady +St. Aubyn meant: she found him overwhelmed with tender gratitude. The +pocket-book contained notes to a large amount, with a slip of paper +containing these words:</p> + +<blockquote><p>My dear Sir,</p> + +<p>I have adapted the enclosed rather to your very limited wishes +than to my own sense of what I ought to have done. Pray let +this little transaction never be mentioned more, unless any +plan more pleasing to you than that I shall propose when I give +you this should occur to you. If my request be at all +unpleasant to you, pray reject it without hesitation.</p> + +<p>Your ever obliged</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Ellen St. Aubyn</span>.</p></blockquote> + +<p>Ross now explained to his wife what had passed, and they both agreed no +plan could be devised more desirable for all parties; and that it would +be both rude and ungrateful to refuse a present, which, however, they +sincerely wished had been of less value.</p> + +<p>All was soon finally settled to the great joy of Powis, who was +delighted with the idea of his friendly inmates. The young lovers also +were full of grateful joy, and Ellen relinquished the idea she had at +one time entertained of taking Joanna home with her: Ross objected to +it, as he did not wish her to be introduced into scenes of life so +different from those she had been, or ever would be again accustomed to; +and Griffiths did not like the idea of her going to such a distance: +nay, Joanna herself, much as she had wished to see St. Aubyn Castle, +seemed now very well contented to remain for life in the vale of +Llanwyllan.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAP_VII" id="CHAP_VII"></a>CHAP. VII.</h2> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i12">The sky it seems would pour down stinking pitch,<br /></span> +<span class="i12">But that the sea, mounting to the welkin's cheek,<br /></span> +<span class="i12">Dashes the fire out. O, I have suffer'd<br /></span> +<span class="i12">With those that I saw suffer! A brave vessel,<br /></span> +<span class="i12">Who had, no doubt, some noble creatures in her,<br /></span> +<span class="i12">Dash'd all to pieces. Oh! the cry did knock<br /></span> +<span class="i12">Against my very heart!—Poor souls, they perish'd!<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i20"><span class="smcap">Shakespeare's Tempest.</span><br /></span> +</div></div> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p>St. Aubyn had related to Ross the conclusion of those circumstances +which he had confided to him before his marriage with Ellen, and though +that venerable man rejoiced that Edmund's vindictive intentions had been +so happily conquered, neither he nor the Earl felt entirely satisfied on +the subject.</p> + +<p>Lord De Montfort was certainly an excentric character, and it was +possible his impetuous feelings might yet take another direction, +especially if the bigotted Catholics, by whom he generally was +surrounded, should obtain any intimation of those apparent facts which +militated so much against the character of St. Aubyn, and which only his +own word opposed; and that they might do so, was by no means improbable, +when his occasional night-wanderings were remembered, in which, as he +had done to Ellen, he might hereafter to some other reveal what would +induce them to insist on an explanation.</p> + +<p>Ellen, it was true, had so touched him with admiration and tenderness, +that he could not resist her influence, but now removed from any chance +of seeing her again, there was no saying what new turn his ardent +imagination would take.</p> + +<p>All these ideas, which St. Aubyn had carefully concealed from his wife, +he communicated to his venerable friend, who could not deny their +rationality. The wishes of both centered in one point, and that was the +discovery of De Sylva; and nothing could be more improbable than that he +should now be found after years had elapsed, in which the agents of St. +Aubyn, and of the Marquis of Northington, had sought him in vain, though +their search had been extended through every great city in Spain, +Portugal, France, Italy, and England: it was, in fact, most likely, +either that he was dead, or had so completely changed his appearance and +name as to be living obscurely, perhaps on one of the very spots where +they had vainly endeavoured to find him.</p> + +<p>These wishes and reflections they never discussed except when without +other witnesses, being mutually unwilling to impart any of their +anxieties to Lady St. Aubyn, who, happy in her benevolent plans, in the +society of her father and early friends, in the improving beauty and +health of her lovely boy, and the undeviating and increasing love of St. +Aubyn, seemed not to have a care remaining.</p> + +<p>From Charles Ross, about this time, his father received letters, +expressive of the happiness he felt in his present situation, and of +gratitude to Lord St. Aubyn, who had procured it for him, adding, he +hoped to remain on his present station for some months, as they were +constantly taking prizes, and his share already amounting to a +considerable sum of money.</p> + +<p>The Earl or Countess never mentioned either to his parents or sister his +mad mistake respecting them during his stay in London, nor the +mischievous consequences of it, unwilling to give them pain by a +knowledge of those unpleasant transactions.</p> + +<p>The situation of Llanwyllan was not above a mile from the sea-shore, and +frequently Ellen and Joanna, attended by the nurses and child, walked +thither, Lady St. Aubyn thinking that the fine breeze invigorated and +strengthened both herself and little Constantine; nor had the +indulgences which her unexpected elevation had procured for her rendered +her unequal to a long country ramble, or less pleased to explore the +haunts of her infancy. Frequently St. Aubyn and Mr. Griffiths, who was a +sensible intelligent young man, with the education and manners of a +gentleman, were their escorts: but there was nothing to fear on this +unfrequented shore, for though ships often passed at a distance, there +was not even a fishing town within three miles of their accustomed walk.</p> + +<p>About the middle of July, the weather for three or four days became so +excessively hot, as seemed to preclude any exercise, except very late in +the evening: this uncommon degree of warmth was followed by a tremendous +storm of thunder and lightning; and though the weather cleared a little +in the middle of the day, the evening again closed with a renewal of the +tempestuous weather, attended by a violent wind.</p> + +<p>While the weather had been tolerable, the Rosses had walked to the Farm +to spend the remainder of the day, and were there when the tempest began +again with added horrors, and indeed not one of the party was totally +without alarm, lest the violence of the wind should injure the ancient +mansion.</p> + +<p>One of the men who had been sent to Carnarvon in the morning on some +commission, and whose road lay near the sea, returned about nine +o'clock. The thunder and lightning had by that time abated, but the +violent wind continued, attended by torrents of rain and excessive +darkness. This man said he had seen a large ship near the coast, and +evidently in great danger, from the beach on which she was driving being +rocky and inaccessible, the tide coming in, and the wind blowing from +the sea, which he said was rougher than he had ever seen it, and the +ship laboured so much he feared she must be lost.</p> + +<p>This account soon travelled from the servants'-hall to the parlour: the +cheeks of the females were blanched by terror, and Mrs. Ross, clasping +her hands together, exclaimed,</p> + +<p>"God preserve my poor Charles!"</p> + +<p>"He is far enough from hence, my dear," said the good Ross, "and in all +probability quite out of the way of this tremendous weather."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps so," said Mrs. Ross, "but I never hear the wind blow without +thinking of him, and a sailor's life is so uncertain, one never knows +where they are, or what they are exposed to."</p> + +<p>While she spoke, they distinctly heard the sound of a gun fired at sea.</p> + +<p>"Hark!" said St. Aubyn, "that is a signal gun! and again! +another!—those are guns of distress: can we do nothing for these poor +creatures?"</p> + +<p>"Oh! try, pray try," said Ellen: "but without exposing yourselves to +danger, it is, I fear, impossible."</p> + +<p>"There will be no danger for us in going down to the shore," said St. +Aubyn. "You and I, my young friend," (speaking to Griffiths) "with the +men servants, and all the assistance we can collect in the village, will +hasten thither: we can at least light some fires on the beach, or make +signals of some kind or other, which may be of service; you, my dear +Sir," (speaking to Powis) "and Mr. Ross, will stay and sooth the fears +of the ladies."</p> + +<p>"Oh, but," said Ellen, "do not expose yourselves too much: the weather +is dreadful."</p> + +<p>"We will take care of ourselves, my love, depend upon it: there are +plenty of box-coats in the hall; we will wrap ourselves up, and if we +save one life our trouble will be amply repaid."</p> + +<p>"God bless you for your goodness," said Mrs. Ross, "and prosper your +undertaking! Oh! these poor sailors have perhaps mothers and sisters +praying for them, as we do for poor Charles." She wept, and Joanna and +Ellen could not restrain their tears.</p> + +<p>The gentlemen, attended by all St. Aubyn's male servants, and several +stout workmen belonging to the Farm, now sallied forth with lanterns, +and such torches as could be hastily prepared: their numbers were +considerably augmented by many of the villagers, who, independent of the +rewards St. Aubyn offered, were prompted by humanity and curiosity to +assist.</p> + +<p>They soon reached the shore, on which a high tide was violently beating; +and by the flashes of lightning, which, though fainter and less +frequent, still at intervals broke the total darkness of the night, they +soon discerned a ship of considerable size, now very near the shore; her +sails rent in pieces, and scarcely a mast standing, driving towards +them, and firing minute guns as signals of distress. They all saw that +to prevent her being stranded on that rocky and impracticable coast was +totally impossible, and therefore some of the men were dispatched to the +village for ropes and other articles which might be used in saving the +lives of the crew. In the meantime, those remaining on the shore +collected all the rubbish they could find, and lighted two or three +large fires, shouting when the wind lulled a little, to encourage the +sailors, which a minute after was answered by a shout from the men on +board.</p> + +<p>In less than an hour after their arrival, the ship was driven on a ledge +of rocks, almost at the foot of the cliff on which St. Aubyn and his +party stood; and they saw some of the crew crowding into two small +boats, and others coming on shore on pieces of timber, or whatever they +could find. At intervals they rose or disappeared, as the waves were +more or less powerful; but in the end, a considerable number, more dead +than alive, were thrown on the land.</p> + +<p>Several of the men, cheered by large promises from St. Aubyn, waded as +far as possible into the sea, and assisted some of the crew with ropes +and by other means, so that at last more than fifty men were saved.</p> + +<p>To paint the gratitude of these poor creatures, their mingled +exclamations of joy for their escape, and horror at the recollection of +their danger, would be a vain attempt. Some of them appeared to be +foreigners, and two or three wore the dress of Turks. Amid the darkness +and confusion that prevailed, however, it was scarcely possible to +distinguish one person from another. Several of the English sailors (for +the ship had evidently been English, and the foreigners were apparently +prisoners of war), were busily engaged in succouring a man who had come +to shore with scarcely any signs of life, and about whom they appeared +very assiduous.</p> + +<p>St. Aubyn's people had brought spirits and other cordials to the +sea-shore, and after administering such present refreshment as their +wants seemed to require, he now put all that were able to walk under the +care of Griffiths, desiring him not to take them to the Farm, fearing +lest the sight should be too affecting to its female inhabitants, but +dispose of them in the best manner he could, amongst the cottages or +barns belonging to the farmhouses; for in the abodes of all, his bounty +and kindness had procured a welcome reception for any whom he chose to +send; he requested Griffiths also just to shew himself at the Farm, to +say they were safe, and then return again. Some of his party he +dispatched for carts, with blankets, &c. to convey to the village such +of the men who were unable to walk.</p> + +<p>The storm by this time had nearly subsided, and a late moon began to +struggle through the black clouds which still hung upon the horizon: +pieces of the unfortunate vessel, with seamens' chests and other +articles, were from time to time thrown ashore; several bodies also came +to land, and St. Aubyn found, though at least fifty had been saved, +several lives were unfortunately lost.</p> + +<p>St. Aubyn now saw that the young man, about whom the sailors had been so +assiduous, and whom they called Captain, was beginning to revive, and +approached to speak some words of consolation and kindness. One of the +sailors was giving him a glass of wine, while another held a lantern +almost close to him; for the faint light of the moon hardly served to +distinguish objects. But what was the surprize, what the tumultuous +emotions of St. Aubyn, when, as the light fell full upon the +shipwrecked, half-expiring object before him, he retraced the features +of Charles Ross!—of him, for whom, but two hours before, his mother had +expressed so many tender fears, and poured so many fervent prayers, +though not even imagining he shared the actual danger which excited +them.</p> + +<p>St. Aubyn started, but with tender caution, lest the surprize should +overpower the unfortunate man, whispered to his servants not to name him +or the place where they were; and approaching still nearer, he took +Charles's cold hand, and drawing his own hat over his face, bade him be +comforted, for all would yet be well.</p> + +<p>The poor young man, too languid to do more than glance his eyes over the +person who addressed him, spoke a few words in a faint voice, expressive +of his thanks, and then feebly murmured a request to know on what coast +he and his friends had been thrown.</p> + +<p>"On no unfriendly, no inhospitable shore, assure yourself," replied St. +Aubyn. "Whatever property the sea spares will be cautiously protected +for you and your followers. Many chests have been thrown on shore; and +as the weather is becoming calm, when the morning dawns, the boats of +your ship shall go off to the wreck, and every thing of value, if +possible, be saved."</p> + +<p>"I am then on English ground?"</p> + +<p>"On the coast of Wales."</p> + +<p>"Of Wales! Oh, heavens!—--What part of Wales?"</p> + +<p>"Be not impatient: you shall know all in good time."</p> + +<p>"That voice," said Charles—"surely I have heard that voice before."</p> + +<p>"I have been a great traveller," replied St. Aubyn: "we may have met +elsewhere."</p> + +<p>Charles asked a few more questions, to which St. Aubyn cautiously +replied; and a cart being by this time arrived from the village, Charles +and two or three others were placed in it, under the escort of +Griffiths, to whom the Earl recounted the late interesting discovery, +requesting him to take care that Charles was not too suddenly surprised +with a knowledge of where he was.</p> + +<p>Griffiths saw him safely lodged in the best place that could be found +for him; and leaving St. Aubyn's valet to watch by him, and take care +that no one spoke to him till his return, hastened with Lord St. Aubyn +to Powis's, where they found the whole family had been up all night, +anxious beyond expression; and when Ellen saw St. Aubyn dripping wet, +his hat and great coat heavy with the rain and spray of the sea, she +tenderly reproached him for so exposing himself, while Joanna's looks +read the same lecture to Griffiths: but both were so rejoiced at the +good their exertions had effected, that the chiding was little heeded; +and soon, by the assistance of dry clothing, they made a more +comfortable appearance; and after dispatching as many necessaries as +could be collected to the poor mariners, and above all to Charles +(though yet his being so near was kept a profound secret to his parents +and friends), the whole party retired to rest, which indeed the fatigues +of the night rendered extremely necessary to all.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAP_VIII" id="CHAP_VIII"></a>CHAP. VIII.</h2> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i12">The image of a wicked heinous fault<br /></span> +<span class="i12">Lives in his eye: that close aspect of his<br /></span> +<span class="i12">Does shew the mood of a much-troubled heart!<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i20"><span class="smcap">King John.</span><br /></span> +</div></div> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p>St. Aubyn would not disturb the repose of Ellen that night, or rather +that morning, for the sun had risen before they retired, by mentioning +the discovery of Charles amongst the shipwrecked mariners; but his own +anxiety how best to break the matter to Ross and his wife would not +allow him to sleep late, in spite of the fatigue he had undergone.</p> + +<p>As soon as he was drest, he went to the cottage where Charles had been +placed, and found him greatly recovered: he had been greatly exhausted +during the storm, which had lasted longer at sea than at land: he had +laboured with unceasing activity to save the ship, of which he was the +commander, though he had not the rank of captain, and had not left her +till all hope of her escaping was lost: he was also considerably +bruised, for he would not embark in the boats, but had floated to land +on a piece of timber. Rest, however, had in some measure recruited his +strength, and though still languid, he hoped to be able to rise in the +course of the day, and see what could be done to save his property, and +that of his shipmates.</p> + +<p>All this St. Aubyn learned from his valet, who sat by the young man, and +prevented any one from approaching who might too suddenly have informed +him his parents were so near.</p> + +<p>St. Aubyn, however, now judged it proper this information should reach +him: he went therefore to the little room where Charles lay—it was +darkened as much as possible; and St. Aubyn sat down by his bed-side +without being recognized. He inquired with great kindness for the health +of the invalid, to which Charles replied he was better: "But surely," +added he, "I have heard that voice before: even amid the horrors of last +night, when it was so generously exerted in comforting me, and directing +others for the comfort of my poor shipmates, it struck me as one deeply +engraved on my memory, though I cannot recollect the name of its owner."</p> + +<p>"It is a voice," said St. Aubyn, "you certainly have heard before: I +recognize your's also, and know your name—it is Ross."</p> + +<p>"It is, indeed," said Charles: "pray tell me your's, for it is cheering +to think I am not quite amongst strangers."</p> + +<p>"You will be convinced you are not, when I tell you my name is St. +Aubyn."</p> + +<p>"St. Aubyn? <i>Lord</i> St. Aubyn?"</p> + +<p>"The same."</p> + +<p>"Oh, how much do I owe to you!" exclaimed Charles: "I blush to remember +my former ingratitude and folly."</p> + +<p>"Speak no more of it—it is quite forgotten."</p> + +<p>"Ah, my Lord, how good you are. But did you not say last night we were +on the coast of Wales? Tell me, I beseech you, on what part of that +coast. I begin to hope, knowing Lady St. Aubyn's former residence."</p> + +<p>He paused breathless, with contending emotions.</p> + +<p>"Lady St. Aubyn and myself," replied St. Aubyn calmly, "are on a visit +to some <i>friends</i> in this neighbourhood. The storm of last night, and +the hearing a ship was in distress, induced me to take out my servants +and some others to see if we could be of any service to the unfortunate +mariners. One of the friends we were with blessed me, and prayed that my +undertaking might prosper. Her prayers were heard: they were the fervent +supplication of a <i>mother</i> for her <i>son</i>, though then she knew not nor +could believe he was implicated in the danger."</p> + +<p>"Ah! Heavens!" exclaimed Charles, "it was <i>my</i> mother! Speak, my Lord, +speak! Are we not at, or near Llanwyllan?"</p> + +<p>"Be composed, and I will tell you."</p> + +<p>"I am composed, and able to hear all."</p> + +<p>"You are at Llanwyllan. Your father, mother, and Joanna, were obliged by +the storm of last night to remain at Powis's: there I left them sleeping +in peace, not knowing or imagining their son and brother was so near."</p> + +<p>The tears ran down the cheeks of Charles, and his heart swelled high +with thankfulness both to his earthly and heavenly preserver.</p> + +<p>After a few minutes, for St. Aubyn was glad to see his emotions find a +relief so desirable, and would not interrupt him, he grasped the hand +which the Earl had given him, and would have said something expressive +of his gratitude, but St. Aubyn prevented him by saying:</p> + +<p>"Not a word on that score, Mr. Ross: mine was the impulse of mere +humanity, and I rejoice truly that it led me to save a life so dear to +friends greatly respected by me and Lady St. Aubyn. Make your mind easy. +I hope in the course of the day you will be in a state to be placed +beneath your father's roof; in the meantime I will prepare his mind, and +those of your mother and sister, for a meeting so tender; and there is +also another friend at Llanwyllan who will be glad to see you: your +former playmate and youthful companion, Ellen, will rejoice in your +safety. Be at rest; all will go well, and I trust even your property +will go secured, for boats are already gone off to the wreck, and I have +sent such persons as I can depend on, to see all that is saved protected +from depredation."</p> + +<p>"You are too good, my Lord; too good!" said Charles, quite overpowered.</p> + +<p>"I must now leave you," said St. Aubyn: "our mutual friends will expect +me, and I have an arduous task in prospect, for I dread the effect on +the minds of your parents of the disclosure I must now make to them."</p> + +<p>He now took his leave, directing every possible care to be taken of the +invalid.</p> + +<p>St. Aubyn waited till after breakfast to unfold to Ross and his wife the +late events; when that meal was concluded, they talked of returning to +the Parsonage, but he requested them not to go, for he had something of +great consequence to tell them: he then in the gentlest and most +judicious manner revealed to them the discovery of the night before, and +they supported the communication better than he had expected.</p> + +<p>The pious Ross lifted his eyes and heart to Heaven in thankfulness for +his son's wonderful escape, while Mrs. Ross and Joanna sobbed upon each +others bosom, and mingled tears with their expressions of joy and +gratitude. Ellen dropt a tear of tender sympathy, and rejoiced, without +fear of offending the no longer jealous St. Aubyn, in the safety of her +early friend.</p> + +<p>In the afternoon, Charles found himself able to rise, and St. Aubyn sent +his carriage to convey him to the Parsonage, where Ellen and himself +were ready to receive him, and to support the spirits of his venerable +parents and tender sister.</p> + +<p>They all bore the meeting with tolerable composure, and, the first +emotions past, were eager to hear how Charles, whom they had supposed to +be cruising near Gibraltar, happened to be exposed to the fury of a +storm on the coast of North Wales.</p> + +<p>He told them, that almost immediately after the date of the last letters +he wrote to them, orders had been received for the return of the vessel +he commanded to England, and after refitting at Falmouth to join a small +squadron which was cruising off the coast of France: that on his return +homeward he had fallen in with a French frigate, superior to his own in +force, but which, after an obstinate battle, during which his own vessel +had been much injured he had succeeded in taking; that he had put some +of his own officers and men aboard the prize, and had taken some of the +French and some Algerines, whom they had previously captured, on board +his own ship; that the violence of the storm and the disabled state of +his vessel, prevented him from making the port he wished to have done, +and finally had driven him on that coast, the darkness of the night not +allowing him to ascertain where-abouts he was: what was become of his +prize he knew not, but as she was a better sailer than his own ship, it +was probable she had reached some port on the coast of Cornwall in +safety.</p> + +<p>"And now, my dear mother," said Charles, "if we can but secure my chest, +we shall find in it a snug little hoard of dollars, and a few pretty +valuable jewels, which I intend to dispose of as a marriage portion for +Joanna, if any body will have her," (and he glanced archly at Griffiths, +whose tender solicitude about his sister had not escaped him) "and if +not, I shall be entitled to a tolerable share of prize-money, for which +I have fought hard, and will serve to make you and my father easy. To be +sure I must stand a court-martial for the loss of his Majesty's ship, +but that is only a matter of form, and I am sure that my men will bear +witness I did all in my power to save her—and a pretty creature she +was: I never wish to sail in a better, but she was not lost through my +fault, so I must be contented."</p> + +<p>They smiled at his sailor-like nonchalance, and were very glad to hear +his sea-chest and all its contents were safely landed.</p> + +<p>Amongst St. Aubyn's humane cares for his own countrymen, the unfortunate +prisoners thus cast on a strange shore were not forgotten. He saw that +their more immediate wants were supplied, and wrote to the proper +persons in London to know what was to be their future lot, contenting +himself in the meantime with having a slight guard kept over them; +though of their attempting to escape in their present state, some +wounded, all weak and helpless, there was not much probability.</p> + +<p>One of the French captives turned out to be a Catholic priest, a +venerable and respectable man, who had been for many years resident at +Gibraltar, from whence, learning he might now with safety return to +France, he had embarked in the vessel Charles Ross had captured, hoping +to end his days where he had begun them, on the banks of the Garonne.</p> + +<p>This circumstance had not been known till two days after the shipwreck, +and the good Ross considering this unfortunate man as the servant of the +same master, though speaking another language, and differing in many +points of belief, had invited him to share his own table; and Mrs. Ross +had, like the pious Shunamite, prepared for him "a little chamber with a +bed," where he might be at rest.</p> + +<p>On the evening of that day, the weather being extremely fine, Lady St. +Aubyn and Joanna expressed a wish to walk to the sea-shore to look at +the wreck, and see the place where Charles and his friends had landed.</p> + +<p>All the more painful vestiges of the shipwreck had been removed, and the +bodies of the unfortunate sailors which had floated on shore had been +interred in the church-yard, where Griffiths had read the funeral +service.</p> + +<p>St. Aubyn and Charles had some little business relative to the survivors +to transact, but they desired Griffiths to attend the ladies, and they +would shortly follow. Mrs. Bayfield also wished to see the place where +the shipwreck happened, and Ellen desired her little Constantine might +go also, as she thought the sea air did him good. They set out therefore +early in the evening, for the storm had cooled the air, and they wished +to spend some time on the shore.</p> + +<p>They soon reached the beach, and found the sea so calm, so beautiful, it +seemed unlike the same element which had wrought such destruction the +night before.</p> + +<p>Griffiths pointed out to them the wreck, which, as it was now low water, +appeared very near the shore, and shewed them the precise spot where +Charles and the rest had landed.</p> + +<p>They both shuddered and turned pale at the painful retrospection, and +Joanna again expressed her thankfulness to St. Aubyn and Griffiths, +whose exertions had saved them.</p> + +<p>While they were walking up and down the beach, they met two or three of +the English sailors, who were upon the look-out for any other articles +the sea might have left upon the sands, and speaking to them received +their thanks and blessings for the care and kindness they had +experienced.</p> + +<p>On a large piece of timber near the edge of the water sat one of the +Algerines: he looked excessively weak and sickly, and as they approached +him, he surveyed them with a look of gloomy despair.</p> + +<p>"How ill that man looks," said Ellen to one of the sailors: "he seems +likely to die."</p> + +<p>"Yes, my Lady, and die he will, for he with difficulty crawled hither, +he is so ill; and the woman where he lodges says he bewails himself all +night, and takes no rest."</p> + +<p>"Poor creature!" said Ellen: "he laments, doubtless, his native land, +and the friends he has left behind."</p> + +<p>"I believe, my Lady," replied the sailor, "he laments his crimes, for +one of the French prisoners that speaks a little English tells me this +fellow owns he has been a great sinner, and that he was bred a +Christian, but renounced his religion and denied his God for the lucre +of gain, amongst the Turks, and Mahometans, and such like."</p> + +<p>"Horrible!" said Ellen: "are there such wretches?"</p> + +<p>As she spoke, the poor miserable being approached her with feeble steps, +and in French asked her if she would have the goodness to purchase a +trinket he had to sell—all he had left of better days.</p> + +<p>Ellen spoke French but imperfectly: she could read and understand it +pretty well, but did not attempt to converse in it; she knew, however, +what he said, and though her nature shuddered at a being of whom she had +heard such a shocking account, endeavoured to answer him with civility: +her voice, however, was low, and her accent not perfectly intelligible +to the Algerine; and thinking she intended to accept his offer, he drew +from his bosom a cross, composed of large rubies set in gold, and put it +into her hand: he sighed heavily; and the sight of this ornament, which +seemed to corroborate the story that this man had been bred a Christian, +gave to Ellen a painful sensation: she endeavoured to make him +understand that his wants should be relieved without his parting from +the trinket, which she offered again to him.</p> + +<p>At that moment Mrs. Bayfield, with the nurses and little Constantine, +came towards them: she cast her eyes upon the Algerine—she trembled, +again she looked; she caught the glance of his dark gloomy eyes, and the +sound of his voice met her ears: instantly she exclaimed:</p> + +<p>"<i>That</i> wretch!" and snatching the infant from his nurse, she folded him +to her bosom and fled away, crying as she ran—"Come, my Lady, oh, come +for God's sake! leave that monster: come, Miss Ross—run! fly! he will +murder us all."</p> + +<p>Wild and extraordinary as this panic seemed to Ellen, her feet +involuntarily obeyed, and with the cross still in her hand, she suddenly +fled from this poor sickly wretch, who, unable to follow, stood amazed +at their apparently frantic demeanour.</p> + +<p>Joanna and Griffiths ran after the Countess; though still no one knew +the cause of this extraordinary alarm; and so eagerly did the affrighted +Bayfield speed, that though encumbered with the child, and advanced as +she was in years, they could not easily overtake her.</p> + +<p>While they hastened on, each unable to account for the strange terror +which had seized them all, they were met by St. Aubyn and Charles Ross, +who, passing Bayfield at some little distance, were unobserved by her, +and seeing Ellen and Joanna apparently terrified, ran by a shorter cut +to meet them.</p> + +<p>"What on earth has happened?" said St. Aubyn, seeing them pale and +almost breathless. "Ellen! Joanna! what has happened? Has any one +frightened you? Griffiths, what has alarmed them thus?"</p> + +<p>"Indeed, my Lord," said Griffiths, "I am as ignorant as you are; the +ladies were talking to the poor sick Turk on the shore, and Mrs. +Bayfield on a sudden seized the child from his nurse, ran away, and +called to us to follow, for we should be all murdered: Lady St. Aubyn +and Joanna instantly obeyed, and I followed, but why, or what was the +cause of the alarm, I am unable to imagine."</p> + +<p>"I believe—I think," panted Ellen, "that Bayfield knew something of the +man we were speaking to, for she trembled as she looked at him, and said +he would murder us, or words to that effect."</p> + +<p>"What is that in your hand, Ellen?" said St. Aubyn. "Heavenly powers! +What is it?"</p> + +<p>His limbs trembled, and he grew so pale, she thought he was fainting.</p> + +<p>"It is a cross, my Lord," she replied, "a cross that the man—the +Turk—offered to sell to me.—I forgot that I had it in my hand."</p> + +<p>She gave it to him; he cast his eyes upon it and exclaimed:—</p> + +<p>"That man! Where is he? Merciful heaven! Can it be!"</p> + +<p>And suddenly recovering himself, he darted towards the place where the +sick Algerine was slowly endeavouring to follow them.</p> + +<p>"Go with him," said Ellen; "follow him, Charles; go, Mr. Griffiths: +surely he cannot know this man; perhaps some mischief may ensue."</p> + +<p>They instantly obeyed; and now Ellen and Joanna standing still and +looking earnestly after St. Aubyn, saw him with the rapidity of +lightning fly to the Algerine: what he said they could not hear, but +with an action of the most eager impatience, they saw him with one hand +tear the turban from the brow of the Turk, and with the other seized him +violently by the collar, while the poor trembling wretch sunk prostrate +on the ground before him. By this time Griffiths and Charles Ross had +reached them. St. Aubyn spoke, and instantly they seized the Algerine, +raised, or rather dragged him from the ground, but kept him from moving, +though indeed to move far was not in his power.</p> + +<p>Ellen, unable longer to restrain her impatience to learn the meaning of +this scene, now hastened towards them, though trembling so much Joanna +could scarcely support her. As they approached, St. Aubyn exclaimed in a +voice hoarse with contending passions:—</p> + +<p>"Come not here, my Ellen; let not purity like thine breathe the air +contaminated by that monster!</p> + +<p>"Robber! Murderer! Vile apostate from thy God!" he cried, with gestures +almost frantic, to the shaking wretch before him. "The hand of vengeance +has at length overtaken thee, and long and dreadful is the account thou +now must render. Yes, look at me; I am the man you so deeply injured; I +am St. Aubyn.</p> + +<p>"Go, Ellen," again he cried, "leave us; Joanna, go with her; Griffiths, +attend them; Charles and I are enough to secure this villain; besides +here are sailors who will assist us."</p> + +<p>Ellen obeyed in silence as fast as her terrors would permit, for now she +no longer doubted of the cause of all this scene, which to Joanna and +Griffiths appeared as if some sudden madness had seized first Bayfield +and then St. Aubyn.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAP_IX" id="CHAP_IX"></a>CHAP. IX.</h2> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i12">Oh, it is monstrous, monstrous!<br /></span> +<span class="i12">Methought the billows spake and told me of it:<br /></span> +<span class="i12">The wind did sing it to me; and the thunder,<br /></span> +<span class="i12">That deep and dreadful organ-pipe,<br /></span> +<span class="i18">——did bass my trespass!<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i20"><span class="smcap">Tempest.</span><br /></span> +</div></div> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i18">——The seasons thus—<br /></span> +<span class="i12">As ceaseless round a jarring world they roll,<br /></span> +<span class="i12">Still find them happy, and consenting spring<br /></span> +<span class="i12">Sheds her own rosy garland on their heads.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i20"><span class="smcap">Thomson.</span><br /></span> +</div></div> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p>Slowly and with trembling steps Ellen left the beach, and went towards +the village: not many yards had they proceeded ere they were met by +Bayfield and two or three of the men-servants. The poor woman had at +length been prevailed on to relinquish her infant charge to his nurse, +who had overtaken her; and fortunately meeting the men-servants, who, +impelled by curiosity, were going to the beach to look at the wreck, she +turned back with them, fearing lest any injury should befall her Lord or +Lady.</p> + +<p>"Thank God, Madam," said the good creature, who still trembled and +looked pale, "that you are safe! the dear child is safe also: but where +is my Lord? Oh, my dear Lord! sure he has not trusted himself with that +wretch alone."</p> + +<p>"Be calm, Bayfield, be pacified," said Ellen: "you terrify us with these +emotions: your Lord is safe; Mr. Charles Ross and the sailors are with +him: but who is this man you seem so much to fear? The poor creature +looks not likely to injure any one, for he appears half-dead."</p> + +<p>"Oh, my Lady, don't pity him," cried Bayfield: "but are you sure he has +no pistols about him? It was a pistol you know, my Lady——, but I +forget myself: one word, Madam, if you please." She drew Ellen aside and +said—"Your Ladyship will not wonder at my alarm, when I tell you the +man you were talking with was the very person my Lord has sought in vain +so long; it was that wretch De Sylva! Oh, I remember the glance of his +dark malicious eye: it has never left my remembrance since the evening I +by accident met him with my late Lady walking in the Cork Grove, three +or four days before her death, when I did not know he was within many +miles of the place; and starting at seeing them together, he gave me +such a look; I never shall forget it: I thought he looked at me just the +same on the beach, and I expected every moment when he would draw out a +pistol and shoot some of us—perhaps the baby out of spite to my Lord, +and that made me run away in that manner: oh, I was not myself, nor +shall I be again this night. Oh that my Lord de Montfort was here to +have all his cruel doubts put an end to for ever, for sure the villain +will confess all now."</p> + +<p>Ellen heard her with silent but tumultuous emotion, and hastened as much +as possible towards the Parsonage, sending the men however to meet their +lord.</p> + +<p>The Parsonage being nearer to the beach than the Farm was, Ellen and her +friends stopped there, and begged Mr. Griffiths would hasten back to St. +Aubyn, and say where he would find her: she then requested Ross would go +into his study with her, and there, knowing he was perfectly acquainted +with the circumstances which had happened to St. Aubyn in Spain, she +entreated his advice how to proceed, and that he would endeavour to calm +the violent emotions which the discovery of De Sylva had excited in the +bosom of St. Aubyn.</p> + +<p>"Surely," said the pious Ross, "the hand of heaven is evident in this +extraordinary event! The kind humanity which prompted Lord St. Aubyn to +save the poor mariners in the storm, was not only the means by which the +life of my son was preserved, and the grey hairs of his mother and +myself prevented from going down with sorrow to the grave, but has also, +I hope, procured for himself the satisfaction he most earnestly wished, +by bringing De Sylva once more within his reach. Wonder-working +Providence! from what apparently improbable causes does thy Almighty +hand bring forth the most interesting events!"</p> + +<p>As he spoke, a bustle was heard without, and St. Aubyn rushed into the +room, pale, agitated, almost breathless. Charles Ross, Griffiths, and +two or three sailors, followed, leading, or rather bearing the miserable +De Sylva: miserable indeed was his whole appearance: his Turkish turban +had been torn from his head, and his long black hair streamed round his +face in wild disorder. That face which St. Aubyn remembered a few years +before glowing with animation and manly beauty, was now pale, haggard, +and displayed marks of premature old age.—Those eyes, once so full of +life and gaiety, now rolled in horrible dismay; and that form, so agile, +so graceful when with the unfortunate Rosolia he led the sprightly +dance, was now bowed by sickness, and shrunk by fear.—Oh, what havock +does guilt make in the human face and figure! such as he stood, with +looks that terrified each beholder. De Sylva was then but little more +than thirty years of age, yet the vigour of his constitution, exhausted +by excess, his soul a prey to every agony which racks the criminal—his +course was run; the grave opened to receive him, and a few short days it +was evident must terminate his life and sins together.</p> + +<p>"Retire, my love," said St. Aubyn to his trembling wife: "this is no +place for you: you know I perceive who this wretched being is: this +cross, which he offered to you, was that which the ill-fated Rosolia +wore the very evening she went to meet this villain in the Hermitage: +see here my cypher upon this plate of gold, for this, with the rich +necklace from which it depended, was my gift.—Go, my love: the story +which this wretched man has engaged to tell is unfitted for your tender +sensibility to partake of."</p> + +<p>Ellen instantly and gladly obeyed, and the sailors also were sent away, +for the unhappy man, faint and exhausted, was too ill to make any +attempt at escaping, nor could he speak till some restoratives had been +administered.</p> + +<p>During this pause, Ross suggested to St. Aubyn the propriety of having +some person present to receive De Sylva's confession who was able to +take it exactly as delivered, of which St. Aubyn, who alone was +sufficiently master of the French language to do so, was rendered +incapable by his extreme agitation; besides, it occurred to Ross, that +this person should be totally unconnected with Lord St. Aubyn, that his +testimony might be totally free and uninfluenced.</p> + +<p>St. Aubyn perfectly agreed with him, but was at a loss on whom to fix, +when suddenly Ross recollected the Catholic priest, who was at that +moment actually in the house, and whom St. Aubyn had never seen.</p> + +<p>This respectable old man was accordingly summoned, and St. Aubyn in a +few words explained to him the nature of the service required of him; +and he readily agreed to take, and witness, the deposition of De Sylva.</p> + +<p>He spoke in French, and with frequent breaks and interruption, which his +weakness and emotion occasioned.</p> + +<p>"I am by birth a Frenchman, but entered the Spanish service at an early +age, my father being dead, and my maternal relations of that nation +engaging to take care of my future promotion.</p> + +<p>"I need not, my Lord, repeat the commencement of my acquaintance with +you, nor the kindness with which you received me at your villa near +Seville, a reception, the hospitality of which I afterwards so ill +repaid.</p> + +<p>"The beauty of Lady St. Aubyn attracted every eye, and mine in +particular, for her eye beamed kindly on me in return.</p> + +<p>"I will not, my Lord, offend you by detailing the progress of our +intimacy: you became displeased at it, and suddenly removed her to a +villa near Sierra Morena. By the aid of Theresa, her favourite maid, she +contrived to let me know where she was gone; and as soon as I could +obtain leave of absence, I followed her."</p> + +<p>"We met frequently in the woods about the villa, and once were met +walking in the Cork Grove by your housekeeper, Mrs. Bayfield, and I had +reason to believe she afterwards watched her Lady's actions.</p> + +<p>"Lady St. Aubyn, tired of the dreary life she led, proposed to escape +with me and go to Paris: to this end she furnished me with several sums +of money, and a great number of valuable jewels, amongst them a very +fine ring, which, she told me, was yours, my Lord, and highly valued by +you; and she owned that she had taken that ring in particular, because +she knew the loss would vex you; and she hoped, as Bayfield only had +access to the jewels, the loss of this valued jewel would lead you to +suspect her, and bring disgrace upon the woman we both hated."</p> + +<p>Here St. Aubyn hid his face, and groaned: he grieved to hear the woman +he had once loved could have been so atrociously wicked.</p> + +<p>"A few nights after this, my Lord," continued De Sylva, "you saw me +attempting to climb by a rope ladder the window of Lady St. Aubyn's +apartment: what followed is well known to you; but nothing was ever +farther from my intentions than meeting you at the place appointed; on +the contrary, I informed Rosolia by means of Theresa of what had passed, +and named that very hour to meet her at the Hermitage, whither I +proposed to bring a boy's habit, and elope with her under that disguise; +for which purpose I procured two horses, and stationed them in a thicket +between the Hermitage and the Posada at the foot of the mountain, where +I had resided since my arrival in that neighbourhood.</p> + +<p>"I told you, my Lord, I had a friend there; but that was false, and I +only said it to induce you to wait till the next evening, that we might +have each a friend to witness our encounter.</p> + +<p>"Rosolia watched you from the house after your return from Alhama, +whence, as you came alone, we concluded you had vainly sought your +friend; and, I am ashamed to say, in the few minutes we were together, +how much we diverted ourselves at the idea of your vain and fruitless +trouble."</p> + +<p>"Go on, Sir," cried St. Aubyn, fiercely—"spare this detail, and hasten +to the conclusion of this detestable story."</p> + +<p>"Rosolia then," resumed De Sylva, "told her brother she had a bad +head-ache, and would endeavour to walk it off. From this young man she +was grieved to part, and left him with emotion. She hastened to the +Hermitage: we had no time to lose: she had brought with her all the +valuables she could collect, and had round her neck the fine necklace of +rubies you had given her at Seville, and that very cross I just now +offered to those ladies on the beach.</p> + +<p>"I pressed her to change her dress quickly, and was retiring for a few +minutes, while she adjusted her male attire.</p> + +<p>"Fearing a surprize, and thinking it might be wanted to defend us in our +flight, I had brought with me the pistol, you, my Lord, gave me the +night before: this I took in my hand, lest any one should approach to +seek Lady St. Aubyn, determined if any did, to put an end to their +existence; and (I will confess all) I should not have been sorry had +Bayfield crossed my path.</p> + +<p>"But as I turned to leave the Hermitage, my foot struck against an +inequality in the floor, and endeavouring to recover myself, the pistol +went off in my hand, and the ball entered the head of the unfortunate +Rosolia.</p> + +<p>"She fell instantly—one groan alone escaped her. I approached, hoping +she was only alarmed by the report, or but slightly hurt; but to my +astonishment and horror she was a breathless corpse.</p> + +<p>"In this dreadful moment, my first idea was instant flight, since that +alone could save me.—But why, thought I, since she is dead, should I +leave behind those valuable ornaments?—And O!—how hardened was my +heart!</p> + +<p>"The woman I had admired, and professed to love, had that instant +breathed her last—fallen by my hand, though from an unintended stroke, +and in the very moment, when, by a guilty flight, she had resolved to +give me the greatest proof of love, and unite her fate with mine: yet so +little impression did these dreadful circumstances make upon me, that I +had sufficient composure to unclasp the costly necklace from her neck, +and the bracelets from her arms, though that body, lately so blooming +and so animated, was not yet cold in death.—Such is the love of the +wicked!</p> + +<p>"By some means, as I afterwards discovered, I dropt, and lost the +valuable ring I mentioned before; and as I knew I had it just before I +entered this fatal Hermitage, I concluded it was there I had lost it.</p> + +<p>"I now fled as fast as possible towards the place where my horses stood, +and mounting one, and leading the other, I galloped off at full speed.</p> + +<p>"Concluding the first search for me would be amongst the mountains, I +took a road immediately opposite, and reached the little town of Andurar +that night: I there sold my horses, and bought a change of garments, +lest those I wore should identify my person; for I concluded I should be +suspected of the murder, either wilful or accidental, of the unfortunate +Countess; but I was also convinced I should have two or three hours the +start of my pursuers, as she was in the constant habit of rambling about +at least that time, and consequently would not be missed.</p> + +<p>"I travelled, however, chiefly by night, lurking by day either in thick +woods, or the remains of Moorish castles, and only venturing near a town +or village when provisions were indispensably necessary; for now the +fear of being arrested as a deserter, my leave of absence having been +some time expired, made the strictest caution necessary for my security.</p> + +<p>"In about a week I reached Almaneca, and disposing of some of my jewels, +I embarked on board a vessel which was going to Venice, where I meant to +remain some time, and then assuming another name, to go to Paris, where +I knew my speaking French like a native would prevent me from being +recognized. We had not been but three days at sea when an Algerine +corsair bore down upon us, and after a short but severe conflict we were +captured, and carried into Algiers.</p> + +<p>"Here, robbed of all my ill-gained riches, except that cross, which some +remains of affection for the memory of the unfortunate Rosolia had +induced me to conceal so cautiously that it was not discovered, I found +myself a prisoner, and seemed doomed to end my days in slavery.</p> + +<p>"It was my fortune to be purchased by a master high in favour with the +Dey, who, pleased with my vivacity, and the skill I had in music, +received me into his favour, and at length tempted me with such high +offers, if I would become a Mahometan, that I, who never knew what true +religion was, and held my principles too lightly to be very strenuous in +their support, soon consented to be what he would have me, and solemnly +abjuring the Christian faith, I became his adopted son, and heir to all +his riches. By this means too I was certain of escaping any search that +might be made for me; for who could think of looking for De Sylva under +the turban of a Turk, and in the adopted son of the Bey Abdallah?</p> + +<p>"About a year ago my adoptive father died; and weary of the supine and +inactive life the Turks usually lead, I determined to fit out an armed +vessel, and amuse myself by sailing up the Archipelago, and visiting +some of the Grecian islands, not without a latent intention of quitting +Algiers altogether, and returning to some European state: to which end I +carried with me all the wealth I could make portable: this design I +executed accordingly, but I had not long quitted Algiers, when we were +attacked and captured by a French frigate.</p> + +<p>"From that moment I have never known peace.</p> + +<p>"Fearing to be discovered, knowing that the punishment for desertion +must be mine, should we touch at any Spanish port, and I should be +recognized; dreading to be accused of the murder of Lady St. Aubyn, of +which, though innocent, I could not clear myself; and, above all, my +conscience awakened, by being once more amongst Christians, to the sin I +had been guilty of in apostatizing from my religion, I have led a life +of fear, inquietude, and anguish—a life which I feel will soon be +terminated: and, oh, how dreadful the reflection that my punishment is +but beginning.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Sir," added the poor wretch, throwing himself at the feet of the +venerable priest, who, as well as all present, had heard the detail of +his crimes with horror, "you are a priest, a Catholic of that church I +so wickedly abandoned. Can you give me hope? Will you pray for me?"</p> + +<p>"I am a priest, and a Catholic," replied the old man, "and shall be +willing and desirous of giving you all the consolation in my power. At +present you have given the best proof of repentance, by the confession +you have made, and to confirm it, you must sign it with your name, and +acknowledge the truth of what I have written, before all present."</p> + +<p>He then gave the paper to De Sylva to read, who signed it, and declared +it was correct.</p> + +<p>"I would swear it," he added, in heart-broken accents: "but oh! by what +can a wretch like me swear, and be believed!"</p> + +<p>He was now conveyed to a decent bed in Ross's house, who, like a true +Christian pastor, would not abandon him to his despair; but placed by +his bed-side, strove in conjunction with the Catholic priest, De la +Tour, by the most consoling attentions, and hopes founded on his present +repentance, to beat away the busy meddling fiend, who laid strong siege +unto the wretch's soul.</p> + +<p>The miserable De Sylva lingered nearly a week, racked with guilty fears, +and scarcely daring to hope for mercy: yet for mercy his pious +comforters bade him hope, since he repented deeply, and sought it in +that holy name, which, though once he had denied, he now most humbly +acknowledged.</p> + +<p>On the sixth evening he expired.</p> + +<blockquote><p>"Forbear to judge, for we are sinners all."</p></blockquote> + +<p>As soon as De Sylva's confession had been received, St. Aubyn sent an +express messenger to the proper persons in London, requesting permission +to dispatch Jean Batiste de la Tour, a French priest, into Oxfordshire, +where he understood Lord de Montfort then was at one of his seats, with +papers of the utmost importance to that nobleman and to himself, De la +Tour having witnessed the confession of a prisoner since dead, which +involved concerns of the most material interest. He also requested +permission for De la Tour to remain attached to Lord de Montfort's +suite, or to be at liberty on his parole at Castle St. Aubyn, till he +could obtain the consent of government to his returning to his native +country; for St. Aubyn could not bear that this helpless and venerable +old man should remain as a prisoner of war, and end his days in a +strange country.</p> + +<p>The answer was favourable to his Lordship's wishes, and Charles Ross +undertook to escort De la Tour into Oxfordshire: in the meantime a +detachment arrived to guard the other prisoners to the depôt in +Shropshire.</p> + +<p>Ross and De la Tour departed together, taking with them the deposition +of De Sylva, the cross of the unfortunate Rosolia, which had been found +in his possession, and every other document which could carry conviction +to the mind of De Montfort.</p> + +<p>Tranquillity seemed now restored to the village of Llanwyllan, but in +spite of the satisfaction St. Aubyn felt in being thus completely able +to exonerate himself from whatever suspicion might yet lurk in the bosom +of Edmund, his own mind was by no means tranquil.</p> + +<p>Painful was the retrospect the confession of De Sylva had forced upon +him: every misery he had so many years before experienced seemed +renewed, and his imagination dwelt upon the horrid scenes of the +Hermitage. The bleeding body of Rosolia lay again in fancy before him, +and his pity for her wretched fate "cut off even in the blossom of her +sins," made him forget all the crimes she had been guilty of towards +him.</p> + +<p>For many days he continued exceedingly dejected, and it required all +Ellen's tender attentions, and the cheering smiles of his lovely boy, to +chase from his mind those painful impressions which the late discovery +had planted there.</p> + +<p>In as short a time as was possible, a messenger returned from Lord de +Montfort. He acknowledged his full conviction of St. Aubyn's innocence, +and implored his pardon for those years of uneasiness his suspicions had +made him suffer: he expressed the greatest gratitude for the forbearing +kindness of St. Aubyn's whole conduct towards his unhappy sister, of +which he now had such convincing proofs, and a horror of her guilt, +which was too overwhelming to be dwelt upon. De la Tour he requested to +retain in his suite till arrangements could be made for his returning to +France, should the old man ultimately wish to do so.</p> + +<p>In a short time after this letter arrived, Ellen received one from Lady +Juliana, in which she expressed some dissatisfaction at their long stay +in Wales, and bade them consider that at her time of life she could not +hope to enjoy much more of their society, and the smiles of her darling +Constantine, whose growth and improvement she longed to witness.</p> + +<p>This letter determined Lord and Lady St. Aubyn to quit Wales as soon as +possible: indeed, the autumn was now advancing, and they feared for +their young traveller the miserable roads, and of course wished to be at +the Castle before the summer was ended.</p> + +<p>Lady St. Aubyn had however set her heart on being witness to Joanna's +marriage, and seeing every thing arranged for the removal of the Rosses +to the Farm: it was also necessary for Charles Ross to go to London on +his own concerns; Joanna therefore was induced to give her hand to +Griffiths sooner than she had intended, and early in August the ceremony +was performed by the venerable Ross. Lord St. Aubyn gave away the bride, +and when the ceremony was ended, said—</p> + +<p>"May you, my dear Joanna, and your worthy husband, but experience as +much happiness as I and my dear Ellen have since this altar witnessed +our mutual vows, and you will indeed be as happy as humanity can hope to +be."</p> + +<p>Ellen tenderly embraced her early friend, and with tears of affection +joined in the kind wishes of her beloved Lord.</p> + +<p>The whole of the bride's wardrobe had been the present of Lady St. +Aubyn, who shewed her judgment, by ordering every thing excellent in its +kind, but nothing fine or shewy.</p> + +<p>Lord St. Aubyn presented the newly-married couple with several useful +and handsome articles of plate and furniture; and when they left +Llanwyllan, they had the happiness of knowing that the worthy Powis +would be rendered truly comfortable by his new inmates, and that all +Ellen's first connections were blessed to the extent of their wishes.</p> + +<p>Charles Ross travelled part of the way with Lord and Lady St. Aubyn, +full of grateful thanks for all their kindness to him and his family; +and having conquered every aspiring wish, he was delighted to witness +the happiness of his once-loved Ellen, without envying that of her +excellent Lord.</p> + +<p>They had soon after the pleasure of hearing that all matters relative to +his late disastrous voyage had been happily and honourably adjusted, his +prize had safely reached the destined port, and through Lord St. Aubyn's +interest, Charles Ross was soon promoted to the rank of Captain and the +command of a fine frigate.</p> + +<p>The St. Aubyns found Lady Juliana waiting their arrival at St. Aubyn +Castle: and her intended chidings for their long stay were turned into +tears of joy at the sight of her darling Constantine, now able to walk +alone, and with expressive looks of love endeavouring to articulate, +though yet but imperfectly, the sweet names of papa and mamma, and soon +learning to distinguish Lady Juliana with smiles of affection, and +little arms twined round her neck, whenever she approached him.</p> + +<p>Just before Christmas, Sir Edward and Lady Leicester arrived at +Rose-hill, where they spent some weeks. De Montfort passed that evening +at the Castle, with several other visitors. The once gloomy and +eccentric Edmund was become another creature; and his manners, now +animated and cheerful, were very elegant, and the trifling degree of +singularity which still at times shewed itself in his expressions, only +seemed to give an air of originality to his character.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p>We have now brought our narrative to a close; for scenes of continued +peace and happiness, however desirable to the possessors, are but +insipid in delineation.</p> + +<p>St. Aubyn and his charming wife long enjoyed that serene happiness their +virtues merited; and diversifying the scene, by occasional excursions +into Wales, they had there the comfort of finding their friends +surrounded by blessings, for which they were to them indebted. At the +Castle, or in London, surrounded by their lovely young family, they +still acknowledged that in domestic life they found their dearest +felicity; and with no more sorrow than is inseparable from humanity, +their years glided on amidst the joys of friendship, and the delights of +connubial and parental love.</p> + + +<h3>THE END.</h3> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Mystery and Confidence (vols. 3 of 3), by +Elizabeth Pinchard + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MYSTERY AND CONFIDENCE *** + +***** This file should be named 34933-h.htm or 34933-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/4/9/3/34933/ + +Produced by Mark C. 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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: Mystery and Confidence (vols. 3 of 3) + A Tale + +Author: Elizabeth Pinchard + +Release Date: January 13, 2011 [EBook #34933] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MYSTERY AND CONFIDENCE *** + + + + +Produced by Mark C. Orton, Mary Meehan and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This +file was produced from images generously made available +by The Internet Archive) + + + + + + + + + + MYSTERY AND CONFIDENCE: + + _A TALE._ + + BY ELIZABETH PINCHARD. + + IN THREE VOLUMES. + + VOL. III. + + + + LONDON: + PRINTED FOR HENRY COLBURN, + PUBLIC LIBRARY, CONDUIT-STREET, HANOVER-SQUARE, + AND SOLD BY GEORGE GOLDIE, EDINBURGH, + AND JOHN CUMMING, DUBLIN. + + 1814. + + B. CLARKE, Printer, Well-street, London. + + + + +MYSTERY + +AND + +CONFIDENCE. + + + + +CHAP. I. + + ----Infected minds + To their deaf pillows will discharge their secrets. + ----A great perturbation in nature, + To receive at once the benefit of sleep, and do the effect of watching. + + MACBETH. + + +Laura, St. Aubyn, O'Brien, and Mordaunt, were seated on one side the +fire, with the sandwich tray before them; on the other side, thrown on a +sofa, Ellen saw a tall thin young man, who, deeply absorbed in thought, +noticed not her entrance. One pale, sickly looking hand hung motionless +by his side, the other shaded his eyes, and over his brow his black hair +fell in disordered curls; his dress, though that of a gentleman, was +evidently neglected, and his whole appearance was + + "Drooping, woeful, wan, like one forlorn; + Or crazed by care, or cross'd by hopeless love!" + +As Ellen entered, St. Aubyn rose, and with subdued emotion, said in a +low tone: + +"My love, we waited for you;" then somewhat louder;--"My Lord De +Montfort, will you allow me to introduce you to...." he faltered, and +looked as if he dreaded to pronounce the name ... "to my wife ... to ... +Lady St. Aubyn?" + +As he spoke, Lord De Montfort started from his reverie, shook back the +curls which shaded his face, and shewed a fine, but pale and emaciated +countenance. For an instant his bright black eyes flashed, and his +cheeks crimsoned with a sudden emotion. He hastily took two or three +steps forward, as if to greet some well-known friend; but seeing Ellen, +who, half alarmed, leaned upon St. Aubyn, he gazed upon her for a moment +with such an earnest yet melancholy expression as extremely affected +her. She courtesied, and he bent his head with the air of a perfect +gentleman, but spoke not, and then threw himself on his sofa again. + +Ellen perceived that St. Aubyn's frame shook with subdued emotion, and +her own trembled with an indefinable sensation. + +"Come, Lady St. Aubyn," said Laura, "sit here by the fire; you look pale +and cold; you should not indeed expose yourself to the night air in +crossing the hall and staircase." + +Ellen gladly sat down, and while they were taking their little meal, she +glanced her eyes towards the youth, whose mysterious manner impressed +her with feelings of no very pleasing import: she saw that under the +shade of his bent brows he was attentively gazing upon her. The +portentous gloom of his countenance seemed to her troubled imagination +to forebode some direful event, and she grew so pale, that Laura +perceiving it, put a glass of wine into her hand, and begged her to +drink it. Before she would comply, St. Aubyn said:-- + +"Ellen, neither my entreaties, nor those of his former friend, Miss +Cecil, can prevail on Lord De Montfort to take the slightest +refreshment; try, my love, if you can induce him to take a glass of wine +with you." + +Ellen with sudden effort conquering the agitation of her spirits, said: +"Indeed, my Lord, I shall be very happy if Lord De Montfort will do me +that honour. May I, my Lord," speaking to him, "make it my request that +you will do so?" + +The soft persuasive tones of her voice seemed to touch him; he rose, and +with a voice deep, melancholy, and impressive, said: + +"At _your_ request, Madam!" + +He advanced, and took from Laura a glass of wine she offered to him; he +bowed to Ellen, and lifted the glass to his lips, but instantly +exclaimed, while his whole person shook with agitation: + +"I _cannot_ drink it! In _this_ house! Oh, God!" + +He let fall the glass, and covering his face with his hands, rushed out +of the room. + +O'Brien instantly followed him, while the little party which remained +sat in silent dismay and astonishment. Yet St. Aubyn's emotion partook +more of vexation than surprize: he paced the room with hasty strides for +a few minutes, and then approaching Ellen, said, clasping her hand in +his, which trembled with agitation--"This scene has been too much for +you, my love: could I have imagined De Montfort's demeanor would have +been so wild, I would not have brought him hither; yet let us make +allowances for him--he doated on his sister." St. Aubyn's voice seemed +elevated with deep contending passions: for a moment he paused, then +added, "You had better go to your rest, my love, and you, Laura: I do +not suppose this young man will return to-night." + +He rung, and inquired of the servant in waiting where the two gentlemen +then were. "They have been in the study, my Lord," said the man; "but +are now gone to their chambers, which Mrs. Bayfield sent to say were +ready for them." + +The ladies rose to retire, just as Mr. O'Brien returned: he brought +apologies from his pupil to Lady St. Aubyn, saying that Lord de Montfort +regretted extremely his distress should have shewed itself so visibly, +and doubtless alarmed her. "Forgive him, Madam," said O'Brien: "this is +the first time he has been in this house, or even in England, since the +death of Lady St. Aubyn: and recollections of the sister he lost so +young, the sister he adored, have been too much for him." + +"Surely," said Laura, "he must have been uncommonly attached to her, +since six years have not effaced her from his memory." She sighed--the +tear stood in her eye; for she thought--"It is scarcely as many months +since I lost the sweetest sister in the world, yet she is comparatively +forgotten." + +"He cherishes every recollection of her," said O'Brien, "with officious +care: he constantly wears her portrait next his heart. Before we left +Spain, he insisted on visiting her grave, and was so deeply affected, I +feared for his reason. To you, my Lord St. Aubyn, I ought to apologize +for details which I see distress you, but I thought it was necessary to +account for my pupil's strange deportment." + +St. Aubyn bowed; but traces of vexation were legible in his expressive +face. Mr. Mordaunt made some inquiries after the present state of Lord +de Montfort, to which Mr. O'Brien replied he had left him in bed, and +tolerably composed; that he had consented to breakfast with the family +the next morning, when he hoped personally to apologize to the Countess +for the alarm he had given her. + +The ladles now retired, and each went to her respective apartment. Lady +St. Aubyn passed through her own room into that where the infant lay: +both the child and his nurse slept quietly. She knelt a moment by the +bed-side, and offered a fervent prayer to heaven for the health and +happiness of her infant, and for its father, who seemed menaced by some +mysterious disturbance. The contrast presented by the soft sleep, the +placid innocence of the baby's face, to the scene of anxiety and +confusion she had left, deeply affected her. Tears stole down her +cheeks, and wetted the little hands she held pressed to her lips. At +length, rousing herself, she returned to her bed-chamber, where Jane +waited to undress her: "Make haste, Jane," she said, "I am weary." Jane +obeyed in silence; for her Lady's pensive looks had power to quiet even +her loquacious propensities. + +In a few minutes Ellen was laid on her pillow, and the tumultuous +throbbing of her heart began to subside. In about half an hour she heard +St. Aubyn go to the room he occupied at present, and fancied, after his +valet left him, she could distinctly hear him pacing the apartment, and +sighing heavily: but this perhaps was chiefly fancy; for the wind still +howled and sobbed round the Castle, and through its large hall and long +galleries. Sometimes it sounded like the low moans of one in grief or +pain: then in shriller gusts it shook the lofty battlements, or swept +over the tops of the high trees, which bent and rustled beneath its +power. + +Ellen, restless, uneasy, impressed with the melancholy countenance and +strange conduct of their mysterious guest, vainly endeavoured to sleep, +and turned from side to side, soothed only in the intervals of the storm +by hearing the soft breathings of her infant, whose couch (the door +being open between the rooms) was so near her, that she could accurately +distinguish every breath he drew. Two or three times she was inclined to +rise, and steal him from his nurse's side to partake her bed; for she +felt how glad she should be in that unquiet hour to feel his little +cheek pressing against hers, and hold him to her anxious heart; but +fearing to disturb, or give him cold, she relinquished her purpose, and +endeavoured to compose herself to rest. + +At length, just after the Castle clock had struck two, she felt as if +sleep were stealing over her fatigued senses; but starting from a +momentary forgetfulness, she heard a light footstep, yet sounding as if +the person walking wore no shoes, approaching her bed-room door. It was +she knew unfastened; for lest the child should be ill, or want +additional assistance, it was always left so. Starting, she listened: +her breath grew short, and her heart beat audibly, as the steps +approached nearer and nearer; yet not losing her presence of mind she +drew aside her curtain, and fixing her eyes on the door, prepared to fly +into the inner room, should, as she now began to expect, a midnight +robber meet her view. + +Slowly, slowly, opened the door, and a tall thin figure, wrapped in a +loose night-gown, just appeared within it. "Sister! sister!" said a +voice, low, tremulous, and impressive: "sister, are you awake? You bade +me call you early." + +The figure! the voice!--Oh, what became of Ellen, when in both she +recognized the wild, the mysterious, De Montfort! In his pale hand he +bore a lamp, the flashing light of which fell at intervals on his gloomy +countenance: while his bright black eyes were indeed open, but, oh! +"their sense was shut." + +Again, as he advanced into the room, he repeated in the same low +mournful tone, "Sister _Rosolia_! What, sleeping still? You said you +would rise early, and walk with me." Then pausing, he seemed to stand as +if listening for an answer; but suddenly, with a start of recollection +and a heavy sigh, he exclaimed, "Oh yes, I remember! too well I +remember! You cannot rise: you will never rise again!--_You are dead! +you are dead! you are dead!_" + +Again a solemn pause ensued, and sighs, which seemed to rend his bosom, +alone broke the terrific silence of the moment. + +Again he spoke with an energy of action, as if his sleeping agitations +were breaking into frenzy, addressing himself as in answer to one who +had spoken to him. + +"But did he murder you? Was it St. Aubyn? Tell me, I conjure you, and +answer _truly_. Condemn not your own soul, and O, Rosolia, involve not +mine in condemnation by a lie!--A lie!--_Can the dead lie?_--And you are +come to me _here_--aye, _here_, in this very chamber, where in our +innocent school-days you used to sleep--to tell me the truth--the +_truth_, Rosolia." + +And now with quicker steps he paced the chamber, as if pursuing one who +fled before him, yet, with that wonderful instinctive power which often +attends the sleep-walker, avoiding every obstacle. + +"Nay, fly me not!" he exclaimed: "deceive me not; for I have seen an +angel in _thy place_ to-night; and if thou art not a false and lying +spirit, thou wilt not lead me to injure her." Then pausing again, as if +listening to some one who spoke, he said, with quickness-- + +"I know it! I know it! That _pistol_--that _ring_! Yes, yes, yes, yes! +Those indeed were direful evidences of his guilt!--Years, years, I have +passed in thinking of them!--Yet he says, he swears, he is +innocent--that it was _De Sylva_--that _thou_ wert guilty! Oh, tell me, +Rosolia, was it--was it so?--But I will pray for thy soul." + +He knelt, and placing the lamp before him on the floor, its dismal light +fell on his sad countenance, and shewed his eyes upturned, and his lips +moving as in fervent prayer, while at intervals he crossed himself, and +bowed his forehead to the earth. Then rising with a sudden start, he +exclaimed-- + +"Hark, O'Brien calls! He will hear me--he shall not know my thoughts. It +might not be St. Aubyn who shed thy blood: yet, oh, Rosolia--oh, my +sister, it _was_ thy blood I saw! And here is some of it on my hand." + +He shook his hand violently, and appearing to look at it earnestly, he +uttered a low, mournful, and distracted cry of terror, and rushed out of +the room. + +Alarm and horror had kept Ellen silent--she fainted not; yet scarcely +could she be said to live. But as soon as his receding footsteps +convinced her he was really gone, she hastily threw on some of her +clothes, and flew, scarcely in her senses, to St. Aubyn's room. His door +was fast, but with repeated knockings she aroused him, and great indeed +was his consternation to see her so pale, so almost convulsed with fear +and agitation. + +"My dearest life!" he exclaimed: "what, for heaven's sake, is the matter +with the child?" + +"Oh! I have left him! I have forsaken him!" said she in terror, "all the +doors open too, and that poor distracted youth may perhaps return, and +who knows what injury he may do him! Oh! let us fly to the child," and +she made some hasty steps towards the door. + +"Recollect yourself, my Ellen," said the astonished St. Aubyn: "you are +dreaming--sit down in this chair by the fire, and compose your spirits." + +"Oh! no, it was no dream," said the shuddering Ellen, "I saw him as I +see you now! he came to my room and said such dreadful things!"-- + +"Who came to your room?" exclaimed St. Aubyn: "who dared to intrude, to +disturb and alarm you thus?" + +"Oh! he was sleeping, I believe! but in his sleep--Oh heavens! he talked +so dreadfully--of such horrid things--and called upon his sister in such +tones! Oh! I never, never shall forget them!" + +"Was it De Montfort?" asked the dismayed St. Aubyn. + +"Oh yes, oh yes--De Montfort! Oh, his eyes, his face, his voice! I +never, never, shall forget them!" she repeated with renewed agitation. + +"Unhappy young man!" said St. Aubyn, with a sigh. "Would to God thou +had'st never come hither! Affright not yourself, my Ellen, with his wild +wanderings. By this time, I had hoped the wretch, who caused this +dreadful mischief, might have been found, and all might have been +cleared. Years have I sought in vain. Still, still, he evades my +search--perhaps exists no longer. + +"It is, however, time to reveal the past to you; but now you are too +much alarmed to hear the long and melancholy tale: return to your bed, +my Ellen; try to rest for my sake, for your babe's, who must suffer, +should his tender nurse be ill: go to repose, and I will watch by you +till morning; then, dear, and for ever dear creature, all shall be +revealed; but remember your promise, in spite of all appearances--still +to believe me innocent!" + +Prevailed on at length to return to her own chamber, yet Ellen entreated +St. Aubyn to examine the gallery, and see if De Montfort might not be +again returned to visit the room he seemed to know so well; and even +when assured he was not there, she still shuddered and turned pale, as +fancy pictured him standing with his lamp in the door-way, or pacing +with disordered steps the chamber floor. + +After obtaining a few hours rest, which somewhat restored her, Ellen, by +appointment, joined St. Aubyn in his study at a very early hour, where +he had promised to explain, as far as he could, the strange and +vexatious events which had so long involved him in the greatest +uneasiness. + +Sad was St. Aubyn's countenance, and the cheek of Ellen was yet pale +from her recent agitation when they met. St. Aubyn, tenderly taking her +hand, said, "I half regret, my Ellen, that my selfish love withdrew you +from that sweet content and cheerfulness which surrounded your peaceful +abode when first we met, to partake with me cares and alarms which +otherwise you never would have known." + +"My dear St. Aubyn, do not talk so," said Ellen, with a tender tear: +"all the cares, all the alarms you speak of, were they ten times +doubled, could not outweigh, in my estimation, the happiness of being +one hour your wife. Oh believe, my beloved Lord, _that_ fate I would +have chosen, even though I had been sure the next would have brought my +death." + +"Matchless creature!" said St. Aubyn, clasping her to his bosom: "in +such love, such tenderness, I am overpaid for all the griefs which +former events have brought upon me, for all the anxiety with which the +present hour surrounds me!--Repeat to me, dearest, as well as you can +remember, what you heard from the unfortunate Edmund in his nocturnal +visit to your apartment." + +Ellen, while her cheek was blanched by the fearful recollection, and her +whole frame trembled as she called to mind that terrific visit, +endeavoured to obey, yet she feared to shock him, by repeating those +words which seemed to connect his name with the idea of guilt and +murder; but contrary to her expectation, he heard her without surprize, +and with calm, though sorrowful composure: he sighed heavily indeed, but +no alarm or perturbation appeared in either his countenance or gesture. +As she ended, he said, "All this I knew; but too well knew what horrible +suspicions this unhappy youth has formed, nay own he had great reason to +conceive them. Poor Edmund! these dismal thoughts, working in his mind, +and, as it appears, concealed from all others, have preyed upon it till +reason seems shaken, and his troubled spirit wakes even while his bodily +organs are locked in sleep! No wonder in this dreadful tumult of his +imagination he came to your room, for that room used to be his sister's +when she visited my mother before our unfortunate marriage was even +thought of; and often, doubtless, in the days of his childhood, he has +gone to her door to waken her at her request, and chid her for sleeping +so late when he wanted her to walk with him: for dearly did he love her; +and in those days she was innocent, and she was happy! Alas! poor +Rosolia, whatever were thy faults, thy fate was dreadful!" + +He sighed, and was a moment silent. + + + + +CHAP. II. + + Such an act, + That blurs the grace and blush of modesty, + Calls virtue, hypocrite; takes off the rose + From the fair forehead of an innocent love, + And plants a blister there--makes marriage vows + As false as divers oaths. + + HAMLET. + + O ye gods, + Render me worthy of this noble wife, + The secrets of my heart thy bosom shall partake. + + JULIUS CAESAR. + + +"I need not," said St. Aubyn, "say much on the subject of my first +acquaintance with Lady Rosolia de Montfort. You have heard, I believe, +that _her_ father was a near relation of _mine_, and that her mother was +a Spanish Lady of a high noble family, and were Roman Catholics. The +lady's friends were exceedingly averse to the match, and at length +consented only on condition that the sons of the marriage should be bred +Roman Catholics; and after the father's death, should he die during +their minority, be placed under the care of the mother's relations. +Rosolia would probably also have been a Catholic, but her mother died +young, and she was placed in the care of my mother and Lady Juliana +Mordaunt. In the vacations she was generally here, where my mother +constantly, and my aunt frequently, resided; and here also Edmund almost +always spent the time of his school recesses, though twice they went to +Spain with their father, and spent a few months amongst their mother's +connections. + +"Rosolia grew up very handsome, but the character of her beauty was not +such as suited my taste: there was too much hauteur in her countenance; +too much pride in the mind which informed it to please me; yet from our +early youth the friends on both sides were anxious to unite us. I had at +that time no particular predilection for any of her sex, nor could I +object any thing against her, though certainly not exactly the sort of +woman I should have chosen; her partiality in my favour, however, +appeared evident, and was too flattering to be resisted by a young man +like me, from a young woman who had crowds of admirers, most of them my +superiors in fortune and quality. + +"We were married, therefore, when I was about five-and-twenty, and +Rosolia six years my junior. For two years that my mother lived, we +remained a great deal with her, and in the country, under her eye and +that of Lady Juliana. Rosolia did not discover those unpleasant traits, +which, though they lay dormant, were not conquered. + +"On my mother's death, we removed for a time to London, and there +Rosolia lay in of a son, the only child we ever had. But, ah! how +different a mother was Rosolia from you, my Ellen! No care for her +infant subdued the excessive vivacity she now began to display, no +maternal tenderness subjugated, or even softened, the levity of conduct +which now became manifest, and ultimately was her bane. The society of +every idle coxcomb was preferred to mine: my remonstrances, and those of +my respectable aunt, nay, even of her own father, were unheeded. My +disposition, naturally inclined to jealousy, took fire at the lightness +of her carriage; but she held me in contempt, often in derision; and as +the tongue of slander had not yet fixed on the name of any particular +person to connect with her, I was obliged to submit to see her +_flirting_, as it is called, first with one admirer, then another, _and +the last fool as welcome as the former_. My aunt, wearied and vexed at +our domestic unhappiness, in a great measure forsook us, and contracted +a dislike of Lady St. Aubyn, which, in some degree, extended to all her +family. Edmund was still our frequent guest, but his partiality for his +sister would not allow him to see a fault in her, and indeed his extreme +youth made me conceal from him, as much as possible, the uneasy terms on +which we lived together. We had been married about three years, and our +little boy was six months old when Rosolia's father died: by his will, +he appointed me the guardian of Edmund's estates, till he should attain +the age of twenty-four, and requested that I would see him placed under +the care of the Duke de Castel Nuovo, in agreement with the terms of his +own marriage-contract with the daughter of that nobleman. + +"This request I could not refuse, yet knew not how to leave my wife in +England; for if her conduct were so reproachable while we were together, +what had I to expect if I left her solely to her own guidance? Yet such +was the perversity of her temper, I doubted whether she would accompany +me abroad: to that, however, she consented, prompted, I believe, more by +a wish to be as much as possible with her brother, than to oblige me. +But nothing could induce her to leave the child behind, though my aunt +offered to take it solely under her own care during our absence, +although Rosolia herself never saw it, except for about five minutes, +once or twice in the day. + +"This singular obstinacy inspired my aunt with an idea (which I confess +I partly shared) that Rosolia's intention was to leave the babe with her +paternal relations; for though she called herself a protestant, she +certainly had much inclination towards the ceremonies of the Catholic +Church, and, I grieve to say, held all religious principles so lightly, +that to distress me and vex my aunt, she was but too capable of placing +her child in the hands of Catholics, that it might be bred up in a +religion she knew my aunt abhorred, and I had no good opinion of. To +counteract this, or any other scheme which might be formed to take the +child from me, as well as to ensure its being well taken care of, Lady +Juliana insisted that our good Bayfield should accompany us, and made +her promise never to let the child be absent from her sight. But these +precautions, in the event, proved useless; for the poor babe caught the +small-pox soon after we landed at Cadiz, where we remained a short time, +and died in my arms, attended with undeviating care by the worthy +Bayfield: for, oh, my Ellen, your tender nature will recoil when I tell +you its unfeeling mother refused to see it from the time the disorder +came to its height, though she herself had had it, because its +appearance was too shocking to her delicacy! Every care, however, that +could be obtained, was lavished on it, but in vain. + +"Poor Edmund grieved sincerely at this event, and shared my lonely and +sorrowful hours; for he had been attached to the infant with excessive +affection, and always felt for me the sincerest regard, while I +considered him as my own brother, and thought no attention too much to +serve or please him. + +"Soon after the death of the child we proceeded to Seville, and, in the +gaiety of that city, the attentions she received from her mother's +relations, and the flattering compliments paid to her beauty by the +crowds of gentlemen who now surrounded her, Rosolia soon lost whatever +traces of sorrow remained for the loss of her infant. She was handsomer +than ever, and shone in all the elegance of dress and the blaze of +unnumbered jewels, with which my lavish fondness, in the early part of +our marriage, and the liberality of her Spanish relations, had profusely +supplied her. Her grandfather, the Duke de Castel Nuovo, at whose palace +in Seville Edmund was to be placed, happened to be absent, having been +suddenly called to Madrid on some important state business, and wrote to +beg I would remain a month or two at his palace, when he hoped he should +return thither to receive his grandson from my hands, to see his +granddaughter, and thank me for the kindness with which I had taken so +long a journey. Having nothing immediately to recall me to England, I +was not sorry to see more of this interesting country; and hearing of a +beautiful villa to be let on the bank of Guadalaxara, I removed thither +with my family, preferring it to a residence in the Duke's palace. + +"Nothing could exceed the beauty of our little domain, or the rich +luxuriance of the country in which it stood. This villa was only two +miles from Seville, where at that time several regiments were stationed, +and all the officers of rank eagerly sought an introduction to me and +the beautiful Rosolia. Amongst them was a man of the name of De Sylva." + +At this name Ellen started, for she had heard it from Edmund, in his +wild wanderings the night before; though, till that instant, she could +not recollect it. + +"Why do you start, my love?" said St. Aubyn; "does some intuitive +emotion whisper to you that this was the wretch whose villainy involved +me in so much misery?" + +"It was the name," said Ellen, "which I could not recollect just now; +the name I heard from Edmund." + +"No doubt," replied St. Aubyn, "it dwelt upon his mind; for but last +night I again endeavoured to convince him of that villain's guilt. But +to proceed. + +"This De Sylva was a young man of a very fine person and elegant +manners; one, in short, exactly fitted to win the favour of any woman, +who looked more to exterior appearance than intrinsic merit. He was, I +afterwards learned, a determined gamester, of broken, if not ruined +fortunes, without principles, and stained with many vices; yet this man +I too soon perceived the light Rosolia had selected as her chief +favourite. If she danced, he was her partner; and often was her lovely +person exhibited in the fascinating but immoral dances of her country: +an exhibition, oh, how unfit for an English matron!--how hateful to the +delicacy of my sentiments. I am perhaps too fastidious; but I again +repeat, such a display, even of grace and beauty, in a married woman, is +displeasing, but carried to the excess Rosolia did, detestable. How can +we wonder at the alarming strides vice has made in this country, when we +see even wives and mothers, in the slightest drapery, and with an almost +unlimited freedom of manners, courting the notice of men whom they know +to be characters which neither honour, nor even the ties of friendship, +can restrain from the gratification of their passions. + +"Forgive, my Ellen, this digression, by you so little needed; but I +linger and dwell on any subject which can a moment detain me from those +dreadful scenes I must soon describe. I was speaking of the intimacy +which now took place between this De Sylva and Lady St. Aubyn. In +dancing, walking, or riding, he was her constant attendant; and in the +last exercise she excited the admiration of all who beheld her. Her +English side-saddle and riding-dress, and the ease with which she +managed her spirited Arabian, drew the most flattering plaudits from the +gay military admirers who constantly surrounded her; and most of all +from De Sylva, whose manners at last became so particular and presuming, +I could not avoid noticing it, and telling Rosolia if he altered not his +conduct, I should be under the necessity of forbidding him my house. + +"At first she only laughed at my threats, and turned every thing I said +into ridicule, but still persisted in the same manner of living, till I +perceived, that even in that gay country her conduct was disapproved by +all who witnessed it, and who had not lost all sense of decorum; even +two or three of the older officers, men of rank and consequence, began +to look gravely upon her, and with a sort of displeasure at me, as if +they thought me too supine in not more warmly asserting my own honour. I +now determined, therefore, to remove her from the place where she had so +many opportunities of meeting this young man, which, without an _eclat_ +I wished to avoid, I could not prevent, as I believed her innocent +though imprudent, and to visit some of the most interesting scenes in +that part of the country where we now were, hoping that a tour, which I +knew she had never made, would give a new turn to the sentiments of +Rosolia: we removed, therefore, with our suite, from the beautiful villa +we had lately occupied, and travelled the first day to Cormona, where we +visited its castle, of immense extent, but now wholly in ruins; from +thence we went by excellent, but very ancient roads, to Cordova, where +we also saw every thing worth notice, and spent a few days very +agreeably; at least they would have been agreeable, had Rosolia seemed +in the least inclined to enjoy the new scenes presented to her, or the +civilities of the inhabitants of this ancient town, where our rank and +relationship to the Duke de Castel Nuovo ensured us a hospitable +reception from all the noble families whose manner of life is cheerful +and pleasant. + +"After leaving Cordova, we travelled through the delightful vale of the +Guadalaxara, which runs between the ridges of hills embellished with +hanging woods and olive-yards. Nothing could exceed the beauty of the +scene through which we now for two days travelled. No mind, which had +not entirely lost all power of enjoying the charms of nature, could have +been dead to the enchanting scenes which the banks of the lovely +Guadalaxara now presented in ever-varying succession. Extensive plains, +beautifully tinted by rows of olive-trees, towers and ancient castles +rising at intervals on the side of the stream, afforded a variety of +charming and picturesque views, from which Edmund and myself derived the +warmest pleasure. Alas! the heart of Rosolia was shut to them all. At +length we reached a small but pretty villa at the foot of the Sierra +Morena, which I had learned some time before was unoccupied, and had +hired, and caused to be prepared for our reception. Edmund's health had +appeared to be somewhat shaken by the very warm climate of our abode +near Seville, and it was thought the cool air from those mountains would +brace and invigorate his drooping frame. Here, then, we rested in this +quiet retreat, whence I made occasional excursions, sometimes on foot, +sometimes on horseback, in the picturesque environs of our new abode. +Sometimes I extended them to the northern side of the Sierra, and +visited the romantic country of La Mancha, which Cervantes has +immortalized. + +"It is impossible to describe the various beauties these mountains +present; the clear torrent of the Rio de las Pedras, falling over beds +of rocks, through glens of beautiful woods; the wild and unfrequented +solitudes, covered with a rich variety of flowering and sweet-scented +shrubs, and the interesting new colony of La Corolina, of which I hope, +some day, to give you a fuller account; all rendered these excursions +delightful to me; the more so, as they occupied my thoughts, and carried +me from a woman whose capricious humours and inconsistent conduct +rendered my home irksome and distasteful. + +"Rosolia, angry at being withdrawn from the society she so much prized, +and still more so at being deprived of De Sylva's company, now assumed +manners the most aggravating, and caprices the most extraordinary. +Sometimes, for a day or two together, the sound of her voice never +reached the ear of any human being; but sunk, in affected apathy, she +pretended scarcely to see or hear any thing that was passing. Then she +would suddenly assume the gayest air, and for hours would scarcely cease +speaking; following me incessantly; never allowing me to read or reflect +a moment; singing, playing on her harp, or with castenets in her hands, +dancing with a gaiety that was as unpleasing as it appeared unnatural, +till her forced spirits being quite exhausted, she would fall into +violent hysterics, and be conveyed to bed, whence she would not rise +again in many days. + +"Think only, my dear Ellen, what a life this was for me. With no other +companion (for Edmund was still a mere boy), and dreading every hour to +what the caprices of the next might lead. At length, all at once, she +affected a new humour, and was continually rambling alone, even so late +in the evening, that in the neighbourhood of those wild mountains, I +feared some evil would befall her; but vain were my representations, +vain my entreaties. She told me, she thought it hard to be denied the +only pleasure my jealous temper had left her, and that I had better +revive the old Spanish customs of lattices and duennas, and lock her up +altogether. These, and many such provoking speeches, silenced me; but I +saw that our good Bayfield was suffering from some unknown cause. She +was frequently in tears, and betrayed, at times, a degree of agitation +which astonished me; for in general her composure was remarkable. I +conjectured, that, dissatisfied with her lady, as indeed she had but too +much reason to be, the worthy woman pined to revisit England; but on my +pressing her on this subject, she assured me, that wherever I was, there +she was best pleased to be; and only wished she _knew how best to shew +her devotion to my interests_. + +"These last words seemed spoken with particular meaning, but she evaded +any explanation. A new vexation now assailed both her and me: several of +Lady St. Aubyn's valuable jewels were from time to time missing, and +vainly sought. + +"Rosolia affected the most perfect indifference about them, saying, +since she had no one to wear them, she cared nothing for jewels: but +Bayfield, who was the only person, who, except her lady, had access to +the place where the jewels were kept, was excessively disturbed at their +frequent losses. At last, a very fine and remarkable ring of mine, +composed of an antique cameo, set with brilliants of great value, was +also gone. I began to suspect my valet of these repeated thefts, though +I had obtained of him the most excellent character; and he had been +three or four years in my service without the slightest suspicion of +dishonesty in any respect. + +"Determined, however, to watch this man, I said nothing of the loss of +my ring, thinking if I appeared to have no suspicion I should the easier +detect him. + +"About a week after this circumstance, being restless, and unable to +sleep, I rose from my bed at midnight, and sat for some time at my +window, watching the bright moon, which in that clear climate gave a +light scarcely inferior to that of day: but judge of my surprize, when I +saw the figure of a man emerge slowly from a grove of cork trees, at +some little distance; and after looking cautiously around, pass close +under my windows, and approach those of Lady St. Aubyn's apartment. We +had for some time inhabited separate rooms, as she complained of +restless nights, and chose to have her chamber to herself. I fancied +that I had now detected the robber, who, by some means, having gained +access to those chambers, had, from time to time, stolen the jewels I +mentioned; but in a moment I saw Rosolia's window open, and herself +appear at it. She spoke a few words to this man, on whom the moonlight +falling more clearly, I distinctly perceived the height, figure, and I +fancied the features of De Sylva. + +"Rosolia instantly threw down a light rope ladder, and the man, whoever +he was, began to mount it; but on a sudden she turned from the window, +as if disturbed by the entrance of some one to her room; and making a +sign to him with a hurried air, he hastily descended: she immediately +closed the window, and the man ran to the grove from which he had first +appeared. + +"All this scene passed so quickly, I had scarcely time to recollect +myself, or determine what I ought to do--but hastily seizing my pistols, +which lay always loaded in my room, I descended a private staircase +leading to the garden, and with quicksteps, followed the man, who lay +concealed in the grove. I walked with as little noise as I could, +fearing, lest, if he heard me, he might make his escape, and I should be +deprived of the satisfaction I expected, so that I was close to him +before he perceived me, and seizing him with a powerful grasp, I dragged +him into the moonlight, and there saw it was indeed De Sylva." + + + + +CHAP. III. + + Ou suis-je? O Ciel ou suis je? ou porte je mes voeux? + Zayre, Nerestan--couple ingrat, couple affreux, + Traitres arracher moi ce jour que je respire, + Ce jour souille par vous. + ----Ah que vois-je? Ah ma soeur + Zayre!... Elle n'est plus.--Ah monstre ah jour horrible! + + ZAYRE PAR VOLTAIRE. + + +"Rage almost choked me as I exclaimed:--'Villain! you here, and lurking +under my windows at this hour!' He shook with cowardly apprehension, and +attempted some excuse, which, however, his terror rendered inarticulate: +still the momentary pause gave me time for recollection, and disdaining +to assault an unarmed man, I threw him one of my pistols, and bade him +defend himself: again in faltering tones he murmured some assurances +that he merely came to see Lady St. Aubyn's favourite servant, a Spanish +girl named Theresa; but this hacknied excuse was too shallow to obtain a +moment's credit, and I still pressed him to an instant decision of this +affair. He now, somewhat more firmly, requested me to recollect, that if +we fought, and he fell, what would be the appearance of a man found in +my grounds murdered, as it would seem; and on the other hand he appealed +to my generosity, what would be his situation should I be killed, and +above all, what a slur would be cast on the reputation of Lady St. Aubyn +by such a business. Calmed by these representations, which certainly had +some justice in them, I finally consented to wait till the next evening: +the time between, he told me, he should pass at a little Posada in the +neighbourhood, where, he said, he had a friend waiting for him, who +would come with him to a spot I mentioned near the mountains; and during +the same space I said I would ride to Almana (the next small town), +where a gentleman resided with whom I had some acquaintance, and on whom +I would prevail to be my second in this affair: then bidding him retain +the pistol, and bring it prepared, as I should do its fellow, to the +place of meeting, I sternly told him, that should I see him again +lurking beneath my walls, I would not wait the event of the next +evening, but treat him as a midnight robber deserved to be treated. I +then left him and returned to the house: a faint light yet gleamed from +the windows of Rosolia's room, but the rope ladder was withdrawn, and +the curtains closed, so that I concluded she had given up all +expectation of seeing De Sylva again that night. I watched, however, +till morning, but all was still, and I then threw myself on my bed to +obtain one hour's repose; after which I rose, and spent some time in +settling my affairs, and writing some letters, to be delivered in case I +should fall in the duel with De Sylva. + +"After this I went to Lady St. Aubyn's room: at the door I met Bayfield, +who, pale, and with her eyes swollen with weeping, looked as if she had, +like myself, watched all night. + +"My good Bayfield,' said I, 'where is your Lady, and why do you look +thus alarmed and haggard?' + +"She answered me, but with some confusion, that her Lady was just +dressed, and that she had been induced to watch in the chamber next Lady +St. Aubyn's almost all night, having heard some noises which had induced +her to _rise at midnight_, and go to her Lady's apartment, whom she +found also much agitated, and therefore had remained there till morning. +I made no doubt, and I afterwards found this conjecture was just, that +my faithful old servant's suspicions having been excited, she had gone +to her room, and by interrupting her, had caused the sudden dismissal of +De Sylva, and had since passed the night in bewailing Rosolia's evil +propensities. Without staying for any explanation, however, I left her, +and passed into the Countess's apartment: she started at the sight of +me, for of late we had seldom met but at meals, and her guilty +conscience taught her to consider my visit as extraordinary. I told her +sternly to be seated and hear me, and I then related to her the events +of the preceding night: at first she trembled and turned pale, but soon +recovering her effrontery, she attempted, as usual, to make a jest of +what she affected to term my ridiculous jealousy. + +"Mark me, Rosolia!" cried I rising, and eagerly grasping her arm, for, +with affected scorn, she attempted to rush past me. 'Mark me! I am no +longer thus to be deceived. _This evening, this evening shall revenge my +too long endured injuries_--the _wretch_ who has so deeply wronged me, +_this arm shall punish_.' + +"At that moment, while my angry looks were fixed upon her countenance, +where rage and disdain contended with shame and fear, Edmund entered the +room, and must, I knew, have heard the threats I uttered: he started and +looked amazed, for frequent as were our altercations, they had never +before risen to a height so alarming. + +"I left them together, and taking my horse, rode to Almana, where, most +unfortunately, I did not find my friend at home; and after waiting his +return till I feared I should not arrive at my villa in time enough to +keep my appointment, I left the place alone, and merely going into the +house to take my pistol, I hastened to the appointed spot. There I +waited, vainly waited, for nearly two hours: no De Sylva arrived; and +concluding that he then meant not to keep his appointment, and some +vague fears pressing on my mind that possibly Rosolia might be the +partner of his flight, I hurried back to the villa. It was almost dark +when I arrived, and just as I entered the hall, heated, disordered, not +having changed my dress since the night before, and in the confusion of +my thoughts not even concealing the pistol I had carried in my hand, I +met Edmund, who eagerly asked me where his sister was. + +"I know not,' said I; but a thousand suspicions darted into my bosom, +and gave to my countenance and manner an agitation which must have +appeared to him extraordinary. 'Is she not in her own apartment? I have +been out all day and have not seen her since I left her with you this +morning.' + +"Nor I,' said Edmund, 'since half an hour before I saw you return on +horseback; she then complained of a violent head-ache, and said she +would try if the evening air would remove it: I offered to walk with +her, but she said she would rather be alone, for she had enough to +occupy her thoughts: she kissed me too,' added Edmund, 'and bade me +farewell, sighing bitterly, and saying her heart was heavy and full of +terror: why then,' said I, 'will you go alone, sister? why not let me +walk with you? I really think there _is_ danger in being out late so +near the mountains.' She forced a smile, and replied, she feared nothing +from the mountains: all her misery and terrors arose at home.' + +"Ungrateful Rosolia,' I replied, as Edmund told me this; to which he +answered:-- + +"Ah, my Lord, it grieves me to see you both so unhappy; I hope my +grandfather's return will soon restore in some degree your domestic +comfort; he will persuade Rosolia to be more accommodating to your +wishes.' + +"I sighed, and asked him which way his sister had gone. + +"Through the cork grove,' he replied, 'and towards the Hermitage, which +is I know her favourite retreat.' + +"'Surely,' said I, 'she would not remain in that lonely place till this +late hour; yet, so strange for sometime has been her conduct, I know not +what to suppose: call the servants, my dear Edmund, to bring lights, for +in that gloomy retreat it will be quite dark, and let us go in search of +her.' + +"We set out accordingly, attended by two men servants and my good +Bayfield, who, fearing, as she said, her Lady might be ill, insisted on +accompanying us. The place to which we directed our steps was a quarter +of a mile from the villa, and, as I had said, by the time we had reached +it the darkness of night had come on. + +"This gloomy cell stood at the foot of a rock deep embowered in thick +groves: a mountain stream fell from a considerable height near it, and +the dash of its waters alone broke the silence of this secluded retreat, +which was called the Hermitage, from the peculiar style in which it was +fitted up. For some time before we reached it we made the surrounding +thickets resound with Rosolia's name: but all was silent, save the +murmuring breeze and the dashing of the waterfall. I concluded that my +wife was gone off with the infamous De Sylva, and my whole frame shook +with rage and agitation. + +"Why do you tremble so, my Lord?' said the affrighted Edmund, who hung +upon my arm: 'do you think any harm has happened to my sister?' + +"I know not,' I replied, 'but I fear it, greatly fear it!' + +"Just then we entered the gloomy Hermitage: all was dark and still; the +echo of our steps alone broke the awful silence. The men who accompanied +us lifted their torches to throw a fuller light into the cell; and--ah! +my Ellen, I dread to shock your tender nature by describing the horrid +scene which met our view.--Imagine our sensations when we saw the +unfortunate Rosolia extended on the earth! her white garments dyed in +_blood_! in that blood which some hand, either accidentally or by +design, had shed! for on raising the body, by this time stiff and cold, +a wound was discovered in the back of her head, which was evidently the +effect of a pistol-ball, and had caused her death. You tremble and turn +pale, my love: it grieves me to distress you, but think what was _my_ +distress, when Edmund, who, in frantic despair, had thrown himself by +his murdered sister, found the fatal weapon which had done this deed of +horror, and I saw at once it was the fellow pistol to that I had in my +hand when he met me in the hall, remarkable for its peculiar +construction and workmanship; the very one, in short, which I had given +to De Sylva. Never, never shall I forget the glance of his dark eyes at +that moment: I saw the direful suspicions he, at that instant, +conceived, and which were still more fatally confirmed by what +immediately followed. + +"My poor Bayfield, full of grief and horror, was arranging, with all the +care circumstances would admit, the removal of the body to the house, +when seeing something glitter amidst the horrible darkness which +surrounded us, and our fading torches scarcely broke, she stooped and +picked up _my ring_, that well-known ring, which I indeed had lost, but +had not said so; and which she, from some impulsive feeling, perhaps +fearing the sight of it in that place might implicate me in the late sad +event, attempted to conceal in her bosom. + +"What is that?" exclaimed the half-frantic Edmund, darting towards her +and seizing her hand. '_Your ring_, my Lord, _your ring_! at this +time--in this place. The pistol too--those dreadful threatenings of +revenge.--Ah God! Ah God!--what horrible conviction flashes on +me.--Rosolia! poor dear sister!--Ah, basely, basely murdered!' and he +fell senseless on the ground. + +"The domestics who attended us were Spaniards, and did not understand a +word he said: but Bayfield stood the image of dismay. + +"Ah, my Lord,' said she, 'fly, if indeed your hand by accident has done +this deed, for think what will become of you amidst the bigotted +Catholics, who will seek to revenge it.' + +"Fly!' I repeated, 'my good old friend! Can you believe me guilty?' + +"Oh no, my dear Lord,' she replied, never, never! but think what these +unfortunate appearances will say against you to those who know you less +than I do.' + +"Whatever they say, I will brave,' I exclaimed: 'nor care I much after +this dreadful moment what becomes of me; but never will I, by an +ignominious flight, tacitly avow myself guilty, when I know and surely +cannot fail to prove my innocence.' + +"In a few minutes one of the men, who, on Edmund's falling into the +deathlike trance from which we yet vainly sought to recover him, had +fled towards the house for more assistance, returned with almost all the +domestics, who eagerly crowded to satisfy their curiosity, and whose +astonishment and impatient questions may be easily conceived. Between +them they conveyed into the house their murdered mistress, and the still +insensible Edmund, whose spirit we at one time imagined had really +followed hers. To paint the confusion which ensued would be impossible: +one express was instantly sent off to the Duke de Castel Nuovo, and +several men I sent into the mountains and round the neighbourhood to +seek for De Sylva, by whose hand I doubted not the fatal wound, either +by accident or design, had been given. I described his person and +appearance, saying that such a man had been seen lurking about the house +the night before. + +"Some of the servants having remarked the capricious character, and, of +late, the melancholy manners of Rosolia, suggested an idea that she had +destroyed herself; but the situation of the wound prevented such a +possibility. Forgive me, my love, these shocking details: they are +indeed unsuited to the tenderness of your nature; but without a very +accurate account of this unfortunate event, it would be impossible for +you to judge what evidences there were of my apparent guilt, or real +innocence. + +"Edmund slowly recovered from his deep swoon, but his reason for a time +was flown, and all the skill of the medical people about us failed for +weeks to recover it. Yet still he knew me--still with an expression of +the most vindictive hatred his eyes pursued me. His words frequently +pointed out the nature of his suspicions; but he raved so constantly, +that they remained unnoticed, save by me and Bayfield: too fatally, +alas! we understood them. To her I fully explained all that had passed, +and she told me she had no hesitation in believing that De Sylva was the +author of this direful tragedy. To find that villain appeared +impossible: my servants returned, after a week's search in every +direction, without having discovered the slightest trace of him. Indeed, +to track a fugitive in that wild romantic country is extremely +difficult: immense woods, deep caves, and the recesses of vast ruins, +might easily shelter such a one from pursuit. + +"To the servants I held out an idea that some banditti from the +mountains had found their Lady in her lonely walk, as indeed they all +knew I often had feared would be the case, and had murdered her for the +sake of the money and jewels she had about her; and in truth many of +them had seen her go out with some rich ornaments, which she generally +wore, and which certainly were removed from the body. + +"On searching the Hermitage the next morning, a parcel was found, +containing a complete Spanish habit for a boy, and a letter--at least a +part of one, for part was torn away, and the remainder contained only +these words: + + _At the Hermitage this evening + we must fly directly + St. Aubyn will wait for + come alone_ + +"I easily imagined this was part of a letter from De Sylva, appointing +Rosolia to meet him at the Hermitage. 'St. Aubyn will wait for' +evidently alluded to my waiting for him at the place he had appointed to +meet me; yet even these words seemed fatally to implicate me in this +horrid transaction: whereas, if the whole had been preserved, it would +have entirely exculpated me from blame: so unfortunately did +circumstances combine to throw the appearance of guilt upon me. + +"When my messenger returned from Madrid, I learned that the venerable +Duke de Castel Nuovo was too ill to travel: he left the whole management +of this melancholy affair in my hands, expressing himself convinced that +some of the banditti, who it was well known infested the Sierra Morena, +had been the murderers of his granddaughter. He entreated me to take the +greatest care of Edmund, and invited me, when he should be sufficiently +recovered, to accompany him to Madrid, or if I could not make that +convenient, to send him by some person in whom I could confide, and who +would see him placed safely under his own care; and concluded by very +kind expressions of regret that it had been so totally out of his power +to pay me those personal attentions during my stay in Spain, which he +had so anxiously wished to do. + +"Thus then I found myself completely exonerated from all suspicion of +having had any share of the late dreadful event, except in the mind of +Edmund, who had by this time recovered his reason, and was by slow +degrees regaining his health, yet still looked on me with horror and +aversion, and was buried in the most profound and gloomy melancholy. + +"Unable long to bear this state of estrangement and anxiety, I one day +went to his room, and sitting down by the couch on which he lay, 'I see, +Edmund,' said I, 'too plainly I see, the horrible suspicions you have +formed, and the gloomy hatred so unnatural to your character, which +preys upon your vitals. Neither can you long support a state so +wretched. St. Aubyn was not born to be the object of suspicions so +cruel, nor Edmund to endure them. Hear me then patiently; and though, in +tenderness to the memory of the unfortunate Rosolia, I would, if +possible, have concealed her misconduct from the whole world, and most +of all from you, yet circumstances call on me so imperatively to +disclose it, that I can no longer be silent.' + +"I then, my Ellen, related to him every circumstance, as I have done to +you; and though he evidently wavered, yet so strong was the prejudice he +had conceived, that he was not wholly convinced. + +"For the pistol," said he, 'you have in some measure accounted: it +might, if this story be true, have been placed there by De Sylva: his +accursed hand it might have been which shed that blood--that precious +blood, which yet in imagination I see flowing at my feet! But ah! St. +Aubyn, whence came that _ring_--that well known ring, which I so often +have heard you declare you valued more than all the jewels in your +possession?' + +"Fully to account for that,' said I, 'is not in my power; but on my +honour, I assure you, I had missed it several days, though, in hopes of +discovering the thief, I did not mention it. You know several of +Rosolia's jewels have lately been lost; and many times, since we have +been here, she has asked me for sums of money, though here she could +have had no use for them; but willing to gratify her in even her +fancies, while they did not militate against my peace and honour, I +never denied her, or desired any explanation; yet, in searching her +escritoire and drawers, no money has been found. This leads me to +believe, nay, to be sure, that either the wretch, De Sylva, stole this +ring and the other valuable articles missing, or she gave them to him in +the meetings which Bayfield now owns she is convinced they _have of +late_ frequently had.' + +"Impossible, impossible!' cried the noble but prejudiced youth: 'Rosolia +could not have condescended to favour, even with her friendship, so mean +a wretch as one who would have received money or jewels at her hands. +This story, my Lord, hangs ill together, and for it I have only your +word--the word of one to whom it is of the utmost importance that I +should believe it. But think, O think, what a chain of circumstances +appear in proof against you!--The threats _I_ heard you utter, that your +own hand should that very evening revenge your injuries! My meeting you, +heated and confused, after two hours absence, no one knew whither, with +one pistol in your hand--the fellow pistol found discharged by the dear +murdered Rosolia--and, more than all, your ring, which Bayfield, +impressed no doubt by similar suspicions, strove to conceal! Place all +these in array against you, and tell me, tell me yourself, what I must, +what I ought to believe.' + +"'It is enough,' I replied: 'I yield myself then to your will. Take me, +if such is your desire, to a prison, to death: your evidence I well +perceive will be sufficient to convict me--to rob me of my honour and my +life. But do you reckon for nothing your former knowledge of my +character and disposition? Am I a man likely to have committed such a +deed?--to have invented such a tale to excuse it, if I had? I swear to +you, Edmund, by all that is most sacred, _I am innocent_--I will swear +it to the latest moment of my existence.' + +"Moved by these words, by the remembrance of all my former friendship +for him--permit me to say, by the remembrance of years which I had so +spent as to impress him with a firm opinion of my virtue and veracity, +the generous youth paused awhile, and at length said-- + +"Well then, my Lord, since in this contrariety of assertion and evidence +it is impossible that I should know what to believe, I will for the +present, at least, act as if I thought you innocent. Seek this De +Sylva--seek him if you will throughout the world. I will breathe no +word, hint no suspicion, that may impede you in the search. Should you +be able to bring his confession in evidence of your integrity, I will +then entreat your pardon for my disbelief. If, on the contrary, any new +appearances of guilt arise against you--should any new discoveries +inimical to your innocence be made, I shall still know how to reach you. + +"Here let us part! As soon as my weak state will permit, I leave this +fatal, this detested roof, and will join my grandfather at Madrid: from +his letters I learn what you have led him to believe on this shocking +subject. If, indeed, your tale be true, I ought most thankfully to +acknowledge the lenient tenderness with which you have treated my poor +sister's reputation.--But oh! could she, could she be so guilty?----At +all events, it is well the Duke should credit your statement. At his +age, the doubts which shake me thus would kill him!--Let us meet no more +at present--Should De Sylva be found, write to me: write in English, and +the people about me will not understand your letter. All farther search +into this matter I must postpone till the commencement of my majority +shall leave me my own master; then I must once more visit England, such +is my father's will, to take possession of my estates in that country, +and to receive the accounts from you. Then, my Lord, we will finally +consider all the proofs which shall then have been obtained of your +innocence or guilt; and I shall then either bewail the faults of +Rosolia, or revenge her death, either by my sword or the hand of the +law, as I may think most proper. I shall then be a man, and more able, +both by improved judgment and bodily strength, to assert my own +convictions. Most earnestly do I wish, long ere that period arrives, +your character may be cleared: yet, ah! how can I wish it, if by that +acquittal my poor Rosolia must be proved so guilty!' + +"In a few days after this conversation, Edmund, under the care of a +person in whom I could confide, set out for Madrid; and I soon after +discharging all my servants, except Mrs. Bayfield and my valet, whom I +sent to England, left also this fatal spot. I hired a mule, and alone +passed through the Sierra into La Mancha; and at Civedad I engaged a +servant, not choosing to take one with me who had known any thing of the +late painful transactions. On mules we proceeded, making every inquiry +for De Sylva. Not even my servant knew my real name and rank; as I +thought by concealing these I might have a better chance of finding the +villain I sought: but still my search was vain. From Toledo, where I +rested a short time, I wrote to some of the officers of De Sylva's +regiment at Seville, to know if he had returned thither, though it +appeared most improbable he should have done so: but I was desirous of +trying every chance by which he might be discovered. In answer, I learnt +De Sylva had obtained leave of absence about two months before; but +though it had been some time expired, he was not yet returned: so that +the charge of desertion was now added to those others, which I doubted +not induced him to keep himself concealed. I travelled through Spain, +avoiding Madrid, where I knew my friend and correspondent, the Marquis +of Northington, who was resident there in a diplomatic capacity, would +make every search for De Sylva; and passing the Pyrenees, entered the +frontier of France, though with great risk and hazard, had I been known +to be English; but I passed everywhere for a Spaniard, speaking the +language as a native, having from my childhood been accustomed to speak +it with Rosolia and Edmund; and I fancied in those wild mountains I +might meet with De Sylva, who was likely to assort with the desperate +characters with which they at that time abounded. But vain was my +search, and at length I returned to England; and thinking that in +London, perhaps, I might find this wretch connected with gamesters, I +sought him at every house where such persons are likely to be found; but +still, still the search was fruitless. + +"I then came hither for awhile, to rest my wearied spirits. Here, +vanquished by the constant harassings I had so long undergone, I fell +into a severe fit of illness, through which my good Bayfield nursed me +with the tenderest care; and as she alone knew all the griefs which +oppressed me, I could without restraint give vent to my sorrows in her +presence. + +"Immediately after my recovery I had a letter from my friend Lord +Northington, who had at my request, by himself and his agents, made +every possible inquiry for De Sylva. He informed me that a person of +suspicious character had lately been arrested, and stood charged with +various crimes; and amongst the rest, of desertion; that from my +description of him, he fancied this man to be De Sylva. I instantly +wrote to Edmund, that I hoped the object of my long search was found; +that I should go to Spain immediately, and would see him as soon as any +thing was ascertained: but alas! after all my trouble and fatigue this +man proved to be totally unlike De Sylva, and in no way connected with +him. + +"Mortified and disappointed, I yet went to Seville, where Edmund then +was. The Duke de Castel Nuovo had been dead a few months, and his +grandson, under the care of Mr. O'Brien, and some other ecclesiastics, +appointed by the Duke's will to be the guardians of his person and his +Spanish estates during his minority. It was not without difficulty that +I obtained a private conference with him; for these Catholics were +jealous of my supposed influence over his mind. + +"I found him greatly altered in person, and evidently a prey to gloomy +and anxious thoughts, which the life he led amongst persons of severe +and superstitious habits did not tend to dissipate. His prejudices I +still found unconquerable, and that he was determined on coming to +England, should I be unable clearly to substantiate my innocence, either +to avenge his sister's death by the sword, or to impeach me as her +murderer--a dreadful alternative, and one from which I knew not how to +free myself: for to find De Sylva seemed impossible, and if found, I +knew not how to bring him to confession; and even of his having been at +my villa, near the Sierra Morena, I had no witness but Mrs. Bayfield, +whose evidence in my favour might, and most probably would, be deemed +partial. + +"Thus, and with this shocking prospect constantly before me, the time +has passed since the fatal day of Rosolia's death. Anxious for your +peace and safety, I wrote to Edmund, who ought to have been here three +months ago, and entreated him to delay coming hither till this time, +stating my reasons, with which he complied, and arrived in England only +a week since. Hither he was obliged to come, as Mordaunt had all the +papers belonging to his estates in his possession. You know he has been +too ill lately to go from home, and his signature was absolutely +necessary. + +"After O'Brien and Mordaunt went into the library last night, I again +endeavoured to convince Edmund of my innocence; and although I think now +his judgment is matured, and his passions have had time to cool, he is +more inclined to believe me, and to let the matter rest where it is, I +could by no means get him explicitly to acquit me; and this house +reviving the memory of his sister, and all the past events so forcibly, +no doubt was the cause of his nocturnal wandering. + +"What will be the event of all this I know not; but if I find him still +inexorable in a conference I mean this day to hold with him, I think +appearances are so much against me, I must at least for a time withdraw +with you and our boy to some safe retreat. + +"I have wearied you, my Ellen, and am myself weary with speaking so +long, on such an agitating subject: but tell me, my love, oh! tell me, +that you at least think me guiltless of this direful act!" + +"Guiltless!" cried Ellen (whose many tender exclamations and agitated +interruptions had given frequent proof of the interest with which she +had heard this melancholy narrative). "Oh, heavens! the evidence of my +own senses would fail to make me think you otherwise. But in this case +all appears to me so clear, so easy to be traced, that I am astonished +the generous youth you have described can hesitate in his belief a +moment.--Ah! my dear St. Aubyn, let _me_ speak to him; let me tell him +of your virtues, of your gentle nature, of your tender and affectionate +disposition. Surely he will hear me: surely he must yield to the +conviction these must give, that you were not, could not have been +guilty of a deed so horrid!" + +"Yes, my dearest, my beloved Ellen," replied St. Aubyn, "it shall be so. +Your soft, your persuasive words and looks will, I am sure, impress him +with conviction that the man you love cannot be a villain. + +"Yet, Ellen, do not meanly compromise my honour or your own dignity; +argue, and even, if you can, persuade him to believe me innocent: but if +in this you fail, do not sue to him. I could not accept of life and +honour merely from his _forbearance_; yet for your sake, and that of our +child, I will in some measure set my proud spirit aside, and yield to +terms I would otherwise disdain." + +Here they parted, and Ellen retired to her dressing-room, to refresh her +wearied spirits, to kiss and weep over her infant, and to offer up a +fervent prayer for every grace of speech, which might subdue and +convince the prejudiced but generous Edmund. + + + + +CHAP. IV. + + We do not know + How he may soften at the sight o' the child. + The silence often of pure innocence + Persuades when speaking fails. + + WINTER'S TALE. + + +With an air how different from the usual cheerful greetings of the +morning at St. Aubyn Castle, did the party now there assemble in the +breakfast-room. + +The Earl and Countess, wearied with the alarm of the night and the late +agitating conversation, scarcely could assume spirits to smile upon +their guests and give them that hospitable reception which every one +generally felt assured of from them. Lady Juliana, stiff and severe of +countenance, scarcely deigned a bow to the salutations of Mr. O'Brien; +and the pale melancholy Edmund, who, constraining his feelings, advanced +towards Lady St. Aubyn, and attempted an apology for what had passed the +evening before, for of his nocturnal wanderings, and her consequent +alarm, he had not the least idea: from St. Aubyn he appeared to shrink +with less aversion than usual, but when seated at the breakfast-table, +his eyes and whole attention seemed fixed on Ellen, who, pale and +mournful as were her looks, yet spoke with such gentle sweetness, as +appeared instantly to attract him, while the soft and pensive character +her beauty had assumed was precisely formed to sooth and tranquillize +the too vehement emotions of this deeply feeling young man. Her power, +indeed, over the heart, of which all who saw her were sensible, arose +from the united charms of voice, person, and demeanor, all of which were +so sweetly harmonized with each other as to form one charming and +consistent whole, and that, so regulated by the most perfect purity of +manners, the most refined delicacy of sentiment, and the most +affectionate tenderness of heart, as ensured not only the admiration, +but the respect and love of all who knew her; yet more, of all she +sought to win or soften. No wonder then if the young and generous heart +of Edmund leaned towards her, and felt before the breakfast hour was +over that for worlds he could not have pained or wronged her. + +Mr. Mordaunt had fixed one o'clock at noon to finish the settlement of +all legal concerns between Lord St. Aubyn and Lord De Montfort, the weak +state of his health not permitting him to come earlier to the Castle. As +soon as breakfast was over, therefore, St. Aubyn invited his guests to +walk or ride round the grounds. O'Brien gladly consented, and Laura said +she should like to ride with them; but Edmund coldly refused, saying if +he went out at all, he should merely stroll by himself a short distance, +as he felt languid and unwell. "To you then, my Ellen," said St. Aubyn, +"I recommend our noble guest. I need not I am sure request you to pay +him every attention; if possible, prevail on him to stay and dine with +us: he talks of going the instant his business is completed." + +"I hope, my Lord," said Ellen to De Montfort, "you will not do so. The +evenings now close in abruptly, and it will be late before you reach the +end of the first stage from hence." + +He bowed in silence. + +The gentlemen and Miss Cecil went to prepare for their ride; and Ellen, +ringing the bell, desired Jane to bring her netting-box thither, for she +feared if she went as usual to the nursery, Edmund might escape her, and +no other opportunity offer for the conference on which her heart was +set. + +Lady Juliana, as usual, went to her own room, where she always chose to +spend two or three hours of her morning alone. + +Edmund had, by the time Ellen was seated at her work, thrown himself in +a meditating attitude on a sofa, and was apparently lost in a reverie; +yet his eyes were frequently fixed on her, and his countenance seemed to +soften as he gazed upon her. She soon saw the little party ride into the +park, and then feeling herself secure from interruption, she considered +how best to begin her intended conversation:--her heart fluttered, and +her fingers entangled her work so completely, that it was impossible to +proceed with it. Painful, indeed, was her situation; for to converse on +topics so deeply interesting with a young man so very lately an entire +stranger was indeed a severe task for the gentle, the timid Ellen. +Rousing her spirits, however, for she felt that time fled swiftly, she +with a tremulous voice said, + +"My Lord, I fear you will think I take too great a liberty with one so +lately a stranger, if I venture to enter on a subject of the most +delicate nature, indeed; but one to me so deeply interesting, I cannot +consent to let this opportunity pass, since it may be the last I shall +ever have of speaking to your Lordship without witnesses." + +From the moment she began to speak, De Montfort started from his +reverie, and fixed on her an earnest attention, which had, however, so +much softness in it, as emboldened her to proceed in a voice somewhat +firmer and more assured. + +"You may believe, my Lord," she said, "that Lord St. Aubyn has not +withheld from me the real cause of the painful scene I last night +witnessed, and a decree of agitation in you, not to be accounted for, +but by a recital which out of tenderness he till this morning never +ventured to make to me." + +"Has he then," said Edmund (in that low, solemn, impressive tone which +so deeply interested his hearers) "has he then ventured to reveal to you +that horrid event, that deed of blood, the guilt of which he has never +been able to throw from him?" + +"He has, my Lord, explained to me the meaning of many painful hints; of +much uneasiness which I have perceived in him from the first of our +acquaintance: but ah! generous, though misled, Lord de Montfort, can you +really believe him guilty? Can you doubt the innocence of a man whose +life of virtue, whose tender affectionate nature, surely point him out +as of all men the least likely to have committed an action so horrid! +Surely he cannot have fully and clearly explained to you all the +circumstances which preceded this sad event. May I, without too much +wounding your feelings, venture to recapitulate what he has told me. +Surely a story so clear, so consistent, must at once exonerate him from +having had any part in that guilty, that horrid deed." + +He bowed assent, and Ellen as succinctly, but as clearly as possible, +brought into one point of view, all the circumstances which were +favourable to St. Aubyn, yet veiling with the most touching delicacy and +consideration those which bore hardest on the fame of Rosolia; affecting +to believe that the wretch De Sylva (whom she asserted St. Aubyn and +Mrs. Bayfield had certainly seen at her window the night before) had +come without her knowledge, and that the same man, meeting her in the +lonely hermitage, had committed the shocking deed for the sake of the +valuables she wore. + +It seemed as if Edmund had chiefly resisted the evidences in St. Aubyn's +favour, lest by yielding to them, he must have pronounced his sister +guilty: whether this being now less pressed upon him, or that Ellen +herself, fully convinced of St. Aubyn's innocence, and perhaps less +impassioned than he had been when stating the same story, had placed +circumstances more clearly before him, he evidently gave greater +credence to the tale than he had ever before done. Her sweetness of +voice and manner, and the graceful tenderness with which she spoke of +St. Aubyn's virtues; or his honourable and disinterested conduct to her, +both before and since their marriage, and of the perfect love which +bound them to each other, and wrapt her life in his; tears of tenderness +and blushes of indignation marked the varying sensations which filled +her bosom at the bare idea of his being suspected of such a crime, and +animated her beauty with new graces, appeared to impress him deeply with +sentiments of admiration and esteem. When she paused, he sighed and +said:-- + +"Is it in nature to resist such a pleader, or to believe the man so +loved by one so pure and spotless, can be himself capable of the +blackest crimes? No, Lady St. Aubyn, were your natures so dissimilar it +would be impossible that you could so love, so confide in him." + +At that instant a soft plaintive voice was heard at the opening door, +the voice of an infant. Edmund started, for he had forgotten Lady St. +Aubyn had recently become a mother, and a painful recollection pressed +on his heart of the infant so dearly loved, so deeply lamented, the +child of his idolized Rosolia! + +The nurse now appeared with the babe in her arms, for wondering at her +Lady's usually lengthened absence from the nursery, she came to request +some directions concerning the child: supposing all the gentlemen were +gone out together, when she saw Lord de Montfort she would have +retreated but Ellen advancing, took the infant in her arms and said: + +"Give him to me, nurse; I will but shew him to Lord de Montfort, and +bring him to the nursery myself:" then unfolding his mantle, she pressed +him to her tender bosom: and when the nurse was gone, with light +graceful steps advancing towards Edmund, (who rose from his seat to meet +her) she said: + +"See here, my Lord, a still more powerful pleader; one pure and spotless +indeed, whose opening prospects must be clouded, whose innocent name +must be blasted, if you persist in your intentions, if you seek his +father's destruction. Look at this babe, and tell me if your gentle +nature can doom him to such cruel misfortunes as your denunciation of +his father must bring upon his guiltless head." + +Edmund, the noble Edmund, stooped, and gazing on the child, was not +ashamed to shed tears of tenderness and compassion on his sweet face. +The lovely creature opened its eyes, and with the same soft look of +confiding innocence which marked his mother's features, stretched out +his little hands and smiled. + +"Oh! this is too much! indeed too much!" exclaimed De Montfort. "I must +not be a man to see this sweet, this lovely infant, and you, angelic +woman, and dare to breathe one injurious wish against that man on whom +the happiness of both depends! From henceforth I dismiss for ever all my +revengeful, perhaps my ill-founded schemes: never shall word or look of +mine attempt to injure the happy, the enviable St. Aubyn. Surely Heaven +would not have favoured him with felicity so rare, had a deed so cruel +as that of which I suspected him stained his soul! I will try to think, +to believe so. Assure yourself, at least, loveliest of women, that from +me he has nothing more to fear; and may Heaven's choicest blessings be +showered on you, and on this sweet, this lovely infant!" + +He bent one knee to the ground, and, with reverential awe, kissed +Ellen's hand, lifting his expressive eyes towards that Heaven he was +invoking in her favour: then rising, he took the babe from her arms, +kissed its hands, its cheeks, its lips, and returning it to its mother, +with hasty and agitated steps quitted the apartment: leaving her +impressed with feelings of joy, gratitude, and the tenderest esteem for +this noble, though somewhat eccentric being. + +Folding her babe to her fond maternal heart, which seemed to feel even +increased affection for it from the late trying scenes, she passed with +it to the nursery, where Laura found her a few minutes after, and +announced the return of the gentlemen from their ride. + +"Where is St. Aubyn?" said Ellen, with a countenance where tears and +smiles contended: "I must see him immediately." + +"It is near the time appointed by Mr. Mordaunt to conclude Lord de +Montfort's business," said Laura, "and I believe he is gone to his +study: but what is the matter, Ellen, you look agitated yet joyful? I +never saw you more radiant in beauty; something I am sure has happened +to light up your face in this manner." + +Ellen smiled, and said, "Oh, flatterer! but I cannot stay to tell you +now; only I hope I have been fortunate enough to adjust a difference of +long standing between Lord de Montfort and St. Aubyn, and I am impatient +to tell my Lord the result of my morning's conversation with the +former--here, take the babe, Laura, and keep him if you will till I come +again, unless Lady Juliana comes, as usual, and snatches him away." She +then hastened to St. Aubyn, whom she found alone, and had just time to +tell him the result of the conference she had held with Edmund, but not +the particulars, before Mr. Mordaunt and the other gentlemen assembled. + +As De Montfort entered the study, Lady St. Aubyn was quitting it, but he +stopped her one moment, and said in a low voice, "Stay, madam, and +witness your power over me." Then advancing, he held out his hand to St. +Aubyn, and said to him in Italian, which he knew O'Brien did not +understand, "Be all our animosity banished for ever." Yet so strong had +been, and perhaps still were his prejudices, that the hand he offered +trembled, and he turned pale, when St. Aubyn took it. + +"I never felt any, Edmund," said he. "I made large allowances for you, +and felt towards you a brother's love: my friendship and best offices +are your's at all times." + +He then apologized to the gentlemen present for speaking a strange +language, and accounted for this little scene, by saying, that an +unhappy disagreement which had taken place long ago between himself and +Lord de Montfort was now fortunately adjusted. + +Ellen just staid long enough to congratulate St. Aubyn in a low voice on +this happy termination of an affair which cost him so much uneasiness, +and turning to Edmund, she said, "You dine with us, my Lord:" he bowed +in silent acquiescence, and she retired, happiest at that moment of the +happy. + +Lord de Montfort and Mr. O'Brien remained that day at the Castle, and +the former, though still at times sunk in reverie, yet was composed; and +sometimes almost cheerful. A weight seemed removed from his mind, and +though his manner to St. Aubyn was still constrained and distant, there +were moments when he appeared with difficulty to prevent himself from +appearing friendly and cordial. + +Ellen saw, that were they often together, Edmund's long-rooted and +cherished prejudices would insensibly wear away; and on that account +regretted that he would not be prevailed on to stay longer than till the +next morning. + +That evening, Laura Cecil, who had been quite pleased to see De Montfort +resuming in some degree the manners which in his boyhood made him so +agreeable, returned to Rose Hill, where Sir Edward Leicester was soon +expected, to whom, it was supposed, she would be married before +Christmas. + +Lord St. Aubyn willingly consented that Ellen should inform his faithful +Bayfield of her knowledge of their transactions in Spain, and the happy +reconciliation between her Lord and Lord de Montfort; and Bayfield, who +almost idolized Ellen before, now considering her as the cause of an +event so desirable, felt her love and veneration redoubled. + +In the course of the evening, Lord St. Aubyn hinted to Mr. O'Brien, that +some of his family had been disturbed by Lord de Montfort's having left +his room while sleeping, and Mr. O'Brien said, that after any great +emotion, his pupil sometimes did so, but that it rarely happened, +frequently not for months together; in reality, no farther disturbance +took place, and the two gentlemen departed the next morning, leaving the +inhabitants of the Castle with very different sensations from those they +had felt at their first arrival. + + + + +CHAP. V. + + My noble gossips, you have been too liberal; + I thank you for it--so shall this _child_, + When _he_ has so much English. + + HENRY VIII. + + +Lady St. Aubyn had received so little pleasure from visiting London the +preceding winter, that she earnestly requested not to remove from the +Castle till after Christmas, when Laura entreated her to spend a month +or six weeks there after her marriage, and wished, as the Countess had +not yet been presented, that ceremony might take place when she was +herself introduced: Lord and Lady Delamore were also expected to be in +London at that time, and Ellen promised herself great pleasure from +becoming acquainted with her. It was therefore determined, that she +should meet Sir Edward, and Laura (who would then be Lady Leicester), in +town the beginning of February, and remain quietly in the country till +that time, where she would have leisure to fulfil those maternal duties +she had voluntarily taken upon herself, and from the due exercise of +which her sweet child grew, and improved every day. + +Before they left the Castle, the young heir was christened with all due +splendor. Sir William Cecil and Sir Edward Leicester, Lady Juliana and +Miss Cecil, were sponsors. The christening suit of fine Brussels lace +for the infant, over white satin, and a similar dress for the fair +mother, were the gift of Lady Juliana; the other sponsors were also very +liberal in their presents to their godson. + +The hilarity attending this ceremony was not confined within the walls +of the Castle, where, however, all the genteeler part of the +neighbourhood were elegantly entertained, while all the poorer sort were +most hospitably regaled under some temporary buildings and marquees +erected for the purpose in the park, where immense fires dispelled the +coldness of winter, at the same time that they served to dress the +provisions intended to regale the crowd assembled round them. Each +family was also liberally supplied with bread, meat, clothing, and +money, according to its numbers and their respective wants; and as Lady +St. Aubyn and Miss Cecil, attended by Bayfield and Jane, did not +themselves disdain to visit the cottages, and see what was really +requisite for the comfort of their inhabitants, every thing was ordered +with intelligence and regularity, and imposition almost totally +prevented. + +Mrs. Neville, the poor officer's widow mentioned before, had for some +time been settled as manager of the Schools of Industry, and other +useful institutions, which Lady St. Aubyn had set on foot during the +summer: her eldest daughter was gone to "that bourne from which no +traveller returns;" but the others, healthy and happy, were in training +for such situations as they seemed calculated to fill. Mrs. Neville was +also very useful in distributing the gifts to the poor, and the +preparations for their entertainment. + +A grand display of fireworks finished the amusements of the evening, for +St. Aubyn observed that was the only species of mere entertainment which +all ranks and ages could partake of; and in the present instance, he +wished not only to benefit, but to gratify all his neighbours. + +Miss Alton and Mrs. Dawkins were amongst the company received at the +Castle, and so delighted were they with the young heir, so charmed with +the splendour and elegance of the repast, that, contrary to usual +custom, no lamentations or tender sympathetic sighs disturbed the gaiety +of the day. + +Soon after this grand fete, the whole family set out for London; and +Lady St. Aubyn, not satisfied with any superintendent of her nursery but +Mrs. Bayfield, begged she might go with them, and be removed entirely +from the more fatiguing post she had hitherto filled. + +Jane, now called Mrs. Williamson, having been for some time under Mrs. +Bayfield's direction, was placed in her vacant department, and another, +somewhat more fashionable, lady's woman engaged to attend the Countess. + +In London they met the new married pair, and the bride's fair sister, +Lady Delamore, whose extraordinary beauty excited Ellen's admiration, +while her likeness to the sweet departed Juliet involuntarily claimed +her affection. + +With such very agreeable friends, and under the respectable protection +of Lady Juliana, Lady St. Aubyn found London a very different scene from +what it had appeared to her the year before: she now possessed also a +greater degree of confidence in herself, and having no longer any thing +to fear, the gloomy hints of St. Aubyn, and her consequent dread, being +for ever explained and removed, she felt a more cheerful flow of +spirits, and enjoyed the amusements which were so amply in her power: +yet still those spirits were softened by the most retiring delicacy; and +those amusements, partaken with moderation and decorum. Still her high +character stood unblemished, and even elevated in the public opinion; +and the splendour of her beauty, which every one thought but now come to +its full perfection, attracted none but _respectful_ admirers. + +The St. Aubyns frequently saw Lord de Montfort, who had purchased a +house in town, and was living in very high style, though still under the +direction of Mr. O'Brien, but evidently choosing to be more his own +master than he had been in Spain, to which country he seemed at present +to have no thoughts of returning; his grandfather's will having left him +free to choose his own residence, though he was under a necessity of +visiting Spain at least once in two years. + +To Lord St. Aubyn he was polite, though distant: strangers could not +have perceived any thing in his manner indicative of dislike or +resentment; but those who knew what had passed, could at times discover +a particular cast of his eye, a certain tone in speaking to the Earl, +which marked a _recollection_, at least, of former enmity, and were by +St. Aubyn hardly to be endured. + +To Ellen he at all times shewed an attention so devoted, and his +expressive eyes displayed so much admiration, that some of those who +witnessed them began to fancy they had discovered the cause of that +gloom which still overshadowed him, and had, from the time of his first +arrival, excited the remarks of every one, and made him the object of +the insipid jests and witless railleries of those who could conceive no +cause but _love_ for the dejection of a young man who could scarcely +count the thousands which swelled his rent-roll. + + Love! ill-star'd passion! doom'd vain scorn to bear, + To meet the busy mocker's idle jest; + Nor then allow'd its misery to declare; + Nor then indulge the woe but half supprest. + +For of the pure, though enthusiastic attachment he felt for Ellen, such +minds could form no idea. + +One evening, at the play, whither Lady St. Aubyn went with a large +party, amongst whom were Lady Meredith and several gentlemen in her +train, they saw in the box opposite to theirs Lord de Montfort leaning +against the side of it, in his usual state of gloomy apathy--his eyes +half closed, his fine hair disordered, and his whole person expressing a +sort of desolation, which waked emotions of pity in Ellen's gentle +heart: she could not see him without compassion, he appeared so +completely an insulated being, and even in the very morning of life, so +totally without any kind connection or affectionate friend to soothe his +melancholy--that melancholy, of which she so well knew the original +cause, that, as she looked towards him, she could not forbear a sigh; +and the sorrow she really felt appeared in her expressive countenance. + +Lady Meredith, who had been attentively watching her with a degree of +malice, of which Ellen had not supposed her capable, now gently touched +Lady St. Aubyn with her fan, and said-- + +"Upon my word, my dear, I could in pity to the love-sick woe-begone De +Montfort have almost wished he could have seen that soft look, and heard +that tender sigh: no doubt it would have gone a great way towards +rendering him a more cheering object, and that I am sure we should all +have rejoiced in, for at present he really casts a gloom over all our +amusements." + +"I do not understand you," said Ellen, with surprize. + +"Indeed!" replied Lady Meredith: "I hardly supposed you would have +carried affectation so far. Here, Hamilton," added she, laughing and +turning to the gentleman next her, "Lady St. Aubyn cannot imagine why +her pity and a very kind look should have any effect on Lord de +Montfort." + +"Pity and a gentle look from so much beauty," replied Sir James +Hamilton, with affected gravity, "must certainly have a most powerful +effect on the heart of any man--assuredly still more on that of one so +devoted as De Montfort's appears to be." + +"I know not, Sir," said Ellen, with modest grace, yet with spirit, "if I +am to consider this as a specimen of that fashionable sort of wit which +you call quizzing or hoaxing. Are not these the _elegant_ terms of the +day? But I am willing to think it no more, as I am convinced you cannot +seriously lose sight of the respect you owe me as a married woman, so +far as to imagine Lord de Montfort can feel, or I permit, a greater +degree of attachment than his long connection with Lord St. Aubyn may +well account for." + +Then turning to St. Aubyn, she said in a gay tone-- + +"Help me, my Lord, to convince Lady Meredith that Lord de Montfort has +really not fallen violently in love with me: how far he may entertain +such a sentiment for her, I will not pretend to say." + +St. Aubyn laughed, and said-- + +"For his own sake, Ellen, I hope he has not been so improvident as to +dispose of his heart in your favour; though I should be happy to hear he +had selected any fair one at liberty to reward his passion." + +This well-timed appeal to her husband, and the unembarrassed manner with +which both had spoken, effectually silenced those who hoped to have +extracted much amusement from the confusion of the timid and delicate +Ellen. + +Presently afterwards, on meeting her eyes, De Montfort's seemed lighted +up with pleasure, and quitting his box, he came to that where she sat. +St. Aubyn seeing a little smile still playing on the countenances of +Lady Meredith and some of her gay friends, determined to shew his +perfect confidence in his wife, turned round to him, and said-- + +"De Montfort, how are you? I am quite glad you found us out, for nothing +is more stupid than being at the play without a party. We have plenty of +room: go and sit between Lady Meredith and Lady St. Aubyn; I am sure I +shall make you happy by placing you there, they are both such +favourites: we have just been disputing which of them you preferred." + +"You did me great honour," replied Edmund, "in speaking of me at all." + +"St. Aubyn only jests," said Ellen: "we were not, I assure you, debating +on the subject." + +"No, indeed," replied Lady Meredith, laughing, "that question may be +easily settled: we were all unanimously agreed, I assure you, my Lord." + +Edmund, not exactly liking the turn of her countenance, was going to +reply with some warmth, and probably might, with that chivalric +gallantry which marked his character, have openly avowed, what he +undoubtedly thought, that Ellen was the first and most admirable of +women, if she had not stopt him by saying-- + +"Oh, pray Lord De Montfort, let Lady Meredith enjoy the diversion she is +seeking: she has been in a teasing humour the whole evening." + +"Pray, Lady Meredith," said Lady Juliana, with a grave air, "let us have +no more of this rattle: Lady St. Aubyn is not fashionable enough to wish +to be the _favourite_ of any man but her husband." + +"Oh, for heaven's sake!" cried Lady Meredith, "do not let us make a +serious business of it. Be assured, my dear Lady St. Aubyn, I had no +intention of getting you a grave lecture: though really," she added, in +a low tone, "I was quite in hopes you were going to be a little like +other people, and not be kept in awe any longer by that starched +specimen of old maidenism. You cannot think, my dear, how much a little +flirting would improve your beauty: then it gives an air of ease and +fashion, which, _entre nous_, is the only thing you want to make you +quite enchanting." + +Ellen only smiled at this rattle, but with an air so little encouraging, +she soon put an end to it; yet, to one less fixed in principle, Lady +Meredith would have been a dangerous companion; and certain it is, more +women are ruined by listening to precepts of this nature, half in +earnest, half in jest, accompanied by a sort of _persiflage_ which few +can withstand, than even by the wiles of men: against these a woman of +virtue is on her guard; but she listens without fear to a female older +than herself, and whom she thinks better versed in the ways of the +world, till insensibly she adopts the same sentiments, and acquires that +hateful worldly tone which affects to laugh at every thing serious and +praiseworthy. + +Ellen, however, was not so easily misled: her natural penetration +detected the fallacy; and all the shafts of Lady Meredith's ridicule +fell, by her, unheeded. + +On the way home, Lady Juliana inveighed bitterly against the flirting +manners and ill-judged raillery of Lady Meredith, who, she said, instead +of improving as she grew older, was every year worse and worse, and was +enough to spoil the conduct of a whole nation of women. + +"Pray, my dear," said she, "don't you be led by her nonsense: I hope she +will not persuade you to follow her example. Indeed, nephew, I wondered +at you for placing that odd, wild-looking young De Montfort next my +niece: he does not please me at all." + +In short, the old lady was so thoroughly out of humour, that they were +very glad to set her down at her own house. + +Two or three days after this, Lord de Montfort took leave of the St. +Aubyns, before he left London, on his way with a party of young men to +see Oxford and Cambridge, and afterwards to go to the Lakes, not meaning +to be again in London till September. He carried with him the most +exalted opinion of Lady St. Aubyn, but he thought of her rather as an +angel than a woman, and was devoted to her with a purity of attachment +inconceivable by the worldly-minded. + + + + +CHAP. VI. + + She sees once more those lovely plains expand, + Where the first flow'ret lured her infant hand. + No where she thinks the sun so mildly gleams, + As on the banks where first she drank its beams: + So green no other mead, so smiles no other land! + Thou little spot, where first I suck'd the light, + Thou witness of my earliest smile and tear-- + Loved haunt! + + SOTHEBY'S OBERON. + + +Nothing more of any moment occurred during the stay of Lord and Lady St. +Aubyn in London, for De Montfort's departure, and the perfect attachment +which subsisted between the noble pair, silenced those tongues, and +stopped those remarks, which Edmund's too obvious admiration had +prepared to annoy Lady St. Aubyn. + +They left London early in April, and spent the month of May at St. +Aubyn's, being old-fashioned and _tasteless_ enough not to find any +pleasure in broiling through the hot months in the metropolis, and +leaving the + + "Opening lawns, deep glooms, and airy summits," + +of their own domain untenanted in the most attractive season of the +year. + +From St. Aubyn's Castle, the long talked of journey into Wales was to +commence. Ellen longed once more to revisit the haunts of her infancy, +and to see her father and her early friends; and St. Aubyn willingly +consented to gratify her. + +The child was to travel with them, attended by the faithful Bayfield and +his nurses: they waited till the end of May, knowing that the bad roads +of North Wales would be hardly passable at an earlier period. + +They went from St. Aubyn's to Shrewsbury, and from thence to Carnarvon, +stopping on the way, as in their former journey, to see all that was +worthy of observation; and as this route was entirely different from +that they had before taken, many new objects presented themselves to +their notice. Amongst other picturesque scenes, they passed the woody +banks of the Dee, whence they obtained a striking view of the beautiful +and romantic town of Llangollen, with its church, and elegant bridge, +embosomed in trees. + +At Llangollen they rested, and though it has in itself nothing +particularly interesting, yet its environs afford much sublime and +pleasing scenery: amongst these the Vale of Crucis is one of the most +lovely secluded situations that fancy can portray; it is adorned by the +fine remains of Valle Crucis Abbey, and its back-ground, formed by a +lofty mountain, on whose summit stands the venerable ruin of Castle +Dinas Bran. + +After seeing all that was deserving observation in this charming spot, +they proceeded through a fine romantic country to Carnarvon, and from +thence to Llanwyllan. + +The latter part of the roads were intolerably bad, and the English +servants, who had never seen any thing like them, were in momentary +expectation of having their necks broken; indeed, Lord Mordaunt's nurses +walked several miles, fearing lest the baby should be injured; and in +truth, even Ellen, though fearless for herself, felt a little uneasy for +the infant. + +All these perils and dangers, however, at length happily past, and +Ellen's heart beat with ecstacy when she saw the white chimnies of +Llanwyllan Farm peeping above the ancient oaks around it. The carriages +stopt before the house, and in an instant Ellen was folded in the arms +of her father: her fair face pressed tenderly to the rough cheek of the +good old man, while the mingled drops of filial love and parental +affection fell in showers from their eyes: repeatedly Powis clasped his +lovely daughter to his heart, and felt enraptured, that though "so great +a lady, his dear Ellen had not forgotten him:" at length he was at +leisure to see and speak to his noble son-in-law, and the awkward air of +respect he endeavoured to assume was soon changed to one of more cordial +affection by the kind greeting Lord St. Aubyn gave him. In the meantime +Ellen stept into the hall where the nurses and servants were waiting, +and taking the infant from Mrs. Bayfield, returned with him into the +parlour, and with delighted looks, placed him in her father's arms. + +Oh, moment of exquisite bliss! moment which might have repaid the +sorrows of many years! Can there be in this world an instant of such +pure delight as the daughter feels when she places her first-born on the +bosom of a venerable parent. + + Some feelings are to mortals given + With less of earth in them than heaven; + And if there be a human tear + From passion's dross refined and clear, + A tear so limpid and so meek + It would not stain an angel's cheek; + 'Tis that which pious fathers shed + Upon a duteous daughter's head. + + SCOTT'S LADY OF THE LAKE. + +Mrs. Ross's domestic talents had been exerted to the utmost to prepare +Llanwyllan Farm in the best possible manner for its noble guests: she +did not indeed quite understand all the various arrangements which are +absolutely necessary for the tolerable comfort of such a family; but +with the assistance of Dame Grey, who picqued herself on remembering how +things used to be when she lived at 'Squire Davis's, and the ready aid +of the active Joanna, every thing was far beyond Ellen's expectations; +and as she encouraged no fine lady-like airs in her nursery attendants, +nor even in her own woman, none of those vexatious murmurs disturbed her +which servants often have the happy art of contriving where no real +cause for complaint exists; and certainly the furniture for the nursery +was not quite so rich as Lady Juliana had chosen for that at the Castle: +the nurses found that the young Lord slept quite as well, and his cheeks +bloomed quite as freshly beneath the clean white cotton hangings of this +little couch as under the quilted satin cradle at St. Aubyn's. + +The whole party was speedily arranged, for there was plenty of room and +abundance of provisions. + +The Earl and Countess had brought no more servants than were absolutely +necessary; and Bayfield, highly as she was respected by her noble +employers, was not above directing the management of their table, or any +other domestic office which could make her useful, and though Powis, at +first, thinking her a much greater lady than he had been accustomed to +associate with, was very much disposed to treat her as his equal; she +soon convinced him by her respectful conduct towards her lady's father +that she considered herself as greatly his inferior. + +As soon as Ellen had looked round the house, and seen the arrangements +for her child's accommodation settled, she began to be anxious to see +her good friends the Rosses; and finding from her father they talked of +not coming till the next day, she begged him to give her his arm, and +she would walk to the Parsonage: all fatigue, she said, had vanished +from the moment she found herself beneath her father's roof. + +"Come, my dear father," said she, "let us all go: the baby shall come +too: the dear good people will be delighted to see us; they will give us +some tea, and we can return here to eat our fruit supper: you know we +never used to eat anything else at night, and I hope the cream is as +good as it used to be when I managed the dairy." + +Powis looked with delight on the sweet unaffected creature, who was, as +he expressed himself afterwards to Mrs. Ross, "Not a bit set up by her +high fortune, but just as she used to be when only Ellen Powis." + +The infant now "awaking from his rosy nap," and arrayed with the nicest +care, his lovely face shaded by a rich lace border to his cap, and his +fine cambric robe cut to shew his fair bosom and dimpled arms, with his +beautiful mother in a plain white gown and straw hat, attended by St. +Aubyn and Powis, set out for the Parsonage. + +On the way, Ellen spoke with the sweetest condescension to all she met, +and many of the villagers who knew she was arrived contrived to throw +themselves in her way. + +Mrs. Howel, who used to do her many little services at the market-town, +happened now to cross her path, and profoundly courtesying, would have +passed on, but Ellen, saying--"Excuse me a moment, my dear St. Aubyn," +turned and ran after her. + +"How do you do, Mrs. Howel?" said she, holding out her hand, which the +good woman hardly ventured to touch, again courtesying. + +Ellen made kind inquiries for all her family by name; and seeing her old +neighbour's eyes involuntarily wandering towards the child, as if she +anxiously wished, but was ashamed to ask a nearer view of him, she +beckoned the nurse to bring him towards her, and said:-- + +"Do look at my little boy, Mrs. Howel: is he not a fine fellow?" + +"Ah, Madam," said the good woman, "he is the loveliest babe I ever saw, +except your Ladyship, at the same age.--God bless him, and God bless +you, Madam; for you deserve every kind of happiness." + +"Thank you, thank you, my good neighbour. Come to the Farm and see us +when it is convenient: at present, my Lord is waiting for me, so +good-bye." And she lightly ran on, leaving the farmer's wife charmed and +delighted by her sweetness and kind attention. + +They soon reached the Parsonage, and were received with unaffected joy. + +Great indeed, at first, was the bustle of poor Mrs. Ross, who, not +hoping for such an honour, was not drest, nor her parlour, though always +neat, in that high state of preparation it would have been had she +expected them; but she was soon convinced that the string of apologies +she meditated were totally unnecessary, by finding the warm-hearted +Ellen first in her own arms, and leaving them to fly to those of Joanna, +and then with sweet filial reverence bending to the kind parental +embrace of the venerable Ross. St. Aubyn and the good Powis, in the +meantime, stood gazing on her with rapturous emotion, and both thinking +there never was so enchanting a creature. The babe was admired, +caressed, and finally pronounced a prodigy of beauty and early +apprehension, and his sweet good-humoured smiles were uninterrupted even +by one frown, though handed from one to the other with raptures which +would have made an infant of a less amiable disposition cross and +fretful. + +"Well, my excellent friend," said St. Aubyn, aside to Ross, "you see +once more your lovely pupil, from whom you parted with so much regret, +not, I hope, injured either in person or mind by her intercourse with +the great world. Oh, my good Sir, how infinitely am I indebted to you +for implanting principles in her youthful bosom which have stood the +test of many trying scenes. You and I must have a great deal of +conversation, and I know you will be charmed to hear how admirably she +conducts herself on all occasions." + +"I _am_ charmed," said Ross, while an affectionate tear stood in his +eye, "charmed with all I see and hear of both: indeed, my Lord, that +lovely unaffected creature adorns the rank to which you have raised her: +the choice you made reflects as much honour on your penetration as I +hope it will ensure happiness to your future life; nor could any young +person have better stood the trying test of sudden elevation, of that +admiration which doubtless has surrounded her. Now see how sweetly she +returns to us without one high air, one look of dissatisfaction at the +inferiority of accommodations or manners she must see. + + "Polite as all her life in courts had been, + Yet good as she the courts had never seen." + +"You have, indeed," said St. Aubyn, "most happily characterized her; but +you cannot think half so highly of her as I have reason to do." + +By this time the tea was over; and Ellen, wrapping up her boy, sent him +home; but instead of returning with him, she remained at the Parsonage +all the evening, delighted herself, and delighting all around her. + +"Well," said Mrs. Ross, after her visitors were departed, "well, I never +saw any thing in my life so strange! Why, I thought to have seen a fine +lady, all dressed in silks and jewels, and looking stiff and +formal-like; and I thought to have said, my Lady Countess, and your +Ladyship--and behold! here she comes in a plain white gown, but little +better than one I scolded her for wearing once--you remember it, +Joanna?--And flies to me, kisses me, and calls me dear mamma, as she +used to do; and if I had been to have died for it, I could not call her +any thing but Ellen, and child, the whole evening almost, except once or +twice I recollected myself, and said my Lady, when we were at the window +together, and she put her dear arms round my neck, and said dear mamma, +I am _your_ Ellen!--and then she is grown such a beauty!--to be sure, +she always was as pretty a creature as could be I thought, but now she +looks somehow so sensible, and so happy; and then her carriage is so +easy, and yet so grand, that if I did not know to the contrary, I should +think she was born a great princess.--And then the sweet baby--with his +little laughing mouth, and pretty eyes!--And my Lord too, to be so +kind--that I once as good as told I wished he would go away from +Llanwyllan: and so I did wish it, for could I ever have thought it would +come to such honour and happiness for Ellen!" + +Ross and Joanna listened with smiles to this long harangue, and though +not quite so fluent in their praises, were at least equally charmed and +delighted with herself. + +St. Aubyn and his Ellen remained thus beloved and happy at Llanwyllan +for some time, during which Ellen visited with the utmost kindness every +farmhouse of which she had formerly known the inhabitants, and +gladdening every poor cottage not only with her smiles, but with more +substantial marks of her favour and benevolence. + +In the course of the first fortnight Ellen learned that there was a +mutual attachment between her friend Joanna and a young clergyman, who +did the duty of a parish not more than three miles from those filled by +the worthy Ross, and learning from that good man that he had no +objection to the match, for that Mr. Griffiths was a man of excellent +character, and well suited to Joanna, both in age and temper, and that +the only possible objection was the narrowness of his income, and there +being no parsonage-house on the living he served, nor any house within +many miles where they could reside, she consulted with her Lord, and the +next opportunity said to Ross: + +"My dear Sir, I have a proposal to make to you. It is the mutual request +of my Lord and myself, and you cannot think how much you will oblige us +by complying." + +"I know not," said Ross, "what I could refuse to either of you." + +"My father," said she, "complains much of the loneliness of his winter +evenings; yet he does not like to remove from Llanwyllan and come to +live near us, as we earnestly wished him to do; but he says our modes of +life are so different from those to which he has been accustomed, and +the journey appears so alarmingly long to him, who has never been fifty +miles from home, that he says he must be contented with the hope of +seeing us here sometimes, and end his life where he began it. But ah, my +dear Sir, his wishes, as well as our's, are, that you and Mrs. Ross +would remove to Llanwyllan Farm, and leave this house for Joanna and +your future son-in-law. You are now, we all think, too much advanced in +life to serve three churches, as you have done for many years: give up +two of them to Mr. Griffiths, with the stipend attached to them: and +surely, surely, my dearest Sir, you will not refuse from Ellen, from +your little pupil, a trifling token of her love to make your life and +dear Mrs. Ross's comfortable, and to enable you to give Joanna to her +lover with a sufficiency to make them easy." + +She rose, and putting a pocket-book into his hand, said, "Not one word: +I will not hear one word. For once, your Ellen will be obstinate, and +not listen even to _you_." + +She ran out of the room, and seeking Joanna, made her put on her bonnet, +and come with her to dine at the Farm, leaving a gay message with Mrs. +Ross, that she should hope to hear a favourable answer to her request +the next day. + +This hint was sufficient to send the good lady to know of Ross what Lady +St. Aubyn meant: she found him overwhelmed with tender gratitude. The +pocket-book contained notes to a large amount, with a slip of paper +containing these words: + + My dear Sir, + + I have adapted the enclosed rather to your very limited wishes + than to my own sense of what I ought to have done. Pray let + this little transaction never be mentioned more, unless any + plan more pleasing to you than that I shall propose when I give + you this should occur to you. If my request be at all + unpleasant to you, pray reject it without hesitation. + + Your ever obliged + + ELLEN ST. AUBYN. + +Ross now explained to his wife what had passed, and they both agreed no +plan could be devised more desirable for all parties; and that it would +be both rude and ungrateful to refuse a present, which, however, they +sincerely wished had been of less value. + +All was soon finally settled to the great joy of Powis, who was +delighted with the idea of his friendly inmates. The young lovers also +were full of grateful joy, and Ellen relinquished the idea she had at +one time entertained of taking Joanna home with her: Ross objected to +it, as he did not wish her to be introduced into scenes of life so +different from those she had been, or ever would be again accustomed to; +and Griffiths did not like the idea of her going to such a distance: +nay, Joanna herself, much as she had wished to see St. Aubyn Castle, +seemed now very well contented to remain for life in the vale of +Llanwyllan. + + + + +CHAP. VII. + + The sky it seems would pour down stinking pitch, + But that the sea, mounting to the welkin's cheek, + Dashes the fire out. O, I have suffer'd + With those that I saw suffer! A brave vessel, + Who had, no doubt, some noble creatures in her, + Dash'd all to pieces. Oh! the cry did knock + Against my very heart!--Poor souls, they perish'd! + + SHAKESPEARE'S TEMPEST. + + +St. Aubyn had related to Ross the conclusion of those circumstances +which he had confided to him before his marriage with Ellen, and though +that venerable man rejoiced that Edmund's vindictive intentions had been +so happily conquered, neither he nor the Earl felt entirely satisfied on +the subject. + +Lord De Montfort was certainly an excentric character, and it was +possible his impetuous feelings might yet take another direction, +especially if the bigotted Catholics, by whom he generally was +surrounded, should obtain any intimation of those apparent facts which +militated so much against the character of St. Aubyn, and which only his +own word opposed; and that they might do so, was by no means improbable, +when his occasional night-wanderings were remembered, in which, as he +had done to Ellen, he might hereafter to some other reveal what would +induce them to insist on an explanation. + +Ellen, it was true, had so touched him with admiration and tenderness, +that he could not resist her influence, but now removed from any chance +of seeing her again, there was no saying what new turn his ardent +imagination would take. + +All these ideas, which St. Aubyn had carefully concealed from his wife, +he communicated to his venerable friend, who could not deny their +rationality. The wishes of both centered in one point, and that was the +discovery of De Sylva; and nothing could be more improbable than that he +should now be found after years had elapsed, in which the agents of St. +Aubyn, and of the Marquis of Northington, had sought him in vain, though +their search had been extended through every great city in Spain, +Portugal, France, Italy, and England: it was, in fact, most likely, +either that he was dead, or had so completely changed his appearance and +name as to be living obscurely, perhaps on one of the very spots where +they had vainly endeavoured to find him. + +These wishes and reflections they never discussed except when without +other witnesses, being mutually unwilling to impart any of their +anxieties to Lady St. Aubyn, who, happy in her benevolent plans, in the +society of her father and early friends, in the improving beauty and +health of her lovely boy, and the undeviating and increasing love of St. +Aubyn, seemed not to have a care remaining. + +From Charles Ross, about this time, his father received letters, +expressive of the happiness he felt in his present situation, and of +gratitude to Lord St. Aubyn, who had procured it for him, adding, he +hoped to remain on his present station for some months, as they were +constantly taking prizes, and his share already amounting to a +considerable sum of money. + +The Earl or Countess never mentioned either to his parents or sister his +mad mistake respecting them during his stay in London, nor the +mischievous consequences of it, unwilling to give them pain by a +knowledge of those unpleasant transactions. + +The situation of Llanwyllan was not above a mile from the sea-shore, and +frequently Ellen and Joanna, attended by the nurses and child, walked +thither, Lady St. Aubyn thinking that the fine breeze invigorated and +strengthened both herself and little Constantine; nor had the +indulgences which her unexpected elevation had procured for her rendered +her unequal to a long country ramble, or less pleased to explore the +haunts of her infancy. Frequently St. Aubyn and Mr. Griffiths, who was a +sensible intelligent young man, with the education and manners of a +gentleman, were their escorts: but there was nothing to fear on this +unfrequented shore, for though ships often passed at a distance, there +was not even a fishing town within three miles of their accustomed walk. + +About the middle of July, the weather for three or four days became so +excessively hot, as seemed to preclude any exercise, except very late in +the evening: this uncommon degree of warmth was followed by a tremendous +storm of thunder and lightning; and though the weather cleared a little +in the middle of the day, the evening again closed with a renewal of the +tempestuous weather, attended by a violent wind. + +While the weather had been tolerable, the Rosses had walked to the Farm +to spend the remainder of the day, and were there when the tempest began +again with added horrors, and indeed not one of the party was totally +without alarm, lest the violence of the wind should injure the ancient +mansion. + +One of the men who had been sent to Carnarvon in the morning on some +commission, and whose road lay near the sea, returned about nine +o'clock. The thunder and lightning had by that time abated, but the +violent wind continued, attended by torrents of rain and excessive +darkness. This man said he had seen a large ship near the coast, and +evidently in great danger, from the beach on which she was driving being +rocky and inaccessible, the tide coming in, and the wind blowing from +the sea, which he said was rougher than he had ever seen it, and the +ship laboured so much he feared she must be lost. + +This account soon travelled from the servants'-hall to the parlour: the +cheeks of the females were blanched by terror, and Mrs. Ross, clasping +her hands together, exclaimed, + +"God preserve my poor Charles!" + +"He is far enough from hence, my dear," said the good Ross, "and in all +probability quite out of the way of this tremendous weather." + +"Perhaps so," said Mrs. Ross, "but I never hear the wind blow without +thinking of him, and a sailor's life is so uncertain, one never knows +where they are, or what they are exposed to." + +While she spoke, they distinctly heard the sound of a gun fired at sea. + +"Hark!" said St. Aubyn, "that is a signal gun! and again! +another!--those are guns of distress: can we do nothing for these poor +creatures?" + +"Oh! try, pray try," said Ellen: "but without exposing yourselves to +danger, it is, I fear, impossible." + +"There will be no danger for us in going down to the shore," said St. +Aubyn. "You and I, my young friend," (speaking to Griffiths) "with the +men servants, and all the assistance we can collect in the village, will +hasten thither: we can at least light some fires on the beach, or make +signals of some kind or other, which may be of service; you, my dear +Sir," (speaking to Powis) "and Mr. Ross, will stay and sooth the fears +of the ladies." + +"Oh, but," said Ellen, "do not expose yourselves too much: the weather +is dreadful." + +"We will take care of ourselves, my love, depend upon it: there are +plenty of box-coats in the hall; we will wrap ourselves up, and if we +save one life our trouble will be amply repaid." + +"God bless you for your goodness," said Mrs. Ross, "and prosper your +undertaking! Oh! these poor sailors have perhaps mothers and sisters +praying for them, as we do for poor Charles." She wept, and Joanna and +Ellen could not restrain their tears. + +The gentlemen, attended by all St. Aubyn's male servants, and several +stout workmen belonging to the Farm, now sallied forth with lanterns, +and such torches as could be hastily prepared: their numbers were +considerably augmented by many of the villagers, who, independent of the +rewards St. Aubyn offered, were prompted by humanity and curiosity to +assist. + +They soon reached the shore, on which a high tide was violently beating; +and by the flashes of lightning, which, though fainter and less +frequent, still at intervals broke the total darkness of the night, they +soon discerned a ship of considerable size, now very near the shore; her +sails rent in pieces, and scarcely a mast standing, driving towards +them, and firing minute guns as signals of distress. They all saw that +to prevent her being stranded on that rocky and impracticable coast was +totally impossible, and therefore some of the men were dispatched to the +village for ropes and other articles which might be used in saving the +lives of the crew. In the meantime, those remaining on the shore +collected all the rubbish they could find, and lighted two or three +large fires, shouting when the wind lulled a little, to encourage the +sailors, which a minute after was answered by a shout from the men on +board. + +In less than an hour after their arrival, the ship was driven on a ledge +of rocks, almost at the foot of the cliff on which St. Aubyn and his +party stood; and they saw some of the crew crowding into two small +boats, and others coming on shore on pieces of timber, or whatever they +could find. At intervals they rose or disappeared, as the waves were +more or less powerful; but in the end, a considerable number, more dead +than alive, were thrown on the land. + +Several of the men, cheered by large promises from St. Aubyn, waded as +far as possible into the sea, and assisted some of the crew with ropes +and by other means, so that at last more than fifty men were saved. + +To paint the gratitude of these poor creatures, their mingled +exclamations of joy for their escape, and horror at the recollection of +their danger, would be a vain attempt. Some of them appeared to be +foreigners, and two or three wore the dress of Turks. Amid the darkness +and confusion that prevailed, however, it was scarcely possible to +distinguish one person from another. Several of the English sailors (for +the ship had evidently been English, and the foreigners were apparently +prisoners of war), were busily engaged in succouring a man who had come +to shore with scarcely any signs of life, and about whom they appeared +very assiduous. + +St. Aubyn's people had brought spirits and other cordials to the +sea-shore, and after administering such present refreshment as their +wants seemed to require, he now put all that were able to walk under the +care of Griffiths, desiring him not to take them to the Farm, fearing +lest the sight should be too affecting to its female inhabitants, but +dispose of them in the best manner he could, amongst the cottages or +barns belonging to the farmhouses; for in the abodes of all, his bounty +and kindness had procured a welcome reception for any whom he chose to +send; he requested Griffiths also just to shew himself at the Farm, to +say they were safe, and then return again. Some of his party he +dispatched for carts, with blankets, &c. to convey to the village such +of the men who were unable to walk. + +The storm by this time had nearly subsided, and a late moon began to +struggle through the black clouds which still hung upon the horizon: +pieces of the unfortunate vessel, with seamens' chests and other +articles, were from time to time thrown ashore; several bodies also came +to land, and St. Aubyn found, though at least fifty had been saved, +several lives were unfortunately lost. + +St. Aubyn now saw that the young man, about whom the sailors had been so +assiduous, and whom they called Captain, was beginning to revive, and +approached to speak some words of consolation and kindness. One of the +sailors was giving him a glass of wine, while another held a lantern +almost close to him; for the faint light of the moon hardly served to +distinguish objects. But what was the surprize, what the tumultuous +emotions of St. Aubyn, when, as the light fell full upon the +shipwrecked, half-expiring object before him, he retraced the features +of Charles Ross!--of him, for whom, but two hours before, his mother had +expressed so many tender fears, and poured so many fervent prayers, +though not even imagining he shared the actual danger which excited +them. + +St. Aubyn started, but with tender caution, lest the surprize should +overpower the unfortunate man, whispered to his servants not to name him +or the place where they were; and approaching still nearer, he took +Charles's cold hand, and drawing his own hat over his face, bade him be +comforted, for all would yet be well. + +The poor young man, too languid to do more than glance his eyes over the +person who addressed him, spoke a few words in a faint voice, expressive +of his thanks, and then feebly murmured a request to know on what coast +he and his friends had been thrown. + +"On no unfriendly, no inhospitable shore, assure yourself," replied St. +Aubyn. "Whatever property the sea spares will be cautiously protected +for you and your followers. Many chests have been thrown on shore; and +as the weather is becoming calm, when the morning dawns, the boats of +your ship shall go off to the wreck, and every thing of value, if +possible, be saved." + +"I am then on English ground?" + +"On the coast of Wales." + +"Of Wales! Oh, heavens!----What part of Wales?" + +"Be not impatient: you shall know all in good time." + +"That voice," said Charles--"surely I have heard that voice before." + +"I have been a great traveller," replied St. Aubyn: "we may have met +elsewhere." + +Charles asked a few more questions, to which St. Aubyn cautiously +replied; and a cart being by this time arrived from the village, Charles +and two or three others were placed in it, under the escort of +Griffiths, to whom the Earl recounted the late interesting discovery, +requesting him to take care that Charles was not too suddenly surprised +with a knowledge of where he was. + +Griffiths saw him safely lodged in the best place that could be found +for him; and leaving St. Aubyn's valet to watch by him, and take care +that no one spoke to him till his return, hastened with Lord St. Aubyn +to Powis's, where they found the whole family had been up all night, +anxious beyond expression; and when Ellen saw St. Aubyn dripping wet, +his hat and great coat heavy with the rain and spray of the sea, she +tenderly reproached him for so exposing himself, while Joanna's looks +read the same lecture to Griffiths: but both were so rejoiced at the +good their exertions had effected, that the chiding was little heeded; +and soon, by the assistance of dry clothing, they made a more +comfortable appearance; and after dispatching as many necessaries as +could be collected to the poor mariners, and above all to Charles +(though yet his being so near was kept a profound secret to his parents +and friends), the whole party retired to rest, which indeed the fatigues +of the night rendered extremely necessary to all. + + + + +CHAP. VIII. + + The image of a wicked heinous fault + Lives in his eye: that close aspect of his + Does shew the mood of a much-troubled heart! + + KING JOHN. + + +St. Aubyn would not disturb the repose of Ellen that night, or rather +that morning, for the sun had risen before they retired, by mentioning +the discovery of Charles amongst the shipwrecked mariners; but his own +anxiety how best to break the matter to Ross and his wife would not +allow him to sleep late, in spite of the fatigue he had undergone. + +As soon as he was drest, he went to the cottage where Charles had been +placed, and found him greatly recovered: he had been greatly exhausted +during the storm, which had lasted longer at sea than at land: he had +laboured with unceasing activity to save the ship, of which he was the +commander, though he had not the rank of captain, and had not left her +till all hope of her escaping was lost: he was also considerably +bruised, for he would not embark in the boats, but had floated to land +on a piece of timber. Rest, however, had in some measure recruited his +strength, and though still languid, he hoped to be able to rise in the +course of the day, and see what could be done to save his property, and +that of his shipmates. + +All this St. Aubyn learned from his valet, who sat by the young man, and +prevented any one from approaching who might too suddenly have informed +him his parents were so near. + +St. Aubyn, however, now judged it proper this information should reach +him: he went therefore to the little room where Charles lay--it was +darkened as much as possible; and St. Aubyn sat down by his bed-side +without being recognized. He inquired with great kindness for the health +of the invalid, to which Charles replied he was better: "But surely," +added he, "I have heard that voice before: even amid the horrors of last +night, when it was so generously exerted in comforting me, and directing +others for the comfort of my poor shipmates, it struck me as one deeply +engraved on my memory, though I cannot recollect the name of its owner." + +"It is a voice," said St. Aubyn, "you certainly have heard before: I +recognize your's also, and know your name--it is Ross." + +"It is, indeed," said Charles: "pray tell me your's, for it is cheering +to think I am not quite amongst strangers." + +"You will be convinced you are not, when I tell you my name is St. +Aubyn." + +"St. Aubyn? _Lord_ St. Aubyn?" + +"The same." + +"Oh, how much do I owe to you!" exclaimed Charles: "I blush to remember +my former ingratitude and folly." + +"Speak no more of it--it is quite forgotten." + +"Ah, my Lord, how good you are. But did you not say last night we were +on the coast of Wales? Tell me, I beseech you, on what part of that +coast. I begin to hope, knowing Lady St. Aubyn's former residence." + +He paused breathless, with contending emotions. + +"Lady St. Aubyn and myself," replied St. Aubyn calmly, "are on a visit +to some _friends_ in this neighbourhood. The storm of last night, and +the hearing a ship was in distress, induced me to take out my servants +and some others to see if we could be of any service to the unfortunate +mariners. One of the friends we were with blessed me, and prayed that my +undertaking might prosper. Her prayers were heard: they were the fervent +supplication of a _mother_ for her _son_, though then she knew not nor +could believe he was implicated in the danger." + +"Ah! Heavens!" exclaimed Charles, "it was _my_ mother! Speak, my Lord, +speak! Are we not at, or near Llanwyllan?" + +"Be composed, and I will tell you." + +"I am composed, and able to hear all." + +"You are at Llanwyllan. Your father, mother, and Joanna, were obliged by +the storm of last night to remain at Powis's: there I left them sleeping +in peace, not knowing or imagining their son and brother was so near." + +The tears ran down the cheeks of Charles, and his heart swelled high +with thankfulness both to his earthly and heavenly preserver. + +After a few minutes, for St. Aubyn was glad to see his emotions find a +relief so desirable, and would not interrupt him, he grasped the hand +which the Earl had given him, and would have said something expressive +of his gratitude, but St. Aubyn prevented him by saying: + +"Not a word on that score, Mr. Ross: mine was the impulse of mere +humanity, and I rejoice truly that it led me to save a life so dear to +friends greatly respected by me and Lady St. Aubyn. Make your mind easy. +I hope in the course of the day you will be in a state to be placed +beneath your father's roof; in the meantime I will prepare his mind, and +those of your mother and sister, for a meeting so tender; and there is +also another friend at Llanwyllan who will be glad to see you: your +former playmate and youthful companion, Ellen, will rejoice in your +safety. Be at rest; all will go well, and I trust even your property +will go secured, for boats are already gone off to the wreck, and I have +sent such persons as I can depend on, to see all that is saved protected +from depredation." + +"You are too good, my Lord; too good!" said Charles, quite overpowered. + +"I must now leave you," said St. Aubyn: "our mutual friends will expect +me, and I have an arduous task in prospect, for I dread the effect on +the minds of your parents of the disclosure I must now make to them." + +He now took his leave, directing every possible care to be taken of the +invalid. + +St. Aubyn waited till after breakfast to unfold to Ross and his wife the +late events; when that meal was concluded, they talked of returning to +the Parsonage, but he requested them not to go, for he had something of +great consequence to tell them: he then in the gentlest and most +judicious manner revealed to them the discovery of the night before, and +they supported the communication better than he had expected. + +The pious Ross lifted his eyes and heart to Heaven in thankfulness for +his son's wonderful escape, while Mrs. Ross and Joanna sobbed upon each +others bosom, and mingled tears with their expressions of joy and +gratitude. Ellen dropt a tear of tender sympathy, and rejoiced, without +fear of offending the no longer jealous St. Aubyn, in the safety of her +early friend. + +In the afternoon, Charles found himself able to rise, and St. Aubyn sent +his carriage to convey him to the Parsonage, where Ellen and himself +were ready to receive him, and to support the spirits of his venerable +parents and tender sister. + +They all bore the meeting with tolerable composure, and, the first +emotions past, were eager to hear how Charles, whom they had supposed to +be cruising near Gibraltar, happened to be exposed to the fury of a +storm on the coast of North Wales. + +He told them, that almost immediately after the date of the last letters +he wrote to them, orders had been received for the return of the vessel +he commanded to England, and after refitting at Falmouth to join a small +squadron which was cruising off the coast of France: that on his return +homeward he had fallen in with a French frigate, superior to his own in +force, but which, after an obstinate battle, during which his own vessel +had been much injured he had succeeded in taking; that he had put some +of his own officers and men aboard the prize, and had taken some of the +French and some Algerines, whom they had previously captured, on board +his own ship; that the violence of the storm and the disabled state of +his vessel, prevented him from making the port he wished to have done, +and finally had driven him on that coast, the darkness of the night not +allowing him to ascertain where-abouts he was: what was become of his +prize he knew not, but as she was a better sailer than his own ship, it +was probable she had reached some port on the coast of Cornwall in +safety. + +"And now, my dear mother," said Charles, "if we can but secure my chest, +we shall find in it a snug little hoard of dollars, and a few pretty +valuable jewels, which I intend to dispose of as a marriage portion for +Joanna, if any body will have her," (and he glanced archly at Griffiths, +whose tender solicitude about his sister had not escaped him) "and if +not, I shall be entitled to a tolerable share of prize-money, for which +I have fought hard, and will serve to make you and my father easy. To be +sure I must stand a court-martial for the loss of his Majesty's ship, +but that is only a matter of form, and I am sure that my men will bear +witness I did all in my power to save her--and a pretty creature she +was: I never wish to sail in a better, but she was not lost through my +fault, so I must be contented." + +They smiled at his sailor-like nonchalance, and were very glad to hear +his sea-chest and all its contents were safely landed. + +Amongst St. Aubyn's humane cares for his own countrymen, the unfortunate +prisoners thus cast on a strange shore were not forgotten. He saw that +their more immediate wants were supplied, and wrote to the proper +persons in London to know what was to be their future lot, contenting +himself in the meantime with having a slight guard kept over them; +though of their attempting to escape in their present state, some +wounded, all weak and helpless, there was not much probability. + +One of the French captives turned out to be a Catholic priest, a +venerable and respectable man, who had been for many years resident at +Gibraltar, from whence, learning he might now with safety return to +France, he had embarked in the vessel Charles Ross had captured, hoping +to end his days where he had begun them, on the banks of the Garonne. + +This circumstance had not been known till two days after the shipwreck, +and the good Ross considering this unfortunate man as the servant of the +same master, though speaking another language, and differing in many +points of belief, had invited him to share his own table; and Mrs. Ross +had, like the pious Shunamite, prepared for him "a little chamber with a +bed," where he might be at rest. + +On the evening of that day, the weather being extremely fine, Lady St. +Aubyn and Joanna expressed a wish to walk to the sea-shore to look at +the wreck, and see the place where Charles and his friends had landed. + +All the more painful vestiges of the shipwreck had been removed, and the +bodies of the unfortunate sailors which had floated on shore had been +interred in the church-yard, where Griffiths had read the funeral +service. + +St. Aubyn and Charles had some little business relative to the survivors +to transact, but they desired Griffiths to attend the ladies, and they +would shortly follow. Mrs. Bayfield also wished to see the place where +the shipwreck happened, and Ellen desired her little Constantine might +go also, as she thought the sea air did him good. They set out therefore +early in the evening, for the storm had cooled the air, and they wished +to spend some time on the shore. + +They soon reached the beach, and found the sea so calm, so beautiful, it +seemed unlike the same element which had wrought such destruction the +night before. + +Griffiths pointed out to them the wreck, which, as it was now low water, +appeared very near the shore, and shewed them the precise spot where +Charles and the rest had landed. + +They both shuddered and turned pale at the painful retrospection, and +Joanna again expressed her thankfulness to St. Aubyn and Griffiths, +whose exertions had saved them. + +While they were walking up and down the beach, they met two or three of +the English sailors, who were upon the look-out for any other articles +the sea might have left upon the sands, and speaking to them received +their thanks and blessings for the care and kindness they had +experienced. + +On a large piece of timber near the edge of the water sat one of the +Algerines: he looked excessively weak and sickly, and as they approached +him, he surveyed them with a look of gloomy despair. + +"How ill that man looks," said Ellen to one of the sailors: "he seems +likely to die." + +"Yes, my Lady, and die he will, for he with difficulty crawled hither, +he is so ill; and the woman where he lodges says he bewails himself all +night, and takes no rest." + +"Poor creature!" said Ellen: "he laments, doubtless, his native land, +and the friends he has left behind." + +"I believe, my Lady," replied the sailor, "he laments his crimes, for +one of the French prisoners that speaks a little English tells me this +fellow owns he has been a great sinner, and that he was bred a +Christian, but renounced his religion and denied his God for the lucre +of gain, amongst the Turks, and Mahometans, and such like." + +"Horrible!" said Ellen: "are there such wretches?" + +As she spoke, the poor miserable being approached her with feeble steps, +and in French asked her if she would have the goodness to purchase a +trinket he had to sell--all he had left of better days. + +Ellen spoke French but imperfectly: she could read and understand it +pretty well, but did not attempt to converse in it; she knew, however, +what he said, and though her nature shuddered at a being of whom she had +heard such a shocking account, endeavoured to answer him with civility: +her voice, however, was low, and her accent not perfectly intelligible +to the Algerine; and thinking she intended to accept his offer, he drew +from his bosom a cross, composed of large rubies set in gold, and put it +into her hand: he sighed heavily; and the sight of this ornament, which +seemed to corroborate the story that this man had been bred a Christian, +gave to Ellen a painful sensation: she endeavoured to make him +understand that his wants should be relieved without his parting from +the trinket, which she offered again to him. + +At that moment Mrs. Bayfield, with the nurses and little Constantine, +came towards them: she cast her eyes upon the Algerine--she trembled, +again she looked; she caught the glance of his dark gloomy eyes, and the +sound of his voice met her ears: instantly she exclaimed: + +"_That_ wretch!" and snatching the infant from his nurse, she folded him +to her bosom and fled away, crying as she ran--"Come, my Lady, oh, come +for God's sake! leave that monster: come, Miss Ross--run! fly! he will +murder us all." + +Wild and extraordinary as this panic seemed to Ellen, her feet +involuntarily obeyed, and with the cross still in her hand, she suddenly +fled from this poor sickly wretch, who, unable to follow, stood amazed +at their apparently frantic demeanour. + +Joanna and Griffiths ran after the Countess; though still no one knew +the cause of this extraordinary alarm; and so eagerly did the affrighted +Bayfield speed, that though encumbered with the child, and advanced as +she was in years, they could not easily overtake her. + +While they hastened on, each unable to account for the strange terror +which had seized them all, they were met by St. Aubyn and Charles Ross, +who, passing Bayfield at some little distance, were unobserved by her, +and seeing Ellen and Joanna apparently terrified, ran by a shorter cut +to meet them. + +"What on earth has happened?" said St. Aubyn, seeing them pale and +almost breathless. "Ellen! Joanna! what has happened? Has any one +frightened you? Griffiths, what has alarmed them thus?" + +"Indeed, my Lord," said Griffiths, "I am as ignorant as you are; the +ladies were talking to the poor sick Turk on the shore, and Mrs. +Bayfield on a sudden seized the child from his nurse, ran away, and +called to us to follow, for we should be all murdered: Lady St. Aubyn +and Joanna instantly obeyed, and I followed, but why, or what was the +cause of the alarm, I am unable to imagine." + +"I believe--I think," panted Ellen, "that Bayfield knew something of the +man we were speaking to, for she trembled as she looked at him, and said +he would murder us, or words to that effect." + +"What is that in your hand, Ellen?" said St. Aubyn. "Heavenly powers! +What is it?" + +His limbs trembled, and he grew so pale, she thought he was fainting. + +"It is a cross, my Lord," she replied, "a cross that the man--the +Turk--offered to sell to me.--I forgot that I had it in my hand." + +She gave it to him; he cast his eyes upon it and exclaimed:-- + +"That man! Where is he? Merciful heaven! Can it be!" + +And suddenly recovering himself, he darted towards the place where the +sick Algerine was slowly endeavouring to follow them. + +"Go with him," said Ellen; "follow him, Charles; go, Mr. Griffiths: +surely he cannot know this man; perhaps some mischief may ensue." + +They instantly obeyed; and now Ellen and Joanna standing still and +looking earnestly after St. Aubyn, saw him with the rapidity of +lightning fly to the Algerine: what he said they could not hear, but +with an action of the most eager impatience, they saw him with one hand +tear the turban from the brow of the Turk, and with the other seized him +violently by the collar, while the poor trembling wretch sunk prostrate +on the ground before him. By this time Griffiths and Charles Ross had +reached them. St. Aubyn spoke, and instantly they seized the Algerine, +raised, or rather dragged him from the ground, but kept him from moving, +though indeed to move far was not in his power. + +Ellen, unable longer to restrain her impatience to learn the meaning of +this scene, now hastened towards them, though trembling so much Joanna +could scarcely support her. As they approached, St. Aubyn exclaimed in a +voice hoarse with contending passions:-- + +"Come not here, my Ellen; let not purity like thine breathe the air +contaminated by that monster! + +"Robber! Murderer! Vile apostate from thy God!" he cried, with gestures +almost frantic, to the shaking wretch before him. "The hand of vengeance +has at length overtaken thee, and long and dreadful is the account thou +now must render. Yes, look at me; I am the man you so deeply injured; I +am St. Aubyn. + +"Go, Ellen," again he cried, "leave us; Joanna, go with her; Griffiths, +attend them; Charles and I are enough to secure this villain; besides +here are sailors who will assist us." + +Ellen obeyed in silence as fast as her terrors would permit, for now she +no longer doubted of the cause of all this scene, which to Joanna and +Griffiths appeared as if some sudden madness had seized first Bayfield +and then St. Aubyn. + + + + +CHAP. IX. + + Oh, it is monstrous, monstrous! + Methought the billows spake and told me of it: + The wind did sing it to me; and the thunder, + That deep and dreadful organ-pipe, + ----did bass my trespass! + + TEMPEST. + + ----The seasons thus-- + As ceaseless round a jarring world they roll, + Still find them happy, and consenting spring + Sheds her own rosy garland on their heads. + + THOMSON. + + +Slowly and with trembling steps Ellen left the beach, and went towards +the village: not many yards had they proceeded ere they were met by +Bayfield and two or three of the men-servants. The poor woman had at +length been prevailed on to relinquish her infant charge to his nurse, +who had overtaken her; and fortunately meeting the men-servants, who, +impelled by curiosity, were going to the beach to look at the wreck, she +turned back with them, fearing lest any injury should befall her Lord or +Lady. + +"Thank God, Madam," said the good creature, who still trembled and +looked pale, "that you are safe! the dear child is safe also: but where +is my Lord? Oh, my dear Lord! sure he has not trusted himself with that +wretch alone." + +"Be calm, Bayfield, be pacified," said Ellen: "you terrify us with these +emotions: your Lord is safe; Mr. Charles Ross and the sailors are with +him: but who is this man you seem so much to fear? The poor creature +looks not likely to injure any one, for he appears half-dead." + +"Oh, my Lady, don't pity him," cried Bayfield: "but are you sure he has +no pistols about him? It was a pistol you know, my Lady----, but I +forget myself: one word, Madam, if you please." She drew Ellen aside and +said--"Your Ladyship will not wonder at my alarm, when I tell you the +man you were talking with was the very person my Lord has sought in vain +so long; it was that wretch De Sylva! Oh, I remember the glance of his +dark malicious eye: it has never left my remembrance since the evening I +by accident met him with my late Lady walking in the Cork Grove, three +or four days before her death, when I did not know he was within many +miles of the place; and starting at seeing them together, he gave me +such a look; I never shall forget it: I thought he looked at me just the +same on the beach, and I expected every moment when he would draw out a +pistol and shoot some of us--perhaps the baby out of spite to my Lord, +and that made me run away in that manner: oh, I was not myself, nor +shall I be again this night. Oh that my Lord de Montfort was here to +have all his cruel doubts put an end to for ever, for sure the villain +will confess all now." + +Ellen heard her with silent but tumultuous emotion, and hastened as much +as possible towards the Parsonage, sending the men however to meet their +lord. + +The Parsonage being nearer to the beach than the Farm was, Ellen and her +friends stopped there, and begged Mr. Griffiths would hasten back to St. +Aubyn, and say where he would find her: she then requested Ross would go +into his study with her, and there, knowing he was perfectly acquainted +with the circumstances which had happened to St. Aubyn in Spain, she +entreated his advice how to proceed, and that he would endeavour to calm +the violent emotions which the discovery of De Sylva had excited in the +bosom of St. Aubyn. + +"Surely," said the pious Ross, "the hand of heaven is evident in this +extraordinary event! The kind humanity which prompted Lord St. Aubyn to +save the poor mariners in the storm, was not only the means by which the +life of my son was preserved, and the grey hairs of his mother and +myself prevented from going down with sorrow to the grave, but has also, +I hope, procured for himself the satisfaction he most earnestly wished, +by bringing De Sylva once more within his reach. Wonder-working +Providence! from what apparently improbable causes does thy Almighty +hand bring forth the most interesting events!" + +As he spoke, a bustle was heard without, and St. Aubyn rushed into the +room, pale, agitated, almost breathless. Charles Ross, Griffiths, and +two or three sailors, followed, leading, or rather bearing the miserable +De Sylva: miserable indeed was his whole appearance: his Turkish turban +had been torn from his head, and his long black hair streamed round his +face in wild disorder. That face which St. Aubyn remembered a few years +before glowing with animation and manly beauty, was now pale, haggard, +and displayed marks of premature old age.--Those eyes, once so full of +life and gaiety, now rolled in horrible dismay; and that form, so agile, +so graceful when with the unfortunate Rosolia he led the sprightly +dance, was now bowed by sickness, and shrunk by fear.--Oh, what havock +does guilt make in the human face and figure! such as he stood, with +looks that terrified each beholder. De Sylva was then but little more +than thirty years of age, yet the vigour of his constitution, exhausted +by excess, his soul a prey to every agony which racks the criminal--his +course was run; the grave opened to receive him, and a few short days it +was evident must terminate his life and sins together. + +"Retire, my love," said St. Aubyn to his trembling wife: "this is no +place for you: you know I perceive who this wretched being is: this +cross, which he offered to you, was that which the ill-fated Rosolia +wore the very evening she went to meet this villain in the Hermitage: +see here my cypher upon this plate of gold, for this, with the rich +necklace from which it depended, was my gift.--Go, my love: the story +which this wretched man has engaged to tell is unfitted for your tender +sensibility to partake of." + +Ellen instantly and gladly obeyed, and the sailors also were sent away, +for the unhappy man, faint and exhausted, was too ill to make any +attempt at escaping, nor could he speak till some restoratives had been +administered. + +During this pause, Ross suggested to St. Aubyn the propriety of having +some person present to receive De Sylva's confession who was able to +take it exactly as delivered, of which St. Aubyn, who alone was +sufficiently master of the French language to do so, was rendered +incapable by his extreme agitation; besides, it occurred to Ross, that +this person should be totally unconnected with Lord St. Aubyn, that his +testimony might be totally free and uninfluenced. + +St. Aubyn perfectly agreed with him, but was at a loss on whom to fix, +when suddenly Ross recollected the Catholic priest, who was at that +moment actually in the house, and whom St. Aubyn had never seen. + +This respectable old man was accordingly summoned, and St. Aubyn in a +few words explained to him the nature of the service required of him; +and he readily agreed to take, and witness, the deposition of De Sylva. + +He spoke in French, and with frequent breaks and interruption, which his +weakness and emotion occasioned. + +"I am by birth a Frenchman, but entered the Spanish service at an early +age, my father being dead, and my maternal relations of that nation +engaging to take care of my future promotion. + +"I need not, my Lord, repeat the commencement of my acquaintance with +you, nor the kindness with which you received me at your villa near +Seville, a reception, the hospitality of which I afterwards so ill +repaid. + +"The beauty of Lady St. Aubyn attracted every eye, and mine in +particular, for her eye beamed kindly on me in return. + +"I will not, my Lord, offend you by detailing the progress of our +intimacy: you became displeased at it, and suddenly removed her to a +villa near Sierra Morena. By the aid of Theresa, her favourite maid, she +contrived to let me know where she was gone; and as soon as I could +obtain leave of absence, I followed her." + +"We met frequently in the woods about the villa, and once were met +walking in the Cork Grove by your housekeeper, Mrs. Bayfield, and I had +reason to believe she afterwards watched her Lady's actions. + +"Lady St. Aubyn, tired of the dreary life she led, proposed to escape +with me and go to Paris: to this end she furnished me with several sums +of money, and a great number of valuable jewels, amongst them a very +fine ring, which, she told me, was yours, my Lord, and highly valued by +you; and she owned that she had taken that ring in particular, because +she knew the loss would vex you; and she hoped, as Bayfield only had +access to the jewels, the loss of this valued jewel would lead you to +suspect her, and bring disgrace upon the woman we both hated." + +Here St. Aubyn hid his face, and groaned: he grieved to hear the woman +he had once loved could have been so atrociously wicked. + +"A few nights after this, my Lord," continued De Sylva, "you saw me +attempting to climb by a rope ladder the window of Lady St. Aubyn's +apartment: what followed is well known to you; but nothing was ever +farther from my intentions than meeting you at the place appointed; on +the contrary, I informed Rosolia by means of Theresa of what had passed, +and named that very hour to meet her at the Hermitage, whither I +proposed to bring a boy's habit, and elope with her under that disguise; +for which purpose I procured two horses, and stationed them in a thicket +between the Hermitage and the Posada at the foot of the mountain, where +I had resided since my arrival in that neighbourhood. + +"I told you, my Lord, I had a friend there; but that was false, and I +only said it to induce you to wait till the next evening, that we might +have each a friend to witness our encounter. + +"Rosolia watched you from the house after your return from Alhama, +whence, as you came alone, we concluded you had vainly sought your +friend; and, I am ashamed to say, in the few minutes we were together, +how much we diverted ourselves at the idea of your vain and fruitless +trouble." + +"Go on, Sir," cried St. Aubyn, fiercely--"spare this detail, and hasten +to the conclusion of this detestable story." + +"Rosolia then," resumed De Sylva, "told her brother she had a bad +head-ache, and would endeavour to walk it off. From this young man she +was grieved to part, and left him with emotion. She hastened to the +Hermitage: we had no time to lose: she had brought with her all the +valuables she could collect, and had round her neck the fine necklace of +rubies you had given her at Seville, and that very cross I just now +offered to those ladies on the beach. + +"I pressed her to change her dress quickly, and was retiring for a few +minutes, while she adjusted her male attire. + +"Fearing a surprize, and thinking it might be wanted to defend us in our +flight, I had brought with me the pistol, you, my Lord, gave me the +night before: this I took in my hand, lest any one should approach to +seek Lady St. Aubyn, determined if any did, to put an end to their +existence; and (I will confess all) I should not have been sorry had +Bayfield crossed my path. + +"But as I turned to leave the Hermitage, my foot struck against an +inequality in the floor, and endeavouring to recover myself, the pistol +went off in my hand, and the ball entered the head of the unfortunate +Rosolia. + +"She fell instantly--one groan alone escaped her. I approached, hoping +she was only alarmed by the report, or but slightly hurt; but to my +astonishment and horror she was a breathless corpse. + +"In this dreadful moment, my first idea was instant flight, since that +alone could save me.--But why, thought I, since she is dead, should I +leave behind those valuable ornaments?--And O!--how hardened was my +heart! + +"The woman I had admired, and professed to love, had that instant +breathed her last--fallen by my hand, though from an unintended stroke, +and in the very moment, when, by a guilty flight, she had resolved to +give me the greatest proof of love, and unite her fate with mine: yet so +little impression did these dreadful circumstances make upon me, that I +had sufficient composure to unclasp the costly necklace from her neck, +and the bracelets from her arms, though that body, lately so blooming +and so animated, was not yet cold in death.--Such is the love of the +wicked! + +"By some means, as I afterwards discovered, I dropt, and lost the +valuable ring I mentioned before; and as I knew I had it just before I +entered this fatal Hermitage, I concluded it was there I had lost it. + +"I now fled as fast as possible towards the place where my horses stood, +and mounting one, and leading the other, I galloped off at full speed. + +"Concluding the first search for me would be amongst the mountains, I +took a road immediately opposite, and reached the little town of Andurar +that night: I there sold my horses, and bought a change of garments, +lest those I wore should identify my person; for I concluded I should be +suspected of the murder, either wilful or accidental, of the unfortunate +Countess; but I was also convinced I should have two or three hours the +start of my pursuers, as she was in the constant habit of rambling about +at least that time, and consequently would not be missed. + +"I travelled, however, chiefly by night, lurking by day either in thick +woods, or the remains of Moorish castles, and only venturing near a town +or village when provisions were indispensably necessary; for now the +fear of being arrested as a deserter, my leave of absence having been +some time expired, made the strictest caution necessary for my security. + +"In about a week I reached Almaneca, and disposing of some of my jewels, +I embarked on board a vessel which was going to Venice, where I meant to +remain some time, and then assuming another name, to go to Paris, where +I knew my speaking French like a native would prevent me from being +recognized. We had not been but three days at sea when an Algerine +corsair bore down upon us, and after a short but severe conflict we were +captured, and carried into Algiers. + +"Here, robbed of all my ill-gained riches, except that cross, which some +remains of affection for the memory of the unfortunate Rosolia had +induced me to conceal so cautiously that it was not discovered, I found +myself a prisoner, and seemed doomed to end my days in slavery. + +"It was my fortune to be purchased by a master high in favour with the +Dey, who, pleased with my vivacity, and the skill I had in music, +received me into his favour, and at length tempted me with such high +offers, if I would become a Mahometan, that I, who never knew what true +religion was, and held my principles too lightly to be very strenuous in +their support, soon consented to be what he would have me, and solemnly +abjuring the Christian faith, I became his adopted son, and heir to all +his riches. By this means too I was certain of escaping any search that +might be made for me; for who could think of looking for De Sylva under +the turban of a Turk, and in the adopted son of the Bey Abdallah? + +"About a year ago my adoptive father died; and weary of the supine and +inactive life the Turks usually lead, I determined to fit out an armed +vessel, and amuse myself by sailing up the Archipelago, and visiting +some of the Grecian islands, not without a latent intention of quitting +Algiers altogether, and returning to some European state: to which end I +carried with me all the wealth I could make portable: this design I +executed accordingly, but I had not long quitted Algiers, when we were +attacked and captured by a French frigate. + +"From that moment I have never known peace. + +"Fearing to be discovered, knowing that the punishment for desertion +must be mine, should we touch at any Spanish port, and I should be +recognized; dreading to be accused of the murder of Lady St. Aubyn, of +which, though innocent, I could not clear myself; and, above all, my +conscience awakened, by being once more amongst Christians, to the sin I +had been guilty of in apostatizing from my religion, I have led a life +of fear, inquietude, and anguish--a life which I feel will soon be +terminated: and, oh, how dreadful the reflection that my punishment is +but beginning. + +"Oh, Sir," added the poor wretch, throwing himself at the feet of the +venerable priest, who, as well as all present, had heard the detail of +his crimes with horror, "you are a priest, a Catholic of that church I +so wickedly abandoned. Can you give me hope? Will you pray for me?" + +"I am a priest, and a Catholic," replied the old man, "and shall be +willing and desirous of giving you all the consolation in my power. At +present you have given the best proof of repentance, by the confession +you have made, and to confirm it, you must sign it with your name, and +acknowledge the truth of what I have written, before all present." + +He then gave the paper to De Sylva to read, who signed it, and declared +it was correct. + +"I would swear it," he added, in heart-broken accents: "but oh! by what +can a wretch like me swear, and be believed!" + +He was now conveyed to a decent bed in Ross's house, who, like a true +Christian pastor, would not abandon him to his despair; but placed by +his bed-side, strove in conjunction with the Catholic priest, De la +Tour, by the most consoling attentions, and hopes founded on his present +repentance, to beat away the busy meddling fiend, who laid strong siege +unto the wretch's soul. + +The miserable De Sylva lingered nearly a week, racked with guilty fears, +and scarcely daring to hope for mercy: yet for mercy his pious +comforters bade him hope, since he repented deeply, and sought it in +that holy name, which, though once he had denied, he now most humbly +acknowledged. + +On the sixth evening he expired. + + "Forbear to judge, for we are sinners all." + +As soon as De Sylva's confession had been received, St. Aubyn sent an +express messenger to the proper persons in London, requesting permission +to dispatch Jean Batiste de la Tour, a French priest, into Oxfordshire, +where he understood Lord de Montfort then was at one of his seats, with +papers of the utmost importance to that nobleman and to himself, De la +Tour having witnessed the confession of a prisoner since dead, which +involved concerns of the most material interest. He also requested +permission for De la Tour to remain attached to Lord de Montfort's +suite, or to be at liberty on his parole at Castle St. Aubyn, till he +could obtain the consent of government to his returning to his native +country; for St. Aubyn could not bear that this helpless and venerable +old man should remain as a prisoner of war, and end his days in a +strange country. + +The answer was favourable to his Lordship's wishes, and Charles Ross +undertook to escort De la Tour into Oxfordshire: in the meantime a +detachment arrived to guard the other prisoners to the depot in +Shropshire. + +Ross and De la Tour departed together, taking with them the deposition +of De Sylva, the cross of the unfortunate Rosolia, which had been found +in his possession, and every other document which could carry conviction +to the mind of De Montfort. + +Tranquillity seemed now restored to the village of Llanwyllan, but in +spite of the satisfaction St. Aubyn felt in being thus completely able +to exonerate himself from whatever suspicion might yet lurk in the bosom +of Edmund, his own mind was by no means tranquil. + +Painful was the retrospect the confession of De Sylva had forced upon +him: every misery he had so many years before experienced seemed +renewed, and his imagination dwelt upon the horrid scenes of the +Hermitage. The bleeding body of Rosolia lay again in fancy before him, +and his pity for her wretched fate "cut off even in the blossom of her +sins," made him forget all the crimes she had been guilty of towards +him. + +For many days he continued exceedingly dejected, and it required all +Ellen's tender attentions, and the cheering smiles of his lovely boy, to +chase from his mind those painful impressions which the late discovery +had planted there. + +In as short a time as was possible, a messenger returned from Lord de +Montfort. He acknowledged his full conviction of St. Aubyn's innocence, +and implored his pardon for those years of uneasiness his suspicions had +made him suffer: he expressed the greatest gratitude for the forbearing +kindness of St. Aubyn's whole conduct towards his unhappy sister, of +which he now had such convincing proofs, and a horror of her guilt, +which was too overwhelming to be dwelt upon. De la Tour he requested to +retain in his suite till arrangements could be made for his returning to +France, should the old man ultimately wish to do so. + +In a short time after this letter arrived, Ellen received one from Lady +Juliana, in which she expressed some dissatisfaction at their long stay +in Wales, and bade them consider that at her time of life she could not +hope to enjoy much more of their society, and the smiles of her darling +Constantine, whose growth and improvement she longed to witness. + +This letter determined Lord and Lady St. Aubyn to quit Wales as soon as +possible: indeed, the autumn was now advancing, and they feared for +their young traveller the miserable roads, and of course wished to be at +the Castle before the summer was ended. + +Lady St. Aubyn had however set her heart on being witness to Joanna's +marriage, and seeing every thing arranged for the removal of the Rosses +to the Farm: it was also necessary for Charles Ross to go to London on +his own concerns; Joanna therefore was induced to give her hand to +Griffiths sooner than she had intended, and early in August the ceremony +was performed by the venerable Ross. Lord St. Aubyn gave away the bride, +and when the ceremony was ended, said-- + +"May you, my dear Joanna, and your worthy husband, but experience as +much happiness as I and my dear Ellen have since this altar witnessed +our mutual vows, and you will indeed be as happy as humanity can hope to +be." + +Ellen tenderly embraced her early friend, and with tears of affection +joined in the kind wishes of her beloved Lord. + +The whole of the bride's wardrobe had been the present of Lady St. +Aubyn, who shewed her judgment, by ordering every thing excellent in its +kind, but nothing fine or shewy. + +Lord St. Aubyn presented the newly-married couple with several useful +and handsome articles of plate and furniture; and when they left +Llanwyllan, they had the happiness of knowing that the worthy Powis +would be rendered truly comfortable by his new inmates, and that all +Ellen's first connections were blessed to the extent of their wishes. + +Charles Ross travelled part of the way with Lord and Lady St. Aubyn, +full of grateful thanks for all their kindness to him and his family; +and having conquered every aspiring wish, he was delighted to witness +the happiness of his once-loved Ellen, without envying that of her +excellent Lord. + +They had soon after the pleasure of hearing that all matters relative to +his late disastrous voyage had been happily and honourably adjusted, his +prize had safely reached the destined port, and through Lord St. Aubyn's +interest, Charles Ross was soon promoted to the rank of Captain and the +command of a fine frigate. + +The St. Aubyns found Lady Juliana waiting their arrival at St. Aubyn +Castle: and her intended chidings for their long stay were turned into +tears of joy at the sight of her darling Constantine, now able to walk +alone, and with expressive looks of love endeavouring to articulate, +though yet but imperfectly, the sweet names of papa and mamma, and soon +learning to distinguish Lady Juliana with smiles of affection, and +little arms twined round her neck, whenever she approached him. + +Just before Christmas, Sir Edward and Lady Leicester arrived at +Rose-hill, where they spent some weeks. De Montfort passed that evening +at the Castle, with several other visitors. The once gloomy and +eccentric Edmund was become another creature; and his manners, now +animated and cheerful, were very elegant, and the trifling degree of +singularity which still at times shewed itself in his expressions, only +seemed to give an air of originality to his character. + + * * * * * + +We have now brought our narrative to a close; for scenes of continued +peace and happiness, however desirable to the possessors, are but +insipid in delineation. + +St. Aubyn and his charming wife long enjoyed that serene happiness their +virtues merited; and diversifying the scene, by occasional excursions +into Wales, they had there the comfort of finding their friends +surrounded by blessings, for which they were to them indebted. At the +Castle, or in London, surrounded by their lovely young family, they +still acknowledged that in domestic life they found their dearest +felicity; and with no more sorrow than is inseparable from humanity, +their years glided on amidst the joys of friendship, and the delights of +connubial and parental love. + + +THE END. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Mystery and Confidence (vols. 3 of 3), by +Elizabeth Pinchard + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MYSTERY AND CONFIDENCE *** + +***** This file should be named 34933.txt or 34933.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/4/9/3/34933/ + +Produced by Mark C. 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