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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/35057-8.txt b/35057-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..e2542a1 --- /dev/null +++ b/35057-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,4143 @@ +Project Gutenberg's Dilemmas of Pride, (Vol 2 of 3), by Margracia Loudon + +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: Dilemmas of Pride, (Vol 2 of 3) + +Author: Margracia Loudon + +Release Date: January 24, 2011 [EBook #35057] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK DILEMMAS OF PRIDE, (VOL 2 OF 3) *** + + + + +Produced by Heather Clark, 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) + + + + + + + + + + DILEMMAS OF PRIDE. + + BY MARGRACIA LOUDON + + THE AUTHOR OF FIRST LOVE. + + + IN THREE VOLUMES. + + VOL. II. + + LONDON: + + BULL AND CHURTON, HOLLES STREET. + + 1833. + + + + +DILEMMAS OF PRIDE. + + + + +CHAPTER I. + + +Alfred felt a strong and restless desire to absent himself from +Cheltenham for a time. What might ultimately occur he saw as a frightful +spectre in the distance, and he even strove to keep his mental vision +fixed with stern steadiness on the unwelcome image, while he laboured to +discipline his mind to generous emotions, and teach it to desire +absolutely the happiness of his truly generous brother, without any +remaining reference to self, even though Willoughby should become a +serious and a successful admirer of Caroline's. But to witness the early +steps, the daily progress towards such a consummation, was what seemed +to his imagination impossible to be endured. Caroline's gentle +smiles--the privilege of walking beside her on the Montpelier +promenade--of sitting near her little work-table in Lady Palliser's +drawing-room--of joining his voice to hers in certain duets which he +called to mind individually: these had been his own. The dread of seeing +them appropriated by another, appeared, in the present disordered state +of his mind, to terrify his fancy even more than all the vague and +distant views of that irremediable step; the very despair attending the +contemplation of which awed every gentler emotion into stillness; and +produced comparatively, a seeming, if not a salutary calm. Accordingly +he made up his mind to go to town, on the plea of aiding to complete +some arrangements then in progress for his promotion. We forgot to +mention that our hero held one of those fashionable licences to be shot +at, an ornamental commission in the Dragoon Guards. By using the word +ornamental, we do not wish to infer that a regiment of Dragoons is not +useful in a field of battle; we only mean to say, that in peaceful times +like the present, young men go into the Guards more with a view to +becoming _ornamental_ members of society than useful engines of warfare, +and very naturally feel more ambitious to attract the attention of +ladies than to repel the enemy. + +Alfred set out for town. For several days however, Willoughby continued +in a very unsettled state of mind, avoiding rather than seeking the +society of Lady Caroline Montague. + +He had always entertained towards Alfred an affection much stronger +than, from the strangeness of his temper, was known to any one but +himself, or perhaps even to himself. His thoughts were now absorbed and +saddened by the remembrance that Alfred was not happy. He felt a +fastidious repugnance to draw happiness himself from the same source +which had caused, and was still causing his brother pain; and rather +than run the risk of aggravating that pain, he doubted whether it would +not be better to relinquish at once an acquaintance of only a few days. +He almost wished he had gone to town with Alfred; yet town had +unpleasant associations for him just then. + +For a time, guided by feelings such as we have described, he almost +avoided Caroline; yet a fatality seemed to hang upon him. Though he told +himself again and again that she was but the acquaintance of an hour, it +seemed as if the matured attachment of Alfred had, by some mysterious +tie, by some identity of sympathies existing in nature between the twin +brothers, flung its spell, from the first interview, over the heart of +Willoughby, as though those more than brothers scarcely enjoyed a +divided being, but that the wishes and affections of both were still +united by hidden links, which irresistibly propelled them to one object. + +The very efforts which Willoughby made not to attach himself to our +heroine seemed to invest his feelings with a seriousness, a pathetic +tenderness, so strangely mingled with his pity for Alfred, that while he +sometimes sat apart, yet unable to withdraw his gaze from the mild and +lovely features of Caroline, his sensations approximated to torture. + +Her beauty appeared to him, the more he gazed upon it, Nature's only +perfect work. That any one could admire any other style, any other +lovely being, seemed to him a thing impossible. His former fancied +attachment he now saw to have been indeed but a dream of vanity, and +that it had touched any other feeling. + +He could not, however, maintain the struggle long; he soon began to seek +for arguments favourable to his wishes. Alfred's love, he told himself, +could not bear comparison with his in fervour, or he would have +persevered longer--he would have renewed his offer again and again. The +attachment was not mutual, Caroline having herself rejected him. Such an +attachment then would, in all probability, soon be forgotten; then why, +if he could, make himself acceptable, might he not be happy? In a little +time he arrived at the certainty that Alfred would himself be generous +enough to rejoice in his happiness. + +Lady Palliser's encouragement was decided. Caroline's indeed was but +passive. Geoffery, however, himself believing his cousin's attachment to +be a hopeless one, pretended to point out many marks of a hidden +preference, which he said could not be mistaken, averring that a cool +looker-on was better able to judge than a party interested. + +Willoughby, more even than the rest of the world, was liable to being +flattered into the belief of what he wished; he very soon, therefore, +gave himself over to a passion which left him no longer master of any +one thought or feeling. + +Geoffery's motives were such as we have already pointed out. +Unsuccessful courtships were at least time lost, while his being the +administering medium of flattery and flattering hopes kept up his own +influence. + +Willoughby, when he wrote to his brother, which he did frequently and +kindly, thought there was a delicacy in refraining entirely from any +mention of Caroline, or of his own growing admiration; accordingly he +did not even allude to the subject. + +Three or four letters had been severally received by Alfred, and opened +with excessive trepidation, dreading what they might contain; yet when +they were concluded and found not to contain even the name of Caroline, +the feeling of momentary relief was followed by one allied to +disappointment; one which was at least an access of the miserable +suspense, the restless craving to know something, even the worst, rather +than look any longer upon the desolate blank, which, without the +slightest variation, each weary day now presented. From the hour he had +quitted Cheltenham, and it was now some weeks, he had seemed to himself +a being cut off from the past, apart from the present, shut out from the +future. It was a state of mind no longer to be endured. Within about +half an hour after the receipt of Willoughby's last letter, though it +was then about ten o'clock at night, he set out for Cheltenham. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + + +Alfred arrived at Cheltenham at an early hour in the morning. On +repairing to Lady Arden's villa, however, he found that the family had +already gone to the walks. + +That Caroline was probably there also was his first thought; his next, +that Willoughby perhaps at that very moment walked beside her as her +received lover. He certainly dreaded to behold realized the picture his +imagination had formed. Yet a strange restless feeling, a sort of +desperation, blended with a faint hope that he might be quite wrong, +impelled him to turn his footsteps towards Montpelier. + +It chanced that the band which had paused for one of the usual +intervals, recommenced just at the moment. It would be utterly +impossible to describe the universal thrill which, on hearing the +well-known sounds, took possession of Alfred's whole frame, the rush of +associations, numerous, various, vivid, yet so cruelly contrasted with +his present feelings. + +He wandered on, and entering what may be termed _the_ walk, beheld close +to him, but in the act of turning, Caroline and Lady Palliser, with +Willoughby in attendance. He had seen Caroline's countenance for one +moment, but none of the party had seen him. Their backs being now +towards him he followed within a few paces, endeavouring to summon +resolution for the necessary task of joining and speaking to them. + +Willoughby it was evident had no eyes for any object but his fair +companion, towards whom he turned and addressed with an eagerness which +precluded the possibility of his ever once looking before him, much less +over his shoulder. Caroline of course turned her head from time to time +towards Willoughby to reply. She wore the memorable close bonnet of +white sarsenet which Alfred had thought so becoming. The morning he had +first seen her wear it became present to memory, while imagination +vividly pourtrayed within its own beautifying sanctuary that vision of +loveliness which it now seemed to be the peculiar privilege of another +to behold, as once it had been his, sheltered from the common gaze, and +beautiful for him alone. + +Lady Arden's party also was close before him, but his agitation, instead +of being at all composed by the time he reached the front of the +pump-room, was so much increased, that while the ranks of fashion were +wheeling to the right or left, to turn down the prescribed limit, he +found a convenient screen behind the crimson velvet pelisse of Lady +Whaleworthy who chanced to be near, and a moment after, turning off by a +cross walk, he made his way home. On the plea to the servant who +admitted him, of fatigue after his journey, he sought the shelter of his +own apartment; where, while he was supposed to have retired to bed and +slept, he sat strengthening and preparing his mind by meditation for a +meeting with his brother, and endeavouring to resolve what should be the +tenor of his own conduct. + +He had been but a very short time shut into his room, his mind still in +much too perturbed a state for society, when he heard the family party +coming in below. He could distinguish Willoughby's step cross the hall +and hastily ascend the stairs, but he had not yet resolution to admit +him; he therefore bolted his door without noise, and remained quite +still. He heard Willoughby turn the handle of the lock gently, and after +pausing a moment retire. "They have told him of my arrival, and with his +wonted kindness, poor fellow, he is impatient to see me," thought +Alfred. "And if he is destined," he added, after a pause, "to a better, +a brighter lot than mine, shall I wantonly embitter his happiness by +allowing him to perceive that the confirmation of hope to him will be +the sealing of despair to me? No, no, I will be more generous, he shall +see me firm, collected--if possible cheerful. Nay, that he is happy, +surely ought to be, and as surely is, a source of rejoicing to me. Would +this admit of a question were his happiness derived from any other +source?--Certainly not! What perverted feeling, then, can it be to which +I yield?--Selfishness! yes, selfishness the most aimless, the most +degraded! For shame! for shame! I must cast it from me and be a man." + +As he formed this resolve he rose from his seat and stood erect. After a +few seconds he hastily decided on descending to the breakfast-room, lest +Willoughby should again seek him; for he felt that he should have more +self-command in the full family circle, than were his heart just at this +moment subjected to the probing of his affectionate brother's anxiety in +a private interview. + +Alfred, too amiable not to be a general favourite, was received by every +individual of the party with the most entire cordiality, except, indeed, +Geoffery, who had no good will for any one. + +Willoughby, by the manner of shaking hands, and a look which accompanied +the action, implied a kind and even anxious enquiry into the state of +his brother's feelings, which it cost Alfred an effort to parry. He did +so, however, though with an air of rather overdone carelessness. + +Willoughby, deeply interested in believing him sincere, and himself not +a very keen observer, was more than satisfied--he was delighted. And by +the time breakfast was concluded, so well had Alfred, aided by a +feverish excitement, acted the part of cheerfulness and even gaiety, +that Willoughby now looked forward to the coming evening with unmixed +pleasure. It was the one fixed for a splendid ball at Lady Arden's, and +Lady Caroline Montague was already engaged to open it with him. + +The ball was so far a fortunate circumstance for our hero, for his +sisters could think of little else, which prevented their bantering him +in the unmerciful manner they might else have done about forsaking his +post. Mrs. Dorothea Arden, who after being at the walks with the young +people, always breakfasted with the family party, was so anxious on this +particular morning to see that meal concluded--having many arrangements +to recommend to her nieces, that she too made but one remark on the +painful topic, merely saying, as she rose from table; "Well, I am glad, +Alfred, you have returned in time not to allow your beautiful heiress to +be run away with. Willoughby has been paying fierce love in that quarter +I assure you. However, I should hope that with his ninety thousand +a-year of his own, he has no serious intention of interfering with your +making so desirable a match." + +Mrs. Dorothea had effected her exit by the time she finished her speech, +so that fortunately no answer was required. An awkward silence however +followed; for though all the ladies had by this time departed in various +directions, Geoffery's presence precluded any thing like confidential +conversation between the brothers. + +By our constant mention of Geoffery, it may be supposed he lived with +the Arden family, and it must be confessed that he found it both +convenient and agreeable to do so in a great measure; he had, however, a +nominal home at a hotel. For the last few moments Alfred had yielded to +a reverie of no very agreeable nature, the result of which was, a +conclusion arrived at with inward dismay: namely, that if he would avoid +calling down a universal clamour of remark both upon himself and Lady +Caroline, he must continue on friendly, and apparently intimate terms +both with Lady Palliser and her daughter, and for this purpose pay to +both every polite attention which intimacy claims; and still more that +the exertion, however painful, must be made at once. + +Accordingly, with as much ease of manner as he could assume, he proposed +to Willoughby and Geoffery that they should accompany him in a morning +visit to Jessamine Bower. + +"I suppose you forgot to ask Mrs. Dorothea's permission before you fall +in love," murmured Geoffery aside to Willoughby, as they passed out; +"how absurd it is of aunts and mothers to suppose that they are to +dictate to young men in these matters; but women love to hear themselves +talk." + + + + +CHAPTER III. + + +Lady Palliser not being at home, Alfred was spared the trial of this +first visit, and felt that the respite, even till evening, was a +sensible relief. + +Geoffery, after a vain effort to draw Willoughby to the billiard rooms, +repaired thither himself; and the brothers, thus left to each other's +society, wandered on into a quiet walk, and naturally fell into +confidential conversation. + +So well had Alfred hitherto acted his part, and so successfully did he +during this interview conceal his emotions, that Willoughby was +gradually led to open his whole heart, to dwell with enthusiasm on his +attachment, and even to speak of his hopes. He would not have approached +this latter part of the subject had he not at length mistaken Alfred's +fortitude for indifference, and persuaded himself that prudential +considerations must have been chiefly influential in tempting his +brother to seek the hand of Caroline. + +"I cannot tell you how happy you have made me, Alfred," he said, "by +returning among us, and in such good spirits. And remember," he added, +"that whenever and wherever you may fix your ultimate choice, it will be +my joy to forward your views to the utmost of my power. Whatever +settlement the lady's family shall require, you may command at my hands; +I speak without limit." + +Alfred made an evasive, but affectionate and grateful reply. + +"That we may be sometimes mistaken in the strength, or rather the +reality and consequent durability of our feelings," continued +Willoughby, "I am now fully aware from my own experience. I thought +myself very sincerely attached to Lady Anne Armadale, and for a short +time after her worthless breach of faith, I believed myself quite +miserable; yet how deeply am I, in point of fact, indebted to her +ladyship for giving me an opportunity of being undeceived before it was +too late! You see, my dear Alfred," he added, smiling, and looking round +in his brother's face, "that a disappointment is not always an +irremediable misfortune." Alfred had not time to assume cheerfulness of +countenance; and Willoughby sighed as he continued, "Not always, I say; +for how widely different are my present feelings. I sometimes shudder +when I think how little they are within my own control! Alfred," he +added, suddenly standing still, and laying his hand on his brother's +arm, "if the hopes to which I have now given up my whole soul prove less +than true, I shall--become a madman!" he subjoined, after a moment's +pause. "You can have no idea," he pursued, "of the wildness of my +thoughts, when I give way to a doubt----" A long silence followed, which +Willoughby at length broke by saying, "I am well aware that suicide is +one of the greatest of crimes; yet without even visible or absolute +insanity, I can imagine the balance of the mind being so entirely upset +on one all-engrossing object, as to render us for the time no longer +accountable beings." + +"There are cases," replied Alfred, with mournful solemnity, "which +certainly require a more than common exertion of fortitude to carry us +through the hour of trial. Impulses, however, of a sinful tendency must +not only be resisted, but from the first they must be dismissed from our +very thoughts; they must not be dwelt upon even to be condemned, lest +our minds become, as it were, familiar with crime, and one barrier be +thus broken down." + +"Fortitude!--reason!" repeated Willoughby. "Alfred," he added, laying +both his hands on his brother's shoulders, "I fear I am already in a +delirium! I have intoxicating hopes, yet I know not if they are +rational; for there are times when I conjure up fears and calculate +chances, till breathless and with beating pulses I could almost rush on +self-destruction as a refuge from the mere possibility of ultimate +failure!" While uttering the words self-destruction, he looked wildly +round for a moment, as if in search of the means. + +Alfred was indescribably shocked: the painful surmise which, on less +important occasions, had frequently crossed his imagination, now struck +him with redoubled force. His sympathy with his brother, mingled as it +was with the strange circumstances of his own case, became a sort of +agony. "Why should you, my dear Willoughby," he said, "who can command +every means of enjoyment this earth has to offer--why should you give +way to dreams, so wild, so incoherent? Banish all such thoughts, and let +me have at least the happiness of seeing you happy." An anxious +inquiring look was Willoughby's only reply to this. He shrank +unconsciously from seeking any unwelcome confession--a selfish feeling, +of which he was not aware, secretly urging him to believe without +probing too deeply, that Alfred was comparatively indifferent. In +silence, therefore, the brothers now bent their steps homewards, Alfred +reflecting the while on the peculiar cruelty of his fate; for if a +miracle could now be wrought in his favour, and Caroline be restored to +him all he had once believed her, his compassion for Willoughby, he +felt, would render the remainder of his own life wretched. Yet how did +his heart sicken at the thought of the scenes he must witness, the +confidences he must hear, the thoughtless railleries he must parry, if +he would act successfully the part which he felt it his duty to +maintain: for why should he wantonly embitter for another the cup of joy +which he was himself forbidden to taste; that other a brother whom he +fondly loved--a brother who he knew loved him with the most enthusiastic +affection? in short, in a futurity now become evidently unavoidable, he +beheld, as it were, all the appalling apparatus of torture displayed +before him, yet felt necessitated to submit his spirit to agony, with +almost the stern fortitude of an Indian chief, yielding his limbs to the +cruelty of his foes. + +No sooner did he enter the drawing-room than his sisters began to teaze +him, first about the length of his visit; and when they found he had not +been admitted, one observed that a runaway lover did not deserve the +favour of an audience; another asked archly, if he had commissioned +Willoughby to take the sole charge of Caroline in his absence. Lord +Darlingford, who was holding a skein of silk on the extended fingers of +both hands for Jane to wind, being unconscious how painful the subject +was to Alfred, said that he would not suspect Mr. Arden of conduct so +imprudent, for that love-making by proxy was universally acknowledged to +be extremely perilous. + +Louisa declared that with her the lover who was present was always the +favourite. Sir James, who was standing beside her, giggled, and drew a +step nearer. An expression of disgust passed over her countenance, +which, however, she concealed, by stooping closer to her scrap-book, +into which she was writing some passionate lines given her by Henry, of +the ardour of whose manner when he last repeated the said lines she was +reflecting at the moment. + +Jane thought, but did not say, that absence would rather add tenderness +to feeling where it did exist; without, however, daring to associate the +thought with the idea of one now absent--and who had once been +remembered with tenderness--for his marriage with another had some time +since appeared in the _Morning Post_. + +Madeline, whose heart was free, expressed openly the sentiment Jane had +secretly thought, though not without one of those prophetic blushes +which will suffuse the cheeks of even disengaged young ladies at the +very anticipation of being one time or other in love in their turn. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + + +Geoffery was still at the billiard table, where, with the assistance of +Sir William Orm, he was engaged in plucking a new pigeon, no less a +personage than the future head of the Salter family. + +Mr. John Salter was a vain, vulgar, selfish fool; in natural clumsiness +a caricature of John Bull personified, yet so determined to be French +and Frenchified, and so proud of his travels to and through Boulogne, +that the young men about the rooms, to whom he afforded infinite +amusement, called him the Marquis. Sir William Orm, though he had long +since cut the other members of the Salter family, sometimes did the +young man the honour to win his money; while Geoffery Arden, and several +other fashionables, granted him the privilege of a limited portion of +their acquaintance on the same liberal terms. When the Misses Salter, +however, saw their brother bow to one gentleman, speak to another, and +walk with a third, their drooping hopes naturally revived. + +"Who is that, John?--Has he much fortune--Is he married?--Couldn't you +ask him to dinner some day?--And who is that? I never saw you speak to +him before." Such were the questions and comments addressed by the young +ladies to their hopeful brother, who never, however, took the trouble of +giving them any satisfaction; his usual polite reply being, "If I choose +to ask him to dinner, I won't wait for your leave you may depend upon +it." + +"Well," said Miss Salter to her sister, "if we get plenty of men +acquaintance through John, we needn't much care about the ladies after +all. It's the men we want you know." + +"I know that," said Grace, "but I don't know that we shall get them: +however we might have had both the ladies and the gentlemen, only for +your improper conduct to Mrs. Dorothea. Isn't this Mr. Arden that John +knows, her nephew; and Sir Willoughby Arden, and the other Mr. Arden +both her nephews? besides, her knowing all the fine people; why she +would have been the very best acquaintance in Cheltenham, if we had only +kept her while we had her." + +"Well, I wish you'd keep your temper I know, and not be always harping +on that old story." + +"Temper, indeed! The less you say on that subject the better; but for +that matter I mean to take your advice and _keep_ my temper, as it +happens to be one of the best going; but I recommend you to part with +yours as soon as possible, for you can't exchange it for a worse let me +tell you." + +Miss Salter, who had just finished washing her hands, snatched up the +basin, flung its contents in her sister's face, and effecting her +retreat during the first consternation of the enemy, said, as she +flounced out of the room, "except I changed it for yours." + +Descending in haste, she encountered her brother, Sir William Orm, and +Mr. Geoffrey Arden in the entrance hall. Astonished, delighted, and +covered with smiles, she accompanied them into the drawing room; ere +however they had time to be seated, in rushed Miss Grace, dripping from +the shower bath so lately administered by her affectionate sister, and +her eyes so blinded by the visitation of soap suds, that, alas, she saw +not the strangers; but having heard her brother's voice as he crossed +the hall, she poured forth her bitter complaints, sobbing violently, and +relating the particulars of the assault perpetrated by Miss Salter. John +laughed rudely--Sir William and Geoffery looked foolish--and Grace, +having received a private hint from her sister, wiped her eyes, beheld +the gentlemen, and after standing for a moment perfectly aghast, took +her departure; while Miss Salter, in utter confusion, and with a +countenance of the deepest mortification, yet trying to force a laugh, +said it was very childish of Grace to take her silly jest amiss. + +"You're such a pair of little innocent children, to be sure," said her +brother with a sneer. + +"Some people have a particular dislike to practical jokes," observed Sir +William Orm. + +"This is not the entertainment however that I brought my friends home to +receive," continued the amiable Mr. John. "So I beg you'll keep your +quarrels to yourselves, and order some dinner." + +Mr. Salter entering at the moment Miss Salter made her escape, she flew +first to the room to which her sister had returned to repair the injured +adornments of her person, opened the door, thrust in her head, grinned a +silent defiance, and slamming the door to again, ran down to Mrs. +Johnson, to consult in providing a proper entertainment for guests so +valuable, or rather so invaluable, as were two fashionable beaux. Hotels +and pastry cooks were ordered to be laid under contribution, and no +expense spared, let papa scold as he might. In cases of such vital +importance, thought Miss Salter, people mustn't stick at trifles. She +then ran up stairs again and in breathless haste, with the assistance of +a housemaid changed her dress, and throwing on all the gold chains and +bracelets she could muster, made her appearance in the drawing-room, +looking however, as might have been expected, after so much exertion +both mental and corporeal, not quite so cool as she could have wished. +Whether, therefore, it was most to her relief or to her disappointment, +when she found the gentlemen too much occupied to perceive her entrance, +she was not able to define her feelings with sufficient accuracy to +decide, although she had plenty of time for self-examination, having +nothing to do during the full hour that dinner was delayed by the +necessary additions, but to sit in perfect silence beside her sister on +a sofa. The fact was, that the four lords of the creation had got to a +rubber at whist and looked as if the slightest interruption would annoy +them. + +And young ladies, who have neither beauty nor fortune to recommend them, +are obliged to be so amiable, that they learn to acquire an anticipative +perception of what will be pleasing and soothing to the whims and +tempers of those falsely important personages--bachelors. Alas! alas! +for the dignity of the poor ladies! But this is only another of the many +evil consequences of the monopoly of property; for that monopoly being +generally vested in the male line, women are early taught that it is +only by worshipping some golden calf, in other words some man of +fortune, that they can hope to be restored to any participation, either +in the comforts of domestic, or in the distinctions of public life. Were +there but a little more justice laid in at the foundation of society, +surely there would be less occasion for this heartless scramble, so +revolting to almost all, while too many of those who were made for +better things, find themselves necessitated by circumstances to join the +throng, whose every movement and motives they despise; but as they +cannot change the world, they are compelled to let the world change +them; for tastes and feelings may be outraged, but dinners cannot be +dispensed with. + +How different an aspect would the world in a very short time present if +that offspring of pride and prejudice, the unjust law of primogeniture, +were abolished. The slaves of circumstances, whether men or women, would +thus, without spoliation or revolution, be gradually emancipated, and +the worship of wealth, that most universal and degrading of all +idolatries, be put down. The standard of ostentation would be lowered, +tis true; but the sum of human felicity would be increased, not only in +a natural proportion, but still more through the medium of that ideal +estimate which now poisons the very sources of peace. For then, not only +would the number possessed of comfortable independence be much greater, +but all those so blessed would learn (their understandings being no +longer warped by invidious comparisons) to know themselves rich and feel +themselves happy. Imagine then pride, prejudice, and famine thus +banished from the world. Fancy this amended state of things to have +existed for some centuries, and the happy generation then in being +looking back on the records of our times. Would they believe what they +read to be a grave statement of facts? Certainly not! On the contrary, +they would be inclined to suppose the whole not only a work of fiction, +but the conception of a madman's mind; so extravagant, so far removed +from nature and probability would every action appear, so insufficient +every motive, the sacrifices of realties to phantoms so egregiously +inordinate, so hyperbolically absurd, that the feelings and adventures +of personages so unlike themselves would find no fellowship with their +sympathies. As well might we be expected to feel pious awe when we read +of the gross idolatries of the ancient sage or modern savage. When, +however, we look back on obsolete absurdities, or abroad on foreign +follies, and find that when objects are removed from the artificial +atmosphere of interests and habits we can discern them with +distinctness, it seems not unreasonable to hope, that our mental vision +is in itself perfect, and that therefore when the great luminary truth, +which is gradually climbing the intellectual horizon, shall have arrived +at its meridian, and dissipated the mists of prejudice, we shall behold +with equal distinctness those objects, which lying in and around our +homes and our times more intimately concern our happiness. Were all the +world governed by rational, sufficient, and consistent motives, how few, +comparatively speaking, would be the ills of life! + +The objectors to the just division of paternal inheritance urge that the +wellbeing of a state is best secured by the members of the community +having as great a stake in the country as possible, and assert that such +a division would lessen that now possessed by the heads of families. But +is not the heartfelt happiness, the peaceful and joyous prosperity of +the many, not only a greater stake than the ostentatious pride of the +few, but one much more calculated to rouse when necessary the +lion-spirit of national defence? + +To those who would bring forward, as so many insurmountable objections, +the thousand remote evils they think they can foresee, as the probable +results of the system we thus advocate, we can only reply, that we do +not pretend to understand the difficult science of political economy, we +only know that what we recommend is just. Do justice then in all things +we would say, not in the pride of opinion but on principle, and let the +Allwise Disposer of the fates dispose of the consequences. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + + +At dinner young Salter was vastly liberal of his father's wine, and +called loud and often for Champaigne, sparkling bumpers of which had +shortly the effect of so raising the spirits of his guests, that they +began their usual merciless quizzing of the Marquis, as they styled +their younger host; for, holding as they did, all the family in +sovereign contempt, the presence of father and sisters was no sort of +check. Indeed they rather seemed to expect that their easy familiarity +would be received as a compliment by the whole domestic circle; nor were +they far wrong in their calculations. Mr. Salter, honest man, thought +that, as he had been at a great expense about his son's education and +travels to foreign parts, it was no wonder that his said son should on +his return home create a very great sensation. As for the young ladies, +they were particularly well pleased; for John's getting so intimate with +men of fashion must, they thought, lead to their receiving more or less +attention. + +"You import the silk for your own waistcoats, I suppose, Salter?" +observed Sir William Orm, "there is nothing like it to be had in this +country." + +"I heard a lady--a lady of title too--say, no later than last night," +chimed in Geoffery, "that she would give anything for a pair of slippers +made out of one of the Marquis's waistcoats, they were all so perfectly +beautiful." + +"She don't mean to go barefooted till she gets them, I hope," replied +the polite object of this delicate compliment. + +"I suspect," said Sir William, "that it is the Marquis's own beauty +which the lady has so associated with the patterns of the silks he wears +that she knows not how to separate the ideas." + +"Salter is certainly a fortunate fellow," rejoined Geoffery, "the ladies +all admire him." + +"Confess the truth now, Marquis," cried Sir William; "in round numbers +at home and abroad, how many hearts do you think you have broken in your +time?" + +"I know better than to kiss and tell," answered young Salter +conceitedly. + +"That chain," said Geoffery, "which you wear in such graceful festoons, +Marquis, must be either Venetian or Maltese, the workmanship is so +exquisite. By-the-by, there was a lady last night admiring that too, and +wishing so much you would make her a present of it." + +"What," cried Sir William, "the ladies volunteering to wear his chains? +you may well be vain, Marquis." + +"They may volunteer to wear this that get it," said young Salter, +looking down at the chain. + +"You are a great fool, John," observed his father, "hanging money round +your neck that way, that's paying no interest." + +"Pardon me!" interrupted Sir William, "it is interesting to the ladies." + +"He will be able to afford it to be sure," continued old Salter, "for +which he may thank an industrious father. Why, gentlemen, when I began +the world--confound it!" he cried, shoving back his chair violently, +"what are you treading on my gouty foot for?" + +Miss Salter, who knew too well what was coming, had tried to avert the +impending evil by, not it would seem a gentle hint under the table. It +had for many years of Mr. Salter's life been his boast that he had +earned every shilling of his own fortune. "Any fool might belong to an +old family," he would say, "but a man deserved credit, he thought, who +could make a new one;" which as we have already hinted he was determined +to do, by heaping all his wealth on the noble Marquis. On Mr. Salter's +first coming to Cheltenham, however, his daughters had prevailed on him, +much against his will, to be silent on this favourite topic; while they +had flourished away from morning till night about family--respectable +family--highly respectable family--old family--ancient family; till at +length, by dint of retrograde movements, they had arrived, for aught we +know, at coming in with the conqueror. But, alas, about this time Lady +Flamborough jilted, and Ladies Whaleworthy and Shawbridge cut poor Mr. +Salter, and so put him out of humour with all sorts of quality, as he +called them, that he derived a species of consolation from suffering the +full tide of his old notions to overflow once more both his soul and his +conversation. In vain, therefore, was Miss Salter's hint, as well as +many subsequent interruptions. "When I began the world," he recommenced, +"the young man in the song who had but one sixpence was better off than +I was. My father came by his death in a colliery you see in Cumberland, +and left my poor mother with six of us upon the parish. I was big enough +at the time, I remember, to lead a cart, so was apprenticed to a farmer, +who moving some years after to a farm in Ayrshire, took me with him. +There I picked up the knowledge of Scotch farming that afterwards made +my fortune, and brought me a wife into the bargain, who, were she +living, good woman, wouldn't believe her own eyes, that that there fine +gentleman, and these here fine ladies were her own born children! Look +here to be sure," he continued, pointing to Miss Salter's ornaments, +"such chains, and rings, and bracelets, and nonsense; and if you'll +believe me, gentlemen, the first pair of shoes ever her mother had on +her feet I bought for her at Maybole fair, in Ayrshire. As for +ornaments, we were married with a rush ring, and all the household +furniture we possessed was a chaff-bed." + +"Well, Mr. Salter," said Sir William, "I can only say that times are +greatly changed for the better, and you have yourself to thank for it." + +"That's what I say, sir," cried Salter, striking his clenched hand on +the table till he made the glasses ring. "Let me see the man that has +done so much out of so small a beginning. My son will have as fine an +estate as any gentleman in the country, and as fine a house upon it as +any nobleman. And if the family is _new_, why so is the _property_, and +likely, therefore, like a _new_ coat, to give some wear, which is more +than some of the old ones will do," he added, winking, and looking +exceedingly wise as he laughed at his own wit. The mortified young +ladies here rose, and tossing their heads and biting their lips, took +their departure. + +"Nothing would serve my daughters, when first we come to this +vanity-fair," continued Mr. Salter, "but they must pass themselves off +for ladies of high family, forsooth, and behave with impertinence to +their betters, till they got themselves blown and cut too, as all that +sail under false colours deserve to be. But let a man, I say, come +forward with nothing but the truth in his mouth, and who shall despise +him for having made his way in the world by honest industry?" + +Mr. Salter's guests assented, in words at least, to his proposition, and +thus encouraged, he proceeded, "A man who has had his own and his +children's bred to get, may not have had much time, to be sure, _ither_ +for book-_larning_ or bow-making, and may not, therefore, be over good +company neither for your schollar nor your fine gentleman; but what e +that; there are plenty neither wiser nor genteeler than himself, why +shouldn't he be happy with them! As for his children, why, if he can +afford to make them independent, let him give them, as I have done, +plenty of schooling with it, and so make them company for any man." + +Geoffery here interrupted the discussion by rising to take his +departure, pleading the ball at his aunt's, which he must attend, while +Sir William Orm, finding there would be no chance of renewing the whist +party, inveigled away the Marquis to the hazard-table. Mr. Salter, thus +left to himself, was soon fast asleep in his chair; and his usual nap +being prolonged by his unusual potations, it was a couple of hours +before he found his way into the drawing-room. The disappointment of his +daughters, on his making his appearance alone, may be imagined, when it +is duly considered that they had waited tea, though we cannot say +patiently, till near one o'clock in the morning for the gentlemen, of +whose early retreat they were not aware. + +So much for feeding illbred men of fashion, in the hope of securing in +return what they have not to give--their politeness. After, therefore, +expressing warmly their disapprobation of such rudeness, the Misses +Salter had nothing for it but to retire to rest, venting on each other, +'till sleep closed their lips, the aggregate of spleen collected +throughout the day from so many fruitful sources. Yet here were people +whose more than common prosperity might have brought with it more than +common happiness in their own line, had not silly ambition and idle +vanity poisoned every fountain of attainable enjoyment, and created an +inconvenient thirst for the springs of a land of which they were never +likely to become naturalized citizens. + +The Misses Salter had always heard their poor father say, that he had +spared no expense in their education; they knew that they possessed +accomplishments, and prided themselves on remembering what they had been +made to read at school. But they knew not, for it came not within their +sphere to know, that there is an education of early habits effecting the +minutiæ of outward bearing, and acquired it would seem, by the +unconscious mimicry of infancy, the stamp of which no after-school +discipline can yet either erase or bestow; and still less were they +capable of comprehending, that there is a further education of refining +sympathies and ennobling sentiments which, while as children of Adam we +all share one first nature, bestows, in combination with that already +named of early habits, a sort of second nature, on the privileged few, +who from generation to generation have been reared, like exotics, amid +the beautiful and beautifying blossoms of delicacy and feeling, +sheltered from the rough winds of coarseness, the blighting atmosphere +of necessity, and the cold ungenial climate of that almost justifiable +selfishness unavoidably learned by those who have not only their own, +but their family's imperious wants to supply by their individual anxious +exertions. + +Thus it is that shades of thinking, of feeling, and of judging, scarcely +sufficiently palpable to form subjects of instruction, pass, +unintentionally imparted, unconsciously imbibed, from father to son, +from mother to daughter, till education in this enlarged sense, in other +words refinement, becomes a kind of hereditary distinction, which must +be possessed for several succeeding generations before it can well exist +in its highest perfection. + +That these are very sufficient reasons why the various classes of +society, for the comfort of all parties, should keep in their respective +spheres, till gradually assimilated by time and circumstances, no one +who knows the world can deny; the error lies in making pride instead of +expediency the ground of separation,--the sin, in suffering the +manifestations of that pride to be offensive. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + + +Lady Arden stood with Alfred receiving the still arriving guests, while +Willoughby was just leading away Lady Caroline to commence dancing. He +trembled as she took his arm, some of the uncomfortable doubts expressed +in his last interview with his brother recurring at the moment. "Why did +she always receive his attentions without hesitation, he thought, or +rather with a gentle, a winning acquiescence, yet never look happy." +This was a problem on which he pondered night and day, yet one which he +could never solve to his entire satisfaction. His intentions were +declared in their manner and in their object, and when this is the case, +he told himself again and again, not to avoid is surely to encourage. + +This ball was Caroline's first meeting with Alfred since his return; for +it may be remembered that in the morning he had only seen, not spoken +to, nor been seen by her. Willoughby's impatience had led him to +overstep the bounds of etiquette. He had been watching near the door, +and hearing Lady Palliser and her daughter announced in the first hall, +had hastened forward to meet them, given an arm to each, and led them +into the ball-room. To address both with tolerable composure was no easy +task for Alfred, but imperious necessity seemed to furnish him for the +time with the necessary strength. Lady Palliser, all smiles, expressed +great pleasure at seeing him, but Caroline's eyes instantly sought the +ground, and a glow which no effort could suppress, suffused her cheeks. +Alfred became as suddenly pale--a kind of terror seized him when he +recognized the well-known symptom of emotion, and beheld that accession +of loveliness which the fleeting brilliancy never failed to bestow on +one, the perfect beauty of whose features and form was always to him an +object sufficiently dangerous. Willoughby's leading her away, as already +noticed, to commence the dancing, was almost a welcome relief. + +"I cannot understand, my dear Alfred," said his mother anxiously, as +during a pause in the arrivals they stood for a moment quite apart; +"your present position with Lady Caroline? Willoughby seems as if by the +general consent of all the parties to have taken your place; the lady +receives him just as but the other day she did you, and you stand by as +if perfectly satisfied that your services were no longer required." + +"They are no longer required," said Alfred, "and this is, in fact, the +only explanation that can be given." + +"No, no; there is some foolish misunderstanding," said Lady Arden, "and +I fear," she added, "you are resigning not only your interest, but your +happiness too easily." + +"You would not deny a lady freedom of choice," whispered Alfred, as the +approach of fresh guests put an end to the conversation. Lady Arden +however, who loved all her children tenderly, but Alfred above all, was +far from satisfied. She sighed, and was compelled to await in silence a +more favourable opportunity for discussing the subject. + +The quadrille, and the waltz which succeeded it, being concluded, +Willoughby led his partner to a kind of arbour, formed by enclosing the +veranda, which was well supplied with exotics and flowering shrubs, with +an awning of canvass, so that the whole range of French windows could, +without imprudence, be permitted to stand open. It would seem that they +must have found this retreat a pleasing one, for it was some time before +they re-appeared, and when they did so, the countenances of both wore a +suspicious aspect, Willoughby's looked delighted, Caroline's conscious +and confused. + +Alfred had been considering that, to keep up appearances, he must, +particularly being at home, ask Lady Caroline to dance. He felt sick at +heart when he contemplated the exertion of false spirits it would +require to carry him through such an undertaking; yet the more he +dreaded the task, the more imperiously did he feel himself called upon +to go through its performance. As soon, therefore, as our heroine with +her late partner returned to the dancing-room in the manner described, +he approached. He was much struck by the expression of Willoughby's +countenance: he, however, proffered his request by a sort of indistinct +murmur. It was acceded to in sounds quite as inarticulate, and he felt +Caroline's trembling fingers laid as lightly as possible on his +proffered arm. The room now swam round, and how he found his way into a +quadrille which was forming, he never knew. The quadrille ended: a waltz +tune instantly commenced, and all the couples fell into the ring, as if +it were a matter of course; and with the rest, Alfred and +Caroline,--neither perhaps, now that the latter had forfeited her plea +of never waltzing, being prepared to give a reason for not doing as +others did. If even the quadrille had been an agitating task to poor +Alfred, the waltz certainly did not tend to compose his nerves; while +the idea of Willoughby, which was never for a moment absent, made every +thought and feeling agony. Yet was it useful; it gave firmness, if not +sternness to his deportment, and so enabled him to get creditably +through the concluding ceremonies of leading Caroline to a sofa beside +Lady Palliser, and procuring for her an ice, &c. + +On crossing the apartment he encountered Willoughby near a window, took +his arm, and drew him into the veranda. He had, as we have already +mentioned, been struck with the expression of Willoughby's countenance, +and could not help suspecting that some conversation of a peculiarly +interesting nature must have just passed between him and Caroline; while +he fancied that, could he once know the worst to a certainty, he should +afterwards be able to meet his fate with composure. + +"I think, Willoughby," he said, with tolerably well acted playfulness, +but looking down, for he could not venture to meet his brother's eye, +"that you have something to communicate that has given you pleasure; and +if so, do not fear it can give me pain. I trust I am not so wretchedly +selfish! That I have not been fortunate myself, I already know; that +you, my dear brother, should be more so, should not surely add to my +disappointment; nay, believe me, if I had a lingering regret remaining, +it would vanish before the certainty of your happiness." + +Thus encouraged, Willoughby, after some little hesitation, confessed +that Alfred's suspicions were just; that there had been a conversation +of the nature he supposed, and that he had met with so favourable a +hearing that he intended on the following day to speak to Lady Palliser +on the subject. Alfred, who had overrated his own strength, had not a +word to offer in reply. Fortunately, however, at the moment both +brothers hearing themselves inquired for by some of their sisters, +returned accordingly into the dancing-room. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + + +When Alfred quitted Lady Arden, her ladyship was joined, at her post +near the door, by Mrs. Dorothea, who having much anxious business to +arrange, was looking very important, with a large pack of her own +printed visiting cards in her hand. On the said cards was added in +writing, the words "At Home," together with a certain date, and in a +corner nine o'clock; from which latter memorandum hopes of dancing were +to be inferred. The date had been chosen with great nicety; for this was +to be Mrs. Dorothea's grand party for the season, and must be given +while she had her nice house, and before she should be obliged to go +back into miserable little confined lodgings, and discharge her footman, +&c. Still she wished it to be after Lady Arden's ball; for on that +opportunity was placed her grand dependence for picking up beaux. It was +for this laudable purpose that the pack of cards already mentioned had +been brought in her reticule, and the convenient position near the door +taken up. Every lord of the creation who made his appearance was +immediately introduced by Lady Arden to Mrs. Dorothea; for, if her +ladyship was in any danger of forgetting to do so, she invariably +received a reminding twitch of the sleeve, which obliged her in +self-defence, or rather in defence of the sit of her blond, to perform +the ceremony forthwith: notwithstanding which preventive measures, a +nice observer might have remarked, for the remainder of the evening, a +slight droop about the elbow of the gauze balloon, which had the +misfortune to be nearest the assailant. The introduction made, a card +was instantly presented by Mrs. Dorothea to each gentleman, and with a +slight bow pocketed by him. At length, however, one beau arrived, whom +it was Mrs. Dorothea's turn to introduce to Lady Arden. She did so with +great pomp and circumstance, as well as with evident triumph. The +gentleman, whose name was Cameron, was rather on the wrong side of +fifty-five, with a bald head, and blinking eyes, an Indian complexion, +and small features; but a certain smirking expression withal, and an air +of youthful activity, which denoted that he was still a bachelor. + +We did our friend Cameron injustice when we said that he was bald; for +he was still in possession of certainly not less than three hairs on +either side his head. While, as to the high estimation in which those +said hairs were held by their owner, no one could entertain a doubt, who +had ever seen the establishment kept expressly for their due culture and +arrangement. In the first place, Mr. Archibald Cameron's dressing table +was adorned with a display of no less than four large-sized, patent, +penetrating hair brushes, of the latest and most improved kind; next, +were ranges of bottles of self-curling fluid, _huile antique à la rose_, +&c. and pots of _pommade aux mille fleurs_, with combs of every +description; to say nothing of a sly little one in a case for the +waistcoat pocket, which, on all such occasions as morning visits, state +dinners, &c, was taken out in the hall, and used with the assistance of +a pocket glass, drawn from the fellow pocket, to coax the two said side +locks upwards, and by pointing them towards each other, induce them, as +nearly as possible, to meet over the centre of the naked polished +forehead. But as this was an undertaking too difficult to be always +achieved with perfect success, the restive curls not unfrequently stood +on end with the most obstinate pertinacity, like the pricked-up ears of +a listening cur. There was no help for this; for when the curls refused +to be coaxed, they were too great favourites to be quarrelled with, so +they were; just obliged to be allowed to have their own way. + +While Mr. Cameron stood speaking to Lady Arden and Mrs. Dorothea, the +latter lady looked frequently about her, with evident anxiety. At length +she made what she intended for a private signal with her fan to +Madeline, whom she espied walking up and down, leaning on the arm of her +last partner, one of those unhappy young men, _no match for any one_, of +whom the most prudent mothers are, notwithstanding, obliged to admit a +certain number when they give a ball, merely as dancing machines. This +is one very serious objection to giving absolute balls at all: it being +rather awkward to cut people whom one has exhibited at one's own house. +We question, therefore, whether it would not be more prudent in ladies +with unmarried daughters to resign, altogether, the eclat of +ball-giving, and limit themselves to a select quadrille, got up +_purposely_ by accident; in which every partner for the dance should be +a desirable partner for life: in case it should so happen. + +Madeline, in obedience to her aunt's summons, approached: Mrs. Dorothea, +with the greatest stateliness, held out her elbow, of which her niece +accepted the proffered support, making at the same time a slight +courtesy to her late partner, as at once a dismissal, and a recompence +for past services. He accordingly perceiving he was _de trop_ took +himself off. Aunt Dorothea, now glancing at Madeline with the side of +her eye, drew herself up, pursed her mouth, and looked amazingly +consequential; at length, after a delay sufficient in her opinion to +take off all particularity, she availed herself of a pause in the +conversation, and after remarking to Mr. Cameron, that she supposed he +was a dancing man, presented him to Madeline. Had Cameron been but +three-and-twenty he might have affected indifference about, or even a +dislike to, the particular modification of locomotion alluded to; but as +any demur at his particular stage of existence might have given occasion +for ill-natured people to surmise that his dancing days were over, he +declared himself a most devoted votary of the mirth-promoting rites of +the light fantastic toe, and asking Madeline to dance, led her towards +the ball-room. + +"Well," said Mrs. Dorothea, to Lady Arden, "I have managed that so +nicely." + +"And who, my dear madam, is that comical quizz?" demanded her ladyship. + +"Quizz, indeed! I should not have introduced Mr. Cameron to my niece," +said Mrs. Dorothea, haughtily, "had he not been a man of high +connexions, unexceptionable character, and very large fortune." + +"I have not the slightest doubt of your prudence, my dear ma'am, I +merely alluded to his appearance." + +"I see nothing the matter with his appearance, ma'am." + +"The matter, oh, no; merely he is a droll looking being: but what did +you say was his fortune?" + +"While Governor of Madras he is said to have realised about fifty +thousand pounds, and a short time before he returned from India, he +succeeded unexpectedly to the family property, about seven thousand +a-year, beside which, now that his elder brother is dead, he is heir to +his uncle, Lord Dunsmoor, whose title and estates, of full thirty +thousand per annum, he must inherit. That is a sort of quizz which I +think your ladyship will allow is not to be met with every day." + +"No, certainly, as you say. If he should take a fancy to Madeline, I +hope she won't think him too old." + +"If Madeline should, like many other young people, be very silly, I +should hope she would have your ladyship to think for her." + +All this was of course said aside, and _sotto voce_. Had the situation +been better adapted to confidential conversation, much more would have +been said, particularly by Aunt Dorothea, who considered Mr. Cameron the +very first prize in life's lottery. + +At two or three-and-twenty, when a poor younger brother and "_no match +for any one_," he had been a passionate lover of Aunt Dorothea, then a +beautiful girl of nineteen. But a marriage at that time would have been +too imprudent a thing to be thought of, and so they parted. This was +five-and-thirty years ago. For about the first ten years both parties +had been very faithful; but the affair had since, like most early +engagements, died a natural death. + +Aunt Dorothea, to do her justice, had too much good sense to dream of +any one continuing to be a lover of hers at her present age. And as for +Cameron, although a halo of romance had lingered around the remembered +image of his "First Love," even 'till their meeting on the very morning +of the evening we are now describing; it was the blooming girl of +nineteen whom his fancy still painted, such as she had looked +five-and-thirty years before; when vowing eternal truth, he had bade her +a long farewell. One sight of our respectable friend Mrs. Dorothea +Arden, now fifty-four years of age, banished in an instant every +romantic idea as associated with the personal attractions of that lady. + +The former lovers became, however, at once excellent friends; and in the +course of that day Aunt Dorothea laid her plan for making up a match +between one, whom she considered a sort of valuable heir-loom that ought +not to be allowed to go out of the family, and her favourite niece, +Madeline, who had always been reckoned like Mrs. Dorothea, and her aunt +knew her to be still disengaged. + +Woman--the delicate day lily, blooms her hour--fades, and disappears for +ever from beauty's garden! Man--the hardy evergreen braves the cold +storm of disappointment--stands through the long winter of delay--and +when his genial season of prosperity at last arrives, finds fair +companions still in the smiling buds of each succeeding spring. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + + +Madeline was considered by every one very like her aunt. To Cameron she +was the vision of his early days, restored unchanged. + +The years of past toil faded to a dream--the polished barrenness of the +forehead--the scanty growth and restive sit of the side locks--nay, +certain twitches of rheumatism in the knee and ancle joints were all +forgotten; he felt himself five-and-twenty, and not a day more! He was +in an ecstacy--a delirium;--in short, he was desperately in love. He +danced like a Vestris, and between the regular evolutions of the +quadrille, frisked about his partner, a perfect grasshopper: for such +was his excessive eagerness to oblige, that he waited not between each +service rendered to make the obsequious angle of knee or elbow straight +again, but fetched and carried with the docility of a spaniel, in +attitudes which, could he but have seen himself in a mirror, must have +made even himself laugh. The performance ended, Madeline took his arm +and walked towards aunt Dorothea, with a strange, conscious, +half-pouting expression of countenance, evidently not knowing whether +she ought to be flattered or annoyed by the conspicuous assiduities of +her old beau. + +Cameron was sent in pursuit of a passing tray to procure an ice. With an +air of infinite triumph Mrs. Dorothea patted the dimpled cheek of her +niece, and whispered, "I wish you joy, my dear, of your brilliant +conquest, for I do think Mr. Cameron seems to be quite smitten already." + +"Oh, but aunt, such an old man!" + +"Nonsense, my dear, we were all young once, and you won't be young +always recollect, so mind what you're about." + +The return of Cameron put an end to the lecture, which was only however +postponed to a more convenient opportunity. This occurred on the +dispersion of the company, when the family party collected at one end of +a long deserted supper table to talk over the events of the evening. + +"I only hope, Madeline," commenced Mrs. Dorothea, "that this affair may +go on as prosperously as it has commenced, and you will be quite an +Eastern queen." + +"If he were a nice young man," said Madeline. + +"He is quite young enough," retorted Mrs. Dorothea, "a girl should +always marry a man somewhat older than herself." + +"Somewhat; yes, but not twice or three times." + +"It is impossible, my dear child, to combine every advantage," observed +Lady Arden, with a sigh, "and the establishment, as your aunt says, +would undoubtedly be a very brilliant one." Willoughby, Jane, and +Louisa, all enquired eagerly about the fortune and connexions of the +gentleman, and on being informed of every particular, confessed that it +would certainly be a most desirable match. + +"When we consider too," said Lady Arden, "the great difficulty, the next +to impossibility, of meeting with suitable establishments for girls of +good family and small fortunes. They cannot marry wealthy men of low +connexions--that would be disgracing their families; they cannot marry +the younger sons of good families, as they too are of course poor; and +the elder sons cannot marry them, for they want money to pay off their +incumbrances; so that when a girl so situated chances to make a conquest +of a man who can afford to marry her, she may be said to be unusually +fortunate." To have escaped, she might have added, the saddest of all +the _Dilemmas of Pride_. + +"Whatever sort of fellow the man may be," interrupted Willoughby, +laughing. + +"That is not at all a fair inference," replied her ladyship. "We are of +course taking it for granted that the gentleman is of unexceptionable +character, agreeable, and, in short, all that a gentleman ought to be." + +"Which is, you will allow," persisted Willoughby, "taking a good deal +for granted. The only thing you ladies seem determined not to take for +granted is the fortune." + +"Luckily," observed Mrs. Dorothea, "there is nothing to take for granted +in this case. Indeed," she added, drawing up, "I should not, as I said +before, have introduced Mr. Cameron to my niece if he had not been in +every way a desirable connexion." + +The immediate prospect of the title was now discussed, the uncle being +eighty-six; the magnificence of the fine old place; the splendour of the +town residence; the entertainments to be given; the equipages, the +diamonds, and so forth: while at every pause Madeline was pronounced by +her aunt a most fortunate girl, till vanity at length stirring within +her, she began to think that she really was fortunate; and that she +must, she supposed, be civil to her old beau the next time she saw him. + +After this, when Lady Arden had retired to her own room, accompanied by +Madeline, who was her sleeping companion, she renewed the conversation +in a serious and tender strain, representing strongly to her daughter +the great danger of appearing for a season or two unappropriated, with +the ultimate and utter wretchedness of the single state, than which she +did not know if even an unhappy marriage were not preferable. "Mrs. +Dorothea says, you know," she added, trying to treat the subject +jestingly, though herself ill at ease, "that a bad husband, from which +heaven preserve you, my child!" she fervently ejaculated, "is quite a +_natural_ misfortune, and therefore easy to endure, in comparison with +the unnatural misery of having no tie to life; no affections, no +feelings, no hopes, no fears, no joys, no sorrows; yet to be surrounded +with the most undignified annoyances, and to feel that for want of more +important objects of interest, one's mind is degraded into being their +very slave, with just enough left of its former self to make it sensible +of its debasement. The cares of the wife and mother, however numerous, +however anxious, are comparatively ennobling! For though it is our +second self, and our children, who may be said to be parts of ourselves, +that are their objects, still they are not felt for self alone; they do +not spring from that most unredeemed of instincts, individual +selfishness. Then, in the case of Mr. Cameron," proceeded her ladyship, +"he is, your aunt says, so peculiarly amiable, and bears in every +particular so high a character, that there is every reason to hope that +where he fixed his affections he would make a kind and good husband." +And here again Lady Arden enlarged on the splendour of the match, yet +with tears in her eyes, and even more than her usual indulgent +tenderness of manner; for while she could not bear to resign prospects +so dazzling, she looked anxiously at her blooming child, and feared the +sacrifice might be too great. + +Madeline, very much affected by her mother's fond and winning +gentleness, said, and thought at the time, she was sure that she should +be quite happy in doing anything that would give her pleasure, promising +to be always and in every thing guided by her advice. + +"Still, my love, 'tis you yourself who must ultimately decide; only +don't be rash in casting away, should it ever be in your offer, what has +so many advantages." + +This doubt as to the fact of her having made the so much talked of +conquest at all, sounded somewhat disagreeable in Madeline's ear; and +perhaps went further in creating a desire to secure the said brilliant +establishment than all which had been said in its favour. She began +already to think herself threatened with the fate of Aunt Dorothea; and +contrasting that in imagination with what she was told her lot would be +as the wife of Mr. Cameron, she came to the conclusion, that whenever he +made her an offer of his hand she supposed she must accept it! + +What were the while the thoughts of the lover, as "sleepless he lay on +his pillow?" Smiles, dimples, and ringlets, floated in lovely confusion +before his mind's eye; the latter, however, brought with them a painful +remembrance of the scantiness of his own locks; then immediately +followed visions of gold and silver, and precious stones; and gratitude +and adoration; all to be offered at the feet of his fair idol, if she +would but kindly overlook the _slight_ disparity in their ages, and +become his wife. What equipages, too, she should have; what a palace she +should dwell in; and as to her own fair person, it should blaze the very +queen of diamonds! + +What a happy man, despite an extra twitch of rheumatism, brought on by +his dancing, would our old beau have been, had "some good angel," not +exactly "ope'd to him the book of fate" perhaps, but whispered to him +the propitious resolve just formed by the lovely object of his +affections. + +The angel, of course, would have had too much politeness to mention that +the lady intended to marry him solely for the glitter of his title and +his gold. + +Thus do we see the identical class of persons whom pride, were they +starving, would not suffer to seek a livelihood by selling any thing +else in the world, for very pride's sake willing to sell themselves!!! +Such are the strange monsters of inconsistency to which the prejudices +of society give birth. + +Such, in short, are the _Dilemmas of Pride_!!! + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + + +Willoughby was fidgeting in and out of the drawing-room, looking at his +watch every five minutes, drawing off and on his gloves, and whistling +out of tune, although his ear was excellent. Alfred was seated in a +corner reading a book, which he said he was anxious to finish, having on +that plea, though in general so obliging, refused to walk out with his +sisters. The fact was, that he was miserably desirous to watch the +movements of Willoughby, and be on the spot to hear from himself the +earliest account of the result of his intended visit at Lady Palliser's. +Willoughby suspected as much, but neither had the courage to speak to +his brother on the subject, though they had the room quite to +themselves, and knew that they enjoyed each other's confidence. At +length Willoughby, after looking at his watch rather longer than usual, +put it abruptly back into his pocket, once more drew on his gloves, but +now so hastily that he deprived one of a thumb; he then took his hat and +smoothed it round and round three several times with the wrist of his +coat, paused irresolutely between each deliberate performance of the +operation, as if intending to say something, and yet at length, without +speaking at all, rushed through one of the French windows which opened +on the lawn, and disappeared. Alfred, as soon as he was alone, raised +his head from his book, and with parted lips held his breath, to listen +for the tread of his brother's foot on the gravel, first in their own +garden, then in the adjoining one. He next heard his knock, and a few +moments after could distinguish, though not the precise words, +Willoughby's voice inquiring, of course, if Lady Palliser were at home. +Lastly he heard the entering step and closing door. + +Now it was Alfred's turn to pace up and down the apartment. He did so +with hurried and unequal steps for about ten minutes, then flung himself +on a sofa, and lay perfectly motionless, his eyes vacant of expression, +for their sight was turned inward, where fancy was busily pourtraying +the scene probably passing at the moment in Lady Palliser's +drawing-room--that very room in which he had lately spent so many +blissful hours; in which he had so often yielded to the fatally +fascinating conviction that he was beloved by a heart too innocent to +hide its feelings; that very room in which he had finally been accepted +with seeming confidence, with seeming tenderness; and yet in which but a +few hours after, he had been as capriciously, as unfeelingly rejected; +nay, rejected with the most unequivocal symptoms of personal aversion, +and that without any possible cause being assigned, except the lady's +having, in the mean time, met with and determined to captivate his elder +brother, who was a much richer, and as head of the family, a greater +man. And she had accomplished her end. Willoughby was probably at this +very moment declaring his love! How did Caroline listen? He pictured her +such as she had looked while he had himself spoken; and the most +pitiable agitation overwhelmed him. After the lapse of half an hour he +again heard footsteps on the gravel. He started up--he stood at the +window; he saw Willoughby approaching, his countenance beaming with +satisfaction. How strange were his own sensations; the exquisite pang +instantly checked by the bitterest self-reproach. Was it +possible?--Could he when he beheld the face of his kind, affectionate, +dear brother, expressive of happiness, grieve at the sight?--Oh, for +shame! it was not so--it should not be so--as to his own disappointment, +that had been an ascertained thing long before;--why recur to it now! By +this time Willoughby had entered and grasped his hand. Alfred mastered +his emotion, and cordially returning the pressure of the hand, said with +a forced smile, "I see you have been accepted?" + +"I have--it is not however to take place for several months; so Lady +Palliser has invited me in the mean while to stay some time with them in +----shire; and after I have been to Arden, and made all my arrangements +there, I am to join them in Paris, whence we are to proceed through some +parts of Italy and Germany; all previous to--to--the ratification of our +engagement. They will leave Cheltenham, I believe, to-morrow or next +day; but I am to spend this evening with them _en famille_, when I shall +know all their plans." + +Fortunately for Alfred, the walking party returned at this moment, which +spared him the painful necessity of either hearing more or speaking at +all, beyond the one warmly expressed ejaculation, "May you be truly +happy!" + +Each of the girls was attended by her respective lover; Louisa indeed by +both of hers, and Mrs. Dorothea was chaperon, as she was on all +occasions when Lady Arden felt fatigued; for the young people knew very +well they had only to get about their good-natured aunt and declare they +could not do without her, to make sure of her services. + +"What has become of Mr. Cameron?" asked Mrs. Dorothea. Madeline had been +thinking the same question. "Surely he has not slipped away without +bidding us good morning!" continued the old lady, "he came to the door +with us." + +The object of their enquiries now made his appearance; he had merely in +passing through the hall slunk behind the party a little to comb up the +side curls; and they had either been more unmanageable than usual, or +their owner had become more than ever anxious about his personal +appearance. + +A long luncheon-table was laid in the dining-room, furnished with many +good things which had adorned the supper of the night before; with this +resource, a little flirtation, and a good deal of music--for all the +girls sang and played on various instruments, nothing could be more gay +and agreeable than the party. Even Henry Lindsey was in high good +humour; for Louisa had that morning bestowed on him two smiles for each +one she had vouchsafed Sir James. + +Lady Arden, who was never early after a night of raking, joined them in +the midst of their merriment, looking, however, rather serious herself; +for Willoughby had been up to her dressing-room, and had confided to her +his pleasing prospects, and though she could not absolutely grieve at +the happiness of any of her children, she certainly could not help +regretting in this particular instance that Alfred had not been the +successful suitor. Setting aside a peculiar overflow of tenderness for +him as the secret favourite of her heart, she considered that, in a +pecuniary point of view it would have been a most desirable match for +him, while his brother did not require fortune. And then she had watched +Alfred, and had traced, or at least thought she could trace, effort in +his manner, and even in the very tones of his voice a cadence that was +not quite natural. There was something, in short, in the sound, that +made her look at him while he spoke, and pained her, she could not tell +why. He sat opposite to her at the said luncheon-table, and had just +offered to help her to something. She met his eyes and saw that they +rose and fell unsteadily before the enquiring expression of hers. The +first time they were alone, or at least thought themselves so, her +enquiries were so tender that he could no longer act a part. His eyes +filled with tears; ashamed of these he hid his face for a few moments, +then, as if to apologise for his weakness, with a vehement burst of +feeling confessed the ardour of his attachment; the hopes he had been +authorised to entertain--nay, how he had been on the morning of the very +evening on which Willoughby arrived, actually accepted; and then on the +very morning after as absolutely rejected, and from interested motives +he could not doubt; there was no time for preference. And here, he added +some bitter reflections on the misery of being a younger brother, till +his more generous feelings prevailing again he spoke with his usual +affection of Willoughby, and of his chief consolation being in the +thought of his happiness, for the sake of which it was that he had +struggled, and still would struggle to conceal, and ultimately subdue +every feeling of his own. + +Geoffery had been all this while laying _perdu_ on a sofa in the +adjoining drawing-room, the folding doors to which were open; he had +therefore heard enough of the foregoing conversation to be tolerably _au +fait_ of the family secrets of which it treated, sufficiently so at +least for a future purpose, of which, however, he was not, indeed could +not be at the time aware. On the philosophical principle, however, that +"knowledge is power," perhaps he thought it as well to have all the +knowledge he could obtain. A knowledge of peoples' affairs does +sometimes, there is no question, place them in our power. + +Without therefore announcing his presence he retained his unseen +position till Lady Arden and Alfred had severally quitted the room. + + + + +CHAPTER X. + + +In the evening, when Willoughby was preparing to go to Lady Palliser's, +he received a miniature note from her ladyship, saying, that Caroline's +cold was so much worse that she was not able to leave her room, which +untoward circumstance compelled them to resign the pleasure of seeing +him that evening. + +He was of course much disappointed. The next morning, and for several +succeeding ones, he called regularly; sometimes saw Lady Palliser, +sometimes not; but Caroline was still invisible, being confined to her +apartment by severe indisposition. Alfred, who felt that his fate was +now sealed, longed for the quiet of Arden; and on the pretext of +shooting, had proposed going thither. But Mrs. Dorothea would not hear +of his leaving Cheltenham till after her party; and Lady Arden wished +him, if possible, to be present at his sister Jane's marriage. Our +kind-hearted hero therefore, the least selfish of beings, though +fatigued by the perpetual effort to force his spirits imposed by +society, consented to remain for the present. + +Madeline, in pursuance of the prudent resolve she had formed, received +Mr. Cameron's attentions in so amiable a manner, that he became very +shortly a declared and received lover, and the happiest of men. She too, +was for the present, or at least thought herself quite happy. Being the +least striking of the family she had hitherto had rather an humble +opinion of her personal attractions; she was therefore highly flattered +and gratified by Mr. Cameron's absolute adoration. Her imagination too, +dazzled by anticipations somewhat resembling the Arabian Nights' +Entertainments, learnt to revel in the prospect of splendours heaped on +splendours, as offerings at the shrine of her own charms; while, never +having entertained a preference for any one else, her better feelings +also found a pleasing resting place, in the thoughts of the promised +fond devotion of her future husband. She could now sit like one really +in love, and muse with delight on the prospect of the accomplishment of +her every wish--the indulgence of her every whim--the worship of her +very faults, which she flattered herself she was securing for life by +marrying Mr. Cameron. In short, she was in high spirits; and in such +good humour with fate, that she even began to think she should not have +been half so happy had she been about to marry a younger man, who would +have met her on more equal terms; or, had he been a man of fortune, +would have thought perhaps that he was doing her the favour. + +Louisa's mind, on the contrary, was in a very unsettled state. Sir James +had proposed to her more than once. He had certainly not been accepted, +but he had as certainly not been rejected with any thing like rational +decision. But people did not seem to think it necessary to be rational +with poor Sir James. She had told him, it is true, again and again, in a +pert and childish manner, that she never would marry him; but she had +laughed the while, and he had taken it all in good part, saying, that +the girls liked to be tantalising. He had asked her at length for the +measure of her finger: she had given him that of her wrist. With this he +had repaired to a jewellers. + +The shopman had assured him there must be some mistake; but at the same +time recommended his taking the lady a very splendid bracelet, which +was, he added, a present that should always precede the presentation of +the ring. + +Though Sir James was by no means careless of his money in general, he +was now too much in love to give prudential considerations a thought; he +therefore allowed the man to put up the highest priced bracelet in his +whole collection. Its beauty pleased Louisa, and she was silly enough to +accept and wear it: nay, Sir James himself was allowed to clasp it on +her arm. This produced a scene with Henry: for our little baronet, vain +of his unusual munificence, had kept the circumstance no secret. Louisa, +beginning to fear she was getting entangled with a man whom she could +not seriously decide on accepting, was vexed and out of spirits, and +consequently staid at home that evening from the walks, on pretext of a +headache. + +Henry, always violent and imprudent, the moment he saw that she was not +of the walking party, quitted the promenade, and repaired to Laden +Arden's villa. + +It was late and almost quite dark when, unannounced, he entered the +drawing-room from the lawn by an open French window. + +Louisa, who was alone and had flung herself on a sofa, thus taken by +surprise, had but time to rise partially from her reclining position. + +He approached. It so happened that though the apartment was without +lights, a stray beam from a lamp at the distance of the little lawn +gate, was caught and reflected, as Louisa moved her arm, by the bright +jewels of the luckless bracelet. + +Henry seized the arm with the fierceness of a highwayman, wrenched the +snap, and flung the bracelet to the further end of the room; then +suddenly calmed by a sense of shame and contrition at his own brutal +violence, stood petrified without attempting to utter a syllable. Louisa +rose proudly. "By what authority, Mr. Lyndsey," she exclaimed, "have you +dared to offer me this insult?" While speaking she was crossing the room +to ring the bell and order the intruder to be shown out. Guessing her +intention, he started from his state of stupor, flew to intercept her, +flung himself at her feet, seized both her hands, and leaning his face +against them, sobbed violently. + +"Hear me!" he exclaimed in broken accents. "My ruffianly, my wholly +unjustifiable conduct, was at least unpremeditated; I had no thought of +even uttering a reproach. I entered here but to bid you an eternal +farewell! Louisa, I am a miserable, a desperate man----I am about to +quit England for ever." + +Louisa, who was speaking at the same time, was commanding him to quit +her presence instantly, or suffer her to reach the bell; but when he +mentioned quitting England for ever, her voice became less firm. Yet she +persisted in telling him that he must be gone--that she must not incur +the unjust suspicion of having remained at home to receive his highly +improper visit. How soon such commands were obeyed is not precisely +known; when the party however returned from the walks Louisa was alone, +though in manner strange and abstracted, and in a state of agitation so +great, that when requested, as the only one who had not a bonnet to +remove, to make tea, the small bunch of keys fell twice from her +trembling fingers ere she could contrive to open the caddy; while every +other part of the simple ceremony was performed in an equally bungling +and insufficient manner: from all which it seems scarcely more than fair +to infer, that whether the scene concluded in a reconciliation or a last +farewell, the lady had had but little time to compose her nerves between +the departure of her lover and the entrance of her friends. + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + + +Aunt Dorothea had fixed her ball for the evening of the day of Jane's +marriage, that it might be a kind of wedding party; and such had been +the mighty preparations for a day, thus doubly momentous, that what with +selecting and displaying wedding finery--finding out where to hire +cheapest coloured lamps, waiters, and forms--hurrying milliners, and +seeing packing-cases carefully opened--hunting up newly-arrived beaux, +begging evergreens, admiring jewels and new carriages, ordering ices and +rout cake, bargaining with confectioners about a standing supper, and +ordering in some wine; for, as a single lady, she had of course no +cellar; then planning where the said wine had best stand, that it might +not be drank by the waiters instead of the company; and, lastly, +considering where to put the music, that it might be heard by the +dancers, without taking up room; that, as Sarah said, when dressing her +mistress for the great occasion, "It was surprising that she had a foot +to stand on at last." The feet were a little swollen, it must be +confessed, which obliged her, so Sarah, in support of her assertion to +that effect told Mrs. Johnson, to snip the binding of her new white +satin shoes. + +She had got on wonderfully however; had gone to church with the wedding +party--been of great assistance to Lady Arden in getting through the +public breakfast; seen the happy couple off; helped to send away +packages of cake and gloves; refused to dine at her sister-in-law's, on +the plea of all she had to do at home; eat a mutton chop in her +bed-room, the dining-room being already occupied by the standing supper, +the drawing-room by a great step-ladder, and two workmen hanging a hired +lamp from the centre of the ceiling; the spare bed-room with card +tables, the bed being taken down; and lastly, the dressing-room being +fitted up with the already mentioned evergreens, as a grotto for the +refreshments. The mode in which they were here arranged was Mrs. +Dorothea's happiest invention, and one on which she greatly prided +herself. + +At the upper end of the grotto was erected a pile of real ornamental +rock-work, which had been brought in on purpose from the garden. Between +the crevices of the rocks were stuck all manner of flowers and flowering +shrubs; at the top of the heap, on a large space purposely made level, +were placed a well-known common kind of dessert dishes, of green china, +in the shape of large leaves, and on those dishes moulds turned out of +different coloured ices, resembling so many painted specimens of +variegated spars and marbles; while among and around all were scattered +rout cakes in abundance, which formed a very tolerable imitation of +pebbles, shells, and mosses. The grotto was furnished with rustic seats +and a rustic table, also borrowed from the garden; and on the table lay +a supply of the small leaves, or small plates, of the said green china +dessert set, with spoons, of course; so that, as Aunt Dorothea said, the +gentlemen must be very stupid if they could not take the hint, and help +their partners to a spoonful of marble or spar, and a few pebbles or +shells, as taste should direct. There was very little fear, however, of +mistake or oversight; for the grotto was Mrs. Dorothea's hobby, so that +she not only showed almost every couple the way to it herself, but +favoured each with geological lectures on the virtues and properties of +all its _natural_ productions. That all might be in perfect keeping, the +only light admitted to this favoured spot, proceeded from a single +ground-glass lamp, of the size and shape of the moon, and so ingeniously +placed among the evergreens, as to bear a respectable resemblance to the +queen of night, rising to view from behind a forest. + +Mrs. Dorothea, by another excellent contrivance, added much to the +effect of her drawing-rooms, which, like those of most watering-place +villas, were on the ground floor, and had French windows. The end one of +these looked directly up one of the public walks, which the proprietors +were in the habit of illuminating on occasion, and which was therefore +provided with lamps. These Mrs. Dorothea had obtained permission to have +lighted, so that the long vista from her open French window, looked very +beautiful; particularly as some of the least prudent of the company +thought fit, between the dancing, to step out and walk up and down. + +It happened to be one of the few very hot summers we are occasionally +blessed with in this country. So that though it was now the middle of +September, the weather was still very sultry, and it was only late at +night that there was any thing like a refreshing coolness in the air. + +Lady Caroline Montague was still so unwell as to keep her room, so that +neither her ladyship nor Lady Palliser were able to come out. This was a +great disappointment to others besides Mrs. Dorothea; it was one, +however, for which Willoughby was fully prepared; for though he had of +course called every day to inquire for Lady Caroline, she had not been +well enough to see even him. The ball was, nevertheless, going off with +great spirit. Being a wedding party, in the first place, gave it +_éclat_; and then Aunt Dorothea had insisted on its being opened by her +favourite Madeline and that far-famed hereditary beau of her own, Mr. +Cameron, whom she was so proud and so pleased to have handed down to her +niece in such high preservation. + +Fate, however, had ordained that Mrs. Dorothea Arden's ball should be +marked by more than one memorable event. + +Louisa, after dancing with Sir James, had also, as she generally did, +danced with Henry Lindsey; who, instead of quitting England, had made +his appearance at Mrs. Dorothea's with a flushed cheek, an angry eye, +and a hurried, absent manner. When the quadrille had concluded, they +were among the _imprudent_ couples who ventured to promenade the +illuminated walk. Henry seemed to think the affair of last night +forgiven or forgotten, for he began in his usual passionate strain to +talk of the fervour of his own attachment, and reproach Louisa with +comparative coldness. + +For the gratification of a culpable vanity, as well as from really +feeling a secret preference for Henry, Louisa had so long listened to +such language as this, and thus authorised him to believe himself +beloved, that she now literally knew not how to pacify him; although she +was far from having made up her mind to sacrifice, either to his +feelings or her own, the title and brilliant establishment which still +awaited her acceptance, if she could but bring herself to take the +advice of her friends, and marry his brother. + +Henry could not be blind to what were the wishes of Louisa's family; and +he had of late had many reasons, besides the acceptance of the bracelet, +to suspect that she herself hesitated. The idea drove him almost mad. +The interview of last night, though it had convinced him of his power +over Louisa when present, had by no means silenced his fears as to what +she might be persuaded to do or to promise in his absence; he had +determined, therefore, to bring matters to a crisis. He besought her, +with all the eloquence of which he was master, to end his suspense, and +pronounce his doom. She hesitated--she knew she should never be +permitted to marry Henry; and thinking that she had already indulged too +long in an idle flirtation, a foolish preference that must end in +nothing, she confessed at last how much it was her mother's wish that +she should marry Sir James. Henry lost all self-command; overwhelmed her +with reproaches; raved at her perfidy, her cruelty; and after working +himself up to a perfect phrenzy, threatened to put a period to his +existence that very night--that very hour, and before her eyes. + +As his agitation increased, his step quickened, till it was almost +impossible for Louisa to keep pace with him; while, as the interest of +the conversation deepened, he led her first as much apart from the other +couples as possible, and finally, turning short round a corner, quitted +the general promenade altogether. He then, with his really alarmed +companion, entered a cross walk, which was shrouded in almost total +obscurity, except that at the furthest point of its long and +unfrequented vista, one solitary lamp glimmered, as if but to make the +surrounding gloom more apparent. + +Louisa's terror was now extreme: she felt certain that he had dragged +her to this gloomy spot to witness, as he had declared she should, the +horrible act of suicide he was about to commit. + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + + +Arrived about midway in the long dark walk, Henry at length paused. What +with agitation and the quickness of his pace, he seemed himself +exhausted, while Louisa, faint with alarm and fatigue, was no longer +able to stand unassisted, much less to walk. There was no seat near, he +was obliged to support her by an arm round her waist. She leaned her +head on his shoulder and sobbed hysterically. His resentment now gave +way to tenderness. Her alarm could only be for his safety--the thought +soothed his chafed spirit--he whispered the fondest expressions of +endearment mingled with incoherent apologies for his violence. He +ascribed all his faults, as he had done on the evening before, to love +and jealousy. When the bare possibility, he said, of loosing her but +crossed his imagination, he was no longer an accountable being--he +should be ranked with the veriest madman in bedlam! She only sighed in +reply, but it was a sigh from which no lover could fail to derive +encouragement, nor did it falsely report what was passing in the bosom +whence it came. The ardour of Henry's manner, assisted by her late fears +for his safety, had driven all prudential considerations from her +thoughts, reduced the vanities of wealth to a mere puppet-show, and for +the moment at least made all the bliss of earth seem concentrated in the +enthusiastic devotion and actual presence of such a lover. Encouraged by +the tremulous tenderness of her sigh, and the gentle quiescence of her +manner, Henry ventured to whisper that his leading her from the +frequented walk was not altogether accidental, but that driven to +distraction by alternate hopes and fears, he had that evening determined +at all hazards to make one desperate effort to secure a happiness that +it was intoxication even to think of, and would be phrensy to lose--that +he had consequently taken the daring step of having a carriage in +waiting, which was now not many yards distant. He then entreated her +with all the eloquence of wildly excited passion, instead of resenting +his audacity to end the cruel doubts which had thus stung him to +madness, and fly with him at once. + +"I must not, Henry!" she exclaimed, "indeed I must not--I must not," she +repeated. But in fluttering broken accents of tenderness and joy, so +encouraging, that the arm which was still round her waist, continued the +while with a gentle violence propelling her forward; and so light, so +willing, though tremulous were her steps, that the tiny white sattin +slippers, twinkling like little stars, scarcely touched the earth. + +"Oh! Henry, dear Henry, my mother will be so grieved--my brothers will +be so angry! Let us go back--and I will promise you to--to--." But she +faltered. + +"Never, Louisa, will I trust you out of my sight again, till by the +sacred name of wife you are mine for ever!" + +The passionate tone of voice in which this was uttered sank into +whispers of tenderness. Louisa attempted no reply, but all her remaining +scruples vanished, and recklessness of consequences came over her: the +whole of life seemed comprised in the present moment--the whole world +seemed to contain but herself and her lover. A chariot and four was now +visible outside a gateway which they were approaching. They glided +through the portals, and Louisa suffered Henry to assist her into the +carriage. He sprang in after her--the door was closed--"All right," said +Henry's man, though begging his pardon it was all very wrong, and off +set the horses at their full speed. + +It was some weeks before Louisa remembered the gifts of fortune she had +resigned, or Henry thought with painful misgivings of the meditated +abandonment of him and his love, which he had so strongly suspected +before he had been driven to take the violent step we have just +described. + +What will Tommy Moor say to this, after having declared that +_sweetbriar_ is the safest fence for the "Garden of Beauty;" nay, that +there is more security in it than in the guardianship of that unamiable +duenna, the "Dragon of Prudery, placed within call." + +Now, every one knows that the Cheltenham walks are hedged with +sweetbriar. Perhaps Louisa Arden, not being a daughter of the Emerald +Isle, may account for "that wild sweetbriary fence" which the poet has +pronounced their characteristic barrier, not proving effectual in her +case. But to return to our ball. + +"I wonder which room Miss Louisa is in," said Sir James to Lady Arden; +"I have been looking in all the rooms for her, and I can't find her." + +"I hope she is not gone into that foolish lit-up walk," replied her +ladyship, looking rather anxiously towards the window. "I am afraid it +will give all the young people cold." + +"I never thought of that," said Sir James, bustling off. + +"I wonder what is become of Louisa," said Mrs. Dorothea, coming up to +Lady Arden. "Sir James," she added, calling after the retreating +baronet, "do bring Louisa here; I want another couple for this quadrille +in the next room." + +"Oh, yes, I'll bring her if I can find her," said the little man, "but I +don't know where she is." + +"Where can Louisa be?" said Madeline. + +"In the ball-room, I suppose," replied Mr. Cameron. "They were in the +refreshment-room." + +"Where can Louisa be?" asked Alfred, who was in the ball-room, "my aunt +is looking for her." + +"In the refreshment-room, I suppose," replied the person questioned. + +"What can have become of Louisa?" asked Willoughby, looking round the +supper-room. "My aunt wants her." + +"Is she not in the ball-room?" said Geoffery. + +"No, I have just come from thence." + +"Nor in the refreshment-room." + +"I have not looked there," and away went Willoughby. + +In came poor Sir James, looking very silly. + +"She is not there," he said, addressing Geoffery. + +"Who?" + +"Why, Miss Louisa, she promised to dance the next set with me, and I +can't find her any where." + +"But where have you been looking for her, Sir James?" asked Geoffery, +who never missed an opportunity of quizzing the little baronet. + +"I looked in all the rooms first, and now I have been to the far end of +the lighted walk, up one side and down the other, and I can't find her +anywhere." + +"But did you not try any of the dark walks?" + +"I never thought of that, but I don't think she'd go there." + +"She must be somewhere, Sir James; you say she is not in any of the +rooms, nor in the lighted walk, therefore, she must be in one of the +dark ones!" + +Sir James, looking innocently convinced by the force of this logic, +replied, "Well, I'll go and see," and turned to depart. + +"But you can't see in the dark; had you not better take a lantern?" + +"I never thought of that," he replied, and making the best of his way +into the hall, he asked every servant and waiter who crossed his path +for a lantern to look for Miss Louisa. They all stared at him in turn, +and seemed more likely to stumble over him in their bustle, than either +to comprehend or grant his request. At length he perceived Sarah in the +back ground, filling her office, as warden of cloaks and boas, and +tossed off for the occasion in a net fly cap, quite on the back of her +head, to display her innumerable curls; and decorated with bows of pink +ribbon full a quarter of a yard long, made stiff with wire in the +inside, to give them an enviable resemblance to horns. By her assistance +he obtained the illuminator used by Mrs. Dorothea when she was returning +home on foot from evening parties; and thus provided, set forth on his +voyage of discovery. He was secretly followed at a certain distance by +Geoffery and a knot of wags, who concealed themselves behind trees and +shrubs, and when Sir James, holding up the light at the entrance to each +dark avenue would cry, "Are you there, Louisa?" they would answer +simultaneously in all directions, and in feigned voices of course, "Yes, +I am here----" till our puzzled little baronet would stand, looking now +before him--now behind him--now on the one side--now on the other, +literally not knowing which way to turn, to the infinite amusement of +his hidden tormentors, to whom he was, with his lantern, a conspicuous +object, whilst they, in their various dark retreats, were invisible to +him. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + + +It is scarcely necessary to observe, that Sir James's researches proved +fruitless. + +By the time he returned to the house the alarm was becoming serious. +Indeed it was beginning to be an ascertained thing, not only that Louisa +was missing, but that Henry Lindsey had also disappeared, which latter +circumstance afforded a solution of the young lady's absence by no means +agreeable to her family. The news spread quickly, and every one was +looking amazingly amused, except they happened to meet the eye of Lady +Arden or Mrs. Dorothea, when they thought it necessary to quench their +smiles; and if they were particular friends, add a few inches to the +length of their faces. + +It was now very late, and the rooms were thinning fast, though many were +induced to delay their departure by the spur and zest which so fair an +opportunity of making ill-natured comments had given to conversation. +Yet who can say that we do not live in a good-natured considerate world, +when we can assert, as an incontestable fact, that poor little Sir +James, as soon as it was whispered about that his intended bride had +gone off with his brother, received the sweetest possible smiles from +several young ladies, who had scarcely taken any notice of him ever +since his engagement had been generally known. What but the most +generous compassion for the forsaken baronet could have dictated so +sudden a change of manner. + +Had it not been for this untoward accident, Mrs. Dorothea would have +insisted on setting up another and another quadrille, _ad infinitum_; +for the pride of a dance is in how late you can keep it up, however +tired of it host and hostess, chaperons, musicians, and dancing +gentlemen may be; as to young ladies, they are never tired of dancing, +except they _don't dance_. + +Mrs. Dorothea, however, now courteseyed to her retreating guests with an +anxious countenance, and an absent manner, without making any attempt to +dissuade them from _running away_, as she would have designated their +departure, but for the real _run away_, which caused her very serious +uneasiness: first on her niece's account, and secondly on her own; for +she was mortified beyond expression to think that her grand party, which +had cost her so much trouble, and would cost her so much money, should +have been so sadly broken up. + +She need not however, good lady, so far as her party was concerned, have +afflicted herself; for it was pronounced the next day to have been so +enlivened by the elopement that it was quite delightful. + +Willoughby and Alfred, having ascertained that a chariot and four, the +horses' heads to the east, had been seen driving off from the Montpelier +gates the night before at a furious rate, set out in pursuit on the road +thus indicated. They soon, however, lost all traces of the fugitives, +and after an absence of two or three days, returned to Cheltenham. Lady +Arden had by this time received a letter announcing the marriage, and +begging pardon, and so forth. There was therefore nothing more to be +done, and Willoughby accordingly repaired to Lady Palliser's, to inquire +after the health of Caroline. As he crossed the little lawn, he observed +great ladders set up against the front of the house, and persons within +and without apparently employed in cleaning the windows. The hall door +was open, and a slatternly looking woman, not the least like a servant, +on the steps, washing them down and rubbing them white with a stone. He +knocked, and another woman, who was crossing the hall at the moment, +armed with a broom and a duster, threw them aside, came forward, and +asked him if he was wanting the lodgings. "They will not be quite ready +for coming into before twelve o'clock to-morrow," she continued, without +waiting for a reply; then fancying that Willoughby looked disappointed, +she added, "If you're particular about coming in to-night, sir, I'll set +more hands to work, and see what can be done; but the family only left +this morning, and they kept so many servants, that there is no saying +all there's to do after them; for as for servants, as I _sais_, they +always makes more work than three masters, or their mistresses either, +which was the cause why I was endeavouring to assist a little myself +just with dusting the book-shelves." + +"Has Lady Palliser then left Cheltenham, or only changed her house?" +asked Willoughby. + +"Oh, left Cheltenham, sir. Her ladyship was not likely to change from my +house while she staid, if it had been seven years. Indeed, situation and +all, where could she be so well, except it were next door, which also +belongs to me. Sixteen guineas a week, sir, is the lowest farthing I can +take! Indeed they should have been twenty, but you seem such a nice +civil spoken gentleman that----" + +"Thank you," interrupted Willoughby, "I don't want the house; it was +Lady Palliser I was inquiring for." + +"And where were your eyes that you didn't see the bill on the window; as +if I'd nothing to do but stand talking to you!" and away she flounced. + +During Caroline's protracted illness, Willoughby had had some +uncomfortable misgivings; not that he had confessed his feelings even to +himself, yet he had thought that during convalescence, he might have +been permitted to see a lady to whom he now considered himself +betrothed. True, he had frequently been admitted, and been received very +graciously by Lady Palliser; and on such occasions he had tried to feel +satisfied with the excuse that Caroline had not yet been able to quit +her room. He had addressed to Caroline very many and very tender _billet +doux_; to all of which he had received very gracious and encouraging +replies, though written by Lady Palliser, to spare, as he supposed, the +invalid the fatigue of being her own amanuensis. This was all perfectly +proper, yet though he told himself so again and again, he could not help +feeling that some more direct communication would be much more +satisfactory. + +So sudden a recovery as was implied by this journey, undertaken too +during the few days of his absence, seemed so strange, that every +painful feeling was instantly increased tenfold. Yet he knew not what to +apprehend; suspense, however, becoming wholly intolerable, he resolved +to set out immediately for ----shire. + +He did so within an hour, but without communicating any of his doubts or +fears even to Alfred. As soon as Willoughby had set off, Alfred also +hastened to quit Cheltenham, where every object, and every circumstance, +which used formerly to yield him delight, was fraught with the most +miserable associations. + +He went to Arden; nor could he have chosen a better retreat: for the +instantaneous effect of a sight of its well-known scenes was for a time +to give to the feelings and affections of childhood and boyhood a most +salutary preponderance over the newer and more vivid, but far less +uniformly happy sensations of the last few months. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + + +Lady Arden, about the same time, set out for her house in town, +accompanied by Madeline, her only remaining daughter. Mrs. Dorothea, +thus left alone, began to ponder on the prudential step of breaking up +an establishment, which she found much too expensive for her means--more +so, infinitely, than she had anticipated. For it so happened, that her +maid-of-all-work cook, whom she took with the house, was one of a set, +who not being sufficiently reputable to get places in private families, +are frequently employed by speculators in furnished houses, to take +charge of the same when vacant, living on their wits the while, and on +their lodgers when they can get them. Moreover she belonged to a club +for supplying servants out of place with broken meat. Poor Mrs. +Dorothea, therefore, was sadly puzzled about the consumption in her +kitchen. At last she ventured to consult her confidential abigail, +Sarah. + +Servants, however, though they had been pulling caps five minutes +before, always stand by each other in the grand common cause--defence of +extravagance! Sarah, therefore, assuming an expression of countenance, +in which sauciness and sulkiness were combined, replied, + +"You can't expect to be much of a judge, ma'am, not being used to +housekeeping; I'm sure I never see no waste; but people must have enough +to eat of something." + +"I am far from wishing any person under _my_ roof not to have sufficient +to eat," replied Mrs. Dorothea, with offended dignity, "but I certainly +expected of you, Sarah, that you would not see me imposed upon by +lodging-house servants." + +"I never seen you imposed upon, ma'am; but you seem to forget that +you've got a man now to feed. Where there is a man, there's no end to +the consumption; in particular butcher's meat, and they will have it. +It's no place of mine, however, to see the larder, and I am not a going +to get myself mobbed, meddling with other servants." + +Sarah was ordered to leave the room, and send the cook. There had been a +shoulder of mutton at the table the day before, in which Mrs. Dorothea +had made the usual first gash with the carving-knife, intending to help +herself, but changed her mind; the meat had, of course, separated a +little, as in a shoulder it always does. + +"You have the cold mutton for your own dinners," commenced Mrs. +Dorothea: the servants dined some hours before she did. + +"The mutton, ma'am!" repeated Jones, such was the cook's name, "I +believe John picked the bone for his breakfast: but, really, the joint +was so severely cut in the parlour that I didn't think it worth looking +after." + +Mrs. Dorothea explained; but jerks of the chin were all the satisfaction +she could obtain. + +Jones's blotted account of the last sovereign she had had for small +expenses was given in. + +Mrs. Jones would have made a good M. P., for her hand was as illegible +as it was large. The first item in the account certainly seemed to be a +bag of ground salt for the bird. The canary having been added to the +establishment only the beginning of the last week, Mrs. Dorothea was +obliged to enquire what this meant. + +"Groundsel, ma'am, for the bird; I paid a boy for gathering some, you +can't get people to do things for nothing." This was not the only +expense the bird had occasioned--he was the alleged cause of a great +additional consumption in many things: eggs for boiling hard, bread for +crumbling into his tea, white sugar for sticking between the wires of +his cage, &c. &c. &c.; while there was a charge for bird-seed every +second day, half a pound each time. So much for the bird. The charge for +soap had always been enormous, but this week it was twice as much as +usual. Mrs. Dorothea remonstrated: "You told me," she said, "that the +reason you had used so much soap hitherto, was, that there were so few +glass towels, that you were obliged to wash them continually; I got a +dozen new ones accordingly, and here is more soap than ever charged." + +"It stands to reason, ma'am, where there is more linen, it must take +more soap to wash it," answered Jones, with the coolest effrontery +possible; and having, of course, no change to return out of the +sovereign, she retired to the kitchen, to pronounce her mistress the +_most meanest_ lady she had ever met with--indeed no lady at all; to +grudge people the mouthfuls of meat they had earned, and the poor bird +its two or three seeds; but what was worse than all, she wouldn't have +them to wash their hands, for fear of using a bit of soap. + +"Considering the difference a canary bird has made," thought Mrs. +Dorothea, "it is a fortunate circumstance that I was not persuaded to +add an errand-boy to my establishment, as Jones so much wished." Jones, +by some sort of accident, happened to have a son of eight or nine years +old, whom, of course, she wished to see provided for. + +If one could but afford it, proceeded Mrs. Dorothea, I don't know a +greater luxury than the peace of allowing oneself to be plundered +without seeming to see it. Mrs. Dorothea had had so much experience of +the discomforts of lodgings, that she had entertained some thoughts of +trying a boarding-house; indeed she had dined at one, one day of the +last week, by way of seeing how she should like the kind of thing; but +the company had been so different from the refined society she had been +living among lately at Lady Arden's, that she had felt quite +uncomfortable. Her neighbour on one side had entertained the party in a +loud, almost angry voice, the whole time of dinner, with accounts of +accidents on rail-roads; she heard afterwards that he was a great holder +of canal shares. Her neighbour on her other hand had quite disgusted +her, by eating of every dish at table; at the same time that he had made +her laugh, by mentioning to her, in confidence, as a sort of apology for +his gluttony, that never having been much out of his own part of the +country before, he wished while in such a fine new fangled place to get +all the insight into the world he could. And after all, if eating a +certain number of dinners give a knowledge of the law, why should not +eating a certain number of dishes give a knowledge of the world. + +After this essay Mrs. Dorothea had given up the idea of a +boarding-house. She had even began to turn her thoughts again towards +her old lodging with the good carpet. Winter was now coming on and the +heat of the oven would no longer be an objection. And she could stand +out for the sofa, and the key to the chiffonier, and the drops to the +chimney-lights, before she went into the lodging at all. To be sure the +new carpet, that had made the room look so respectable, might be getting +faded by this time; she would step in, however the next day and see how +it looked, and inquire what the set could be had for during the winter +months. As she formed this resolve a vague remembrance of past +annoyances came over her mind, producing a sense of the utmost +dreariness. + +It was getting dusk, for she did not dine till six, and while she sat +looking at the fire the days of her youth returned. She dwelt on the +thoughts of Arden Park, then her home, and of her father's princely +establishment. Now all belonged to her nephew; while she was an outcast, +almost hated, because she could not afford to be cheated; and paying +more than the half of her small income for a single sitting room, not so +good as that in which at Arden her own maid used to sit at needle-work. +At this moment the train of her reflections was interrupted by a voice +of complaint under her window. She looked out. It was raining, but there +was still twilight sufficient to discern a poor creature sitting on the +ground, and looking through the iron railing in at the kitchen-window, +where the light for cooking made the preparations for dinner visible. +The poor woman, was miserably clad! and, from her accent, Irish. She was +eloquently appealing to the compassion of the cook, while she carried in +her hand, as a sort of shield against the vigilance of English +policemen, a bundle of matches to sell, worth perhaps one half-penny. + +"Ye that's warm and well fed yonder, pity the poor crathur could and wet +and hasn't broke her fast this blessed day!" + +The cook's shrill voice was heard in a key of reproof. + +"Oh, mistress," proceeded the mendicant, "but it ill becomes the face +that the fire's shining upon and the mate roasting before, to look round +in anger on the desolate. Sure I wouldn't be troubling you here in the +could this night if I had a hearth or a home of my own to go to!" + +Mrs. Dorothea was struck with compassion for the poor wanderer. She +opened the window, handed her money from it, and ringing the bell +ordered her to have some dinner. "What a cheerful thing fire-light is!" +she thought, as she resumed her seat, unconsciously made happy by the +performance of a good action. She now remembered her late murmuring +thoughts with shame, as she contrasted her own situation with that of +the really destitute and became conscious that the source of her +discontent was not any actual deprivation, but _pride_, a pride too, +fostered into supernatural growth by the constant contemplation of the +wealth and splendour belonging to the head of her own family, "If I +could but afford to retain such a home as this," she thought, "how truly +happy I might think myself. However, the poorest lodging I am at all +likely to get into is a better shelter than many of my fellow creatures +possess; let me not, therefore, murmur!" + +A dapper double rap here startled her from her reverie. "Who could be +calling at so late an hour?" + +A gentleman entered whom Mrs. Dorothea had never seen before. He +apologized for being so late. He had been detained by a client from the +country, and had a journey to perform at an early hour in the morning. +The writings had not been completed till that day, and he feared that +before his return Mrs. Arden might have had the unnecessary trouble of +moving from a house which was now her own freehold property. He then +explained, that by order of Sir Willoughby Arden he had effected the +purchase of the premises, with the fixtures, furniture, &c. &c., every +thing as it stood; and was instructed to present her with the deeds, +which accordingly he did. + +This was, as may be well believed, welcome news to Mrs. Dorothea. She +was thus not only comfortably settled in the home she liked so much, but +rendered for her quite a rich woman; as her income, hitherto so +insufficient, would, now that she was relieved from her heaviest +expense--rent, be ample for all her other wants. + +Willoughby, the most liberal and generous of mortals in money matters, +had frequently heard his sisters talk over Aunt Dorothea's adventures in +lodgings, and lament that she could not afford to keep her nice pretty +house which suited her so well. He had, in consequence given the orders +we have just seen executed, and from a feeling of delicacy had said +nothing of his kind intentions, which had thus invested the transaction +with the character of an agreeable surprise. + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + + +While Willoughby is travelling towards Lady Palliser's, or rather Lady +Caroline Montague's magnificent country seat, we shall endeavour to +account for some of those contradictory circumstances and +inconsistencies of manner which to him seemed so unaccountable; or +rather for which he was so unwilling to account by that solution which +yet pressed itself upon his judgment as most probable. + +Caroline, though from her extreme timidity the worst of actresses, had +yet ventured to form a vaguely conceived plan, for the execution of +which she hoped one time or other to summon courage. In the mean while, +perhaps unconsciously, the thoughts which were passing in her mind +affected her manners, and sometimes even the expression of her +countenance, and thus led to the most fatal misconstruction of her +sentiments. Her total ignorance of the world, too, occasioned by that +want of communication with any one older than herself already mentioned, +as one of the evil results of her mother's harsh and heartless system of +education, rendered tenfold the dangers of her difficult situation. + +Lady Palliser had informed her daughter that she meant to marry her to +Sir Willoughby Arden. Caroline's attempt to remonstrate had been +silenced, as usual, with the most tyrannical violence. What was to be +done?--poor Caroline felt quite unequal to open opposition: she had +recourse accordingly to the dangerous expedient alluded to. She resolved +to make a friend of Sir Willoughby; and the first time that by a +declaration of his sentiments he gave her an opportunity of speaking on +such a subject, to cast herself on his compassion, and entreat him to +withdraw his addresses, without making it known to her mother that she +had rejected him. This it was which gave to her manner that gentle +acquiescence in his attentions, and especially that willingness to +listen, which it is impossible to define, but which is, above all +things, encouraging to a lover. And this it was which at Lady Arden's +ball had produced the scene of misunderstanding, from which Willoughby +re-appeared in the dancing room with a countenance so delighted. The +interview in the veranda had commenced by some lover-like speeches, +which, while they could not be misunderstood, did not absolutely call +for reply: and Caroline, unwilling to seem too ready to comprehend, +became uneasy and anxious, but yet did not speak. The ardour of +Willoughby's manner increased; more than once Caroline moved her lips to +commence her difficult task, but no sound proceeded from them; while +every moment she grew more miserably conscious that her silence would +be--must be misconstrued. At length, by way of exordium, she murmured a +few scarcely audible words, thanking him for his flattering preference; +but what she wished to add required so much courage--so much +explanation, that she knew not how to proceed. She faltered, and became +silent; and while striving to find words in which to recommence, she +suffered so intensely from the tumult of her agitation, that she lost +much of the purport of the enthusiastic declarations of attachment which +Willoughby was now pouring forth. When he began, however, to talk of his +gratitude for the favourable hearing she had granted him, she felt the +necessity of speaking, and in fearful trepidation commenced: "The--the +confidence I--I am about to place in--in you, Sir Willoughby----" + +"Will never be abused by me," he exclaimed, with fervour. + +"I--I fear--" she recommenced, colouring, stammering, and withdrawing +her hand gently, but in the utmost confusion. At this moment several +other couples, who seemed to have just discovered the veranda, entered +from different windows almost simultaneously. + +"May I then call to-morrow morning?" said Willoughby, in a hasty +whisper, "and be permitted to----" + +"Yes; but speak to me alone!" she replied, resolving that to-morrow she +would make the painful explanation, now more than ever necessary. It was +on their returning to the dancing-room at this juncture, that Alfred had +remarked the delighted expression of Willoughby's countenance. + +The last injunction of Caroline, to speak to her alone, sounded odd; but +surely it was kind and encouraging. The whole interview, in short, +amounted to as favourable a reception of his now fully declared passion +as he could desire. In the course of the evening he found an opportunity +in an aside conversation with Lady Palliser, of expressing his rapturous +hopes, and alluding to the visit he was to pay by permission on the next +morning. + +The ball concluded--the morning arrived--and Lady Palliser at breakfast +told her daughter that she was happy to find from Sir Willoughby, that +she had shown a proper sense of obedience, in accepting the offer of his +hand, which he had made her the evening before. + +Poor Caroline's attempt at manoeuvring was thus entirely defeated. She +had, as we have stated, resolved to entreat Sir Willoughby, by +withdrawing his addresses apparently of his own accord, to shelter her +from the rage of her mother; but she was quite unprepared for taking +herself an active part in the deception, and maintaining that part by +bold and decided falsehood: completely thrown off her guard, she +exclaimed with fervour, "Oh no, no! he has entirely misunderstood me; I +feared he had, but I have not accepted him--I never can--I never will +accept him!" + +"Do you dare assert that you will not obey my commands?" said Lady +Palliser, rising, and assuming that fierceness of aspect before which +our heroine habitually trembled. + +Caroline sunk on her knees, and promising never to listen to any one of +whom her mother did not approve, only intreated permission to remain +single. + +Lady Palliser was well aware that her daughter might at her leisure +command many much more splendid matches than the one now in agitation; +but in the first place she was determined, from the spirit of tyranny, +to be obeyed; added to which there was a second motive, which though too +contemptible to be confessed even to herself, had no doubt a certain +influence on her present conduct. + +The time had been when the loveliness of the infant, held on the knee +purposely for effect, had added interest to the matured and lustrous +charms of the beautiful mother: but now that mother and daughter had +become two distinct objects, and that the eye of the beholder not +unfrequently passed with hasty indifference over the still striking +countenance of the former, to pause in evident delight on the fresher +charms of the latter, an irksome sense of secret mortification +incessantly assailed Lady Palliser. In childhood she had treated +Caroline with harshness, from the united effect of a worthless nature, +and a mistaken plan of education; but now the constant proximity of one +who was the innocent cause of the diminution of those triumphs which had +hitherto formed the sole charm of her existence, was becoming irksome to +her; and awaking feelings closely allied to angry aversion! And +therefore it was though, as we have said, she would have blushed to have +confessed it to her own heart, that her ladyship was impatient to rid +herself of annoyances such as these; of, in short, the meek unconscious +rival who was, notwithstanding, the only being that had ever disputed +with her the reign of vanity she had so long enjoyed, and even still +felt that she recovered whenever she appeared in public without her +daughter. For it must be allowed that her ladyship's beauty was at the +very time of which we speak, still of so striking and splendid a +character, that it lost little by comparison with any loveliness but +that of Caroline, whose similarity of feature seemed to render the +advantageous dissimilarities of extreme youth and infinite superiority +of expression peculiarly conspicuous. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + + +Lady Palliser was inexorable, and Willoughby's knock being heard, while +our heroine was still at her feet, she commanded her to retire to her +own apartment and remain there till prepared to render implicit +obedience to her commands. + +The lover on his entrance was told with the sweetest smiles imaginable, +that Caroline had taken cold the evening before, and was unable to leave +her room. He was, however, encouraged to make known his sentiments and +his wishes to Lady Palliser, who both accepted his proposals on the part +of her daughter, and in the most gracious manner possible pronounced her +own approval of his suit. Then followed the arrangement respecting the +visit to ----shire, and the tour on the continent, &c. mere manoeuvres +of her ladyship's to gain time, in case Caroline should prove +untractable. + +All this, it may be remembered, Willoughby mentioned to his brother on +his return from his morning visit already described. His not having seen +Caroline herself, however, he suppressed; he felt he knew not why, an +insuperable objection to mention the circumstance; not that he deduced +from it at the time a doubt of his happiness, of which he felt he +thought perfectly secure. He longed, it is true, for evening, and could +not help thinking that his felicity would be still more complete when +his fate had been pronounced by Caroline's own lips; yet surely the +night before in the veranda she had accepted him quite as explicitly as +young ladies generally do. His disappointment again that evening annoyed +him very much; and during our heroine's protracted illness, the anxiety +it was natural he should feel respecting her state of health, was +mingled at times with gloomy apprehensions, which had yet another and a +more agitating source. + +At length he left Cheltenham as we have seen for Montague House. His +last interview with our heroine herself was that already described as +having taken place in the veranda on the night of Lady Arden's ball. + +The secret of Caroline having never since been visible, was, that she +still continued to resist Lady Palliser's tyrannical commands, while her +ladyship, astonished at conduct so unparalleled, on the part of her +hitherto submissive child, and unaccustomed to be baffled, was more than +ever determined that she should finally yield. + +Accordingly she had put off the lover from day to day with promises and +excuses which yet she scarcely expected him to believe, and with which +in fact she cared very little after all, whether he was or was not +satisfied, being with her usual whimsical inconsistency fully prepared, +whenever he refused to play _blind-man's-bluff_, as she called it, any +longer, to laugh excessively and turn the whole affair into an excellent +jest. In the mean time she derived quite as much gratification from the +amusement of quizzing Willoughby, as from the prospect of tyrannizing +over her daughter. + +For it was a part of Lady Palliser's character, which was as absurd as +it was worthless, to think it exceedingly witty to succeed in deceiving +any body, though by the gravest, and therefore of course the dullest lie +imaginable: we mean in the April-fool style, not vulgar business +lying--that would have been out of her line. + +On Willoughby's arrival at Montague House, Lady Palliser, though +scarcely able to keep her countenance, attempted to carry on the farce +by saying, that she had removed her daughter in the hope that change of +air might prove beneficial, but that she was still unable to leave her +room. This went on for a day or two, during which her ladyship, more +than ever anxious to carry her point, because now getting tired of the +business, treated the still inflexible Caroline with great harshness. +The third morning, a female servant, who had evidently watched her +opportunity, entered with great caution the breakfast-room where +Willoughby was alone, and handing him a letter vanished again. He read +the epistle, turned deadly pale, gasped for breath, read it again, rose, +paced the apartment, stopped, looked wildly round him, threw open a +window, the room being on the ground floor, and rushed into the lawn. It +is difficult to say what he might have done, or whither directed his +steps, had he not perchance encountered his groom, who had been +exercising his horses and was bringing them home. + +With a vague idea that it was necessary to affect perfect composure, +Willoughby waved to the man to stop, and his signal being obeyed, walked +quietly to the side of the led horse, and laying his hand on its neck, +raised a foot as if with the intention of mounting; the absence of the +stirrup however rendering the movement abortive, he stood for a moment +looking confused. + +"Shall I saddle him, sir?" enquired the groom. + +"Do," replied Willoughby, with the air of one relieved from a great +embarrassment, and walking on as he spoke. + +"Where will you please to mount, sir?" asked the servant, following a +step or two, with his hand to his hat. + +After a few moments employed in recalling ideas, which had evidently +already gone forth on some far distant execution, Willoughby answered, +"Any where." + +John, as the best mode in his judgment, of obeying commands so far from +explicit, returned to the stable, exchanged the body cloths of the +animals for the saddles, and following in the direction he had seen his +master take, soon overtook him, walking slowly on the side of the road, +with his arms folded, and his head uncovered. John had before observed +that Willoughby was without his hat, and had been thoughtful enough to +bring it with him. He now presented it, then held the horse; Willoughby +put on the hat, mounted the animal and rode on, followed by John, +without a word being spoken on either side: nor was it till they had +performed one stage of their journey towards Arden, and were lodged at +an inn, that John ventured so far to obtrude himself upon the evident +abstraction of his master, as to enquire if they were going home. He +received an answer in the affirmative; on which he made bold to ask +further, whether Sir Willoughby had left orders with the other servants +to follow with the carriage, &c. To this enquiry he received a reply, +first in the negative, then in the affirmative, and again finally in the +negative. + +On which he begged permission to dispatch a line to the coachman +himself. He stood ten minutes without obtaining any answer, and then +taking silence for consent, proceeded to do as he had suggested. + +The exertion of mind necessary to comprehend and reply to John's +queries, or even a part of them, seemed to recall Willoughby to some +recollection of the duties he had himself to perform. He must write to +Lady Palliser--he must account for his abrupt departure. That he might +do so in strict compliance with the request contained in the letter of +this morning, he applied himself to the reperusal of the epistle which +had already caused him so much affliction. It was, as our readers have +probably anticipated, from Caroline. Driven to desperation by her +mother's perseverance in her determination of marrying her to Sir +Willoughby, and terrified by her violence, which at every interview +increased, she was at length compelled to conquer all the timid +reluctance she felt to take what to her seemed the boldest of steps, and +address to Sir Willoughby the letter we have seen him receive in so +frantic a manner. + +After a hesitating, and almost unmeaning commencement, consisting of +broken sentences, and awkward apologies, she went on to say: "Yet if I +would avoid calling down upon myself your just resentment, by appearing +in your eyes to be guilty of the most unjustifiable caprice; I must I +fear relate a circumstance which--I have been so unwilling to mention, +that--I have--I know--in consequence--delayed this explanation much too +long. But before your arrival in Cheltenham, before ever our +acquaintance had even commenced, I had promised to--to--accept--the hand +of--of--Mr. Arden, your brother; and though by my mother's positive +command, I was compelled the next day to withdraw that promise, I +cannot--I never can--I am sure too--you will think.--But I know I +express myself very badly--very confusedly, yet I hope you will see--at +least that my being quite--quite unable ever to enter into the +engagements my mother has wished to form for me, does not proceed from +any caprice or change of mind on my part, or any want of gratitude for +the flattering regard with which you have so kindly honoured me. + +"What I now entreat of your compassion is, that you who have nothing to +fear from my mother's anger, would generously interpose yourself between +me and a storm, before the very thought of which I tremble till my hand +can scarcely hold the pen with which I attempt to write. + +"I know I ought to have made this explanation long since, but a foolish, +a culpable fearfulness, made me ever ready to believe no opportunity a +fitting one. At Lady Arden's ball I did attempt it, but we were +interrupted; so that I only made things much worse. I was so confused +too, I was glad of the respite. I thought I could say what I have now +written, when you should call the next morning;--but on that occasion my +mother interfered, and has never since allowed me to see you." + +On finishing Caroline's letter for the second time, Willoughby, in a +sort of desperation, wrote a hurried scrawl to Lady Palliser, towards +whom he felt strong resentment for the deception she had practised. His +epistle was written in strange incoherent language, but its general +purport was that he considered himself trifled with in having been so +long debarred from seeing Lady Caroline Montague; and in consequence, +begged leave to withdraw his addresses finally. Nor was the truth in +this much disguised, for he felt that had he been permitted to see +Caroline from the first he should much sooner have been undeceived. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + + +With a trembling hand, and apparently in the utmost haste, Willoughby +folded and sealed the letter he had just finished; and without allowing +himself one moment for reflection, rang and ordered the person who +appeared to take it to the post-office immediately. + +As the door closed, however, after the servant to whom he had given this +command, a sense of terror at having thus himself rendered his fate +irremediable, overwhelmed him; and, with an instinctive impulse, he +grasped at the bell, but immediately flinging it from him, he assumed a +mock composure, and as though there had been some one present before +whom to act a part, with a ghastly sort of smile, seated himself. He had +for some time been almost expecting, though he would not confess it to +his own thoughts, some such blow as this: he had seen, despite every +effort to avert his mental vision from the view, that all could not be +right; and, weary of secret dread--the true definition of that hope +deferred, which maketh the heart sick--he now fancied, for the moment, +that there was a sort of stern satisfaction in knowing that fate had +done its worst. His brain, however, was already beginning to wander; he +was already contemplating, though vaguely, the fatal step which finally +ended his career. He thought of Alfred, and his soul secretly yearned +for the consolation of pouring out all its sorrows into his affectionate +bosom; but _Pride_, under the form of wounded vanity, with a jealous +soreness, shrank from the salutary exposure; while so irritable was the +state of his mind, that the very pleadings of his own heart, for the +balm it longed for, seemed importunate, and were resisted with something +of his characteristic obstinacy. Nay, the pettiest and most contemptible +considerations from time to time blended themselves indistinctly with +his despair, and became, to a certain degree, governing motives of +conduct. + +The story of his former disappointment, and of such recent occurrence +too, he reflected, with a very disproportionate share of uneasiness, +would now be renewed, coupled with the present affair: he should become +a proverb--a byword--an object for the finger of scorn to point at. Then +the wild excitement of the hope with which, despite his fears, he had +with strange inconsistency fed his passion; this was gone, and he could +not endure the void within; while it was upon the brain, the fever +seemed to feed. Whether there was a physical cause for this, such as +Alfred had sometimes feared; or whether the attachment, though violent, +being recently formed, still dwelt more in the imagination than in the +heart, it might be difficult to decide; but the effect on Willoughby was +that some active principle of misery and evil seemed urging him on to a +frantic resistance of his fate; compelling his very pulses to beat at a +maddening pace; causing an alternation of quickened and suspended +breathing, which fatigued him sensibly; and the while presenting to his +imagination, snatches of thoughts, and visions of projects so terrific, +that while they were in fact the effects of incipient insanity, they +became, in their turn, by the fearful excitement they produced, powerful +causes of its future development. There was still an inward struggle, +but it ended fatally. He could not--no, he never would pronounce her +name again! He--in whom else he would have confided every thought--he it +was who was preferred; and, though he could not feel a rival's hatred +towards his kind, his generous, his unoffending brother--no, he did not, +he would not even love him less; but still there was a remembrance that +he was his rival; and with it thoughts, strangely blended, of +littleness, and the wildest, most extravagant generosity. Alfred should +have all--love, wealth, title; and then Lady Palliser could no longer +object; but he must wait--it might be for a few days, perhaps only a few +hours--nay, the sooner the better; why should he live but to cause and +to endure misery? Endure!--did he endure? Can powerlessness to resist +the decrees of fate, while yet the heart and feelings openly and +wilfully rebel against them, be called endurance? Certainly not. But +alas, such rebellion brings with it its own punishment. How often had +Willoughby, while fearing the worst, inwardly vowed that were he indeed +destined to disappointment, he would never survive the blow. Now the +blow had fallen, and though his heart secretly turned towards his +habitual, his earliest, his deepest seated affection, the love he bore +his twin brother, he was pledged, as it were, to resist every gentler +emotion, to embrace despair! and unhappily he did so. + +He would carefully conceal every circumstance, every thought; he would +allow it to be believed, that the preparations for his marriage were +still going forward; nay, he would assume the most exuberant spirits, +and to the last moment of existence preserve his fatal secret. When he +was gone, when he had found a resting-place for his weary spirit in the +grave, Alfred should know all! Reflecting thus, he journeyed on. + +Lady Palliser at first took no notice of Sir Willoughby's sudden +departure. At a late hour in the evening, however, she received his +note. During its perusal she laughed immoderately, then flinging it +towards Caroline, said, "Silly young man! my only object in marrying you +to him was to chastise you for your improper conduct. It has happened, +however, quite as well; for I was getting amazingly tired of the thing. +Let the intended punishment," she added, with returning severity of +manner, "be a lesson to you, that young women in your station, and with +the fortune you will possess, are not to make choice for themselves. +When I choose you to marry, and have decided to whom I shall marry you, +I shall let you know." + +Poor Caroline, how little understood was her position by those, and they +were many, the springs of whose peace were poisoned by envy of her +greatness! Oh _Pride_, bane of human happiness! mingling bitter +mortification in the otherwise palatable cup of humble competency, and +lading with its glittering chains, the slaves on whom it seems to heap +its choicest gifts. + +Caroline, who had apprehended a storm of rage and disappointment, +heightened by, perhaps, some suspicion of the truth, was greatly +relieved; and, though habituated to the unaccountable caprices of her +mother's temper, was somewhat surprised, at the perfect indifference +thus shown by Lady Palliser, respecting her ultimate failure on a point, +to carry which, so violent a determination had previously been +manifested. + +On Willoughby's arrival at Arden, he strained every power of his mind to +hide from his brother the true state of his feelings; and, to a certain +degree, succeeded; his strange manner inducing in Alfred a belief that +it was the immediate prospect of the fulfilment of his wishes, which had +unsettled his intellect; for, that it was to a certain degree unsettled, +this affectionate brother could not help detecting, in the extravagance, +the sometimes almost terrific wildness, of the gaiety assumed by +Willoughby. It is impossible to describe the wretchedness of Alfred, +while with an aching heart, he watched the flushed cheek and flashing +eye of his brother, and listened to the strange unnatural sound of his +laugh. We may say, without in the slightest degree exaggerating the +disinterestedness of our hero, that every thought of self was forgotten, +in the miserable excess of sympathy which the extraordinary +circumstances of others now called forth. It was not only for his +brother, that brother to whom from infancy he had been so tenderly +attached, that he now felt the cruellest apprehensions; but what was +also to be the fate of Caroline, and what would be the misery of their +mother, the sorrow of the whole family, if, indeed, the awful infliction +he had so long dreaded, had at length fallen upon them? + +Or even, were this excitement which now alarmed him so much, to subside +again for the present, how dreadful was the prospect opened by its +having ever assumed so serious a form; and the inconsistency of +Willoughby's conduct and manner, the incoherence of his expressions in +his ill-sustained attempts at conversation, put the fatal truth beyond a +doubt. Yet, were all those symptoms so far to abate, that no eye less +watchful, less practised to watch than his own, could detect the lurking +malady, was it fair, was it honourable, to involve in so frightful a +family affliction, the happiness of a being as yet unconscious of it? +Yet who could, who would, who ought to interfere? Delicacy and all good +feeling for ever forbade that any surmise should proceed from him. Oh +impossible! quite impossible! Fate must roll on, and overwhelm whom it +would, he must be passive! But he was more: instinctively he strove to +conceal from servants, and the few country neighbours whom chance threw +in their way, the hourly increasing infirmity of his brother; treating, +while such were present, his extravagance as hilarity, and every +contradiction and inconsistency as an intended jest; adding thus the +while, by the violent and unnatural contrast to his own secret +sufferings. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + + +Alfred sometimes thought that possibly he ought so far to conquer his +scruples as to write to his mother, and communicate to her, in strict +confidence, his apprehensions respecting the state of Willoughby's mind: +but he might recover after a short period of quiet, and then his mother +might be spared the pang: and he could not, as he had before decided, +even within the bosom of his own family,--he could not, be the +consequence what it might, bring himself to be the first to suggest such +a thought. His mother, of course, would not suspect him of a base desire +to grasp at his brother's birth-right, and of a consequent +quicksightedness in discerning the approaches of this frightful +visitation; but there were those who might so misjudge him. It was, +however, he thought, at least his duty to prepare his mother's mind in +some degree for whatever might be the result, by saying, that he did not +think Willoughby quite well: this, therefore, he did in one or two of +his letters. Yet Willoughby himself made no complaint; and to servants +and occasional visiters appeared to be in particularly good health and +spirits. We remark this now because the comment subsequently becomes +important. + +After a few days, however, Willoughby, like one who had run at full +speed as long as his strength would permit, flagged; his efforts were +first less sustained, then his gaiety became confined to wild bursts of +noisy mirth, while at length whole hours, with a seeming unconsciousness +of the lapse of time, were passed in gloomy abstraction. The bursts of +seeming mirth, however, were always assumed when servants or strangers +were present; the gloom and abstraction given way to only when alone +with his brother. + +Willoughby had always felt, and often expressed, great horror of persons +being opened after death: to this subject he now recurred with a +frequency, and clung to it with a pertinacity quite extraordinary; +adding the most solemn injunctions to Alfred to be the protector of his +remains whenever he should die. + +"You will then be master here," he would say; "every thing will then be +yours; my very body I bequeath to you--I make it your property: do not, +Alfred, I conjure you, suffer the defenceless corse of your poor brother +to be mangled. It would be hard indeed," he would sometimes subjoin, +with a wild ironical laugh, "if a man could not find rest even in the +grave." + +On occasions like these Alfred would sit beside him, and endeavour to +sooth him by every kind and rational argument he could devise; not +unfrequently Willoughby would appear entirely deaf to all that could be +urged; while at other times, he would take Alfred's hand, thank him with +gentle kindliness of manner, and hope that he might yet be as truly +happy as he deserved to be; joining with this latter expression an +earnest and expressive solemnity which almost seemed a blending of +prophecy with the prayer of affection. He often talked of having a +foreboding that he should die young. + +"But why, my dear brother," Alfred would reply, "give way to such +thoughts? Why should you die young? You have no ailment, no care, no +sorrow----" + +"It may be a silly fancy, yet I am possessed with the idea:"--this much +Willoughby said with well-acted carelessness. "My only anxiety in +dying," he added, with a suddenly altered tone, and an inquiring look of +the most mournful tenderness, "is for you, Alfred; I fear you will feel +it severely; but do not!--do not! Why should any one be miserable?--I +shall not be missed, except by you: no selfish happiness, I know, will +enable you entirely to forget me. My mother is kind, very kind; but you +were always her favourite--and that in time will reconcile her--" + +Caroline was in Alfred's thoughts; her name even trembled on his lips, +but he had not courage to give it utterance. + +"You speak wildly," he said, "my dear Willoughby; you not missed! +you--who--who--you who love and are beloved." Willoughby laid his hand +on Alfred's, and looked anxiously in his face for some moments, but +continued silent; at length he moved his lips, as if about to speak; +then pressing his brother's hand, dropped it, and exclaimed, "I +cannot!--I cannot!" An instant after he burst into a passion of tears, +and laying his head on Alfred's shoulder, wept like a child, till +relieved by giving way to his feelings, though completely exhausted, he +seemed to sleep. In a few seconds, however, he started, looked up, and +repeated anxiously once or twice, "What have I been saying, Alfred? what +have I been saying? I think I have been asleep," he added; "but I have +lately got into a strange habit of laying awake the whole night: it is +merely a habit. Sleep is altogether a habit, I think. I don't sleep at +all now, as I tell you; and yet you see I am perfectly well!" + +Alfred looked mournfully at him, and replied, "Would to heaven you were, +Willoughby! Do," he added, anxiously, "let us go to town; you ought to +take some medical advice; if, as you say, you do not sleep, you cannot +be well." + +"Well--I am perfectly well I assure you--shall we ride?" he added, +rising and calling his two beautiful greyhounds that lay on the rug +before the fire: "I wonder, by the by," he continued, "if they have laid +the poison which I ordered for the rats in the stable-lofts; shall we go +out at the back way, and I'll see to it myself." + +Willoughby hurried out, Alfred followed, and heard him inquire with +great precision respecting the poison, and give, in the most rational +manner, precautionary directions against mistakes or accidents in its +use. A servant in reply pointed out a shelf in the saddle-room, where it +lay perfectly apart from all articles of food; and showed both the +gentlemen that the outward paper was, according to a usual and very +proper precaution on the part of druggists and apothecaries, strongly +marked in very large letters--"_Poison, Arsenic_." The characters too, +though done with a pen, were those of print, which made them more +strikingly legible to every eye. + +The brothers now proceeded to ride as Willoughby had proposed; Alfred, +however, could think of nothing but the poison: he had often heard of +the most artful preparations on the part of deranged persons, and he +could not banish the idea that Willoughby had made the particular +inquiries he had just heard with a view to possessing himself of the +arsenic; and he determined, lest this should indeed be the case, that he +would, as soon as he returned to the house, privately take away the +packet from where he had seen it, and put it in some place of security. +If the fearful project of self-destruction did indeed dwell among the +wanderings of his brother's mind, the quiet removal of the means would +not only prevent the immediate execution of his fatal purpose, but might +by possibility change the current of his thoughts into some more +healthful channel. Accordingly, as soon after their return as he could +find a convenient opportunity, he repaired to the said saddle-room, and +not wishing to confide his fears to any one, possessed himself, +unobserved as he supposed, of the paper of arsenic, which he locked up +carefully in his own escritoire, feeling, as he did so, almost a +security, that he had thus for the present, at least, removed one danger +from the reach of his poor brother; for as Willoughby had been scarcely +out of his sight, since they came back from their ride, there was no +reason to fear that the mischief was already done: nor did it indeed +occur to Alfred, when he found the packet laying where he had seen it in +the morning, that without displacing the whole, sufficient for the +purpose he dreaded might have been taken away. + +For the remainder of the day, and especially during dinner, he observed +that Willoughby's manners were more than ever strange and inconsistent; +and that his efforts at gaiety were fewer and worse sustained than on +any former occasion; yet, as long as the servants were present, +extravagant. While, the moment the brothers were alone, there was an +overflow of mournful tenderness, and an expression of the same character +in his countenance which filled Alfred with the most harrowing +sensations. Yet a circumstance had occurred when they were riding, which +had in a great measure allayed his immediate fears, and given his +thoughts too, a somewhat new direction. They had met with a neighbouring +squire who, possessing little either of tact or delicacy, and also +thinking himself privileged as being not only an old man but an old +acquaintance, immediately began to rally Sir Willoughby on the report of +his approaching marriage. + +Willoughby saw that Alfred watched him anxiously; and, being rendered by +the presence of a stranger doubly determined to keep his secret to the +last, he aroused himself to great exertion and replied with astonishing +coolness, at the same time admitting the fact of his intended marriage, +that the event to which the squire alluded was not to take place so +immediately as he seemed to imagine, for that previously to his becoming +a benedict he was to join his friends at Paris, and proceed with them on +a tour which would occupy some months. + +The old gentleman at parting commended him for showing Lady Anne +Armadale so soon how little he thought of her, and congratulated him on +the great superiority of his present choice, both in beauty and fortune. +The gloom and abstraction of Willoughby after this was so marked that it +suggested to Alfred the possibility of his not having yet conquered his +first attachment, and of his having entered into his present engagement +more out of pique than preference. How strange and absorbing for a time +were the speculations occasioned by such a surmise, while some of them +were calculated almost to reawaken selfish regrets, yet were these again +checked by the appalling thought that such a supposition strengthened +his worst fears; contending emotions were more likely seriously and +permanently to unsettle the mind than the excitement, however great, of +a successful attachment; at least, to suppose such a cause, it was +necessary to take for granted a predisposition stronger than there was, +perhaps, sufficient grounds to believe did exist. + +That disease however, was present, whatever the cause, there could be no +doubt; and Alfred firmly resolved, therefore, if he could not the very +next day prevail with Willoughby to accompany him to town, that he would +send thither for the first medical advice that could be obtained, and +also entreat his mother to come to Arden. For he now began to fear with +infinite self-reproach that he had already carried delicacy on this +point too far. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX. + + +A biscuit and a glass of wine-and-water was usually the temperate supper +of the brothers. They generally took it in the library, and read till +they felt disposed to retire for the night. This evening Alfred, who had +risen from the table for a book which he happened to be some little time +in selecting, observed on his return, but without a suspicion at the +moment as to the cause, that the water which Willoughby was pouring into +his glass looked less clear than usual. He remarked upon the +circumstance and advised his brother to put it away and have some fresh +brought up. + +"It seems very good," said Willoughby, adding wine and taking off the +whole at one draught, though in general he sipped it from time to time +during perhaps an hour of either reading or conversation. + +Alfred accustomed to his brother's love of opposition in trifles was not +at all surprised. He sighed, however, for he always considered this +infirmity of temper a symptom of the incipient malady he dreaded; so +simply saying, + +"There is quite a sediment in the goblet you see," he read on, but still +without an apprehension. It had somehow never once entered into his +calculations, amid all his vague fears, that a mode and occasion so +public as the present would have been chosen. + +"Put away your book, Alfred," said Willoughby, a few moments after. +Alfred looked up and saw that his brother was pale in the extreme, and +with a ghastliness of expression quite alarming. + +"I have the idea more strongly impressed upon my mind than ever this +evening that I shall not live long!" said Willoughby in a voice changed +and hoarse; "and that when I do die," he continued, "it will be +suddenly, very suddenly: let our good-night then be also a farewell; we +know not what may happen before morning." + +"Do not make me miserable by such melancholy forebodings," said Alfred, +"surely--there is, there can be no cause for such! Willoughby! +Willoughby! you do look ill!" And the thought crossed his mind, that had +he not secured the poison he should now be really alarmed. + +"It is only a presentiment," said Willoughby, affecting a ghastly smile; +"yet, lest it should be verified, indulge me in my childishness, and +before I go to bed take leave of me, and--forgive, say you forgive every +pettish word, every wilful act, of which I have ever been guilty towards +you, my kind, my excellent, my too amiable brother." + +"Forgive! dear Willoughby! surely I have all that is kind and noble in +intention to thank you for, nothing to forgive--unless indeed," and he +paused in silent alarm. "Oh, Willoughby," he added, gazing at the +working of his countenance, "I fear--I fear some terrible purpose! speak +to me! tell me I am wrong--you have no such thought--no you would +not--you press my hand, what does that mean? Speak, Willoughby! Is it to +reassure me?--oh, my poor mother--think of her!--think of me, how much, +how truly I love you, never should I know happiness again, if--oh +misery--those eyes--he does not know me!" Willoughby attempted to speak; +the words were not only indistinctly uttered, but evidently without +purpose in their arrangement; while unable longer to maintain the +struggle against bodily suffering, with the wildness of delirium in his +looks and gestures, he sank on a sofa writhing in agonies which partook +of the nature of convulsions. + +The now terrified Alfred, calling aloud for help, hastily loosed his +brother's stock and undid the buttons of his waistcoat; within which, +while so employed, his eye was unavoidably drawn from its close +connexion with the frightful circumstances of the moment, by a piece of +crushed paper, on which the word "_Poison_," in the conspicuous +characters already described, was nevertheless strikingly visible. +Alfred snatched up this fatal witness; it was a part of what he had seen +in the morning, and had but too evidently been thrust into the bosom as +a place of concealment after its contents had been emptied into the +goblet; nay, it had still a considerable portion of the powder lurking +in its folds. The terrible conviction that his precaution had been too +late, and that his brother had assuredly swallowed the _poison_, flashed +at once upon Alfred, fearfully strengthened by the appearance of +Willoughby laying on the sofa, his eyeballs rolling beneath their closed +lids, except when they started wildly open for a second and closed +again. He still attempted to speak, but now nearly without the power of +articulation, saving that the name of Alfred was more than once +distinguishable amid a low rapid murmur, which however soon faded into +whispers, then subsided into a mere movement of the lips without sound, +and then ceased altogether. By this time the poor sufferer had become +quite insensible, and no one had yet answered Alfred's continued calls +for help. He now ran to the bell, then to the door, giving orders to the +servants, who at length appeared, to fly for the nearest medical aid, +adding incoherent directions about bringing antidotes for _poison_, and +even naming arsenic in particular; yet at the same moment, without any +direct consciousness of what he was doing, his fingers with a sort of +instinctive movement were thrusting within the breast of his own +waistcoat, the fatal scrap of paper he had found in his brother's bosom; +for all the while that with the aid of servants he was vainly +endeavouring to render assistance to Willoughby, confused notions were +floating through his mind of the dreadful addition, that in case of the +worst, it would be to his poor mother's grief to know that Willoughby +had committed the awful crime of putting a period to his own existence; +and mingled with these, were thoughts still more disjointed of Christian +rites refused to persons guilty of suicide: so that altogether Alfred +was actuated, without any power of defining his motives, by a vague +sense, that some sort of necessity existed for suppressing the proofs of +his brother having wilfully taken the _poison_. He was of course quite +incapable at such a moment of a process of reasoning by which to decide +what other supposition it would be either probable or desirable should +be formed. + +Messengers had been despatched in every direction; yet before any +medical man arrived, the convulsions had subsided, and death, +accompanied by the most ghastly appearances, taken place. + +At length the bustle of an arrival was heard; instead, however, of the +expected doctor, Geoffery Arden entered the room. + + + + +CHAPTER XX. + + +The arrival of Geoffery at this critical moment was accidental. He had +scarcely time to gather from the appearance of Willoughby, and the +incoherent expressions of Alfred, who seemed at one moment half wild, +the next stupified by his grief, a somewhat confused notion of what had +occurred, when his entrance was followed by that of Doctor Harman. + +The patient, however, being already quite dead, there remained nothing +for the Doctor to do, but pronounce his opinion as to the probable cause +of death, founded on the appearance of the body, and the symptoms of the +attack, as described by those who had been present. This he did by +expressing a suspicion that Sir Willoughby had swallowed poison, +although he granted that similar symptoms might have been occasioned by +a fit of apoplexy, and that such a fit might have had a fatal +termination. To all Alfred's anxious inquiries if there was nothing that +could be done, he replied decidedly that all was over. Alfred now stood +for a considerable time with his arms folded, looking on his brother +with a sort of mute despair, when a strange unbidden vision of the +appearance which the water in Willoughby's goblet had presented, +occurred to his memory. He turned towards the table on which the glasses +still remained, and in a species of day-dream, lifted and examined that +from which Willoughby had drunk. He perceived in the bottom a +considerable quantity of whitish powder. Unfit for cool calculation, as +were the powers of his mind at the moment, this, with all the +circumstances, seemed to place it beyond a doubt, that Willoughby had +taken the poison at the very time he had commented on the want of +clearness of the water into which he was pouring his wine. With this +conviction came again vague thoughts, as before, of expediency of +concealing the fact of the suicide. Too wretched, however, to remember +how strange his conduct, if not explained, must appear to those present, +he poured some water into the glass, and was about to empty the same +into a basin on the table. + +"Should not the contents of that glass be preserved?" said Geoffery, +aside to the Doctor. + +"Undoubtedly!" replied the tatler, darting forward, and seizing the +visibly trembling hand of Alfred. + +"This may be of consequence, my dear sir," he said, mildly. + +Alfred, as though he had been a detected culprit, who had not a word to +plead in his own excuse, yielded without a comment, not only his whole +attention, but his whole heart and soul, being at the instant recalled +to the sofa, whence some of the servants were about to remove the +remains of Willoughby, for the purpose of conveying them to a +bedchamber. But for this circumstance, he would, in all probability, +have explained his motives to the Doctor. Alfred now assisted the +servants with as much tender solicitude, as though the unconscious +object of his care were still capable of distinguishing affection's +gentle hand, from all the aid that may be bought or sold. The Doctor and +Geoffery had also approached the sofa, on the impulse of the moment, +ready to give their assistance had it been required; it was not +required, however, and they stood to let the melancholy procession pass. +While doing so, their eyes naturally rested on the interesting figure of +Alfred, bending over his poor brother, and consequently it so happened +that while he was in the act of stooping, accompanied with some share of +exertion, in the performance of his pious task, they both distinctly saw +the piece of paper he had so lately placed within the breast of his +waistcoat, glide out from thence, and fall to the ground. Geoffery +perceived the Doctor's eye follow it; he kept his own upon it, for there +was sufficient visible of the conspicuous letters with which it was +marked, to draw attention. When all but the Doctor and himself had +quitted the apartment, he pointed at it. The large characters, as we +have already particularly remarked, being, though strongly done with a +pen, those of print, were so distinct, that they were legible, even at +the distance where the paper lay on the floor. After both gentlemen had +stood looking down upon it for a considerable time, Geoffery said, at +length, + +"Will you have the goodness, Doctor, to pick up that paper?" The Doctor +did so, though not without hesitation. + +"I would not have touched it myself for the world!" continued Geoffery, +as soon as it was in the Doctor's hand. "You saw whence it fell?" he +proceeded. The Doctor was gazing in horror, one after another, at the +letters which spell the word poison, and carefully collecting together a +minute particle or two of powder, which still remained in some yet +unfolded crevices of the crumpled paper: + +"I am sorry to say I did," he answered, shaking his head. + +"What powder is that?" asked Geoffery. + +"It is scarcely fair to form a judgment on so small a portion," replied +the Doctor, "but it certainly resembles arsenic." + +Geoffery looked very hard at him; he returned the look, for a moment +only, then dropped his eyelids, and compressed his lips, as though he +feared his thoughts would assume the shape of words, and escape from +them unbidden. + +"What can be the meaning of all this, Doctor!" said Geoffery, after a +pause of some duration. + +"I don't know, sir--I don't know," replied the Doctor, hastily, and +almost angrily. + +"There seems to be no comment necessary," observed Geoffery. "Yet," he +added, after another pause, "the only possible solution is too horrible +to be thought of." + +"Quite so, sir, quite so!" replied the Doctor. "I wish," he subjoined, +shortly after, "that any other medical man but myself had been called +in." + +"That, too, was strange!" said Geoffery, turning towards the table: +"what object could Mr. Arden, or Sir Alfred, rather, as we must _now_ +call him I suppose, have had in attempting to rinse that glass?" + +"It is impossible to say," replied the Doctor. + +"Why should he," persisted Geoffery, instead of being anxious to +ascertain the truth (as every near relative who had not his own reasons +for a contrary line of conduct must be), "seek to make away with +evidence?" + +The Doctor compressed his lips harder than before. + +"What do you suppose these dregs to be?" asked Geoffery, after a long +pause, devoted to a careful scrutiny of the contents of the glass. + +"Arsenic, apparently," replied the Doctor;--this was a point on which he +considered himself called upon to speak. + +"And you think Sir Willoughby's death was caused by poison?" + +"I did certainly from the symptoms described suspect as much; but I +should, for the further satisfaction of the family, recommend the body +being opened." + +"You are quite right," said Geoffery; "it ought to be satisfactory to +every member of the family that the cause and manner of Sir Willoughby's +death should be clearly ascertained." + +The good Doctor moved his head mournfully but made no reply. The paper +was still in his hand. Being about to depart, he offered it to Geoffery, +saying, "I had better give this to you, I suppose, sir?" + +"By no means," replied Geoffery; "but I must request that you will take +especial charge of it. 'Tis scarcely to be supposed that circumstances +so mysterious and extraordinary will be passed over without some +investigation, in which case that scrap of paper will be of infinite +importance." + +The Doctor took out a memorandum-book with trembling fingers, placed the +bit of paper within its leaves, and sighing as he restored the +depository to his pocket, said, "Ours is a wretched profession, sir! It +is not enough that we must witness every agony that is felt, and see +every tear that is shed; but other and still more painful duties, which +at first sight one would suppose to be quite distinct from the medical +department, are daily thrust upon us by circumstances. The nakedness of +human misery as well as human depravity both, are for ever before our +eyes!" after a pause he added, "I wish it to be distinctly understood, +that I shall decline all interference which is not enforced by +law--which is not, in short, matter of sad necessity." + +"We must be in a great measure guided by circumstances," said Geoffery, +"My situation is peculiarly painful and delicate; I heartily wish I had +not arrived when I did--had my own suspicions never been awakened, I had +not been called upon either by honour or by feeling, to take a part +which may, notwithstanding, be supposed by many to be very invidious. +You don't think I could with propriety allow this affair to blow over +without an investigation? What do you say, Doctor?" + +"I can offer no advice on such a subject," replied the Doctor, "it would +be quite stepping out of my sphere, sir." + +"I commend your prudence," observed Geoffery, "It is time enough for you +to answer questions when you are on your oath." + +"A surmise at least," interrupted the Doctor, with the air of one who +had suddenly recollected an important fact, if not an absolute knowledge +that poison had been taken, "must have existed previously to my being +sent for, as the servant who came for me, desired that I should bring +antidotes; and, by-the-by, arsenic was particularly mentioned. Possibly +Sir Willoughby is known to have put a period to his own existence?" + +"Wherefore, in that case," replied Geoffery, "should the paper which had +contained the poison have been so carefully concealed, where both of us +saw it come from? Besides, Sir Willoughby's affairs were in the most +prosperous state possible. He was also on the point of marriage with a +very charming young woman. A match quite of his own choosing, too." + +After a slight degree of hesitation, Geoffery assuming a look of +affected mystery, through which, however, flashed that fiendish sparkle +of the eye, which betrays the self-gratulatory acumen of knavery, added, + +"I should scarcely suppose that there had existed much cordiality +between the brothers of late. Both were pretenders to the hand of the +same lady, and the feeling of mutual jealousy on the subject was, I +myself happen to know, very strong. The lady in question, too, is an +heiress of considerable wealth, by whose means there is little doubt +that Alfred Arden had, before poor Sir Willoughby became his _rival_, +hoped to mend his fortunes as a younger brother. Indeed, I think he was +very ill treated in the business from first to last. It was enough to +exasperate the feelings of any man;--not that I mean to justify a crime +like this." + +"These are family matters with which I can have no concern," interrupted +the prudent man of medicine. "As it is highly probable, however, that +some investigation of the sudden death of Sir Willoughby must take +place, it becomes, I apprehend, my imperative duty, being the medical +attendant on the occasion, to take charge of the contents of this +glass." + +So saying, he rang the bell, asked for a bottle, and carefully putting +every particle of the supposed poison into it, took his departure, +carrying the bottle with him. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI. + + +As soon as Doctor Harman had taken his departure, Geoffery, with an +officious affectation of sympathy, followed Alfred up stairs. + +He found him seated beside the bed on which the deceased was laid, and +leaning against it, with his face buried in both his hands. + +The attendants had all quitted the apartment; Geoffery attempted some +commonplace expressions of condolence. Alfred moved his head in a +desponding manner, but did not raise it. + +Geoffery while standing waiting, as it were,--for he deemed it necessary +to remain a few moments with his cousin,--cast his eyes, from mere +unfeeling idleness, round the apartment, when something on an adjacent +table arrested his attention. He looked down upon it for a few seconds, +then raised his eyes cautiously in the direction of Alfred, and +perceiving that his face was still covered, lifted the object of his +curiosity, which appeared to be a letter, slid it into his pocket, and +after repeating his expressions of condolence and adding some sage +advice respecting firmness under the unavoidable trials of life, and the +expediency of courting the salutary influence of sleep, was about to +retire; but Alfred, while he was bidding him good night, looked up for a +moment, and said, + +"I would not on any account have it known that poor Willoughby had been +guilty of suicide. They may deny him Christian burial;--besides it would +add greatly to my poor mother's affliction. Did not the doctor say +something of a sudden seizure, a fit, having similar symptoms, and of +its being likely to prove equally fatal?" + +"He did." + +"Let it be so supposed then, and discourage all further inquiry. Good +night--" and here he again covered his face; on which Geoffery sought +his own room, and having carefully shut and bolted his door, drew the +purloined letter from his pocket, and without waiting to sit down, +perused its contents with a countenance of eager satisfaction. He then +proceeded to unfold and read an enclosure which seemed to make him look +grave. After this he paced the apartment lost in thought, from which he +broke into occasional soliloquy, thus: "My coming over too, just at this +juncture, was the merest chance: if I had not been short of cash, I +should not have thought of it." A long pause followed.--"He was always a +vain fool," he recommenced: "the dread of being laughed at, I make no +doubt, has goaded him to this! There must have been derangement of +course, temporary, at least." He opened the letter again, and looked at +a passage or two--"Incoherent enough!" he ejaculated. "But my happening +to see the packet," he pursued, "was so fortunate----He had not noticed +it, I should think----that, however, is a point which I must ascertain, +for he appears to be by some means, aware of the suicide----but can he +prove it, if necessary?----at present he seems desirous to conceal the +fact, which is so far well, the mystery will look suspicious.----" Here +he again opened the enclosure, shook his head, looked serious, and paced +the room once or twice----"Their being abroad, however, just at this +time, has happened well," he said--stopped and stood still--then added, +after a long pause of deep and motionless thought, "This is most +probably the only proof----It would certainly appear from its style that +he had made no previous disclosure----I must talk with him----I shall +easily perceive how far he is informed, and, at any rate, it is highly +improbable that the letter has been seen by any witness." + + + + +CHAPTER XXII. + + +The slumbers which followed the prolonged reveries of Geoffery Arden, +were rendered unrefreshing by feverish dreams, some of a truly horrible +character; in particular the vision that presented itself on his first +closing his eyes; which was, that he had himself for some reason or +other been condemned to be hung; that it was the night before his +execution, and that he was laying trembling in the condemned cell, +dreading the approach of dawn. The agony of his feelings awoke him. What +he had just suffered, and his infinite relief on finding that all was +but a dream, had for some moments a salutary effect, even on his heart, +which, if ever heart of man was justly entitled to the epithet, was +indeed "desperately wicked;" now, however, the scheme with which he had +laid his head on his pillow, seemed almost too diabolical to be +attempted; he almost shrank from the idea of inflicting on any human +creature the intense suffering with the recent escape from which his own +heart still beat audibly. + +These were the thoughts of solitude and of darkness. He slept again, and +awoke only to fear, as he beheld the full light of day penetrating every +where, and making the true forms of all things evident, that his scheme +of murderous treachery was too monstrous to be practicable. No one would +listen to such a proposition: and as for proofs, could circumstances be +indeed tortured into any strong enough to meet the powerful current of +opinion, flowing in the opposite direction? Yet, on the other hand, such +things had been heard of, and without one-tenth part the stake as to +property, which in this instance might be alleged as one powerful +incentive, while there was room also to suppose the workings of violent +jealousy, and even of revenge. His own mother, moreover, could be +summoned to prove that he had actually been accepted, and that he +himself ascribed his disappointment afterwards to the rivalship of his +brother. + +At this moment a servant answered Geoffery's bell, prepared to assist +him at his morning toilet. + +The man's face was full of importance and mystery; Geoffery noted this, +and willing to encourage the fellow, in whatever he might have to tell +respecting the opinions of servants, &c., said, + +"Why, Davison, you look absolutely frightened! What is the matter?" + +"I don't know that I have got any occasion to look frightened," said the +man, "for whatever way the poor gentleman came by his death, whether by +a fit, as some _sais_, or by poison, as others _thinks_, it was nearly +over with him before ever we came to the house. But there's no saying, +for that matter, who'll be blamed, or who wont; they are all in such a +taking about it below, as never was." + +"How do you mean?" + +"Why the coachman thinks that as it was he that went to Arden for the +arsenic for laying for the rats, for it was in the stable-lofts they +were most troublesome, that he'll get brought into some mischief, +although he had his master's orders; but who is to prove that, now poor +Sir Willoughby's dead and gone? And for the butler, he's afraid of his +life, but people may think that something must have been wrong with the +glasses or the water, when he carried them in; and so he took Johnson +and myself to the saddle-room, that we should see where the arsenic lay, +and so judge that it was impossible for it to come near any thing that +was for eating or drinking. When we got there, however, the packet with +the poison was nowhere to be found, although it had lain on the very +shelf he showed us, in that selfsame room (the butler _sais_), no longer +ago than yesterday forenoon, when poor Sir Willoughby and Mr. Alfred +looked at it themselves." + +"Strange indeed!" said Geoffery, "and has inquiry been made? Does any +one own to having moved the packet? This may throw light on the whole +affair. It is rather too bad that gentlemen are to lose their lives in +this manner by the shameful carelessness of servants. How are they to +prove it carelessness either? How are they to show it was not +intentional? The half of them will be hung, I make no doubt, and richly +they deserve it." + +"The servants are all ready to swear, that not one of them touched it, +or so much as went near the place," replied Davison; "and what's more, +the groom who was leading the horses round, after the gentlemen returned +from riding, _sais_, that he saw Mr. Alfred coming out of the +saddle-room with a paper parcel in his hand; so that if one of the +family thought proper to remove the arsenic himself, and an accident +happened in consequence to any article of food, the servants all say +that was no fault of theirs." + +"Can the man swear to this?" + +"So he _sais_." + +"If this could be proved it might certainly clear servants from blame, +but it is, I must say, altogether a very improbable story. If Sir Alfred +had wished to have the arsenic removed to any other place, he would have +given orders to that effect, and not have gone about the thing himself +in the clandestine manner you describe. No, no, this won't do, it is but +a flimsy excuse, and as I told you before, gentlemen are not to lose +their lives by the shameful carelessness of servants; nor are their +nonsensical excuses to be taken, and the thing hushed up. As for poor +Sir Alfred, he is too much overcome by his grief to attend to any thing; +it necessarily devolves upon me therefore to make the proper +inquiries.--Send Johnson here, I must question him. I shall, in fact, +examine them all, both separately and face to face." + +Geoffery was determined, by this means and on this pretext, to collect +all the information he could as to what were the surmises of others, and +what the facts of the case, that admitted of proof or of distortion. He +knew enough to be perfectly aware that the servants were not in fault, +but he considered it his most judicious play, to pretend to blame them; +exciting their ignorant and selfish fears, might be useful, and at +length make them willing to hear even their master accused rather than +themselves. Although he had sources of information not open to others, +he could by no means understand the extraordinary circumstance of the +paper which had fallen from Alfred's bosom. The attempt to rinse the +glass, he now indeed thought might be ascribed to the wish Alfred had +since expressed to conceal the fact of the suicide; but as he had not +explained his motive to the doctor at the time, the circumstance looked +so very suspicious, that he hoped it might be turned to account. He +could of course deny what his cousin had said to him in private. Knowing +however, as he did, that the inference to be naturally drawn from all +that had at present transpired was false, he was aware that he must +proceed with caution; something positive might yet come to light, which +would do away with all fallacies, and render it imprudent in him, or at +least invidious to breathe a suspicion against his cousin. + +Before he took any step, therefore, he must find out what all the +servants had to say; and as he had already determined to do, sound +Alfred himself,--without any witness present, however; for if, as he now +began to hope, his cousin's exculpation should rest entirely on +explanations to be made by himself, his not offering such till after +formal accusations were brought against him, would look very suspicious. +He would, therefore, make himself the medium of communication between +Alfred and all others; and, if possible, encourage him not to see any +one else. In the end, if necessary, he could and would firmly and boldly +deny every word which had been said to him only, and so give to his +cousin's motives the colouring of excuses, subsequently invented to +cover guilt. This, however, was a desperate game, which he would not +venture to play till he could see that his card would sweep the board. + +The circumstance of Alfred's having been seen bringing away the packet +of poison, would certainly be very strong if it should so turn out that +it could be proved; he feared, however, that it must be a mistake: he +had his own reasons for thinking that it would be found to have been Sir +Willoughby whom the groom had seen pass and carelessly mistaken for Sir +Alfred. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII. + + +"Pray, Johnson," said Geoffery, when the person so named made his +appearance, "what is all this that Davison has been saying, about a +paper of arsenic being missing from where it lay no later than +yesterday; and the groom's absurd assertion, that Sir Alfred was the +person who removed it? This is a mere excuse, to hide the carelessness +of some of you servants, who have probably flung the paper of poison in +among the glasses; and now that you see the consequences of your own +misconduct, you are all terrified. And very justly, for I make no doubt +of it, the half of you will be hung!--The plea of carelessness, let me +tell you, and I know something of the law, will not be taken; malicious +interest will be supposed. As I told Davison, if Sir Alfred chose to +have the arsenic removed, he would have given his orders to that effect, +and not have gone about the thing himself, in a skulking clandestine +manner: why should he take so much trouble, unless concealment were his +object; and what motive could he have for concealment?" + +"The lad _sais_ it was Sir Alfred," answered Johnson. + +"Can he swear to the fact?" + +"He _sais_ he can." + +"Poor Sir Alfred," proceeded Geoffery, "is not in a state of mind to be +spoken to; or the thing might be cleared up in a moment, by my asking +him the question. Indeed he has given orders that no one shall go near +him; besides, it would be the utmost cruelty to allude to such a subject +at present; particularly if he really has, by any carelessness about +this paper of which you speak, been the cause of the accident, he will +never forgive himself;--so that, in that case, from respect to his +feelings, the circumstance ought in fact to be hushed up." Geoffery was +well aware that ordering servants to hush a thing up, was the best +possible mode of giving it publicity. + +The groom, when he appeared, was so firm to his text, that Geoffery +began to hope the assertion, whether true or false, might be turned to +account. He endeavoured, accordingly, to terrify the lad into a steady +evidence, by telling him, that what he once said, he must, on his peril, +stand to throughout; for that the slightest prevarication, or even +hesitation on so serious an affair, might hang him. "And I know +something of the law," he added, as usual. So saying, he dismissed the +groom, desiring him to send up the butler. + +"This is a shocking business, Thomas," said Geoffery, as the butler +entered. + +Thomas made no reply. + +"Poor Sir Alfred," continued Geoffery, "thinks, it seems, that his +brother died of a fit, and it is better for his peace of mind, that he +should think so; although there is no doubt, that Sir Willoughby was +poisoned. Do you think, Thomas, that you will be able to clear +yourself?" + +"Clear myself!" answered the man, his eyes flashing with rage, through +the honest tears he had been shedding for his master. "I'd be glad to +know who'll accuse--I who have served his father, and his grandfather +before him, man and boy these fifty-five years, and have nursed himself +and his brother one on each knee, many's the time." + +"Far be it from me, Thomas, to accuse you or any one else of such a +crime as murder; I only suspect you of unpardonable carelessness; but I +must say, and I know something of the law, as you may suppose, that +circumstances are very strong against you; it may be thought that you +intended to poison both brothers, and rob the house; my arrival was +unexpected; such things you know have been done! Nothing I should think +can clear you, but its being satisfactorily proved who is to blame. You +brought up the glasses; poison has been found in one of them, and there +was no one in the room but Sir Willoughby, his brother, and yourself. +You certainly would get nothing by the death of Sir Willoughby, unless, +as I said before, you had made away with both gentlemen, and robbed the +house; that is so far in your favour: yet no one, you know, could think +of suspecting his own brother, and circumstances seem to lay the +mischief, however it happened, at the door of one or the other." + +"No one who had not got the heart of the devil in his breast would lay +it at the door of either," replied the man, angrily. + +Without noticing his irritation, Geoffery proceeded, "I still mean in +the way of accident or mistake. Some of you talk, I understand, of Sir +Alfred having been the person who removed the paper of arsenic." And +here he enlarged as before, on the affliction our hero would no doubt +suffer, could he at all blame himself for any thing that had happened, +and how cruel it would therefore be to mention the subject to him. + +"Was the arsenic at any time kept in the same place with the glasses? Do +you think you might have scattered any quantity about, in lifting it +from shelf to shelf?" + +"I wiped out the glasses with my own hands, the moment before I carried +them in. Besides, the arsenic was never in the cupboard with my things +at all, it lay on a shelf in the saddle-room, quite out of the way of +what was for any one's use, and was marked in large letters, "arsenic, +poison"; for Sir Willoughby was very particular in his orders to me to +be careful about it, and made me show him where I put it, and that Mr. +Alfred knows, for he was with his brother at the same time, no longer +since than yesterday forenoon." + +"If your statement is correct, I do not see how it was possible for an +accident to have happened," said Geoffery, "could you swear that it was +not possible for an accident to have occurred?" + +"Yes, I could," he replied, though sulkily. "That is," he added, "as +long as the arsenic lay where I left it." + +This was one of the main points which Geoffery wanted to establish. He +now dismissed the butler, who was sobbing so violently, that he could +scarcely answer the questions put to him. + +The coachman next entered; and it being Geoffery's object, with the +views already stated, to alarm all the servants for their own safety, he +looked extremely austere, and, aware that the individual he had now to +deal with was not overburdened with wisdom, began thus: + +"So I find, James, you don't pretend to deny that you brought arsenic +from Arden, and the defence which I understand you pretend to set up, +is, that you did so by your master's orders, for the purpose of +poisoning rats. Now, this is quite too hackneyed an excuse; as to the +orders you _say_ you received, I fancy you have no proof that you +received any." + +"I told the groom that went with me, and the boy at the apothecary's, +that my master sent me." + +"You told them! What sort of proof is that? You don't suppose that your +own word will be taken for yourself, whatever it may against yourself! +This will never do. I know something of the law, and unless there is +stronger evidence against some one else, you will certainly be hung for +the murder. The only thing in your favour is, that you would get nothing +by Sir Willoughby's death." + +"If they _chooses_ to hang an innocent man," replied James, very +philosophically, "I can't help it, I dun as I was bid." + +"It's a very awkward thing having no witness in your favour but a dead +man. Are you sure it was not Sir Alfred who gave you the orders? for if +so, he is there, you know, to say so, which might save you." + +"No, it was Sir Willoughby himself." + +After a little more cross-questioning, James retired to the servants' +hall, where the effect of Geoffery's interference, was just what he +intended it should be: the utmost excitement existed. The one general +argument in their own favour, cunningly suggested to each by Geoffery, +that they would get nothing by the death of poor Sir Willoughby, was +constantly recurred to, while every time this was said, the remembrance +naturally suggested itself of who it was that would gain everything by +the melancholy event; not that any of the household yet dared in word, +or even perhaps in thought, to connect accusation or suspicion with the +mental recognition of the abstract fact. The strangeness, too, of +attempting to rinse the glass, and the strangeness of taking away the +paper of arsenic were named, while other still stranger circumstances +were from time to time, as they transpired, cautiously whispered to a +chosen few, by Geoffery's man, Davison, but no one ventured to draw +inferences. As the servants, however, of neighbouring families came in +to make inquiries respecting the sudden demise of Sir Willoughby, +already beginning to be generally known, many very extraordinary rumours +soon got abroad. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV. + + +Alfred, wholly unsuspicious of the evil thoughts which dwelt in the +minds of others, was seated in the retirement of his own chamber, +writing the melancholy announcement of Willoughby's death to Lady Arden. +With the idea, however, that the knowledge of his brother's having put a +period to his own existence would add much to his mother's affliction, +he made no allusion to that part of the subject; nor any mention of the +supposition, that Willoughby's death had been occasioned by poison; he +merely stated, that it had been very sudden, and that Dr. Harman was of +opinion, that something of an apoplectic fit, had been the cause. + +While he was thus employed, Geoffery presented himself, and renewed his +officious offers of condolence. + +Alfred thanked him, but begged to be left alone. While Geoffery stood +behind his cousin's chair, his restless eye (expressive at once of +outlook and precaution), wandering as usual in every direction, and +scanning every object, descried, as much to his astonishment as delight, +in one of the recesses of the escritoire, the paper packet marked +arsenic, which it may be remembered, Alfred had put there the day +before. How it had got there, which to Geoffery was of course a mystery, +there could be little doubt that this was the packet spoken of by the +servants as missing. Here indeed was a powerful circumstance in favour +of a scheme, so diabolical in purpose, so improbable in execution, that +it was his wishes, not his hopes, which had first given entertainment to +the thought. This monster, this creation of the evil one, was now +assuming an almost palpable, or at least plausible form. If, as he had +strong reason to suspect, the entire truth was known only to himself, it +seemed now, no great stretch of probability to hope, that this +extraordinary combination of unlooked-for circumstances might establish, +by apparently irresistible evidence, the next to incredible accusation, +which, could it indeed be established, would in the selfsame hour build +up at once his own long despaired-of fortunes. Caution, however, must +still be observed, while steps must be taken, to procure the +interference of the coroner; and get him to require that the body should +be opened; he must also receive a hint to search the escritoire; and the +result of the coroner's inquest must decide him, whether or not it would +be prudent to take any further steps. In the mean while, however, lest +the poison should be removed, previously to the time of a legal search +being made, he must contrive, that the packet, where it now lay, should +be seen by an impartial witness. His own evidence might not be received, +as he was known of course, as heir at law, to have an interest in +Alfred's being proved guilty. These were his thoughts, while descending +to the hall. Here he summoned Davison, and instructed him to go up to +Sir Alfred's room; to enter quietly, as though fearful of disturbing +him; to proceed to the back of his chair before he spoke; then to +apologize for his intrusion by saying, Mr. Geoffery had sent him for his +gloves, which he had laid on the table and forgotten. While pretending +to search for the gloves, he was to fix an attentive eye on the part of +the escritoire described to him by Geoffery, till he saw with sufficient +distinctness to be able to swear to the fact, a paper packet with the +word arsenic marked upon it. He was of course not to make a comment, or +even allow Sir Alfred to observe the direction of his eyes. + +This service punctually performed, but the gloves, which, by-the-by, +were on Geoffery's hands, still unfound, Davison returned to his master, +who, after ascertaining that he could swear to having seen the arsenic, +added, + +"You must have perceived, Davison, by the delicacy of my conduct from +the first, how glad I should be to retain the charitable opinions of +every one as long as possible; but at the same time I have a duty to +perform, though a painful one, and so may you, perhaps, when called upon +in a court of justice. In the mean time, however, be prudent, and don't +hurt the feelings of the older servants, by any rash or premature +remarks. As for strangers they don't care, and every one must know +sooner or later, so that your denying facts to them would be wrong, and +might invalidate your future evidence." + +Davison looked half puzzled and half frightened, but said nothing. + +"Doctor Harman," proceeded Geoffery, "has not been quite prudent; he +has, I find from one or two neighbours who have called this morning to +make inquiries, been gossiping already." And here, under pretext of +repeating what the Doctor had been saying, though poor Harman, to do him +justice, had not opened his lips, Geoffery, in an under voice, and with +much mystery of manner, mentioned the suspicious circumstance of the +paper which had fallen from Sir Alfred's bosom. As for the attempt to +rinse the glass, several servants had been present at the time. + +Geoffery, now thinking that he had supplied his attendant with +sufficient topics of conversation for any servants' hall he might enter, +ordered his horses. He had several objects in view in his morning ride, +one of the principal ones, a call on business at Doctor Harman's. + + + + +CHAPTER XXV. + + +With what indescribable feelings of exultation did Geoffery ride through +the splendid park, look back on the baronial remains of the ancient +castle, and the grandeur of the modern mansion, then around them on the +immeasurable extent of the grounds, the endless variety of the scenery, +the magnificent, unfathomable woods, the beautiful openings, displaying +in the distance the rich low pastures, with their grazing flocks; the +bare hill rising beyond, crowned with herds of deer; bends of the +picturesque river, with here the swan or the wild duck sailing on its +smooth bosom, there a waterfall, veiling its rocky sides in spray, and +clothing its surface with a sheet of foam; all, in short, on which he +had so long looked with corroding envy, and fierce thirst for +possession, but for many years without a hope. + +He checked the bridle of his horse on the centre of a little eminence, +inhaled a long draught of the fragrant air, and smiled with supercilious +self-importance while he thought of the cheering probability, to which +time and chance had at length given birth, that all might yet be his. + +He found Doctor Harman at home, and with great solemnity and well-acted +sorrow, made known to him the discoveries of the morning. The packet of +arsenic being missing, Sir Alfred having been seen coming from the place +where it had lain, and the still more extraordinary and, he feared, +perfectly decisive circumstance of his having himself seen a packet +marked arsenic in Sir Alfred's escritoire. + +It was too shocking to be thought of, he said, yet how were such +staggering facts as these, together with those which had previously come +under the Doctor's own eye, to be got rid of? He wished to retain +charitable opinions to the very last. Investigation, however, had become +a duty, although he would certainly wish it to be conducted in the most +delicate manner possible. In answer to an inquiry from Geoffery, the +Doctor said he had already tested the dregs found in the glass, and +proved them to be arsenic; to obtain full satisfaction, he added, that +it would be very desirable to open the body, and examine by similar +tests the contents of the stomach. "But," he proceeded "the request must +come from Sir Alfred." + +"Which we know will not be the case," replied Geoffery; "on the +contrary, I fear he will refuse to permit an examination, and if so, the +proper authorities must enforce submission; but I am so anxious to +proceed in this affair with the utmost delicacy, that you would greatly +oblige me, Doctor, if you would first urge it as your own request--as a +matter of favour to yourself--as throwing a light on science. I do not +wish unnecessarily to hurt the feelings of Sir Alfred, and if ever I am +myself compelled to yield my belief to the frightful suspicions which +circumstances, I am sorry to say, almost justify, it must not be till +the most ample proof has no longer left me free to doubt." + +His object in wishing to act with this affected delicacy was, that +Alfred might refuse to allow the body to be opened; as such conduct, +under the circumstances, would look suspicious, and he felt certain, +knowing as he did Alfred's wish to repress the suicide, that so +requested he would of course refuse, while, if he were informed that +suspicions already existed, it was to be supposed that he would for his +own sake instantly consent. The Doctor, however, still objected to +attend unsummoned. + +As soon, therefore, as Geoffery returned to Arden, he despatched a +servant on horseback with a verbal message, requesting that Doctor +Harman and two surgeons would attend prepared to open the body of Sir +Willoughby. This succeeded in taking in the honest-hearted Doctor, to +whom it did not occur to inquire who had given the message to a servant +who was one of Sir Alfred's household. + +On the arrival of the medical gentlemen, Geoffery, who was determined +that every point unfavourable to his cousin should admit of proof by +other witnesses than himself, sent a servant up to Sir Alfred with a +message purporting to be from Doctor Harman to say, that if Sir Alfred +had no objection, the Doctor was very desirous of being permitted to +open the body of the deceased, for the purpose of ascertaining whether +or not his view of the case were correct, in supposing that the sudden +death of Sir Willoughby had been occasioned by a fit of apoplexy. + +Alfred, surprised at the officious impertinence of such an interference +to which he had no idea of sacrificing the solemn injunctions of his +dying brother, sent back an immediate and positive refusal; on which +Geoffery with a face of solemn sorrow, dismissed the medical gentlemen, +adding many flourishes and innuendoes, and confessing that he certainly +had ventured to send for them himself, in the hope that Sir Alfred might +have been induced to permit an examination, for which the circumstances +of the case so loudly called. This might be thought officious in him, +but his motive was, to combine delicacy with a step he felt it his duty +to take. + +Alfred had many reasons for his refusal; first, and above all, were his +brother's anxious and repeated injunctions, which, except superseded by +sad necessity, would of course be laws to him; next, he was, as we have +already said, very desirous that the idea of a suicide should not be +even suggested; lest it should come to the ears of his mother, and add +to her distress: and, finally, he wished, that if the idea were +suggested, the fact should not be proved, lest as we have already +hinted, Christian rites should be refused. At the same time, feeling +himself but too certain, that his poor brother must have put a period to +his own existence, he had no anxious doubts to be satisfied by an +examination. As to the opinions which might be entertained by others, +though the doctor had said at first, that the symptoms resembled those +of poison, he had, at the same time allowed, that an apoplectic fit +might have caused the sudden death, and been attended with similar +symptoms. Alfred naturally thought, therefore, that the family appearing +satisfied with this solution, it would become the prevalent opinion, and +the melancholy event pass over, as little noticed by the public, as the +private sorrows of individuals generally are. + +This honourable and exalted mind never once conceived the idea, that any +combination of circumstances whatever, could have suggested to any human +being such a thought of horror, as that of his having shortened the life +of his dear brother; much less did he imagine, that by the part he was +now acting, he was actually furnishing a treacherous enemy with a sort +of presumptive evidence that such was the fact: so that while every +unfortunate coincidence, on which the ignorance of some, and the +malignant designs of others, could found an evil report, was being +universally disseminated, and discussed. Alfred sat apart, unsuspicious +of evil, yielding to his grief, and communicating with none, except to +give such orders as were absolutely necessary; while the arts of +Geoffery, and the delicacy of friends, prevented any creature's offering +him a hint of what was unhappily, by this time, passing in the minds of +many. For, not only were all the particulars which the servants had +witnessed, already in circulation; but, the circumstances of the marked +paper falling from Alfred's bosom, and the missing packet being seen in +his escritoire, were also beginning to be pretty generally known, to the +great surprise of the poor Doctor, who, as we said, had never breathed a +hint on the subject. Yet had his prudence gained him no credit; for +Geoffery had not confined his insinuations against the Doctor's talents +for taciturnity, to what he had said to his man Davison; but had also +complained to several confidential friends, how that meddling, gossiping +fellow, Harman, had been saying so and so--giving here each particular, +in the form of a quotation. If his auditors _chanced_ to reply, that +they had heard nothing of the kind before, Geoffery would express his +surprise; assure them that every one else had; lament that such should +be the case; and add, how much he had wished, to suppress unpleasant +reports; at least, until the whole affair should necessarily become +matter of public discussion. + +Geoffery having, as we have said, his reasons for being aware that +Willoughby had taken poison, was determined, for the furtherance of his +diabolical schemes against Alfred, that the body should be opened; and +proof thus furnished, of the fact of poison having been swallowed. He +took care, therefore, that not only reports, but direct information +should reach the coroner, of a nature to render it his duty to demand an +investigation of the whole affair. + +END OF VOL. II. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Dilemmas of Pride, (Vol 2 of 3), by +Margracia Loudon + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK DILEMMAS OF PRIDE, (VOL 2 OF 3) *** + +***** This file should be named 35057-8.txt or 35057-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/5/0/5/35057/ + +Produced by Heather Clark, 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) + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Dilemmas of Pride, (Vol 2 of 3) + +Author: Margracia Loudon + +Release Date: January 24, 2011 [EBook #35057] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK DILEMMAS OF PRIDE, (VOL 2 OF 3) *** + + + + +Produced by Heather Clark, 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>DILEMMAS OF PRIDE.</h1> + +<h2>BY MARGRACIA LOUDON</h2> + +<h3>THE AUTHOR OF FIRST LOVE.</h3> + + +<h3>IN THREE VOLUMES.</h3> + +<h3>VOL. II.</h3> + +<h3>LONDON:</h3> + +<h3>BULL AND CHURTON, HOLLES STREET.</h3> + +<h3>1833.</h3> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CONTENTS</h2> +<!-- Autogenerated TOC. Modify or delete as required. --> +<p> +<a href="#CHAPTER_I">CHAPTER I.</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_II">CHAPTER II.</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_III">CHAPTER III.</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_IV">CHAPTER IV.</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_V">CHAPTER V.</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_VI">CHAPTER VI.</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_VII">CHAPTER VII.</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_VIII">CHAPTER VIII.</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_IX">CHAPTER IX.</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_X">CHAPTER X.</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XI">CHAPTER XI.</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XII">CHAPTER XII.</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XIII">CHAPTER XIII.</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XIV">CHAPTER XIV.</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XV">CHAPTER XV.</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XVI">CHAPTER XVI.</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XVII">CHAPTER XVII.</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XVIII">CHAPTER XVIII.</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XIX">CHAPTER XIX.</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XX">CHAPTER XX.</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XXI">CHAPTER XXI.</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XXII">CHAPTER XXII.</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XXIII">CHAPTER XXIII.</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XXIV">CHAPTER XXIV.</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XXV">CHAPTER XXV.</a><br /> +</p> +<!-- End Autogenerated TOC. --> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>DILEMMAS OF PRIDE.</h2> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_I" id="CHAPTER_I"></a>CHAPTER I.</h2> + + +<p>Alfred felt a strong and restless desire to absent himself from +Cheltenham for a time. What might ultimately occur he saw as a frightful +spectre in the distance, and he even strove to keep his mental vision +fixed with stern steadiness on the unwelcome image, while he laboured to +discipline his mind to generous emotions, and teach it to desire +absolutely the happiness of his truly generous brother, without any +remaining reference to self, even though Willoughby should become a +serious and a successful admirer of Caroline's. But to witness the early +steps, the daily progress towards such a consummation, was what seemed +to his imagination impossible to be endured. Caroline's gentle +smiles—the privilege of walking beside her on the Montpelier +promenade—of sitting near her little work-table in Lady Palliser's +drawing-room—of joining his voice to hers in certain duets which he +called to mind individually: these had been his own. The dread of seeing +them appropriated by another, appeared, in the present disordered state +of his mind, to terrify his fancy even more than all the vague and +distant views of that irremediable step; the very despair attending the +contemplation of which awed every gentler emotion into stillness; and +produced comparatively, a seeming, if not a salutary calm. Accordingly +he made up his mind to go to town, on the plea of aiding to complete +some arrangements then in progress for his promotion. We forgot to +mention that our hero held one of those fashionable licences to be shot +at, an ornamental commission in the Dragoon Guards. By using the word +ornamental, we do not wish to infer that a regiment of Dragoons is not +useful in a field of battle; we only mean to say, that in peaceful times +like the present, young men go into the Guards more with a view to +becoming <i>ornamental</i> members of society than useful engines of warfare, +and very naturally feel more ambitious to attract the attention of +ladies than to repel the enemy.</p> + +<p>Alfred set out for town. For several days however, Willoughby continued +in a very unsettled state of mind, avoiding rather than seeking the +society of Lady Caroline Montague.</p> + +<p>He had always entertained towards Alfred an affection much stronger +than, from the strangeness of his temper, was known to any one but +himself, or perhaps even to himself. His thoughts were now absorbed and +saddened by the remembrance that Alfred was not happy. He felt a +fastidious repugnance to draw happiness himself from the same source +which had caused, and was still causing his brother pain; and rather +than run the risk of aggravating that pain, he doubted whether it would +not be better to relinquish at once an acquaintance of only a few days. +He almost wished he had gone to town with Alfred; yet town had +unpleasant associations for him just then.</p> + +<p>For a time, guided by feelings such as we have described, he almost +avoided Caroline; yet a fatality seemed to hang upon him. Though he told +himself again and again that she was but the acquaintance of an hour, it +seemed as if the matured attachment of Alfred had, by some mysterious +tie, by some identity of sympathies existing in nature between the twin +brothers, flung its spell, from the first interview, over the heart of +Willoughby, as though those more than brothers scarcely enjoyed a +divided being, but that the wishes and affections of both were still +united by hidden links, which irresistibly propelled them to one object.</p> + +<p>The very efforts which Willoughby made not to attach himself to our +heroine seemed to invest his feelings with a seriousness, a pathetic +tenderness, so strangely mingled with his pity for Alfred, that while he +sometimes sat apart, yet unable to withdraw his gaze from the mild and +lovely features of Caroline, his sensations approximated to torture.</p> + +<p>Her beauty appeared to him, the more he gazed upon it, Nature's only +perfect work. That any one could admire any other style, any other +lovely being, seemed to him a thing impossible. His former fancied +attachment he now saw to have been indeed but a dream of vanity, and +that it had touched any other feeling.</p> + +<p>He could not, however, maintain the struggle long; he soon began to seek +for arguments favourable to his wishes. Alfred's love, he told himself, +could not bear comparison with his in fervour, or he would have +persevered longer—he would have renewed his offer again and again. The +attachment was not mutual, Caroline having herself rejected him. Such an +attachment then would, in all probability, soon be forgotten; then why, +if he could, make himself acceptable, might he not be happy? In a little +time he arrived at the certainty that Alfred would himself be generous +enough to rejoice in his happiness.</p> + +<p>Lady Palliser's encouragement was decided. Caroline's indeed was but +passive. Geoffery, however, himself believing his cousin's attachment to +be a hopeless one, pretended to point out many marks of a hidden +preference, which he said could not be mistaken, averring that a cool +looker-on was better able to judge than a party interested.</p> + +<p>Willoughby, more even than the rest of the world, was liable to being +flattered into the belief of what he wished; he very soon, therefore, +gave himself over to a passion which left him no longer master of any +one thought or feeling.</p> + +<p>Geoffery's motives were such as we have already pointed out. +Unsuccessful courtships were at least time lost, while his being the +administering medium of flattery and flattering hopes kept up his own +influence.</p> + +<p>Willoughby, when he wrote to his brother, which he did frequently and +kindly, thought there was a delicacy in refraining entirely from any +mention of Caroline, or of his own growing admiration; accordingly he +did not even allude to the subject.</p> + +<p>Three or four letters had been severally received by Alfred, and opened +with excessive trepidation, dreading what they might contain; yet when +they were concluded and found not to contain even the name of Caroline, +the feeling of momentary relief was followed by one allied to +disappointment; one which was at least an access of the miserable +suspense, the restless craving to know something, even the worst, rather +than look any longer upon the desolate blank, which, without the +slightest variation, each weary day now presented. From the hour he had +quitted Cheltenham, and it was now some weeks, he had seemed to himself +a being cut off from the past, apart from the present, shut out from the +future. It was a state of mind no longer to be endured. Within about +half an hour after the receipt of Willoughby's last letter, though it +was then about ten o'clock at night, he set out for Cheltenham.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_II" id="CHAPTER_II"></a>CHAPTER II.</h2> + + +<p>Alfred arrived at Cheltenham at an early hour in the morning. On +repairing to Lady Arden's villa, however, he found that the family had +already gone to the walks.</p> + +<p>That Caroline was probably there also was his first thought; his next, +that Willoughby perhaps at that very moment walked beside her as her +received lover. He certainly dreaded to behold realized the picture his +imagination had formed. Yet a strange restless feeling, a sort of +desperation, blended with a faint hope that he might be quite wrong, +impelled him to turn his footsteps towards Montpelier.</p> + +<p>It chanced that the band which had paused for one of the usual +intervals, recommenced just at the moment. It would be utterly +impossible to describe the universal thrill which, on hearing the +well-known sounds, took possession of Alfred's whole frame, the rush of +associations, numerous, various, vivid, yet so cruelly contrasted with +his present feelings.</p> + +<p>He wandered on, and entering what may be termed <i>the</i> walk, beheld close +to him, but in the act of turning, Caroline and Lady Palliser, with +Willoughby in attendance. He had seen Caroline's countenance for one +moment, but none of the party had seen him. Their backs being now +towards him he followed within a few paces, endeavouring to summon +resolution for the necessary task of joining and speaking to them.</p> + +<p>Willoughby it was evident had no eyes for any object but his fair +companion, towards whom he turned and addressed with an eagerness which +precluded the possibility of his ever once looking before him, much less +over his shoulder. Caroline of course turned her head from time to time +towards Willoughby to reply. She wore the memorable close bonnet of +white sarsenet which Alfred had thought so becoming. The morning he had +first seen her wear it became present to memory, while imagination +vividly pourtrayed within its own beautifying sanctuary that vision of +loveliness which it now seemed to be the peculiar privilege of another +to behold, as once it had been his, sheltered from the common gaze, and +beautiful for him alone.</p> + +<p>Lady Arden's party also was close before him, but his agitation, instead +of being at all composed by the time he reached the front of the +pump-room, was so much increased, that while the ranks of fashion were +wheeling to the right or left, to turn down the prescribed limit, he +found a convenient screen behind the crimson velvet pelisse of Lady +Whaleworthy who chanced to be near, and a moment after, turning off by a +cross walk, he made his way home. On the plea to the servant who +admitted him, of fatigue after his journey, he sought the shelter of his +own apartment; where, while he was supposed to have retired to bed and +slept, he sat strengthening and preparing his mind by meditation for a +meeting with his brother, and endeavouring to resolve what should be the +tenor of his own conduct.</p> + +<p>He had been but a very short time shut into his room, his mind still in +much too perturbed a state for society, when he heard the family party +coming in below. He could distinguish Willoughby's step cross the hall +and hastily ascend the stairs, but he had not yet resolution to admit +him; he therefore bolted his door without noise, and remained quite +still. He heard Willoughby turn the handle of the lock gently, and after +pausing a moment retire. "They have told him of my arrival, and with his +wonted kindness, poor fellow, he is impatient to see me," thought +Alfred. "And if he is destined," he added, after a pause, "to a better, +a brighter lot than mine, shall I wantonly embitter his happiness by +allowing him to perceive that the confirmation of hope to him will be +the sealing of despair to me? No, no, I will be more generous, he shall +see me firm, collected—if possible cheerful. Nay, that he is happy, +surely ought to be, and as surely is, a source of rejoicing to me. Would +this admit of a question were his happiness derived from any other +source?—Certainly not! What perverted feeling, then, can it be to which +I yield?—Selfishness! yes, selfishness the most aimless, the most +degraded! For shame! for shame! I must cast it from me and be a man."</p> + +<p>As he formed this resolve he rose from his seat and stood erect. After a +few seconds he hastily decided on descending to the breakfast-room, lest +Willoughby should again seek him; for he felt that he should have more +self-command in the full family circle, than were his heart just at this +moment subjected to the probing of his affectionate brother's anxiety in +a private interview.</p> + +<p>Alfred, too amiable not to be a general favourite, was received by every +individual of the party with the most entire cordiality, except, indeed, +Geoffery, who had no good will for any one.</p> + +<p>Willoughby, by the manner of shaking hands, and a look which accompanied +the action, implied a kind and even anxious enquiry into the state of +his brother's feelings, which it cost Alfred an effort to parry. He did +so, however, though with an air of rather overdone carelessness.</p> + +<p>Willoughby, deeply interested in believing him sincere, and himself not +a very keen observer, was more than satisfied—he was delighted. And by +the time breakfast was concluded, so well had Alfred, aided by a +feverish excitement, acted the part of cheerfulness and even gaiety, +that Willoughby now looked forward to the coming evening with unmixed +pleasure. It was the one fixed for a splendid ball at Lady Arden's, and +Lady Caroline Montague was already engaged to open it with him.</p> + +<p>The ball was so far a fortunate circumstance for our hero, for his +sisters could think of little else, which prevented their bantering him +in the unmerciful manner they might else have done about forsaking his +post. Mrs. Dorothea Arden, who after being at the walks with the young +people, always breakfasted with the family party, was so anxious on this +particular morning to see that meal concluded—having many arrangements +to recommend to her nieces, that she too made but one remark on the +painful topic, merely saying, as she rose from table; "Well, I am glad, +Alfred, you have returned in time not to allow your beautiful heiress to +be run away with. Willoughby has been paying fierce love in that quarter +I assure you. However, I should hope that with his ninety thousand +a-year of his own, he has no serious intention of interfering with your +making so desirable a match."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Dorothea had effected her exit by the time she finished her speech, +so that fortunately no answer was required. An awkward silence however +followed; for though all the ladies had by this time departed in various +directions, Geoffery's presence precluded any thing like confidential +conversation between the brothers.</p> + +<p>By our constant mention of Geoffery, it may be supposed he lived with +the Arden family, and it must be confessed that he found it both +convenient and agreeable to do so in a great measure; he had, however, a +nominal home at a hotel. For the last few moments Alfred had yielded to +a reverie of no very agreeable nature, the result of which was, a +conclusion arrived at with inward dismay: namely, that if he would avoid +calling down a universal clamour of remark both upon himself and Lady +Caroline, he must continue on friendly, and apparently intimate terms +both with Lady Palliser and her daughter, and for this purpose pay to +both every polite attention which intimacy claims; and still more that +the exertion, however painful, must be made at once.</p> + +<p>Accordingly, with as much ease of manner as he could assume, he proposed +to Willoughby and Geoffery that they should accompany him in a morning +visit to Jessamine Bower.</p> + +<p>"I suppose you forgot to ask Mrs. Dorothea's permission before you fall +in love," murmured Geoffery aside to Willoughby, as they passed out; +"how absurd it is of aunts and mothers to suppose that they are to +dictate to young men in these matters; but women love to hear themselves +talk."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_III" id="CHAPTER_III"></a>CHAPTER III.</h2> + + +<p>Lady Palliser not being at home, Alfred was spared the trial of this +first visit, and felt that the respite, even till evening, was a +sensible relief.</p> + +<p>Geoffery, after a vain effort to draw Willoughby to the billiard rooms, +repaired thither himself; and the brothers, thus left to each other's +society, wandered on into a quiet walk, and naturally fell into +confidential conversation.</p> + +<p>So well had Alfred hitherto acted his part, and so successfully did he +during this interview conceal his emotions, that Willoughby was +gradually led to open his whole heart, to dwell with enthusiasm on his +attachment, and even to speak of his hopes. He would not have approached +this latter part of the subject had he not at length mistaken Alfred's +fortitude for indifference, and persuaded himself that prudential +considerations must have been chiefly influential in tempting his +brother to seek the hand of Caroline.</p> + +<p>"I cannot tell you how happy you have made me, Alfred," he said, "by +returning among us, and in such good spirits. And remember," he added, +"that whenever and wherever you may fix your ultimate choice, it will be +my joy to forward your views to the utmost of my power. Whatever +settlement the lady's family shall require, you may command at my hands; +I speak without limit."</p> + +<p>Alfred made an evasive, but affectionate and grateful reply.</p> + +<p>"That we may be sometimes mistaken in the strength, or rather the +reality and consequent durability of our feelings," continued +Willoughby, "I am now fully aware from my own experience. I thought +myself very sincerely attached to Lady Anne Armadale, and for a short +time after her worthless breach of faith, I believed myself quite +miserable; yet how deeply am I, in point of fact, indebted to her +ladyship for giving me an opportunity of being undeceived before it was +too late! You see, my dear Alfred," he added, smiling, and looking round +in his brother's face, "that a disappointment is not always an +irremediable misfortune." Alfred had not time to assume cheerfulness of +countenance; and Willoughby sighed as he continued, "Not always, I say; +for how widely different are my present feelings. I sometimes shudder +when I think how little they are within my own control! Alfred," he +added, suddenly standing still, and laying his hand on his brother's +arm, "if the hopes to which I have now given up my whole soul prove less +than true, I shall—become a madman!" he subjoined, after a moment's +pause. "You can have no idea," he pursued, "of the wildness of my +thoughts, when I give way to a doubt——" A long silence followed, which +Willoughby at length broke by saying, "I am well aware that suicide is +one of the greatest of crimes; yet without even visible or absolute +insanity, I can imagine the balance of the mind being so entirely upset +on one all-engrossing object, as to render us for the time no longer +accountable beings."</p> + +<p>"There are cases," replied Alfred, with mournful solemnity, "which +certainly require a more than common exertion of fortitude to carry us +through the hour of trial. Impulses, however, of a sinful tendency must +not only be resisted, but from the first they must be dismissed from our +very thoughts; they must not be dwelt upon even to be condemned, lest +our minds become, as it were, familiar with crime, and one barrier be +thus broken down."</p> + +<p>"Fortitude!—reason!" repeated Willoughby. "Alfred," he added, laying +both his hands on his brother's shoulders, "I fear I am already in a +delirium! I have intoxicating hopes, yet I know not if they are +rational; for there are times when I conjure up fears and calculate +chances, till breathless and with beating pulses I could almost rush on +self-destruction as a refuge from the mere possibility of ultimate +failure!" While uttering the words self-destruction, he looked wildly +round for a moment, as if in search of the means.</p> + +<p>Alfred was indescribably shocked: the painful surmise which, on less +important occasions, had frequently crossed his imagination, now struck +him with redoubled force. His sympathy with his brother, mingled as it +was with the strange circumstances of his own case, became a sort of +agony. "Why should you, my dear Willoughby," he said, "who can command +every means of enjoyment this earth has to offer—why should you give +way to dreams, so wild, so incoherent? Banish all such thoughts, and let +me have at least the happiness of seeing you happy." An anxious +inquiring look was Willoughby's only reply to this. He shrank +unconsciously from seeking any unwelcome confession—a selfish feeling, +of which he was not aware, secretly urging him to believe without +probing too deeply, that Alfred was comparatively indifferent. In +silence, therefore, the brothers now bent their steps homewards, Alfred +reflecting the while on the peculiar cruelty of his fate; for if a +miracle could now be wrought in his favour, and Caroline be restored to +him all he had once believed her, his compassion for Willoughby, he +felt, would render the remainder of his own life wretched. Yet how did +his heart sicken at the thought of the scenes he must witness, the +confidences he must hear, the thoughtless railleries he must parry, if +he would act successfully the part which he felt it his duty to +maintain: for why should he wantonly embitter for another the cup of joy +which he was himself forbidden to taste; that other a brother whom he +fondly loved—a brother who he knew loved him with the most enthusiastic +affection? in short, in a futurity now become evidently unavoidable, he +beheld, as it were, all the appalling apparatus of torture displayed +before him, yet felt necessitated to submit his spirit to agony, with +almost the stern fortitude of an Indian chief, yielding his limbs to the +cruelty of his foes.</p> + +<p>No sooner did he enter the drawing-room than his sisters began to teaze +him, first about the length of his visit; and when they found he had not +been admitted, one observed that a runaway lover did not deserve the +favour of an audience; another asked archly, if he had commissioned +Willoughby to take the sole charge of Caroline in his absence. Lord +Darlingford, who was holding a skein of silk on the extended fingers of +both hands for Jane to wind, being unconscious how painful the subject +was to Alfred, said that he would not suspect Mr. Arden of conduct so +imprudent, for that love-making by proxy was universally acknowledged to +be extremely perilous.</p> + +<p>Louisa declared that with her the lover who was present was always the +favourite. Sir James, who was standing beside her, giggled, and drew a +step nearer. An expression of disgust passed over her countenance, +which, however, she concealed, by stooping closer to her scrap-book, +into which she was writing some passionate lines given her by Henry, of +the ardour of whose manner when he last repeated the said lines she was +reflecting at the moment.</p> + +<p>Jane thought, but did not say, that absence would rather add tenderness +to feeling where it did exist; without, however, daring to associate the +thought with the idea of one now absent—and who had once been +remembered with tenderness—for his marriage with another had some time +since appeared in the <i>Morning Post</i>.</p> + +<p>Madeline, whose heart was free, expressed openly the sentiment Jane had +secretly thought, though not without one of those prophetic blushes +which will suffuse the cheeks of even disengaged young ladies at the +very anticipation of being one time or other in love in their turn.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IV" id="CHAPTER_IV"></a>CHAPTER IV.</h2> + + +<p>Geoffery was still at the billiard table, where, with the assistance of +Sir William Orm, he was engaged in plucking a new pigeon, no less a +personage than the future head of the Salter family.</p> + +<p>Mr. John Salter was a vain, vulgar, selfish fool; in natural clumsiness +a caricature of John Bull personified, yet so determined to be French +and Frenchified, and so proud of his travels to and through Boulogne, +that the young men about the rooms, to whom he afforded infinite +amusement, called him the Marquis. Sir William Orm, though he had long +since cut the other members of the Salter family, sometimes did the +young man the honour to win his money; while Geoffery Arden, and several +other fashionables, granted him the privilege of a limited portion of +their acquaintance on the same liberal terms. When the Misses Salter, +however, saw their brother bow to one gentleman, speak to another, and +walk with a third, their drooping hopes naturally revived.</p> + +<p>"Who is that, John?—Has he much fortune—Is he married?—Couldn't you +ask him to dinner some day?—And who is that? I never saw you speak to +him before." Such were the questions and comments addressed by the young +ladies to their hopeful brother, who never, however, took the trouble of +giving them any satisfaction; his usual polite reply being, "If I choose +to ask him to dinner, I won't wait for your leave you may depend upon +it."</p> + +<p>"Well," said Miss Salter to her sister, "if we get plenty of men +acquaintance through John, we needn't much care about the ladies after +all. It's the men we want you know."</p> + +<p>"I know that," said Grace, "but I don't know that we shall get them: +however we might have had both the ladies and the gentlemen, only for +your improper conduct to Mrs. Dorothea. Isn't this Mr. Arden that John +knows, her nephew; and Sir Willoughby Arden, and the other Mr. Arden +both her nephews? besides, her knowing all the fine people; why she +would have been the very best acquaintance in Cheltenham, if we had only +kept her while we had her."</p> + +<p>"Well, I wish you'd keep your temper I know, and not be always harping +on that old story."</p> + +<p>"Temper, indeed! The less you say on that subject the better; but for +that matter I mean to take your advice and <i>keep</i> my temper, as it +happens to be one of the best going; but I recommend you to part with +yours as soon as possible, for you can't exchange it for a worse let me +tell you."</p> + +<p>Miss Salter, who had just finished washing her hands, snatched up the +basin, flung its contents in her sister's face, and effecting her +retreat during the first consternation of the enemy, said, as she +flounced out of the room, "except I changed it for yours."</p> + +<p>Descending in haste, she encountered her brother, Sir William Orm, and +Mr. Geoffrey Arden in the entrance hall. Astonished, delighted, and +covered with smiles, she accompanied them into the drawing room; ere +however they had time to be seated, in rushed Miss Grace, dripping from +the shower bath so lately administered by her affectionate sister, and +her eyes so blinded by the visitation of soap suds, that, alas, she saw +not the strangers; but having heard her brother's voice as he crossed +the hall, she poured forth her bitter complaints, sobbing violently, and +relating the particulars of the assault perpetrated by Miss Salter. John +laughed rudely—Sir William and Geoffery looked foolish—and Grace, +having received a private hint from her sister, wiped her eyes, beheld +the gentlemen, and after standing for a moment perfectly aghast, took +her departure; while Miss Salter, in utter confusion, and with a +countenance of the deepest mortification, yet trying to force a laugh, +said it was very childish of Grace to take her silly jest amiss.</p> + +<p>"You're such a pair of little innocent children, to be sure," said her +brother with a sneer.</p> + +<p>"Some people have a particular dislike to practical jokes," observed Sir +William Orm.</p> + +<p>"This is not the entertainment however that I brought my friends home to +receive," continued the amiable Mr. John. "So I beg you'll keep your +quarrels to yourselves, and order some dinner."</p> + +<p>Mr. Salter entering at the moment Miss Salter made her escape, she flew +first to the room to which her sister had returned to repair the injured +adornments of her person, opened the door, thrust in her head, grinned a +silent defiance, and slamming the door to again, ran down to Mrs. +Johnson, to consult in providing a proper entertainment for guests so +valuable, or rather so invaluable, as were two fashionable beaux. Hotels +and pastry cooks were ordered to be laid under contribution, and no +expense spared, let papa scold as he might. In cases of such vital +importance, thought Miss Salter, people mustn't stick at trifles. She +then ran up stairs again and in breathless haste, with the assistance of +a housemaid changed her dress, and throwing on all the gold chains and +bracelets she could muster, made her appearance in the drawing-room, +looking however, as might have been expected, after so much exertion +both mental and corporeal, not quite so cool as she could have wished. +Whether, therefore, it was most to her relief or to her disappointment, +when she found the gentlemen too much occupied to perceive her entrance, +she was not able to define her feelings with sufficient accuracy to +decide, although she had plenty of time for self-examination, having +nothing to do during the full hour that dinner was delayed by the +necessary additions, but to sit in perfect silence beside her sister on +a sofa. The fact was, that the four lords of the creation had got to a +rubber at whist and looked as if the slightest interruption would annoy +them.</p> + +<p>And young ladies, who have neither beauty nor fortune to recommend them, +are obliged to be so amiable, that they learn to acquire an anticipative +perception of what will be pleasing and soothing to the whims and +tempers of those falsely important personages—bachelors. Alas! alas! +for the dignity of the poor ladies! But this is only another of the many +evil consequences of the monopoly of property; for that monopoly being +generally vested in the male line, women are early taught that it is +only by worshipping some golden calf, in other words some man of +fortune, that they can hope to be restored to any participation, either +in the comforts of domestic, or in the distinctions of public life. Were +there but a little more justice laid in at the foundation of society, +surely there would be less occasion for this heartless scramble, so +revolting to almost all, while too many of those who were made for +better things, find themselves necessitated by circumstances to join the +throng, whose every movement and motives they despise; but as they +cannot change the world, they are compelled to let the world change +them; for tastes and feelings may be outraged, but dinners cannot be +dispensed with.</p> + +<p>How different an aspect would the world in a very short time present if +that offspring of pride and prejudice, the unjust law of primogeniture, +were abolished. The slaves of circumstances, whether men or women, would +thus, without spoliation or revolution, be gradually emancipated, and +the worship of wealth, that most universal and degrading of all +idolatries, be put down. The standard of ostentation would be lowered, +tis true; but the sum of human felicity would be increased, not only in +a natural proportion, but still more through the medium of that ideal +estimate which now poisons the very sources of peace. For then, not only +would the number possessed of comfortable independence be much greater, +but all those so blessed would learn (their understandings being no +longer warped by invidious comparisons) to know themselves rich and feel +themselves happy. Imagine then pride, prejudice, and famine thus +banished from the world. Fancy this amended state of things to have +existed for some centuries, and the happy generation then in being +looking back on the records of our times. Would they believe what they +read to be a grave statement of facts? Certainly not! On the contrary, +they would be inclined to suppose the whole not only a work of fiction, +but the conception of a madman's mind; so extravagant, so far removed +from nature and probability would every action appear, so insufficient +every motive, the sacrifices of realties to phantoms so egregiously +inordinate, so hyperbolically absurd, that the feelings and adventures +of personages so unlike themselves would find no fellowship with their +sympathies. As well might we be expected to feel pious awe when we read +of the gross idolatries of the ancient sage or modern savage. When, +however, we look back on obsolete absurdities, or abroad on foreign +follies, and find that when objects are removed from the artificial +atmosphere of interests and habits we can discern them with +distinctness, it seems not unreasonable to hope, that our mental vision +is in itself perfect, and that therefore when the great luminary truth, +which is gradually climbing the intellectual horizon, shall have arrived +at its meridian, and dissipated the mists of prejudice, we shall behold +with equal distinctness those objects, which lying in and around our +homes and our times more intimately concern our happiness. Were all the +world governed by rational, sufficient, and consistent motives, how few, +comparatively speaking, would be the ills of life!</p> + +<p>The objectors to the just division of paternal inheritance urge that the +wellbeing of a state is best secured by the members of the community +having as great a stake in the country as possible, and assert that such +a division would lessen that now possessed by the heads of families. But +is not the heartfelt happiness, the peaceful and joyous prosperity of +the many, not only a greater stake than the ostentatious pride of the +few, but one much more calculated to rouse when necessary the +lion-spirit of national defence?</p> + +<p>To those who would bring forward, as so many insurmountable objections, +the thousand remote evils they think they can foresee, as the probable +results of the system we thus advocate, we can only reply, that we do +not pretend to understand the difficult science of political economy, we +only know that what we recommend is just. Do justice then in all things +we would say, not in the pride of opinion but on principle, and let the +Allwise Disposer of the fates dispose of the consequences.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_V" id="CHAPTER_V"></a>CHAPTER V.</h2> + + +<p>At dinner young Salter was vastly liberal of his father's wine, and +called loud and often for Champaigne, sparkling bumpers of which had +shortly the effect of so raising the spirits of his guests, that they +began their usual merciless quizzing of the Marquis, as they styled +their younger host; for, holding as they did, all the family in +sovereign contempt, the presence of father and sisters was no sort of +check. Indeed they rather seemed to expect that their easy familiarity +would be received as a compliment by the whole domestic circle; nor were +they far wrong in their calculations. Mr. Salter, honest man, thought +that, as he had been at a great expense about his son's education and +travels to foreign parts, it was no wonder that his said son should on +his return home create a very great sensation. As for the young ladies, +they were particularly well pleased; for John's getting so intimate with +men of fashion must, they thought, lead to their receiving more or less +attention.</p> + +<p>"You import the silk for your own waistcoats, I suppose, Salter?" +observed Sir William Orm, "there is nothing like it to be had in this +country."</p> + +<p>"I heard a lady—a lady of title too—say, no later than last night," +chimed in Geoffery, "that she would give anything for a pair of slippers +made out of one of the Marquis's waistcoats, they were all so perfectly +beautiful."</p> + +<p>"She don't mean to go barefooted till she gets them, I hope," replied +the polite object of this delicate compliment.</p> + +<p>"I suspect," said Sir William, "that it is the Marquis's own beauty +which the lady has so associated with the patterns of the silks he wears +that she knows not how to separate the ideas."</p> + +<p>"Salter is certainly a fortunate fellow," rejoined Geoffery, "the ladies +all admire him."</p> + +<p>"Confess the truth now, Marquis," cried Sir William; "in round numbers +at home and abroad, how many hearts do you think you have broken in your +time?"</p> + +<p>"I know better than to kiss and tell," answered young Salter +conceitedly.</p> + +<p>"That chain," said Geoffery, "which you wear in such graceful festoons, +Marquis, must be either Venetian or Maltese, the workmanship is so +exquisite. By-the-by, there was a lady last night admiring that too, and +wishing so much you would make her a present of it."</p> + +<p>"What," cried Sir William, "the ladies volunteering to wear his chains? +you may well be vain, Marquis."</p> + +<p>"They may volunteer to wear this that get it," said young Salter, +looking down at the chain.</p> + +<p>"You are a great fool, John," observed his father, "hanging money round +your neck that way, that's paying no interest."</p> + +<p>"Pardon me!" interrupted Sir William, "it is interesting to the ladies."</p> + +<p>"He will be able to afford it to be sure," continued old Salter, "for +which he may thank an industrious father. Why, gentlemen, when I began +the world—confound it!" he cried, shoving back his chair violently, +"what are you treading on my gouty foot for?"</p> + +<p>Miss Salter, who knew too well what was coming, had tried to avert the +impending evil by, not it would seem a gentle hint under the table. It +had for many years of Mr. Salter's life been his boast that he had +earned every shilling of his own fortune. "Any fool might belong to an +old family," he would say, "but a man deserved credit, he thought, who +could make a new one;" which as we have already hinted he was determined +to do, by heaping all his wealth on the noble Marquis. On Mr. Salter's +first coming to Cheltenham, however, his daughters had prevailed on him, +much against his will, to be silent on this favourite topic; while they +had flourished away from morning till night about family—respectable +family—highly respectable family—old family—ancient family; till at +length, by dint of retrograde movements, they had arrived, for aught we +know, at coming in with the conqueror. But, alas, about this time Lady +Flamborough jilted, and Ladies Whaleworthy and Shawbridge cut poor Mr. +Salter, and so put him out of humour with all sorts of quality, as he +called them, that he derived a species of consolation from suffering the +full tide of his old notions to overflow once more both his soul and his +conversation. In vain, therefore, was Miss Salter's hint, as well as +many subsequent interruptions. "When I began the world," he recommenced, +"the young man in the song who had but one sixpence was better off than +I was. My father came by his death in a colliery you see in Cumberland, +and left my poor mother with six of us upon the parish. I was big enough +at the time, I remember, to lead a cart, so was apprenticed to a farmer, +who moving some years after to a farm in Ayrshire, took me with him. +There I picked up the knowledge of Scotch farming that afterwards made +my fortune, and brought me a wife into the bargain, who, were she +living, good woman, wouldn't believe her own eyes, that that there fine +gentleman, and these here fine ladies were her own born children! Look +here to be sure," he continued, pointing to Miss Salter's ornaments, +"such chains, and rings, and bracelets, and nonsense; and if you'll +believe me, gentlemen, the first pair of shoes ever her mother had on +her feet I bought for her at Maybole fair, in Ayrshire. As for +ornaments, we were married with a rush ring, and all the household +furniture we possessed was a chaff-bed."</p> + +<p>"Well, Mr. Salter," said Sir William, "I can only say that times are +greatly changed for the better, and you have yourself to thank for it."</p> + +<p>"That's what I say, sir," cried Salter, striking his clenched hand on +the table till he made the glasses ring. "Let me see the man that has +done so much out of so small a beginning. My son will have as fine an +estate as any gentleman in the country, and as fine a house upon it as +any nobleman. And if the family is <i>new</i>, why so is the <i>property</i>, and +likely, therefore, like a <i>new</i> coat, to give some wear, which is more +than some of the old ones will do," he added, winking, and looking +exceedingly wise as he laughed at his own wit. The mortified young +ladies here rose, and tossing their heads and biting their lips, took +their departure.</p> + +<p>"Nothing would serve my daughters, when first we come to this +vanity-fair," continued Mr. Salter, "but they must pass themselves off +for ladies of high family, forsooth, and behave with impertinence to +their betters, till they got themselves blown and cut too, as all that +sail under false colours deserve to be. But let a man, I say, come +forward with nothing but the truth in his mouth, and who shall despise +him for having made his way in the world by honest industry?"</p> + +<p>Mr. Salter's guests assented, in words at least, to his proposition, and +thus encouraged, he proceeded, "A man who has had his own and his +children's bred to get, may not have had much time, to be sure, <i>ither</i> +for book-<i>larning</i> or bow-making, and may not, therefore, be over good +company neither for your schollar nor your fine gentleman; but what e +that; there are plenty neither wiser nor genteeler than himself, why +shouldn't he be happy with them! As for his children, why, if he can +afford to make them independent, let him give them, as I have done, +plenty of schooling with it, and so make them company for any man."</p> + +<p>Geoffery here interrupted the discussion by rising to take his +departure, pleading the ball at his aunt's, which he must attend, while +Sir William Orm, finding there would be no chance of renewing the whist +party, inveigled away the Marquis to the hazard-table. Mr. Salter, thus +left to himself, was soon fast asleep in his chair; and his usual nap +being prolonged by his unusual potations, it was a couple of hours +before he found his way into the drawing-room. The disappointment of his +daughters, on his making his appearance alone, may be imagined, when it +is duly considered that they had waited tea, though we cannot say +patiently, till near one o'clock in the morning for the gentlemen, of +whose early retreat they were not aware.</p> + +<p>So much for feeding illbred men of fashion, in the hope of securing in +return what they have not to give—their politeness. After, therefore, +expressing warmly their disapprobation of such rudeness, the Misses +Salter had nothing for it but to retire to rest, venting on each other, +'till sleep closed their lips, the aggregate of spleen collected +throughout the day from so many fruitful sources. Yet here were people +whose more than common prosperity might have brought with it more than +common happiness in their own line, had not silly ambition and idle +vanity poisoned every fountain of attainable enjoyment, and created an +inconvenient thirst for the springs of a land of which they were never +likely to become naturalized citizens.</p> + +<p>The Misses Salter had always heard their poor father say, that he had +spared no expense in their education; they knew that they possessed +accomplishments, and prided themselves on remembering what they had been +made to read at school. But they knew not, for it came not within their +sphere to know, that there is an education of early habits effecting the +minutiæ of outward bearing, and acquired it would seem, by the +unconscious mimicry of infancy, the stamp of which no after-school +discipline can yet either erase or bestow; and still less were they +capable of comprehending, that there is a further education of refining +sympathies and ennobling sentiments which, while as children of Adam we +all share one first nature, bestows, in combination with that already +named of early habits, a sort of second nature, on the privileged few, +who from generation to generation have been reared, like exotics, amid +the beautiful and beautifying blossoms of delicacy and feeling, +sheltered from the rough winds of coarseness, the blighting atmosphere +of necessity, and the cold ungenial climate of that almost justifiable +selfishness unavoidably learned by those who have not only their own, +but their family's imperious wants to supply by their individual anxious +exertions.</p> + +<p>Thus it is that shades of thinking, of feeling, and of judging, scarcely +sufficiently palpable to form subjects of instruction, pass, +unintentionally imparted, unconsciously imbibed, from father to son, +from mother to daughter, till education in this enlarged sense, in other +words refinement, becomes a kind of hereditary distinction, which must +be possessed for several succeeding generations before it can well exist +in its highest perfection.</p> + +<p>That these are very sufficient reasons why the various classes of +society, for the comfort of all parties, should keep in their respective +spheres, till gradually assimilated by time and circumstances, no one +who knows the world can deny; the error lies in making pride instead of +expediency the ground of separation,—the sin, in suffering the +manifestations of that pride to be offensive.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VI" id="CHAPTER_VI"></a>CHAPTER VI.</h2> + + +<p>Lady Arden stood with Alfred receiving the still arriving guests, while +Willoughby was just leading away Lady Caroline to commence dancing. He +trembled as she took his arm, some of the uncomfortable doubts expressed +in his last interview with his brother recurring at the moment. "Why did +she always receive his attentions without hesitation, he thought, or +rather with a gentle, a winning acquiescence, yet never look happy." +This was a problem on which he pondered night and day, yet one which he +could never solve to his entire satisfaction. His intentions were +declared in their manner and in their object, and when this is the case, +he told himself again and again, not to avoid is surely to encourage.</p> + +<p>This ball was Caroline's first meeting with Alfred since his return; for +it may be remembered that in the morning he had only seen, not spoken +to, nor been seen by her. Willoughby's impatience had led him to +overstep the bounds of etiquette. He had been watching near the door, +and hearing Lady Palliser and her daughter announced in the first hall, +had hastened forward to meet them, given an arm to each, and led them +into the ball-room. To address both with tolerable composure was no easy +task for Alfred, but imperious necessity seemed to furnish him for the +time with the necessary strength. Lady Palliser, all smiles, expressed +great pleasure at seeing him, but Caroline's eyes instantly sought the +ground, and a glow which no effort could suppress, suffused her cheeks. +Alfred became as suddenly pale—a kind of terror seized him when he +recognized the well-known symptom of emotion, and beheld that accession +of loveliness which the fleeting brilliancy never failed to bestow on +one, the perfect beauty of whose features and form was always to him an +object sufficiently dangerous. Willoughby's leading her away, as already +noticed, to commence the dancing, was almost a welcome relief.</p> + +<p>"I cannot understand, my dear Alfred," said his mother anxiously, as +during a pause in the arrivals they stood for a moment quite apart; +"your present position with Lady Caroline? Willoughby seems as if by the +general consent of all the parties to have taken your place; the lady +receives him just as but the other day she did you, and you stand by as +if perfectly satisfied that your services were no longer required."</p> + +<p>"They are no longer required," said Alfred, "and this is, in fact, the +only explanation that can be given."</p> + +<p>"No, no; there is some foolish misunderstanding," said Lady Arden, "and +I fear," she added, "you are resigning not only your interest, but your +happiness too easily."</p> + +<p>"You would not deny a lady freedom of choice," whispered Alfred, as the +approach of fresh guests put an end to the conversation. Lady Arden +however, who loved all her children tenderly, but Alfred above all, was +far from satisfied. She sighed, and was compelled to await in silence a +more favourable opportunity for discussing the subject.</p> + +<p>The quadrille, and the waltz which succeeded it, being concluded, +Willoughby led his partner to a kind of arbour, formed by enclosing the +veranda, which was well supplied with exotics and flowering shrubs, with +an awning of canvass, so that the whole range of French windows could, +without imprudence, be permitted to stand open. It would seem that they +must have found this retreat a pleasing one, for it was some time before +they re-appeared, and when they did so, the countenances of both wore a +suspicious aspect, Willoughby's looked delighted, Caroline's conscious +and confused.</p> + +<p>Alfred had been considering that, to keep up appearances, he must, +particularly being at home, ask Lady Caroline to dance. He felt sick at +heart when he contemplated the exertion of false spirits it would +require to carry him through such an undertaking; yet the more he +dreaded the task, the more imperiously did he feel himself called upon +to go through its performance. As soon, therefore, as our heroine with +her late partner returned to the dancing-room in the manner described, +he approached. He was much struck by the expression of Willoughby's +countenance: he, however, proffered his request by a sort of indistinct +murmur. It was acceded to in sounds quite as inarticulate, and he felt +Caroline's trembling fingers laid as lightly as possible on his +proffered arm. The room now swam round, and how he found his way into a +quadrille which was forming, he never knew. The quadrille ended: a waltz +tune instantly commenced, and all the couples fell into the ring, as if +it were a matter of course; and with the rest, Alfred and +Caroline,—neither perhaps, now that the latter had forfeited her plea +of never waltzing, being prepared to give a reason for not doing as +others did. If even the quadrille had been an agitating task to poor +Alfred, the waltz certainly did not tend to compose his nerves; while +the idea of Willoughby, which was never for a moment absent, made every +thought and feeling agony. Yet was it useful; it gave firmness, if not +sternness to his deportment, and so enabled him to get creditably +through the concluding ceremonies of leading Caroline to a sofa beside +Lady Palliser, and procuring for her an ice, &c.</p> + +<p>On crossing the apartment he encountered Willoughby near a window, took +his arm, and drew him into the veranda. He had, as we have already +mentioned, been struck with the expression of Willoughby's countenance, +and could not help suspecting that some conversation of a peculiarly +interesting nature must have just passed between him and Caroline; while +he fancied that, could he once know the worst to a certainty, he should +afterwards be able to meet his fate with composure.</p> + +<p>"I think, Willoughby," he said, with tolerably well acted playfulness, +but looking down, for he could not venture to meet his brother's eye, +"that you have something to communicate that has given you pleasure; and +if so, do not fear it can give me pain. I trust I am not so wretchedly +selfish! That I have not been fortunate myself, I already know; that +you, my dear brother, should be more so, should not surely add to my +disappointment; nay, believe me, if I had a lingering regret remaining, +it would vanish before the certainty of your happiness."</p> + +<p>Thus encouraged, Willoughby, after some little hesitation, confessed +that Alfred's suspicions were just; that there had been a conversation +of the nature he supposed, and that he had met with so favourable a +hearing that he intended on the following day to speak to Lady Palliser +on the subject. Alfred, who had overrated his own strength, had not a +word to offer in reply. Fortunately, however, at the moment both +brothers hearing themselves inquired for by some of their sisters, +returned accordingly into the dancing-room.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VII" id="CHAPTER_VII"></a>CHAPTER VII.</h2> + + +<p>When Alfred quitted Lady Arden, her ladyship was joined, at her post +near the door, by Mrs. Dorothea, who having much anxious business to +arrange, was looking very important, with a large pack of her own +printed visiting cards in her hand. On the said cards was added in +writing, the words "At Home," together with a certain date, and in a +corner nine o'clock; from which latter memorandum hopes of dancing were +to be inferred. The date had been chosen with great nicety; for this was +to be Mrs. Dorothea's grand party for the season, and must be given +while she had her nice house, and before she should be obliged to go +back into miserable little confined lodgings, and discharge her footman, +&c. Still she wished it to be after Lady Arden's ball; for on that +opportunity was placed her grand dependence for picking up beaux. It was +for this laudable purpose that the pack of cards already mentioned had +been brought in her reticule, and the convenient position near the door +taken up. Every lord of the creation who made his appearance was +immediately introduced by Lady Arden to Mrs. Dorothea; for, if her +ladyship was in any danger of forgetting to do so, she invariably +received a reminding twitch of the sleeve, which obliged her in +self-defence, or rather in defence of the sit of her blond, to perform +the ceremony forthwith: notwithstanding which preventive measures, a +nice observer might have remarked, for the remainder of the evening, a +slight droop about the elbow of the gauze balloon, which had the +misfortune to be nearest the assailant. The introduction made, a card +was instantly presented by Mrs. Dorothea to each gentleman, and with a +slight bow pocketed by him. At length, however, one beau arrived, whom +it was Mrs. Dorothea's turn to introduce to Lady Arden. She did so with +great pomp and circumstance, as well as with evident triumph. The +gentleman, whose name was Cameron, was rather on the wrong side of +fifty-five, with a bald head, and blinking eyes, an Indian complexion, +and small features; but a certain smirking expression withal, and an air +of youthful activity, which denoted that he was still a bachelor.</p> + +<p>We did our friend Cameron injustice when we said that he was bald; for +he was still in possession of certainly not less than three hairs on +either side his head. While, as to the high estimation in which those +said hairs were held by their owner, no one could entertain a doubt, who +had ever seen the establishment kept expressly for their due culture and +arrangement. In the first place, Mr. Archibald Cameron's dressing table +was adorned with a display of no less than four large-sized, patent, +penetrating hair brushes, of the latest and most improved kind; next, +were ranges of bottles of self-curling fluid, <i>huile antique à la rose</i>, +&c. and pots of <i>pommade aux mille fleurs</i>, with combs of every +description; to say nothing of a sly little one in a case for the +waistcoat pocket, which, on all such occasions as morning visits, state +dinners, &c., was taken out in the hall, and used with the assistance of +a pocket glass, drawn from the fellow pocket, to coax the two said side +locks upwards, and by pointing them towards each other, induce them, as +nearly as possible, to meet over the centre of the naked polished +forehead. But as this was an undertaking too difficult to be always +achieved with perfect success, the restive curls not unfrequently stood +on end with the most obstinate pertinacity, like the pricked-up ears of +a listening cur. There was no help for this; for when the curls refused +to be coaxed, they were too great favourites to be quarrelled with, so +they were; just obliged to be allowed to have their own way.</p> + +<p>While Mr. Cameron stood speaking to Lady Arden and Mrs. Dorothea, the +latter lady looked frequently about her, with evident anxiety. At length +she made what she intended for a private signal with her fan to +Madeline, whom she espied walking up and down, leaning on the arm of her +last partner, one of those unhappy young men, <i>no match for any one</i>, of +whom the most prudent mothers are, notwithstanding, obliged to admit a +certain number when they give a ball, merely as dancing machines. This +is one very serious objection to giving absolute balls at all: it being +rather awkward to cut people whom one has exhibited at one's own house. +We question, therefore, whether it would not be more prudent in ladies +with unmarried daughters to resign, altogether, the eclat of +ball-giving, and limit themselves to a select quadrille, got up +<i>purposely</i> by accident; in which every partner for the dance should be +a desirable partner for life: in case it should so happen.</p> + +<p>Madeline, in obedience to her aunt's summons, approached: Mrs. Dorothea, +with the greatest stateliness, held out her elbow, of which her niece +accepted the proffered support, making at the same time a slight +courtesy to her late partner, as at once a dismissal, and a recompence +for past services. He accordingly perceiving he was <i>de trop</i> took +himself off. Aunt Dorothea, now glancing at Madeline with the side of +her eye, drew herself up, pursed her mouth, and looked amazingly +consequential; at length, after a delay sufficient in her opinion to +take off all particularity, she availed herself of a pause in the +conversation, and after remarking to Mr. Cameron, that she supposed he +was a dancing man, presented him to Madeline. Had Cameron been but +three-and-twenty he might have affected indifference about, or even a +dislike to, the particular modification of locomotion alluded to; but as +any demur at his particular stage of existence might have given occasion +for ill-natured people to surmise that his dancing days were over, he +declared himself a most devoted votary of the mirth-promoting rites of +the light fantastic toe, and asking Madeline to dance, led her towards +the ball-room.</p> + +<p>"Well," said Mrs. Dorothea, to Lady Arden, "I have managed that so +nicely."</p> + +<p>"And who, my dear madam, is that comical quizz?" demanded her ladyship.</p> + +<p>"Quizz, indeed! I should not have introduced Mr. Cameron to my niece," +said Mrs. Dorothea, haughtily, "had he not been a man of high +connexions, unexceptionable character, and very large fortune."</p> + +<p>"I have not the slightest doubt of your prudence, my dear ma'am, I +merely alluded to his appearance."</p> + +<p>"I see nothing the matter with his appearance, ma'am."</p> + +<p>"The matter, oh, no; merely he is a droll looking being: but what did +you say was his fortune?"</p> + +<p>"While Governor of Madras he is said to have realised about fifty +thousand pounds, and a short time before he returned from India, he +succeeded unexpectedly to the family property, about seven thousand +a-year, beside which, now that his elder brother is dead, he is heir to +his uncle, Lord Dunsmoor, whose title and estates, of full thirty +thousand per annum, he must inherit. That is a sort of quizz which I +think your ladyship will allow is not to be met with every day."</p> + +<p>"No, certainly, as you say. If he should take a fancy to Madeline, I +hope she won't think him too old."</p> + +<p>"If Madeline should, like many other young people, be very silly, I +should hope she would have your ladyship to think for her."</p> + +<p>All this was of course said aside, and <i>sotto voce</i>. Had the situation +been better adapted to confidential conversation, much more would have +been said, particularly by Aunt Dorothea, who considered Mr. Cameron the +very first prize in life's lottery.</p> + +<p>At two or three-and-twenty, when a poor younger brother and "<i>no match +for any one</i>," he had been a passionate lover of Aunt Dorothea, then a +beautiful girl of nineteen. But a marriage at that time would have been +too imprudent a thing to be thought of, and so they parted. This was +five-and-thirty years ago. For about the first ten years both parties +had been very faithful; but the affair had since, like most early +engagements, died a natural death.</p> + +<p>Aunt Dorothea, to do her justice, had too much good sense to dream of +any one continuing to be a lover of hers at her present age. And as for +Cameron, although a halo of romance had lingered around the remembered +image of his "First Love," even 'till their meeting on the very morning +of the evening we are now describing; it was the blooming girl of +nineteen whom his fancy still painted, such as she had looked +five-and-thirty years before; when vowing eternal truth, he had bade her +a long farewell. One sight of our respectable friend Mrs. Dorothea +Arden, now fifty-four years of age, banished in an instant every +romantic idea as associated with the personal attractions of that lady.</p> + +<p>The former lovers became, however, at once excellent friends; and in the +course of that day Aunt Dorothea laid her plan for making up a match +between one, whom she considered a sort of valuable heir-loom that ought +not to be allowed to go out of the family, and her favourite niece, +Madeline, who had always been reckoned like Mrs. Dorothea, and her aunt +knew her to be still disengaged.</p> + +<p>Woman—the delicate day lily, blooms her hour—fades, and disappears for +ever from beauty's garden! Man—the hardy evergreen braves the cold +storm of disappointment—stands through the long winter of delay—and +when his genial season of prosperity at last arrives, finds fair +companions still in the smiling buds of each succeeding spring.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VIII" id="CHAPTER_VIII"></a>CHAPTER VIII.</h2> + + +<p>Madeline was considered by every one very like her aunt. To Cameron she +was the vision of his early days, restored unchanged.</p> + +<p>The years of past toil faded to a dream—the polished barrenness of the +forehead—the scanty growth and restive sit of the side locks—nay, +certain twitches of rheumatism in the knee and ancle joints were all +forgotten; he felt himself five-and-twenty, and not a day more! He was +in an ecstacy—a delirium;—in short, he was desperately in love. He +danced like a Vestris, and between the regular evolutions of the +quadrille, frisked about his partner, a perfect grasshopper: for such +was his excessive eagerness to oblige, that he waited not between each +service rendered to make the obsequious angle of knee or elbow straight +again, but fetched and carried with the docility of a spaniel, in +attitudes which, could he but have seen himself in a mirror, must have +made even himself laugh. The performance ended, Madeline took his arm +and walked towards aunt Dorothea, with a strange, conscious, +half-pouting expression of countenance, evidently not knowing whether +she ought to be flattered or annoyed by the conspicuous assiduities of +her old beau.</p> + +<p>Cameron was sent in pursuit of a passing tray to procure an ice. With an +air of infinite triumph Mrs. Dorothea patted the dimpled cheek of her +niece, and whispered, "I wish you joy, my dear, of your brilliant +conquest, for I do think Mr. Cameron seems to be quite smitten already."</p> + +<p>"Oh, but aunt, such an old man!"</p> + +<p>"Nonsense, my dear, we were all young once, and you won't be young +always recollect, so mind what you're about."</p> + +<p>The return of Cameron put an end to the lecture, which was only however +postponed to a more convenient opportunity. This occurred on the +dispersion of the company, when the family party collected at one end of +a long deserted supper table to talk over the events of the evening.</p> + +<p>"I only hope, Madeline," commenced Mrs. Dorothea, "that this affair may +go on as prosperously as it has commenced, and you will be quite an +Eastern queen."</p> + +<p>"If he were a nice young man," said Madeline.</p> + +<p>"He is quite young enough," retorted Mrs. Dorothea, "a girl should +always marry a man somewhat older than herself."</p> + +<p>"Somewhat; yes, but not twice or three times."</p> + +<p>"It is impossible, my dear child, to combine every advantage," observed +Lady Arden, with a sigh, "and the establishment, as your aunt says, +would undoubtedly be a very brilliant one." Willoughby, Jane, and +Louisa, all enquired eagerly about the fortune and connexions of the +gentleman, and on being informed of every particular, confessed that it +would certainly be a most desirable match.</p> + +<p>"When we consider too," said Lady Arden, "the great difficulty, the next +to impossibility, of meeting with suitable establishments for girls of +good family and small fortunes. They cannot marry wealthy men of low +connexions—that would be disgracing their families; they cannot marry +the younger sons of good families, as they too are of course poor; and +the elder sons cannot marry them, for they want money to pay off their +incumbrances; so that when a girl so situated chances to make a conquest +of a man who can afford to marry her, she may be said to be unusually +fortunate." To have escaped, she might have added, the saddest of all +the <i>Dilemmas of Pride</i>.</p> + +<p>"Whatever sort of fellow the man may be," interrupted Willoughby, +laughing.</p> + +<p>"That is not at all a fair inference," replied her ladyship. "We are of +course taking it for granted that the gentleman is of unexceptionable +character, agreeable, and, in short, all that a gentleman ought to be."</p> + +<p>"Which is, you will allow," persisted Willoughby, "taking a good deal +for granted. The only thing you ladies seem determined not to take for +granted is the fortune."</p> + +<p>"Luckily," observed Mrs. Dorothea, "there is nothing to take for granted +in this case. Indeed," she added, drawing up, "I should not, as I said +before, have introduced Mr. Cameron to my niece if he had not been in +every way a desirable connexion."</p> + +<p>The immediate prospect of the title was now discussed, the uncle being +eighty-six; the magnificence of the fine old place; the splendour of the +town residence; the entertainments to be given; the equipages, the +diamonds, and so forth: while at every pause Madeline was pronounced by +her aunt a most fortunate girl, till vanity at length stirring within +her, she began to think that she really was fortunate; and that she +must, she supposed, be civil to her old beau the next time she saw him.</p> + +<p>After this, when Lady Arden had retired to her own room, accompanied by +Madeline, who was her sleeping companion, she renewed the conversation +in a serious and tender strain, representing strongly to her daughter +the great danger of appearing for a season or two unappropriated, with +the ultimate and utter wretchedness of the single state, than which she +did not know if even an unhappy marriage were not preferable. "Mrs. +Dorothea says, you know," she added, trying to treat the subject +jestingly, though herself ill at ease, "that a bad husband, from which +heaven preserve you, my child!" she fervently ejaculated, "is quite a +<i>natural</i> misfortune, and therefore easy to endure, in comparison with +the unnatural misery of having no tie to life; no affections, no +feelings, no hopes, no fears, no joys, no sorrows; yet to be surrounded +with the most undignified annoyances, and to feel that for want of more +important objects of interest, one's mind is degraded into being their +very slave, with just enough left of its former self to make it sensible +of its debasement. The cares of the wife and mother, however numerous, +however anxious, are comparatively ennobling! For though it is our +second self, and our children, who may be said to be parts of ourselves, +that are their objects, still they are not felt for self alone; they do +not spring from that most unredeemed of instincts, individual +selfishness. Then, in the case of Mr. Cameron," proceeded her ladyship, +"he is, your aunt says, so peculiarly amiable, and bears in every +particular so high a character, that there is every reason to hope that +where he fixed his affections he would make a kind and good husband." +And here again Lady Arden enlarged on the splendour of the match, yet +with tears in her eyes, and even more than her usual indulgent +tenderness of manner; for while she could not bear to resign prospects +so dazzling, she looked anxiously at her blooming child, and feared the +sacrifice might be too great.</p> + +<p>Madeline, very much affected by her mother's fond and winning +gentleness, said, and thought at the time, she was sure that she should +be quite happy in doing anything that would give her pleasure, promising +to be always and in every thing guided by her advice.</p> + +<p>"Still, my love, 'tis you yourself who must ultimately decide; only +don't be rash in casting away, should it ever be in your offer, what has +so many advantages."</p> + +<p>This doubt as to the fact of her having made the so much talked of +conquest at all, sounded somewhat disagreeable in Madeline's ear; and +perhaps went further in creating a desire to secure the said brilliant +establishment than all which had been said in its favour. She began +already to think herself threatened with the fate of Aunt Dorothea; and +contrasting that in imagination with what she was told her lot would be +as the wife of Mr. Cameron, she came to the conclusion, that whenever he +made her an offer of his hand she supposed she must accept it!</p> + +<p>What were the while the thoughts of the lover, as "sleepless he lay on +his pillow?" Smiles, dimples, and ringlets, floated in lovely confusion +before his mind's eye; the latter, however, brought with them a painful +remembrance of the scantiness of his own locks; then immediately +followed visions of gold and silver, and precious stones; and gratitude +and adoration; all to be offered at the feet of his fair idol, if she +would but kindly overlook the <i>slight</i> disparity in their ages, and +become his wife. What equipages, too, she should have; what a palace she +should dwell in; and as to her own fair person, it should blaze the very +queen of diamonds!</p> + +<p>What a happy man, despite an extra twitch of rheumatism, brought on by +his dancing, would our old beau have been, had "some good angel," not +exactly "ope'd to him the book of fate" perhaps, but whispered to him +the propitious resolve just formed by the lovely object of his +affections.</p> + +<p>The angel, of course, would have had too much politeness to mention that +the lady intended to marry him solely for the glitter of his title and +his gold.</p> + +<p>Thus do we see the identical class of persons whom pride, were they +starving, would not suffer to seek a livelihood by selling any thing +else in the world, for very pride's sake willing to sell themselves!!! +Such are the strange monsters of inconsistency to which the prejudices +of society give birth.</p> + +<p>Such, in short, are the <i>Dilemmas of Pride</i>!!!</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IX" id="CHAPTER_IX"></a>CHAPTER IX.</h2> + + +<p>Willoughby was fidgeting in and out of the drawing-room, looking at his +watch every five minutes, drawing off and on his gloves, and whistling +out of tune, although his ear was excellent. Alfred was seated in a +corner reading a book, which he said he was anxious to finish, having on +that plea, though in general so obliging, refused to walk out with his +sisters. The fact was, that he was miserably desirous to watch the +movements of Willoughby, and be on the spot to hear from himself the +earliest account of the result of his intended visit at Lady Palliser's. +Willoughby suspected as much, but neither had the courage to speak to +his brother on the subject, though they had the room quite to +themselves, and knew that they enjoyed each other's confidence. At +length Willoughby, after looking at his watch rather longer than usual, +put it abruptly back into his pocket, once more drew on his gloves, but +now so hastily that he deprived one of a thumb; he then took his hat and +smoothed it round and round three several times with the wrist of his +coat, paused irresolutely between each deliberate performance of the +operation, as if intending to say something, and yet at length, without +speaking at all, rushed through one of the French windows which opened +on the lawn, and disappeared. Alfred, as soon as he was alone, raised +his head from his book, and with parted lips held his breath, to listen +for the tread of his brother's foot on the gravel, first in their own +garden, then in the adjoining one. He next heard his knock, and a few +moments after could distinguish, though not the precise words, +Willoughby's voice inquiring, of course, if Lady Palliser were at home. +Lastly he heard the entering step and closing door.</p> + +<p>Now it was Alfred's turn to pace up and down the apartment. He did so +with hurried and unequal steps for about ten minutes, then flung himself +on a sofa, and lay perfectly motionless, his eyes vacant of expression, +for their sight was turned inward, where fancy was busily pourtraying +the scene probably passing at the moment in Lady Palliser's +drawing-room—that very room in which he had lately spent so many +blissful hours; in which he had so often yielded to the fatally +fascinating conviction that he was beloved by a heart too innocent to +hide its feelings; that very room in which he had finally been accepted +with seeming confidence, with seeming tenderness; and yet in which but a +few hours after, he had been as capriciously, as unfeelingly rejected; +nay, rejected with the most unequivocal symptoms of personal aversion, +and that without any possible cause being assigned, except the lady's +having, in the mean time, met with and determined to captivate his elder +brother, who was a much richer, and as head of the family, a greater +man. And she had accomplished her end. Willoughby was probably at this +very moment declaring his love! How did Caroline listen? He pictured her +such as she had looked while he had himself spoken; and the most +pitiable agitation overwhelmed him. After the lapse of half an hour he +again heard footsteps on the gravel. He started up—he stood at the +window; he saw Willoughby approaching, his countenance beaming with +satisfaction. How strange were his own sensations; the exquisite pang +instantly checked by the bitterest self-reproach. Was it +possible?—Could he when he beheld the face of his kind, affectionate, +dear brother, expressive of happiness, grieve at the sight?—Oh, for +shame! it was not so—it should not be so—as to his own disappointment, +that had been an ascertained thing long before;—why recur to it now! By +this time Willoughby had entered and grasped his hand. Alfred mastered +his emotion, and cordially returning the pressure of the hand, said with +a forced smile, "I see you have been accepted?"</p> + +<p>"I have—it is not however to take place for several months; so Lady +Palliser has invited me in the mean while to stay some time with them in +----shire; and after I have been to Arden, and made all my arrangements +there, I am to join them in Paris, whence we are to proceed through some +parts of Italy and Germany; all previous to—to—the ratification of our +engagement. They will leave Cheltenham, I believe, to-morrow or next +day; but I am to spend this evening with them <i>en famille</i>, when I shall +know all their plans."</p> + +<p>Fortunately for Alfred, the walking party returned at this moment, which +spared him the painful necessity of either hearing more or speaking at +all, beyond the one warmly expressed ejaculation, "May you be truly +happy!"</p> + +<p>Each of the girls was attended by her respective lover; Louisa indeed by +both of hers, and Mrs. Dorothea was chaperon, as she was on all +occasions when Lady Arden felt fatigued; for the young people knew very +well they had only to get about their good-natured aunt and declare they +could not do without her, to make sure of her services.</p> + +<p>"What has become of Mr. Cameron?" asked Mrs. Dorothea. Madeline had been +thinking the same question. "Surely he has not slipped away without +bidding us good morning!" continued the old lady, "he came to the door +with us."</p> + +<p>The object of their enquiries now made his appearance; he had merely in +passing through the hall slunk behind the party a little to comb up the +side curls; and they had either been more unmanageable than usual, or +their owner had become more than ever anxious about his personal +appearance.</p> + +<p>A long luncheon-table was laid in the dining-room, furnished with many +good things which had adorned the supper of the night before; with this +resource, a little flirtation, and a good deal of music—for all the +girls sang and played on various instruments, nothing could be more gay +and agreeable than the party. Even Henry Lindsey was in high good +humour; for Louisa had that morning bestowed on him two smiles for each +one she had vouchsafed Sir James.</p> + +<p>Lady Arden, who was never early after a night of raking, joined them in +the midst of their merriment, looking, however, rather serious herself; +for Willoughby had been up to her dressing-room, and had confided to her +his pleasing prospects, and though she could not absolutely grieve at +the happiness of any of her children, she certainly could not help +regretting in this particular instance that Alfred had not been the +successful suitor. Setting aside a peculiar overflow of tenderness for +him as the secret favourite of her heart, she considered that, in a +pecuniary point of view it would have been a most desirable match for +him, while his brother did not require fortune. And then she had watched +Alfred, and had traced, or at least thought she could trace, effort in +his manner, and even in the very tones of his voice a cadence that was +not quite natural. There was something, in short, in the sound, that +made her look at him while he spoke, and pained her, she could not tell +why. He sat opposite to her at the said luncheon-table, and had just +offered to help her to something. She met his eyes and saw that they +rose and fell unsteadily before the enquiring expression of hers. The +first time they were alone, or at least thought themselves so, her +enquiries were so tender that he could no longer act a part. His eyes +filled with tears; ashamed of these he hid his face for a few moments, +then, as if to apologise for his weakness, with a vehement burst of +feeling confessed the ardour of his attachment; the hopes he had been +authorised to entertain—nay, how he had been on the morning of the very +evening on which Willoughby arrived, actually accepted; and then on the +very morning after as absolutely rejected, and from interested motives +he could not doubt; there was no time for preference. And here, he added +some bitter reflections on the misery of being a younger brother, till +his more generous feelings prevailing again he spoke with his usual +affection of Willoughby, and of his chief consolation being in the +thought of his happiness, for the sake of which it was that he had +struggled, and still would struggle to conceal, and ultimately subdue +every feeling of his own.</p> + +<p>Geoffery had been all this while laying <i>perdu</i> on a sofa in the +adjoining drawing-room, the folding doors to which were open; he had +therefore heard enough of the foregoing conversation to be tolerably <i>au +fait</i> of the family secrets of which it treated, sufficiently so at +least for a future purpose, of which, however, he was not, indeed could +not be at the time aware. On the philosophical principle, however, that +"knowledge is power," perhaps he thought it as well to have all the +knowledge he could obtain. A knowledge of peoples' affairs does +sometimes, there is no question, place them in our power.</p> + +<p>Without therefore announcing his presence he retained his unseen +position till Lady Arden and Alfred had severally quitted the room.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_X" id="CHAPTER_X"></a>CHAPTER X.</h2> + + +<p>In the evening, when Willoughby was preparing to go to Lady Palliser's, +he received a miniature note from her ladyship, saying, that Caroline's +cold was so much worse that she was not able to leave her room, which +untoward circumstance compelled them to resign the pleasure of seeing +him that evening.</p> + +<p>He was of course much disappointed. The next morning, and for several +succeeding ones, he called regularly; sometimes saw Lady Palliser, +sometimes not; but Caroline was still invisible, being confined to her +apartment by severe indisposition. Alfred, who felt that his fate was +now sealed, longed for the quiet of Arden; and on the pretext of +shooting, had proposed going thither. But Mrs. Dorothea would not hear +of his leaving Cheltenham till after her party; and Lady Arden wished +him, if possible, to be present at his sister Jane's marriage. Our +kind-hearted hero therefore, the least selfish of beings, though +fatigued by the perpetual effort to force his spirits imposed by +society, consented to remain for the present.</p> + +<p>Madeline, in pursuance of the prudent resolve she had formed, received +Mr. Cameron's attentions in so amiable a manner, that he became very +shortly a declared and received lover, and the happiest of men. She too, +was for the present, or at least thought herself quite happy. Being the +least striking of the family she had hitherto had rather an humble +opinion of her personal attractions; she was therefore highly flattered +and gratified by Mr. Cameron's absolute adoration. Her imagination too, +dazzled by anticipations somewhat resembling the Arabian Nights' +Entertainments, learnt to revel in the prospect of splendours heaped on +splendours, as offerings at the shrine of her own charms; while, never +having entertained a preference for any one else, her better feelings +also found a pleasing resting place, in the thoughts of the promised +fond devotion of her future husband. She could now sit like one really +in love, and muse with delight on the prospect of the accomplishment of +her every wish—the indulgence of her every whim—the worship of her +very faults, which she flattered herself she was securing for life by +marrying Mr. Cameron. In short, she was in high spirits; and in such +good humour with fate, that she even began to think she should not have +been half so happy had she been about to marry a younger man, who would +have met her on more equal terms; or, had he been a man of fortune, +would have thought perhaps that he was doing her the favour.</p> + +<p>Louisa's mind, on the contrary, was in a very unsettled state. Sir James +had proposed to her more than once. He had certainly not been accepted, +but he had as certainly not been rejected with any thing like rational +decision. But people did not seem to think it necessary to be rational +with poor Sir James. She had told him, it is true, again and again, in a +pert and childish manner, that she never would marry him; but she had +laughed the while, and he had taken it all in good part, saying, that +the girls liked to be tantalising. He had asked her at length for the +measure of her finger: she had given him that of her wrist. With this he +had repaired to a jewellers.</p> + +<p>The shopman had assured him there must be some mistake; but at the same +time recommended his taking the lady a very splendid bracelet, which +was, he added, a present that should always precede the presentation of +the ring.</p> + +<p>Though Sir James was by no means careless of his money in general, he +was now too much in love to give prudential considerations a thought; he +therefore allowed the man to put up the highest priced bracelet in his +whole collection. Its beauty pleased Louisa, and she was silly enough to +accept and wear it: nay, Sir James himself was allowed to clasp it on +her arm. This produced a scene with Henry: for our little baronet, vain +of his unusual munificence, had kept the circumstance no secret. Louisa, +beginning to fear she was getting entangled with a man whom she could +not seriously decide on accepting, was vexed and out of spirits, and +consequently staid at home that evening from the walks, on pretext of a +headache.</p> + +<p>Henry, always violent and imprudent, the moment he saw that she was not +of the walking party, quitted the promenade, and repaired to Laden +Arden's villa.</p> + +<p>It was late and almost quite dark when, unannounced, he entered the +drawing-room from the lawn by an open French window.</p> + +<p>Louisa, who was alone and had flung herself on a sofa, thus taken by +surprise, had but time to rise partially from her reclining position.</p> + +<p>He approached. It so happened that though the apartment was without +lights, a stray beam from a lamp at the distance of the little lawn +gate, was caught and reflected, as Louisa moved her arm, by the bright +jewels of the luckless bracelet.</p> + +<p>Henry seized the arm with the fierceness of a highwayman, wrenched the +snap, and flung the bracelet to the further end of the room; then +suddenly calmed by a sense of shame and contrition at his own brutal +violence, stood petrified without attempting to utter a syllable. Louisa +rose proudly. "By what authority, Mr. Lyndsey," she exclaimed, "have you +dared to offer me this insult?" While speaking she was crossing the room +to ring the bell and order the intruder to be shown out. Guessing her +intention, he started from his state of stupor, flew to intercept her, +flung himself at her feet, seized both her hands, and leaning his face +against them, sobbed violently.</p> + +<p>"Hear me!" he exclaimed in broken accents. "My ruffianly, my wholly +unjustifiable conduct, was at least unpremeditated; I had no thought of +even uttering a reproach. I entered here but to bid you an eternal +farewell! Louisa, I am a miserable, a desperate man——I am about to +quit England for ever."</p> + +<p>Louisa, who was speaking at the same time, was commanding him to quit +her presence instantly, or suffer her to reach the bell; but when he +mentioned quitting England for ever, her voice became less firm. Yet she +persisted in telling him that he must be gone—that she must not incur +the unjust suspicion of having remained at home to receive his highly +improper visit. How soon such commands were obeyed is not precisely +known; when the party however returned from the walks Louisa was alone, +though in manner strange and abstracted, and in a state of agitation so +great, that when requested, as the only one who had not a bonnet to +remove, to make tea, the small bunch of keys fell twice from her +trembling fingers ere she could contrive to open the caddy; while every +other part of the simple ceremony was performed in an equally bungling +and insufficient manner: from all which it seems scarcely more than fair +to infer, that whether the scene concluded in a reconciliation or a last +farewell, the lady had had but little time to compose her nerves between +the departure of her lover and the entrance of her friends.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XI" id="CHAPTER_XI"></a>CHAPTER XI.</h2> + + +<p>Aunt Dorothea had fixed her ball for the evening of the day of Jane's +marriage, that it might be a kind of wedding party; and such had been +the mighty preparations for a day, thus doubly momentous, that what with +selecting and displaying wedding finery—finding out where to hire +cheapest coloured lamps, waiters, and forms—hurrying milliners, and +seeing packing-cases carefully opened—hunting up newly-arrived beaux, +begging evergreens, admiring jewels and new carriages, ordering ices and +rout cake, bargaining with confectioners about a standing supper, and +ordering in some wine; for, as a single lady, she had of course no +cellar; then planning where the said wine had best stand, that it might +not be drank by the waiters instead of the company; and, lastly, +considering where to put the music, that it might be heard by the +dancers, without taking up room; that, as Sarah said, when dressing her +mistress for the great occasion, "It was surprising that she had a foot +to stand on at last." The feet were a little swollen, it must be +confessed, which obliged her, so Sarah, in support of her assertion to +that effect told Mrs. Johnson, to snip the binding of her new white +satin shoes.</p> + +<p>She had got on wonderfully however; had gone to church with the wedding +party—been of great assistance to Lady Arden in getting through the +public breakfast; seen the happy couple off; helped to send away +packages of cake and gloves; refused to dine at her sister-in-law's, on +the plea of all she had to do at home; eat a mutton chop in her +bed-room, the dining-room being already occupied by the standing supper, +the drawing-room by a great step-ladder, and two workmen hanging a hired +lamp from the centre of the ceiling; the spare bed-room with card +tables, the bed being taken down; and lastly, the dressing-room being +fitted up with the already mentioned evergreens, as a grotto for the +refreshments. The mode in which they were here arranged was Mrs. +Dorothea's happiest invention, and one on which she greatly prided +herself.</p> + +<p>At the upper end of the grotto was erected a pile of real ornamental +rock-work, which had been brought in on purpose from the garden. Between +the crevices of the rocks were stuck all manner of flowers and flowering +shrubs; at the top of the heap, on a large space purposely made level, +were placed a well-known common kind of dessert dishes, of green china, +in the shape of large leaves, and on those dishes moulds turned out of +different coloured ices, resembling so many painted specimens of +variegated spars and marbles; while among and around all were scattered +rout cakes in abundance, which formed a very tolerable imitation of +pebbles, shells, and mosses. The grotto was furnished with rustic seats +and a rustic table, also borrowed from the garden; and on the table lay +a supply of the small leaves, or small plates, of the said green china +dessert set, with spoons, of course; so that, as Aunt Dorothea said, the +gentlemen must be very stupid if they could not take the hint, and help +their partners to a spoonful of marble or spar, and a few pebbles or +shells, as taste should direct. There was very little fear, however, of +mistake or oversight; for the grotto was Mrs. Dorothea's hobby, so that +she not only showed almost every couple the way to it herself, but +favoured each with geological lectures on the virtues and properties of +all its <i>natural</i> productions. That all might be in perfect keeping, the +only light admitted to this favoured spot, proceeded from a single +ground-glass lamp, of the size and shape of the moon, and so ingeniously +placed among the evergreens, as to bear a respectable resemblance to the +queen of night, rising to view from behind a forest.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Dorothea, by another excellent contrivance, added much to the +effect of her drawing-rooms, which, like those of most watering-place +villas, were on the ground floor, and had French windows. The end one of +these looked directly up one of the public walks, which the proprietors +were in the habit of illuminating on occasion, and which was therefore +provided with lamps. These Mrs. Dorothea had obtained permission to have +lighted, so that the long vista from her open French window, looked very +beautiful; particularly as some of the least prudent of the company +thought fit, between the dancing, to step out and walk up and down.</p> + +<p>It happened to be one of the few very hot summers we are occasionally +blessed with in this country. So that though it was now the middle of +September, the weather was still very sultry, and it was only late at +night that there was any thing like a refreshing coolness in the air.</p> + +<p>Lady Caroline Montague was still so unwell as to keep her room, so that +neither her ladyship nor Lady Palliser were able to come out. This was a +great disappointment to others besides Mrs. Dorothea; it was one, +however, for which Willoughby was fully prepared; for though he had of +course called every day to inquire for Lady Caroline, she had not been +well enough to see even him. The ball was, nevertheless, going off with +great spirit. Being a wedding party, in the first place, gave it +<i>éclat</i>; and then Aunt Dorothea had insisted on its being opened by her +favourite Madeline and that far-famed hereditary beau of her own, Mr. +Cameron, whom she was so proud and so pleased to have handed down to her +niece in such high preservation.</p> + +<p>Fate, however, had ordained that Mrs. Dorothea Arden's ball should be +marked by more than one memorable event.</p> + +<p>Louisa, after dancing with Sir James, had also, as she generally did, +danced with Henry Lindsey; who, instead of quitting England, had made +his appearance at Mrs. Dorothea's with a flushed cheek, an angry eye, +and a hurried, absent manner. When the quadrille had concluded, they +were among the <i>imprudent</i> couples who ventured to promenade the +illuminated walk. Henry seemed to think the affair of last night +forgiven or forgotten, for he began in his usual passionate strain to +talk of the fervour of his own attachment, and reproach Louisa with +comparative coldness.</p> + +<p>For the gratification of a culpable vanity, as well as from really +feeling a secret preference for Henry, Louisa had so long listened to +such language as this, and thus authorised him to believe himself +beloved, that she now literally knew not how to pacify him; although she +was far from having made up her mind to sacrifice, either to his +feelings or her own, the title and brilliant establishment which still +awaited her acceptance, if she could but bring herself to take the +advice of her friends, and marry his brother.</p> + +<p>Henry could not be blind to what were the wishes of Louisa's family; and +he had of late had many reasons, besides the acceptance of the bracelet, +to suspect that she herself hesitated. The idea drove him almost mad. +The interview of last night, though it had convinced him of his power +over Louisa when present, had by no means silenced his fears as to what +she might be persuaded to do or to promise in his absence; he had +determined, therefore, to bring matters to a crisis. He besought her, +with all the eloquence of which he was master, to end his suspense, and +pronounce his doom. She hesitated—she knew she should never be +permitted to marry Henry; and thinking that she had already indulged too +long in an idle flirtation, a foolish preference that must end in +nothing, she confessed at last how much it was her mother's wish that +she should marry Sir James. Henry lost all self-command; overwhelmed her +with reproaches; raved at her perfidy, her cruelty; and after working +himself up to a perfect phrenzy, threatened to put a period to his +existence that very night—that very hour, and before her eyes.</p> + +<p>As his agitation increased, his step quickened, till it was almost +impossible for Louisa to keep pace with him; while, as the interest of +the conversation deepened, he led her first as much apart from the other +couples as possible, and finally, turning short round a corner, quitted +the general promenade altogether. He then, with his really alarmed +companion, entered a cross walk, which was shrouded in almost total +obscurity, except that at the furthest point of its long and +unfrequented vista, one solitary lamp glimmered, as if but to make the +surrounding gloom more apparent.</p> + +<p>Louisa's terror was now extreme: she felt certain that he had dragged +her to this gloomy spot to witness, as he had declared she should, the +horrible act of suicide he was about to commit.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XII" id="CHAPTER_XII"></a>CHAPTER XII.</h2> + + +<p>Arrived about midway in the long dark walk, Henry at length paused. What +with agitation and the quickness of his pace, he seemed himself +exhausted, while Louisa, faint with alarm and fatigue, was no longer +able to stand unassisted, much less to walk. There was no seat near, he +was obliged to support her by an arm round her waist. She leaned her +head on his shoulder and sobbed hysterically. His resentment now gave +way to tenderness. Her alarm could only be for his safety—the thought +soothed his chafed spirit—he whispered the fondest expressions of +endearment mingled with incoherent apologies for his violence. He +ascribed all his faults, as he had done on the evening before, to love +and jealousy. When the bare possibility, he said, of loosing her but +crossed his imagination, he was no longer an accountable being—he +should be ranked with the veriest madman in bedlam! She only sighed in +reply, but it was a sigh from which no lover could fail to derive +encouragement, nor did it falsely report what was passing in the bosom +whence it came. The ardour of Henry's manner, assisted by her late fears +for his safety, had driven all prudential considerations from her +thoughts, reduced the vanities of wealth to a mere puppet-show, and for +the moment at least made all the bliss of earth seem concentrated in the +enthusiastic devotion and actual presence of such a lover. Encouraged by +the tremulous tenderness of her sigh, and the gentle quiescence of her +manner, Henry ventured to whisper that his leading her from the +frequented walk was not altogether accidental, but that driven to +distraction by alternate hopes and fears, he had that evening determined +at all hazards to make one desperate effort to secure a happiness that +it was intoxication even to think of, and would be phrensy to lose—that +he had consequently taken the daring step of having a carriage in +waiting, which was now not many yards distant. He then entreated her +with all the eloquence of wildly excited passion, instead of resenting +his audacity to end the cruel doubts which had thus stung him to +madness, and fly with him at once.</p> + +<p>"I must not, Henry!" she exclaimed, "indeed I must not—I must not," she +repeated. But in fluttering broken accents of tenderness and joy, so +encouraging, that the arm which was still round her waist, continued the +while with a gentle violence propelling her forward; and so light, so +willing, though tremulous were her steps, that the tiny white sattin +slippers, twinkling like little stars, scarcely touched the earth.</p> + +<p>"Oh! Henry, dear Henry, my mother will be so grieved—my brothers will +be so angry! Let us go back—and I will promise you to—to—." But she +faltered.</p> + +<p>"Never, Louisa, will I trust you out of my sight again, till by the +sacred name of wife you are mine for ever!"</p> + +<p>The passionate tone of voice in which this was uttered sank into +whispers of tenderness. Louisa attempted no reply, but all her remaining +scruples vanished, and recklessness of consequences came over her: the +whole of life seemed comprised in the present moment—the whole world +seemed to contain but herself and her lover. A chariot and four was now +visible outside a gateway which they were approaching. They glided +through the portals, and Louisa suffered Henry to assist her into the +carriage. He sprang in after her—the door was closed—"All right," said +Henry's man, though begging his pardon it was all very wrong, and off +set the horses at their full speed.</p> + +<p>It was some weeks before Louisa remembered the gifts of fortune she had +resigned, or Henry thought with painful misgivings of the meditated +abandonment of him and his love, which he had so strongly suspected +before he had been driven to take the violent step we have just +described.</p> + +<p>What will Tommy Moor say to this, after having declared that +<i>sweetbriar</i> is the safest fence for the "Garden of Beauty;" nay, that +there is more security in it than in the guardianship of that unamiable +duenna, the "Dragon of Prudery, placed within call."</p> + +<p>Now, every one knows that the Cheltenham walks are hedged with +sweetbriar. Perhaps Louisa Arden, not being a daughter of the Emerald +Isle, may account for "that wild sweetbriary fence" which the poet has +pronounced their characteristic barrier, not proving effectual in her +case. But to return to our ball.</p> + +<p>"I wonder which room Miss Louisa is in," said Sir James to Lady Arden; +"I have been looking in all the rooms for her, and I can't find her."</p> + +<p>"I hope she is not gone into that foolish lit-up walk," replied her +ladyship, looking rather anxiously towards the window. "I am afraid it +will give all the young people cold."</p> + +<p>"I never thought of that," said Sir James, bustling off.</p> + +<p>"I wonder what is become of Louisa," said Mrs. Dorothea, coming up to +Lady Arden. "Sir James," she added, calling after the retreating +baronet, "do bring Louisa here; I want another couple for this quadrille +in the next room."</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes, I'll bring her if I can find her," said the little man, "but I +don't know where she is."</p> + +<p>"Where can Louisa be?" said Madeline.</p> + +<p>"In the ball-room, I suppose," replied Mr. Cameron. "They were in the +refreshment-room."</p> + +<p>"Where can Louisa be?" asked Alfred, who was in the ball-room, "my aunt +is looking for her."</p> + +<p>"In the refreshment-room, I suppose," replied the person questioned.</p> + +<p>"What can have become of Louisa?" asked Willoughby, looking round the +supper-room. "My aunt wants her."</p> + +<p>"Is she not in the ball-room?" said Geoffery.</p> + +<p>"No, I have just come from thence."</p> + +<p>"Nor in the refreshment-room."</p> + +<p>"I have not looked there," and away went Willoughby.</p> + +<p>In came poor Sir James, looking very silly.</p> + +<p>"She is not there," he said, addressing Geoffery.</p> + +<p>"Who?"</p> + +<p>"Why, Miss Louisa, she promised to dance the next set with me, and I +can't find her any where."</p> + +<p>"But where have you been looking for her, Sir James?" asked Geoffery, +who never missed an opportunity of quizzing the little baronet.</p> + +<p>"I looked in all the rooms first, and now I have been to the far end of +the lighted walk, up one side and down the other, and I can't find her +anywhere."</p> + +<p>"But did you not try any of the dark walks?"</p> + +<p>"I never thought of that, but I don't think she'd go there."</p> + +<p>"She must be somewhere, Sir James; you say she is not in any of the +rooms, nor in the lighted walk, therefore, she must be in one of the +dark ones!"</p> + +<p>Sir James, looking innocently convinced by the force of this logic, +replied, "Well, I'll go and see," and turned to depart.</p> + +<p>"But you can't see in the dark; had you not better take a lantern?"</p> + +<p>"I never thought of that," he replied, and making the best of his way +into the hall, he asked every servant and waiter who crossed his path +for a lantern to look for Miss Louisa. They all stared at him in turn, +and seemed more likely to stumble over him in their bustle, than either +to comprehend or grant his request. At length he perceived Sarah in the +back ground, filling her office, as warden of cloaks and boas, and +tossed off for the occasion in a net fly cap, quite on the back of her +head, to display her innumerable curls; and decorated with bows of pink +ribbon full a quarter of a yard long, made stiff with wire in the +inside, to give them an enviable resemblance to horns. By her assistance +he obtained the illuminator used by Mrs. Dorothea when she was returning +home on foot from evening parties; and thus provided, set forth on his +voyage of discovery. He was secretly followed at a certain distance by +Geoffery and a knot of wags, who concealed themselves behind trees and +shrubs, and when Sir James, holding up the light at the entrance to each +dark avenue would cry, "Are you there, Louisa?" they would answer +simultaneously in all directions, and in feigned voices of course, "Yes, +I am here——" till our puzzled little baronet would stand, looking now +before him—now behind him—now on the one side—now on the other, +literally not knowing which way to turn, to the infinite amusement of +his hidden tormentors, to whom he was, with his lantern, a conspicuous +object, whilst they, in their various dark retreats, were invisible to +him.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIII" id="CHAPTER_XIII"></a>CHAPTER XIII.</h2> + + +<p>It is scarcely necessary to observe, that Sir James's researches proved +fruitless.</p> + +<p>By the time he returned to the house the alarm was becoming serious. +Indeed it was beginning to be an ascertained thing, not only that Louisa +was missing, but that Henry Lindsey had also disappeared, which latter +circumstance afforded a solution of the young lady's absence by no means +agreeable to her family. The news spread quickly, and every one was +looking amazingly amused, except they happened to meet the eye of Lady +Arden or Mrs. Dorothea, when they thought it necessary to quench their +smiles; and if they were particular friends, add a few inches to the +length of their faces.</p> + +<p>It was now very late, and the rooms were thinning fast, though many were +induced to delay their departure by the spur and zest which so fair an +opportunity of making ill-natured comments had given to conversation. +Yet who can say that we do not live in a good-natured considerate world, +when we can assert, as an incontestable fact, that poor little Sir +James, as soon as it was whispered about that his intended bride had +gone off with his brother, received the sweetest possible smiles from +several young ladies, who had scarcely taken any notice of him ever +since his engagement had been generally known. What but the most +generous compassion for the forsaken baronet could have dictated so +sudden a change of manner.</p> + +<p>Had it not been for this untoward accident, Mrs. Dorothea would have +insisted on setting up another and another quadrille, <i>ad infinitum</i>; +for the pride of a dance is in how late you can keep it up, however +tired of it host and hostess, chaperons, musicians, and dancing +gentlemen may be; as to young ladies, they are never tired of dancing, +except they <i>don't dance</i>.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Dorothea, however, now courteseyed to her retreating guests with an +anxious countenance, and an absent manner, without making any attempt to +dissuade them from <i>running away</i>, as she would have designated their +departure, but for the real <i>run away</i>, which caused her very serious +uneasiness: first on her niece's account, and secondly on her own; for +she was mortified beyond expression to think that her grand party, which +had cost her so much trouble, and would cost her so much money, should +have been so sadly broken up.</p> + +<p>She need not however, good lady, so far as her party was concerned, have +afflicted herself; for it was pronounced the next day to have been so +enlivened by the elopement that it was quite delightful.</p> + +<p>Willoughby and Alfred, having ascertained that a chariot and four, the +horses' heads to the east, had been seen driving off from the Montpelier +gates the night before at a furious rate, set out in pursuit on the road +thus indicated. They soon, however, lost all traces of the fugitives, +and after an absence of two or three days, returned to Cheltenham. Lady +Arden had by this time received a letter announcing the marriage, and +begging pardon, and so forth. There was therefore nothing more to be +done, and Willoughby accordingly repaired to Lady Palliser's, to inquire +after the health of Caroline. As he crossed the little lawn, he observed +great ladders set up against the front of the house, and persons within +and without apparently employed in cleaning the windows. The hall door +was open, and a slatternly looking woman, not the least like a servant, +on the steps, washing them down and rubbing them white with a stone. He +knocked, and another woman, who was crossing the hall at the moment, +armed with a broom and a duster, threw them aside, came forward, and +asked him if he was wanting the lodgings. "They will not be quite ready +for coming into before twelve o'clock to-morrow," she continued, without +waiting for a reply; then fancying that Willoughby looked disappointed, +she added, "If you're particular about coming in to-night, sir, I'll set +more hands to work, and see what can be done; but the family only left +this morning, and they kept so many servants, that there is no saying +all there's to do after them; for as for servants, as I <i>sais</i>, they +always makes more work than three masters, or their mistresses either, +which was the cause why I was endeavouring to assist a little myself +just with dusting the book-shelves."</p> + +<p>"Has Lady Palliser then left Cheltenham, or only changed her house?" +asked Willoughby.</p> + +<p>"Oh, left Cheltenham, sir. Her ladyship was not likely to change from my +house while she staid, if it had been seven years. Indeed, situation and +all, where could she be so well, except it were next door, which also +belongs to me. Sixteen guineas a week, sir, is the lowest farthing I can +take! Indeed they should have been twenty, but you seem such a nice +civil spoken gentleman that——"</p> + +<p>"Thank you," interrupted Willoughby, "I don't want the house; it was +Lady Palliser I was inquiring for."</p> + +<p>"And where were your eyes that you didn't see the bill on the window; as +if I'd nothing to do but stand talking to you!" and away she flounced.</p> + +<p>During Caroline's protracted illness, Willoughby had had some +uncomfortable misgivings; not that he had confessed his feelings even to +himself, yet he had thought that during convalescence, he might have +been permitted to see a lady to whom he now considered himself +betrothed. True, he had frequently been admitted, and been received very +graciously by Lady Palliser; and on such occasions he had tried to feel +satisfied with the excuse that Caroline had not yet been able to quit +her room. He had addressed to Caroline very many and very tender <i>billet +doux</i>; to all of which he had received very gracious and encouraging +replies, though written by Lady Palliser, to spare, as he supposed, the +invalid the fatigue of being her own amanuensis. This was all perfectly +proper, yet though he told himself so again and again, he could not help +feeling that some more direct communication would be much more +satisfactory.</p> + +<p>So sudden a recovery as was implied by this journey, undertaken too +during the few days of his absence, seemed so strange, that every +painful feeling was instantly increased tenfold. Yet he knew not what to +apprehend; suspense, however, becoming wholly intolerable, he resolved +to set out immediately for ——shire.</p> + +<p>He did so within an hour, but without communicating any of his doubts or +fears even to Alfred. As soon as Willoughby had set off, Alfred also +hastened to quit Cheltenham, where every object, and every circumstance, +which used formerly to yield him delight, was fraught with the most +miserable associations.</p> + +<p>He went to Arden; nor could he have chosen a better retreat: for the +instantaneous effect of a sight of its well-known scenes was for a time +to give to the feelings and affections of childhood and boyhood a most +salutary preponderance over the newer and more vivid, but far less +uniformly happy sensations of the last few months.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIV" id="CHAPTER_XIV"></a>CHAPTER XIV.</h2> + + +<p>Lady Arden, about the same time, set out for her house in town, +accompanied by Madeline, her only remaining daughter. Mrs. Dorothea, +thus left alone, began to ponder on the prudential step of breaking up +an establishment, which she found much too expensive for her means—more +so, infinitely, than she had anticipated. For it so happened, that her +maid-of-all-work cook, whom she took with the house, was one of a set, +who not being sufficiently reputable to get places in private families, +are frequently employed by speculators in furnished houses, to take +charge of the same when vacant, living on their wits the while, and on +their lodgers when they can get them. Moreover she belonged to a club +for supplying servants out of place with broken meat. Poor Mrs. +Dorothea, therefore, was sadly puzzled about the consumption in her +kitchen. At last she ventured to consult her confidential abigail, +Sarah.</p> + +<p>Servants, however, though they had been pulling caps five minutes +before, always stand by each other in the grand common cause—defence of +extravagance! Sarah, therefore, assuming an expression of countenance, +in which sauciness and sulkiness were combined, replied,</p> + +<p>"You can't expect to be much of a judge, ma'am, not being used to +housekeeping; I'm sure I never see no waste; but people must have enough +to eat of something."</p> + +<p>"I am far from wishing any person under <i>my</i> roof not to have sufficient +to eat," replied Mrs. Dorothea, with offended dignity, "but I certainly +expected of you, Sarah, that you would not see me imposed upon by +lodging-house servants."</p> + +<p>"I never seen you imposed upon, ma'am; but you seem to forget that +you've got a man now to feed. Where there is a man, there's no end to +the consumption; in particular butcher's meat, and they will have it. +It's no place of mine, however, to see the larder, and I am not a going +to get myself mobbed, meddling with other servants."</p> + +<p>Sarah was ordered to leave the room, and send the cook. There had been a +shoulder of mutton at the table the day before, in which Mrs. Dorothea +had made the usual first gash with the carving-knife, intending to help +herself, but changed her mind; the meat had, of course, separated a +little, as in a shoulder it always does.</p> + +<p>"You have the cold mutton for your own dinners," commenced Mrs. +Dorothea: the servants dined some hours before she did.</p> + +<p>"The mutton, ma'am!" repeated Jones, such was the cook's name, "I +believe John picked the bone for his breakfast: but, really, the joint +was so severely cut in the parlour that I didn't think it worth looking +after."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Dorothea explained; but jerks of the chin were all the satisfaction +she could obtain.</p> + +<p>Jones's blotted account of the last sovereign she had had for small +expenses was given in.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Jones would have made a good M. P., for her hand was as illegible +as it was large. The first item in the account certainly seemed to be a +bag of ground salt for the bird. The canary having been added to the +establishment only the beginning of the last week, Mrs. Dorothea was +obliged to enquire what this meant.</p> + +<p>"Groundsel, ma'am, for the bird; I paid a boy for gathering some, you +can't get people to do things for nothing." This was not the only +expense the bird had occasioned—he was the alleged cause of a great +additional consumption in many things: eggs for boiling hard, bread for +crumbling into his tea, white sugar for sticking between the wires of +his cage, &c. &c. &c.; while there was a charge for bird-seed every +second day, half a pound each time. So much for the bird. The charge for +soap had always been enormous, but this week it was twice as much as +usual. Mrs. Dorothea remonstrated: "You told me," she said, "that the +reason you had used so much soap hitherto, was, that there were so few +glass towels, that you were obliged to wash them continually; I got a +dozen new ones accordingly, and here is more soap than ever charged."</p> + +<p>"It stands to reason, ma'am, where there is more linen, it must take +more soap to wash it," answered Jones, with the coolest effrontery +possible; and having, of course, no change to return out of the +sovereign, she retired to the kitchen, to pronounce her mistress the +<i>most meanest</i> lady she had ever met with—indeed no lady at all; to +grudge people the mouthfuls of meat they had earned, and the poor bird +its two or three seeds; but what was worse than all, she wouldn't have +them to wash their hands, for fear of using a bit of soap.</p> + +<p>"Considering the difference a canary bird has made," thought Mrs. +Dorothea, "it is a fortunate circumstance that I was not persuaded to +add an errand-boy to my establishment, as Jones so much wished." Jones, +by some sort of accident, happened to have a son of eight or nine years +old, whom, of course, she wished to see provided for.</p> + +<p>If one could but afford it, proceeded Mrs. Dorothea, I don't know a +greater luxury than the peace of allowing oneself to be plundered +without seeming to see it. Mrs. Dorothea had had so much experience of +the discomforts of lodgings, that she had entertained some thoughts of +trying a boarding-house; indeed she had dined at one, one day of the +last week, by way of seeing how she should like the kind of thing; but +the company had been so different from the refined society she had been +living among lately at Lady Arden's, that she had felt quite +uncomfortable. Her neighbour on one side had entertained the party in a +loud, almost angry voice, the whole time of dinner, with accounts of +accidents on rail-roads; she heard afterwards that he was a great holder +of canal shares. Her neighbour on her other hand had quite disgusted +her, by eating of every dish at table; at the same time that he had made +her laugh, by mentioning to her, in confidence, as a sort of apology for +his gluttony, that never having been much out of his own part of the +country before, he wished while in such a fine new fangled place to get +all the insight into the world he could. And after all, if eating a +certain number of dinners give a knowledge of the law, why should not +eating a certain number of dishes give a knowledge of the world.</p> + +<p>After this essay Mrs. Dorothea had given up the idea of a +boarding-house. She had even began to turn her thoughts again towards +her old lodging with the good carpet. Winter was now coming on and the +heat of the oven would no longer be an objection. And she could stand +out for the sofa, and the key to the chiffonier, and the drops to the +chimney-lights, before she went into the lodging at all. To be sure the +new carpet, that had made the room look so respectable, might be getting +faded by this time; she would step in, however the next day and see how +it looked, and inquire what the set could be had for during the winter +months. As she formed this resolve a vague remembrance of past +annoyances came over her mind, producing a sense of the utmost +dreariness.</p> + +<p>It was getting dusk, for she did not dine till six, and while she sat +looking at the fire the days of her youth returned. She dwelt on the +thoughts of Arden Park, then her home, and of her father's princely +establishment. Now all belonged to her nephew; while she was an outcast, +almost hated, because she could not afford to be cheated; and paying +more than the half of her small income for a single sitting room, not so +good as that in which at Arden her own maid used to sit at needle-work. +At this moment the train of her reflections was interrupted by a voice +of complaint under her window. She looked out. It was raining, but there +was still twilight sufficient to discern a poor creature sitting on the +ground, and looking through the iron railing in at the kitchen-window, +where the light for cooking made the preparations for dinner visible. +The poor woman, was miserably clad! and, from her accent, Irish. She was +eloquently appealing to the compassion of the cook, while she carried in +her hand, as a sort of shield against the vigilance of English +policemen, a bundle of matches to sell, worth perhaps one half-penny.</p> + +<p>"Ye that's warm and well fed yonder, pity the poor crathur could and wet +and hasn't broke her fast this blessed day!"</p> + +<p>The cook's shrill voice was heard in a key of reproof.</p> + +<p>"Oh, mistress," proceeded the mendicant, "but it ill becomes the face +that the fire's shining upon and the mate roasting before, to look round +in anger on the desolate. Sure I wouldn't be troubling you here in the +could this night if I had a hearth or a home of my own to go to!"</p> + +<p>Mrs. Dorothea was struck with compassion for the poor wanderer. She +opened the window, handed her money from it, and ringing the bell +ordered her to have some dinner. "What a cheerful thing fire-light is!" +she thought, as she resumed her seat, unconsciously made happy by the +performance of a good action. She now remembered her late murmuring +thoughts with shame, as she contrasted her own situation with that of +the really destitute and became conscious that the source of her +discontent was not any actual deprivation, but <i>pride</i>, a pride too, +fostered into supernatural growth by the constant contemplation of the +wealth and splendour belonging to the head of her own family, "If I +could but afford to retain such a home as this," she thought, "how truly +happy I might think myself. However, the poorest lodging I am at all +likely to get into is a better shelter than many of my fellow creatures +possess; let me not, therefore, murmur!"</p> + +<p>A dapper double rap here startled her from her reverie. "Who could be +calling at so late an hour?"</p> + +<p>A gentleman entered whom Mrs. Dorothea had never seen before. He +apologized for being so late. He had been detained by a client from the +country, and had a journey to perform at an early hour in the morning. +The writings had not been completed till that day, and he feared that +before his return Mrs. Arden might have had the unnecessary trouble of +moving from a house which was now her own freehold property. He then +explained, that by order of Sir Willoughby Arden he had effected the +purchase of the premises, with the fixtures, furniture, &c. &c., every +thing as it stood; and was instructed to present her with the deeds, +which accordingly he did.</p> + +<p>This was, as may be well believed, welcome news to Mrs. Dorothea. She +was thus not only comfortably settled in the home she liked so much, but +rendered for her quite a rich woman; as her income, hitherto so +insufficient, would, now that she was relieved from her heaviest +expense—rent, be ample for all her other wants.</p> + +<p>Willoughby, the most liberal and generous of mortals in money matters, +had frequently heard his sisters talk over Aunt Dorothea's adventures in +lodgings, and lament that she could not afford to keep her nice pretty +house which suited her so well. He had, in consequence given the orders +we have just seen executed, and from a feeling of delicacy had said +nothing of his kind intentions, which had thus invested the transaction +with the character of an agreeable surprise.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XV" id="CHAPTER_XV"></a>CHAPTER XV.</h2> + + +<p>While Willoughby is travelling towards Lady Palliser's, or rather Lady +Caroline Montague's magnificent country seat, we shall endeavour to +account for some of those contradictory circumstances and +inconsistencies of manner which to him seemed so unaccountable; or +rather for which he was so unwilling to account by that solution which +yet pressed itself upon his judgment as most probable.</p> + +<p>Caroline, though from her extreme timidity the worst of actresses, had +yet ventured to form a vaguely conceived plan, for the execution of +which she hoped one time or other to summon courage. In the mean while, +perhaps unconsciously, the thoughts which were passing in her mind +affected her manners, and sometimes even the expression of her +countenance, and thus led to the most fatal misconstruction of her +sentiments. Her total ignorance of the world, too, occasioned by that +want of communication with any one older than herself already mentioned, +as one of the evil results of her mother's harsh and heartless system of +education, rendered tenfold the dangers of her difficult situation.</p> + +<p>Lady Palliser had informed her daughter that she meant to marry her to +Sir Willoughby Arden. Caroline's attempt to remonstrate had been +silenced, as usual, with the most tyrannical violence. What was to be +done?—poor Caroline felt quite unequal to open opposition: she had +recourse accordingly to the dangerous expedient alluded to. She resolved +to make a friend of Sir Willoughby; and the first time that by a +declaration of his sentiments he gave her an opportunity of speaking on +such a subject, to cast herself on his compassion, and entreat him to +withdraw his addresses, without making it known to her mother that she +had rejected him. This it was which gave to her manner that gentle +acquiescence in his attentions, and especially that willingness to +listen, which it is impossible to define, but which is, above all +things, encouraging to a lover. And this it was which at Lady Arden's +ball had produced the scene of misunderstanding, from which Willoughby +re-appeared in the dancing room with a countenance so delighted. The +interview in the veranda had commenced by some lover-like speeches, +which, while they could not be misunderstood, did not absolutely call +for reply: and Caroline, unwilling to seem too ready to comprehend, +became uneasy and anxious, but yet did not speak. The ardour of +Willoughby's manner increased; more than once Caroline moved her lips to +commence her difficult task, but no sound proceeded from them; while +every moment she grew more miserably conscious that her silence would +be—must be misconstrued. At length, by way of exordium, she murmured a +few scarcely audible words, thanking him for his flattering preference; +but what she wished to add required so much courage—so much +explanation, that she knew not how to proceed. She faltered, and became +silent; and while striving to find words in which to recommence, she +suffered so intensely from the tumult of her agitation, that she lost +much of the purport of the enthusiastic declarations of attachment which +Willoughby was now pouring forth. When he began, however, to talk of his +gratitude for the favourable hearing she had granted him, she felt the +necessity of speaking, and in fearful trepidation commenced: "The—the +confidence I—I am about to place in—in you, Sir Willoughby——"</p> + +<p>"Will never be abused by me," he exclaimed, with fervour.</p> + +<p>"I—I fear—" she recommenced, colouring, stammering, and withdrawing +her hand gently, but in the utmost confusion. At this moment several +other couples, who seemed to have just discovered the veranda, entered +from different windows almost simultaneously.</p> + +<p>"May I then call to-morrow morning?" said Willoughby, in a hasty +whisper, "and be permitted to——"</p> + +<p>"Yes; but speak to me alone!" she replied, resolving that to-morrow she +would make the painful explanation, now more than ever necessary. It was +on their returning to the dancing-room at this juncture, that Alfred had +remarked the delighted expression of Willoughby's countenance.</p> + +<p>The last injunction of Caroline, to speak to her alone, sounded odd; but +surely it was kind and encouraging. The whole interview, in short, +amounted to as favourable a reception of his now fully declared passion +as he could desire. In the course of the evening he found an opportunity +in an aside conversation with Lady Palliser, of expressing his rapturous +hopes, and alluding to the visit he was to pay by permission on the next +morning.</p> + +<p>The ball concluded—the morning arrived—and Lady Palliser at breakfast +told her daughter that she was happy to find from Sir Willoughby, that +she had shown a proper sense of obedience, in accepting the offer of his +hand, which he had made her the evening before.</p> + +<p>Poor Caroline's attempt at manœuvring was thus entirely defeated. She +had, as we have stated, resolved to entreat Sir Willoughby, by +withdrawing his addresses apparently of his own accord, to shelter her +from the rage of her mother; but she was quite unprepared for taking +herself an active part in the deception, and maintaining that part by +bold and decided falsehood: completely thrown off her guard, she +exclaimed with fervour, "Oh no, no! he has entirely misunderstood me; I +feared he had, but I have not accepted him—I never can—I never will +accept him!"</p> + +<p>"Do you dare assert that you will not obey my commands?" said Lady +Palliser, rising, and assuming that fierceness of aspect before which +our heroine habitually trembled.</p> + +<p>Caroline sunk on her knees, and promising never to listen to any one of +whom her mother did not approve, only intreated permission to remain +single.</p> + +<p>Lady Palliser was well aware that her daughter might at her leisure +command many much more splendid matches than the one now in agitation; +but in the first place she was determined, from the spirit of tyranny, +to be obeyed; added to which there was a second motive, which though too +contemptible to be confessed even to herself, had no doubt a certain +influence on her present conduct.</p> + +<p>The time had been when the loveliness of the infant, held on the knee +purposely for effect, had added interest to the matured and lustrous +charms of the beautiful mother: but now that mother and daughter had +become two distinct objects, and that the eye of the beholder not +unfrequently passed with hasty indifference over the still striking +countenance of the former, to pause in evident delight on the fresher +charms of the latter, an irksome sense of secret mortification +incessantly assailed Lady Palliser. In childhood she had treated +Caroline with harshness, from the united effect of a worthless nature, +and a mistaken plan of education; but now the constant proximity of one +who was the innocent cause of the diminution of those triumphs which had +hitherto formed the sole charm of her existence, was becoming irksome to +her; and awaking feelings closely allied to angry aversion! And +therefore it was though, as we have said, she would have blushed to have +confessed it to her own heart, that her ladyship was impatient to rid +herself of annoyances such as these; of, in short, the meek unconscious +rival who was, notwithstanding, the only being that had ever disputed +with her the reign of vanity she had so long enjoyed, and even still +felt that she recovered whenever she appeared in public without her +daughter. For it must be allowed that her ladyship's beauty was at the +very time of which we speak, still of so striking and splendid a +character, that it lost little by comparison with any loveliness but +that of Caroline, whose similarity of feature seemed to render the +advantageous dissimilarities of extreme youth and infinite superiority +of expression peculiarly conspicuous.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVI" id="CHAPTER_XVI"></a>CHAPTER XVI.</h2> + + +<p>Lady Palliser was inexorable, and Willoughby's knock being heard, while +our heroine was still at her feet, she commanded her to retire to her +own apartment and remain there till prepared to render implicit +obedience to her commands.</p> + +<p>The lover on his entrance was told with the sweetest smiles imaginable, +that Caroline had taken cold the evening before, and was unable to leave +her room. He was, however, encouraged to make known his sentiments and +his wishes to Lady Palliser, who both accepted his proposals on the part +of her daughter, and in the most gracious manner possible pronounced her +own approval of his suit. Then followed the arrangement respecting the +visit to ——shire, and the tour on the continent, &c. mere manœuvres +of her ladyship's to gain time, in case Caroline should prove +untractable.</p> + +<p>All this, it may be remembered, Willoughby mentioned to his brother on +his return from his morning visit already described. His not having seen +Caroline herself, however, he suppressed; he felt he knew not why, an +insuperable objection to mention the circumstance; not that he deduced +from it at the time a doubt of his happiness, of which he felt he +thought perfectly secure. He longed, it is true, for evening, and could +not help thinking that his felicity would be still more complete when +his fate had been pronounced by Caroline's own lips; yet surely the +night before in the veranda she had accepted him quite as explicitly as +young ladies generally do. His disappointment again that evening annoyed +him very much; and during our heroine's protracted illness, the anxiety +it was natural he should feel respecting her state of health, was +mingled at times with gloomy apprehensions, which had yet another and a +more agitating source.</p> + +<p>At length he left Cheltenham as we have seen for Montague House. His +last interview with our heroine herself was that already described as +having taken place in the veranda on the night of Lady Arden's ball.</p> + +<p>The secret of Caroline having never since been visible, was, that she +still continued to resist Lady Palliser's tyrannical commands, while her +ladyship, astonished at conduct so unparalleled, on the part of her +hitherto submissive child, and unaccustomed to be baffled, was more than +ever determined that she should finally yield.</p> + +<p>Accordingly she had put off the lover from day to day with promises and +excuses which yet she scarcely expected him to believe, and with which +in fact she cared very little after all, whether he was or was not +satisfied, being with her usual whimsical inconsistency fully prepared, +whenever he refused to play <i>blind-man's-bluff</i>, as she called it, any +longer, to laugh excessively and turn the whole affair into an excellent +jest. In the mean time she derived quite as much gratification from the +amusement of quizzing Willoughby, as from the prospect of tyrannizing +over her daughter.</p> + +<p>For it was a part of Lady Palliser's character, which was as absurd as +it was worthless, to think it exceedingly witty to succeed in deceiving +any body, though by the gravest, and therefore of course the dullest lie +imaginable: we mean in the April-fool style, not vulgar business +lying—that would have been out of her line.</p> + +<p>On Willoughby's arrival at Montague House, Lady Palliser, though +scarcely able to keep her countenance, attempted to carry on the farce +by saying, that she had removed her daughter in the hope that change of +air might prove beneficial, but that she was still unable to leave her +room. This went on for a day or two, during which her ladyship, more +than ever anxious to carry her point, because now getting tired of the +business, treated the still inflexible Caroline with great harshness. +The third morning, a female servant, who had evidently watched her +opportunity, entered with great caution the breakfast-room where +Willoughby was alone, and handing him a letter vanished again. He read +the epistle, turned deadly pale, gasped for breath, read it again, rose, +paced the apartment, stopped, looked wildly round him, threw open a +window, the room being on the ground floor, and rushed into the lawn. It +is difficult to say what he might have done, or whither directed his +steps, had he not perchance encountered his groom, who had been +exercising his horses and was bringing them home.</p> + +<p>With a vague idea that it was necessary to affect perfect composure, +Willoughby waved to the man to stop, and his signal being obeyed, walked +quietly to the side of the led horse, and laying his hand on its neck, +raised a foot as if with the intention of mounting; the absence of the +stirrup however rendering the movement abortive, he stood for a moment +looking confused.</p> + +<p>"Shall I saddle him, sir?" enquired the groom.</p> + +<p>"Do," replied Willoughby, with the air of one relieved from a great +embarrassment, and walking on as he spoke.</p> + +<p>"Where will you please to mount, sir?" asked the servant, following a +step or two, with his hand to his hat.</p> + +<p>After a few moments employed in recalling ideas, which had evidently +already gone forth on some far distant execution, Willoughby answered, +"Any where."</p> + +<p>John, as the best mode in his judgment, of obeying commands so far from +explicit, returned to the stable, exchanged the body cloths of the +animals for the saddles, and following in the direction he had seen his +master take, soon overtook him, walking slowly on the side of the road, +with his arms folded, and his head uncovered. John had before observed +that Willoughby was without his hat, and had been thoughtful enough to +bring it with him. He now presented it, then held the horse; Willoughby +put on the hat, mounted the animal and rode on, followed by John, +without a word being spoken on either side: nor was it till they had +performed one stage of their journey towards Arden, and were lodged at +an inn, that John ventured so far to obtrude himself upon the evident +abstraction of his master, as to enquire if they were going home. He +received an answer in the affirmative; on which he made bold to ask +further, whether Sir Willoughby had left orders with the other servants +to follow with the carriage, &c. To this enquiry he received a reply, +first in the negative, then in the affirmative, and again finally in the +negative.</p> + +<p>On which he begged permission to dispatch a line to the coachman +himself. He stood ten minutes without obtaining any answer, and then +taking silence for consent, proceeded to do as he had suggested.</p> + +<p>The exertion of mind necessary to comprehend and reply to John's +queries, or even a part of them, seemed to recall Willoughby to some +recollection of the duties he had himself to perform. He must write to +Lady Palliser—he must account for his abrupt departure. That he might +do so in strict compliance with the request contained in the letter of +this morning, he applied himself to the reperusal of the epistle which +had already caused him so much affliction. It was, as our readers have +probably anticipated, from Caroline. Driven to desperation by her +mother's perseverance in her determination of marrying her to Sir +Willoughby, and terrified by her violence, which at every interview +increased, she was at length compelled to conquer all the timid +reluctance she felt to take what to her seemed the boldest of steps, and +address to Sir Willoughby the letter we have seen him receive in so +frantic a manner.</p> + +<p>After a hesitating, and almost unmeaning commencement, consisting of +broken sentences, and awkward apologies, she went on to say: "Yet if I +would avoid calling down upon myself your just resentment, by appearing +in your eyes to be guilty of the most unjustifiable caprice; I must I +fear relate a circumstance which—I have been so unwilling to mention, +that—I have—I know—in consequence—delayed this explanation much too +long. But before your arrival in Cheltenham, before ever our +acquaintance had even commenced, I had promised to—to—accept—the hand +of—of—Mr. Arden, your brother; and though by my mother's positive +command, I was compelled the next day to withdraw that promise, I +cannot—I never can—I am sure too—you will think.—But I know I +express myself very badly—very confusedly, yet I hope you will see—at +least that my being quite—quite unable ever to enter into the +engagements my mother has wished to form for me, does not proceed from +any caprice or change of mind on my part, or any want of gratitude for +the flattering regard with which you have so kindly honoured me.</p> + +<p>"What I now entreat of your compassion is, that you who have nothing to +fear from my mother's anger, would generously interpose yourself between +me and a storm, before the very thought of which I tremble till my hand +can scarcely hold the pen with which I attempt to write.</p> + +<p>"I know I ought to have made this explanation long since, but a foolish, +a culpable fearfulness, made me ever ready to believe no opportunity a +fitting one. At Lady Arden's ball I did attempt it, but we were +interrupted; so that I only made things much worse. I was so confused +too, I was glad of the respite. I thought I could say what I have now +written, when you should call the next morning;—but on that occasion my +mother interfered, and has never since allowed me to see you."</p> + +<p>On finishing Caroline's letter for the second time, Willoughby, in a +sort of desperation, wrote a hurried scrawl to Lady Palliser, towards +whom he felt strong resentment for the deception she had practised. His +epistle was written in strange incoherent language, but its general +purport was that he considered himself trifled with in having been so +long debarred from seeing Lady Caroline Montague; and in consequence, +begged leave to withdraw his addresses finally. Nor was the truth in +this much disguised, for he felt that had he been permitted to see +Caroline from the first he should much sooner have been undeceived.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVII" id="CHAPTER_XVII"></a>CHAPTER XVII.</h2> + + +<p>With a trembling hand, and apparently in the utmost haste, Willoughby +folded and sealed the letter he had just finished; and without allowing +himself one moment for reflection, rang and ordered the person who +appeared to take it to the post-office immediately.</p> + +<p>As the door closed, however, after the servant to whom he had given this +command, a sense of terror at having thus himself rendered his fate +irremediable, overwhelmed him; and, with an instinctive impulse, he +grasped at the bell, but immediately flinging it from him, he assumed a +mock composure, and as though there had been some one present before +whom to act a part, with a ghastly sort of smile, seated himself. He had +for some time been almost expecting, though he would not confess it to +his own thoughts, some such blow as this: he had seen, despite every +effort to avert his mental vision from the view, that all could not be +right; and, weary of secret dread—the true definition of that hope +deferred, which maketh the heart sick—he now fancied, for the moment, +that there was a sort of stern satisfaction in knowing that fate had +done its worst. His brain, however, was already beginning to wander; he +was already contemplating, though vaguely, the fatal step which finally +ended his career. He thought of Alfred, and his soul secretly yearned +for the consolation of pouring out all its sorrows into his affectionate +bosom; but <i>Pride</i>, under the form of wounded vanity, with a jealous +soreness, shrank from the salutary exposure; while so irritable was the +state of his mind, that the very pleadings of his own heart, for the +balm it longed for, seemed importunate, and were resisted with something +of his characteristic obstinacy. Nay, the pettiest and most contemptible +considerations from time to time blended themselves indistinctly with +his despair, and became, to a certain degree, governing motives of +conduct.</p> + +<p>The story of his former disappointment, and of such recent occurrence +too, he reflected, with a very disproportionate share of uneasiness, +would now be renewed, coupled with the present affair: he should become +a proverb—a byword—an object for the finger of scorn to point at. Then +the wild excitement of the hope with which, despite his fears, he had +with strange inconsistency fed his passion; this was gone, and he could +not endure the void within; while it was upon the brain, the fever +seemed to feed. Whether there was a physical cause for this, such as +Alfred had sometimes feared; or whether the attachment, though violent, +being recently formed, still dwelt more in the imagination than in the +heart, it might be difficult to decide; but the effect on Willoughby was +that some active principle of misery and evil seemed urging him on to a +frantic resistance of his fate; compelling his very pulses to beat at a +maddening pace; causing an alternation of quickened and suspended +breathing, which fatigued him sensibly; and the while presenting to his +imagination, snatches of thoughts, and visions of projects so terrific, +that while they were in fact the effects of incipient insanity, they +became, in their turn, by the fearful excitement they produced, powerful +causes of its future development. There was still an inward struggle, +but it ended fatally. He could not—no, he never would pronounce her +name again! He—in whom else he would have confided every thought—he it +was who was preferred; and, though he could not feel a rival's hatred +towards his kind, his generous, his unoffending brother—no, he did not, +he would not even love him less; but still there was a remembrance that +he was his rival; and with it thoughts, strangely blended, of +littleness, and the wildest, most extravagant generosity. Alfred should +have all—love, wealth, title; and then Lady Palliser could no longer +object; but he must wait—it might be for a few days, perhaps only a few +hours—nay, the sooner the better; why should he live but to cause and +to endure misery? Endure!—did he endure? Can powerlessness to resist +the decrees of fate, while yet the heart and feelings openly and +wilfully rebel against them, be called endurance? Certainly not. But +alas, such rebellion brings with it its own punishment. How often had +Willoughby, while fearing the worst, inwardly vowed that were he indeed +destined to disappointment, he would never survive the blow. Now the +blow had fallen, and though his heart secretly turned towards his +habitual, his earliest, his deepest seated affection, the love he bore +his twin brother, he was pledged, as it were, to resist every gentler +emotion, to embrace despair! and unhappily he did so.</p> + +<p>He would carefully conceal every circumstance, every thought; he would +allow it to be believed, that the preparations for his marriage were +still going forward; nay, he would assume the most exuberant spirits, +and to the last moment of existence preserve his fatal secret. When he +was gone, when he had found a resting-place for his weary spirit in the +grave, Alfred should know all! Reflecting thus, he journeyed on.</p> + +<p>Lady Palliser at first took no notice of Sir Willoughby's sudden +departure. At a late hour in the evening, however, she received his +note. During its perusal she laughed immoderately, then flinging it +towards Caroline, said, "Silly young man! my only object in marrying you +to him was to chastise you for your improper conduct. It has happened, +however, quite as well; for I was getting amazingly tired of the thing. +Let the intended punishment," she added, with returning severity of +manner, "be a lesson to you, that young women in your station, and with +the fortune you will possess, are not to make choice for themselves. +When I choose you to marry, and have decided to whom I shall marry you, +I shall let you know."</p> + +<p>Poor Caroline, how little understood was her position by those, and they +were many, the springs of whose peace were poisoned by envy of her +greatness! Oh <i>Pride</i>, bane of human happiness! mingling bitter +mortification in the otherwise palatable cup of humble competency, and +lading with its glittering chains, the slaves on whom it seems to heap +its choicest gifts.</p> + +<p>Caroline, who had apprehended a storm of rage and disappointment, +heightened by, perhaps, some suspicion of the truth, was greatly +relieved; and, though habituated to the unaccountable caprices of her +mother's temper, was somewhat surprised, at the perfect indifference +thus shown by Lady Palliser, respecting her ultimate failure on a point, +to carry which, so violent a determination had previously been +manifested.</p> + +<p>On Willoughby's arrival at Arden, he strained every power of his mind to +hide from his brother the true state of his feelings; and, to a certain +degree, succeeded; his strange manner inducing in Alfred a belief that +it was the immediate prospect of the fulfilment of his wishes, which had +unsettled his intellect; for, that it was to a certain degree unsettled, +this affectionate brother could not help detecting, in the extravagance, +the sometimes almost terrific wildness, of the gaiety assumed by +Willoughby. It is impossible to describe the wretchedness of Alfred, +while with an aching heart, he watched the flushed cheek and flashing +eye of his brother, and listened to the strange unnatural sound of his +laugh. We may say, without in the slightest degree exaggerating the +disinterestedness of our hero, that every thought of self was forgotten, +in the miserable excess of sympathy which the extraordinary +circumstances of others now called forth. It was not only for his +brother, that brother to whom from infancy he had been so tenderly +attached, that he now felt the cruellest apprehensions; but what was +also to be the fate of Caroline, and what would be the misery of their +mother, the sorrow of the whole family, if, indeed, the awful infliction +he had so long dreaded, had at length fallen upon them?</p> + +<p>Or even, were this excitement which now alarmed him so much, to subside +again for the present, how dreadful was the prospect opened by its +having ever assumed so serious a form; and the inconsistency of +Willoughby's conduct and manner, the incoherence of his expressions in +his ill-sustained attempts at conversation, put the fatal truth beyond a +doubt. Yet, were all those symptoms so far to abate, that no eye less +watchful, less practised to watch than his own, could detect the lurking +malady, was it fair, was it honourable, to involve in so frightful a +family affliction, the happiness of a being as yet unconscious of it? +Yet who could, who would, who ought to interfere? Delicacy and all good +feeling for ever forbade that any surmise should proceed from him. Oh +impossible! quite impossible! Fate must roll on, and overwhelm whom it +would, he must be passive! But he was more: instinctively he strove to +conceal from servants, and the few country neighbours whom chance threw +in their way, the hourly increasing infirmity of his brother; treating, +while such were present, his extravagance as hilarity, and every +contradiction and inconsistency as an intended jest; adding thus the +while, by the violent and unnatural contrast to his own secret +sufferings.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVIII" id="CHAPTER_XVIII"></a>CHAPTER XVIII.</h2> + + +<p>Alfred sometimes thought that possibly he ought so far to conquer his +scruples as to write to his mother, and communicate to her, in strict +confidence, his apprehensions respecting the state of Willoughby's mind: +but he might recover after a short period of quiet, and then his mother +might be spared the pang: and he could not, as he had before decided, +even within the bosom of his own family,—he could not, be the +consequence what it might, bring himself to be the first to suggest such +a thought. His mother, of course, would not suspect him of a base desire +to grasp at his brother's birth-right, and of a consequent +quicksightedness in discerning the approaches of this frightful +visitation; but there were those who might so misjudge him. It was, +however, he thought, at least his duty to prepare his mother's mind in +some degree for whatever might be the result, by saying, that he did not +think Willoughby quite well: this, therefore, he did in one or two of +his letters. Yet Willoughby himself made no complaint; and to servants +and occasional visiters appeared to be in particularly good health and +spirits. We remark this now because the comment subsequently becomes +important.</p> + +<p>After a few days, however, Willoughby, like one who had run at full +speed as long as his strength would permit, flagged; his efforts were +first less sustained, then his gaiety became confined to wild bursts of +noisy mirth, while at length whole hours, with a seeming unconsciousness +of the lapse of time, were passed in gloomy abstraction. The bursts of +seeming mirth, however, were always assumed when servants or strangers +were present; the gloom and abstraction given way to only when alone +with his brother.</p> + +<p>Willoughby had always felt, and often expressed, great horror of persons +being opened after death: to this subject he now recurred with a +frequency, and clung to it with a pertinacity quite extraordinary; +adding the most solemn injunctions to Alfred to be the protector of his +remains whenever he should die.</p> + +<p>"You will then be master here," he would say; "every thing will then be +yours; my very body I bequeath to you—I make it your property: do not, +Alfred, I conjure you, suffer the defenceless corse of your poor brother +to be mangled. It would be hard indeed," he would sometimes subjoin, +with a wild ironical laugh, "if a man could not find rest even in the +grave."</p> + +<p>On occasions like these Alfred would sit beside him, and endeavour to +sooth him by every kind and rational argument he could devise; not +unfrequently Willoughby would appear entirely deaf to all that could be +urged; while at other times, he would take Alfred's hand, thank him with +gentle kindliness of manner, and hope that he might yet be as truly +happy as he deserved to be; joining with this latter expression an +earnest and expressive solemnity which almost seemed a blending of +prophecy with the prayer of affection. He often talked of having a +foreboding that he should die young.</p> + +<p>"But why, my dear brother," Alfred would reply, "give way to such +thoughts? Why should you die young? You have no ailment, no care, no +sorrow——"</p> + +<p>"It may be a silly fancy, yet I am possessed with the idea:"—this much +Willoughby said with well-acted carelessness. "My only anxiety in +dying," he added, with a suddenly altered tone, and an inquiring look of +the most mournful tenderness, "is for you, Alfred; I fear you will feel +it severely; but do not!—do not! Why should any one be miserable?—I +shall not be missed, except by you: no selfish happiness, I know, will +enable you entirely to forget me. My mother is kind, very kind; but you +were always her favourite—and that in time will reconcile her—"</p> + +<p>Caroline was in Alfred's thoughts; her name even trembled on his lips, +but he had not courage to give it utterance.</p> + +<p>"You speak wildly," he said, "my dear Willoughby; you not missed! +you—who—who—you who love and are beloved." Willoughby laid his hand +on Alfred's, and looked anxiously in his face for some moments, but +continued silent; at length he moved his lips, as if about to speak; +then pressing his brother's hand, dropped it, and exclaimed, "I +cannot!—I cannot!" An instant after he burst into a passion of tears, +and laying his head on Alfred's shoulder, wept like a child, till +relieved by giving way to his feelings, though completely exhausted, he +seemed to sleep. In a few seconds, however, he started, looked up, and +repeated anxiously once or twice, "What have I been saying, Alfred? what +have I been saying? I think I have been asleep," he added; "but I have +lately got into a strange habit of laying awake the whole night: it is +merely a habit. Sleep is altogether a habit, I think. I don't sleep at +all now, as I tell you; and yet you see I am perfectly well!"</p> + +<p>Alfred looked mournfully at him, and replied, "Would to heaven you were, +Willoughby! Do," he added, anxiously, "let us go to town; you ought to +take some medical advice; if, as you say, you do not sleep, you cannot +be well."</p> + +<p>"Well—I am perfectly well I assure you—shall we ride?" he added, +rising and calling his two beautiful greyhounds that lay on the rug +before the fire: "I wonder, by the by," he continued, "if they have laid +the poison which I ordered for the rats in the stable-lofts; shall we go +out at the back way, and I'll see to it myself."</p> + +<p>Willoughby hurried out, Alfred followed, and heard him inquire with +great precision respecting the poison, and give, in the most rational +manner, precautionary directions against mistakes or accidents in its +use. A servant in reply pointed out a shelf in the saddle-room, where it +lay perfectly apart from all articles of food; and showed both the +gentlemen that the outward paper was, according to a usual and very +proper precaution on the part of druggists and apothecaries, strongly +marked in very large letters—"<i>Poison, Arsenic</i>." The characters too, +though done with a pen, were those of print, which made them more +strikingly legible to every eye.</p> + +<p>The brothers now proceeded to ride as Willoughby had proposed; Alfred, +however, could think of nothing but the poison: he had often heard of +the most artful preparations on the part of deranged persons, and he +could not banish the idea that Willoughby had made the particular +inquiries he had just heard with a view to possessing himself of the +arsenic; and he determined, lest this should indeed be the case, that he +would, as soon as he returned to the house, privately take away the +packet from where he had seen it, and put it in some place of security. +If the fearful project of self-destruction did indeed dwell among the +wanderings of his brother's mind, the quiet removal of the means would +not only prevent the immediate execution of his fatal purpose, but might +by possibility change the current of his thoughts into some more +healthful channel. Accordingly, as soon after their return as he could +find a convenient opportunity, he repaired to the said saddle-room, and +not wishing to confide his fears to any one, possessed himself, +unobserved as he supposed, of the paper of arsenic, which he locked up +carefully in his own escritoire, feeling, as he did so, almost a +security, that he had thus for the present, at least, removed one danger +from the reach of his poor brother; for as Willoughby had been scarcely +out of his sight, since they came back from their ride, there was no +reason to fear that the mischief was already done: nor did it indeed +occur to Alfred, when he found the packet laying where he had seen it in +the morning, that without displacing the whole, sufficient for the +purpose he dreaded might have been taken away.</p> + +<p>For the remainder of the day, and especially during dinner, he observed +that Willoughby's manners were more than ever strange and inconsistent; +and that his efforts at gaiety were fewer and worse sustained than on +any former occasion; yet, as long as the servants were present, +extravagant. While, the moment the brothers were alone, there was an +overflow of mournful tenderness, and an expression of the same character +in his countenance which filled Alfred with the most harrowing +sensations. Yet a circumstance had occurred when they were riding, which +had in a great measure allayed his immediate fears, and given his +thoughts too, a somewhat new direction. They had met with a neighbouring +squire who, possessing little either of tact or delicacy, and also +thinking himself privileged as being not only an old man but an old +acquaintance, immediately began to rally Sir Willoughby on the report of +his approaching marriage.</p> + +<p>Willoughby saw that Alfred watched him anxiously; and, being rendered by +the presence of a stranger doubly determined to keep his secret to the +last, he aroused himself to great exertion and replied with astonishing +coolness, at the same time admitting the fact of his intended marriage, +that the event to which the squire alluded was not to take place so +immediately as he seemed to imagine, for that previously to his becoming +a benedict he was to join his friends at Paris, and proceed with them on +a tour which would occupy some months.</p> + +<p>The old gentleman at parting commended him for showing Lady Anne +Armadale so soon how little he thought of her, and congratulated him on +the great superiority of his present choice, both in beauty and fortune. +The gloom and abstraction of Willoughby after this was so marked that it +suggested to Alfred the possibility of his not having yet conquered his +first attachment, and of his having entered into his present engagement +more out of pique than preference. How strange and absorbing for a time +were the speculations occasioned by such a surmise, while some of them +were calculated almost to reawaken selfish regrets, yet were these again +checked by the appalling thought that such a supposition strengthened +his worst fears; contending emotions were more likely seriously and +permanently to unsettle the mind than the excitement, however great, of +a successful attachment; at least, to suppose such a cause, it was +necessary to take for granted a predisposition stronger than there was, +perhaps, sufficient grounds to believe did exist.</p> + +<p>That disease however, was present, whatever the cause, there could be no +doubt; and Alfred firmly resolved, therefore, if he could not the very +next day prevail with Willoughby to accompany him to town, that he would +send thither for the first medical advice that could be obtained, and +also entreat his mother to come to Arden. For he now began to fear with +infinite self-reproach that he had already carried delicacy on this +point too far.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIX" id="CHAPTER_XIX"></a>CHAPTER XIX.</h2> + + +<p>A biscuit and a glass of wine-and-water was usually the temperate supper +of the brothers. They generally took it in the library, and read till +they felt disposed to retire for the night. This evening Alfred, who had +risen from the table for a book which he happened to be some little time +in selecting, observed on his return, but without a suspicion at the +moment as to the cause, that the water which Willoughby was pouring into +his glass looked less clear than usual. He remarked upon the +circumstance and advised his brother to put it away and have some fresh +brought up.</p> + +<p>"It seems very good," said Willoughby, adding wine and taking off the +whole at one draught, though in general he sipped it from time to time +during perhaps an hour of either reading or conversation.</p> + +<p>Alfred accustomed to his brother's love of opposition in trifles was not +at all surprised. He sighed, however, for he always considered this +infirmity of temper a symptom of the incipient malady he dreaded; so +simply saying,</p> + +<p>"There is quite a sediment in the goblet you see," he read on, but still +without an apprehension. It had somehow never once entered into his +calculations, amid all his vague fears, that a mode and occasion so +public as the present would have been chosen.</p> + +<p>"Put away your book, Alfred," said Willoughby, a few moments after. +Alfred looked up and saw that his brother was pale in the extreme, and +with a ghastliness of expression quite alarming.</p> + +<p>"I have the idea more strongly impressed upon my mind than ever this +evening that I shall not live long!" said Willoughby in a voice changed +and hoarse; "and that when I do die," he continued, "it will be +suddenly, very suddenly: let our good-night then be also a farewell; we +know not what may happen before morning."</p> + +<p>"Do not make me miserable by such melancholy forebodings," said Alfred, +"surely—there is, there can be no cause for such! Willoughby! +Willoughby! you do look ill!" And the thought crossed his mind, that had +he not secured the poison he should now be really alarmed.</p> + +<p>"It is only a presentiment," said Willoughby, affecting a ghastly smile; +"yet, lest it should be verified, indulge me in my childishness, and +before I go to bed take leave of me, and—forgive, say you forgive every +pettish word, every wilful act, of which I have ever been guilty towards +you, my kind, my excellent, my too amiable brother."</p> + +<p>"Forgive! dear Willoughby! surely I have all that is kind and noble in +intention to thank you for, nothing to forgive—unless indeed," and he +paused in silent alarm. "Oh, Willoughby," he added, gazing at the +working of his countenance, "I fear—I fear some terrible purpose! speak +to me! tell me I am wrong—you have no such thought—no you would +not—you press my hand, what does that mean? Speak, Willoughby! Is it to +reassure me?—oh, my poor mother—think of her!—think of me, how much, +how truly I love you, never should I know happiness again, if—oh +misery—those eyes—he does not know me!" Willoughby attempted to speak; +the words were not only indistinctly uttered, but evidently without +purpose in their arrangement; while unable longer to maintain the +struggle against bodily suffering, with the wildness of delirium in his +looks and gestures, he sank on a sofa writhing in agonies which partook +of the nature of convulsions.</p> + +<p>The now terrified Alfred, calling aloud for help, hastily loosed his +brother's stock and undid the buttons of his waistcoat; within which, +while so employed, his eye was unavoidably drawn from its close +connexion with the frightful circumstances of the moment, by a piece of +crushed paper, on which the word "<i>Poison</i>," in the conspicuous +characters already described, was nevertheless strikingly visible. +Alfred snatched up this fatal witness; it was a part of what he had seen +in the morning, and had but too evidently been thrust into the bosom as +a place of concealment after its contents had been emptied into the +goblet; nay, it had still a considerable portion of the powder lurking +in its folds. The terrible conviction that his precaution had been too +late, and that his brother had assuredly swallowed the <i>poison</i>, flashed +at once upon Alfred, fearfully strengthened by the appearance of +Willoughby laying on the sofa, his eyeballs rolling beneath their closed +lids, except when they started wildly open for a second and closed +again. He still attempted to speak, but now nearly without the power of +articulation, saving that the name of Alfred was more than once +distinguishable amid a low rapid murmur, which however soon faded into +whispers, then subsided into a mere movement of the lips without sound, +and then ceased altogether. By this time the poor sufferer had become +quite insensible, and no one had yet answered Alfred's continued calls +for help. He now ran to the bell, then to the door, giving orders to the +servants, who at length appeared, to fly for the nearest medical aid, +adding incoherent directions about bringing antidotes for <i>poison</i>, and +even naming arsenic in particular; yet at the same moment, without any +direct consciousness of what he was doing, his fingers with a sort of +instinctive movement were thrusting within the breast of his own +waistcoat, the fatal scrap of paper he had found in his brother's bosom; +for all the while that with the aid of servants he was vainly +endeavouring to render assistance to Willoughby, confused notions were +floating through his mind of the dreadful addition, that in case of the +worst, it would be to his poor mother's grief to know that Willoughby +had committed the awful crime of putting a period to his own existence; +and mingled with these, were thoughts still more disjointed of Christian +rites refused to persons guilty of suicide: so that altogether Alfred +was actuated, without any power of defining his motives, by a vague +sense, that some sort of necessity existed for suppressing the proofs of +his brother having wilfully taken the <i>poison</i>. He was of course quite +incapable at such a moment of a process of reasoning by which to decide +what other supposition it would be either probable or desirable should +be formed.</p> + +<p>Messengers had been despatched in every direction; yet before any +medical man arrived, the convulsions had subsided, and death, +accompanied by the most ghastly appearances, taken place.</p> + +<p>At length the bustle of an arrival was heard; instead, however, of the +expected doctor, Geoffery Arden entered the room.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XX" id="CHAPTER_XX"></a>CHAPTER XX.</h2> + + +<p>The arrival of Geoffery at this critical moment was accidental. He had +scarcely time to gather from the appearance of Willoughby, and the +incoherent expressions of Alfred, who seemed at one moment half wild, +the next stupified by his grief, a somewhat confused notion of what had +occurred, when his entrance was followed by that of Doctor Harman.</p> + +<p>The patient, however, being already quite dead, there remained nothing +for the Doctor to do, but pronounce his opinion as to the probable cause +of death, founded on the appearance of the body, and the symptoms of the +attack, as described by those who had been present. This he did by +expressing a suspicion that Sir Willoughby had swallowed poison, +although he granted that similar symptoms might have been occasioned by +a fit of apoplexy, and that such a fit might have had a fatal +termination. To all Alfred's anxious inquiries if there was nothing that +could be done, he replied decidedly that all was over. Alfred now stood +for a considerable time with his arms folded, looking on his brother +with a sort of mute despair, when a strange unbidden vision of the +appearance which the water in Willoughby's goblet had presented, +occurred to his memory. He turned towards the table on which the glasses +still remained, and in a species of day-dream, lifted and examined that +from which Willoughby had drunk. He perceived in the bottom a +considerable quantity of whitish powder. Unfit for cool calculation, as +were the powers of his mind at the moment, this, with all the +circumstances, seemed to place it beyond a doubt, that Willoughby had +taken the poison at the very time he had commented on the want of +clearness of the water into which he was pouring his wine. With this +conviction came again vague thoughts, as before, of expediency of +concealing the fact of the suicide. Too wretched, however, to remember +how strange his conduct, if not explained, must appear to those present, +he poured some water into the glass, and was about to empty the same +into a basin on the table.</p> + +<p>"Should not the contents of that glass be preserved?" said Geoffery, +aside to the Doctor.</p> + +<p>"Undoubtedly!" replied the tatler, darting forward, and seizing the +visibly trembling hand of Alfred.</p> + +<p>"This may be of consequence, my dear sir," he said, mildly.</p> + +<p>Alfred, as though he had been a detected culprit, who had not a word to +plead in his own excuse, yielded without a comment, not only his whole +attention, but his whole heart and soul, being at the instant recalled +to the sofa, whence some of the servants were about to remove the +remains of Willoughby, for the purpose of conveying them to a +bedchamber. But for this circumstance, he would, in all probability, +have explained his motives to the Doctor. Alfred now assisted the +servants with as much tender solicitude, as though the unconscious +object of his care were still capable of distinguishing affection's +gentle hand, from all the aid that may be bought or sold. The Doctor and +Geoffery had also approached the sofa, on the impulse of the moment, +ready to give their assistance had it been required; it was not +required, however, and they stood to let the melancholy procession pass. +While doing so, their eyes naturally rested on the interesting figure of +Alfred, bending over his poor brother, and consequently it so happened +that while he was in the act of stooping, accompanied with some share of +exertion, in the performance of his pious task, they both distinctly saw +the piece of paper he had so lately placed within the breast of his +waistcoat, glide out from thence, and fall to the ground. Geoffery +perceived the Doctor's eye follow it; he kept his own upon it, for there +was sufficient visible of the conspicuous letters with which it was +marked, to draw attention. When all but the Doctor and himself had +quitted the apartment, he pointed at it. The large characters, as we +have already particularly remarked, being, though strongly done with a +pen, those of print, were so distinct, that they were legible, even at +the distance where the paper lay on the floor. After both gentlemen had +stood looking down upon it for a considerable time, Geoffery said, at +length,</p> + +<p>"Will you have the goodness, Doctor, to pick up that paper?" The Doctor +did so, though not without hesitation.</p> + +<p>"I would not have touched it myself for the world!" continued Geoffery, +as soon as it was in the Doctor's hand. "You saw whence it fell?" he +proceeded. The Doctor was gazing in horror, one after another, at the +letters which spell the word poison, and carefully collecting together a +minute particle or two of powder, which still remained in some yet +unfolded crevices of the crumpled paper:</p> + +<p>"I am sorry to say I did," he answered, shaking his head.</p> + +<p>"What powder is that?" asked Geoffery.</p> + +<p>"It is scarcely fair to form a judgment on so small a portion," replied +the Doctor, "but it certainly resembles arsenic."</p> + +<p>Geoffery looked very hard at him; he returned the look, for a moment +only, then dropped his eyelids, and compressed his lips, as though he +feared his thoughts would assume the shape of words, and escape from +them unbidden.</p> + +<p>"What can be the meaning of all this, Doctor!" said Geoffery, after a +pause of some duration.</p> + +<p>"I don't know, sir—I don't know," replied the Doctor, hastily, and +almost angrily.</p> + +<p>"There seems to be no comment necessary," observed Geoffery. "Yet," he +added, after another pause, "the only possible solution is too horrible +to be thought of."</p> + +<p>"Quite so, sir, quite so!" replied the Doctor. "I wish," he subjoined, +shortly after, "that any other medical man but myself had been called +in."</p> + +<p>"That, too, was strange!" said Geoffery, turning towards the table: +"what object could Mr. Arden, or Sir Alfred, rather, as we must <i>now</i> +call him I suppose, have had in attempting to rinse that glass?"</p> + +<p>"It is impossible to say," replied the Doctor.</p> + +<p>"Why should he," persisted Geoffery, instead of being anxious to +ascertain the truth (as every near relative who had not his own reasons +for a contrary line of conduct must be), "seek to make away with +evidence?"</p> + +<p>The Doctor compressed his lips harder than before.</p> + +<p>"What do you suppose these dregs to be?" asked Geoffery, after a long +pause, devoted to a careful scrutiny of the contents of the glass.</p> + +<p>"Arsenic, apparently," replied the Doctor;—this was a point on which he +considered himself called upon to speak.</p> + +<p>"And you think Sir Willoughby's death was caused by poison?"</p> + +<p>"I did certainly from the symptoms described suspect as much; but I +should, for the further satisfaction of the family, recommend the body +being opened."</p> + +<p>"You are quite right," said Geoffery; "it ought to be satisfactory to +every member of the family that the cause and manner of Sir Willoughby's +death should be clearly ascertained."</p> + +<p>The good Doctor moved his head mournfully but made no reply. The paper +was still in his hand. Being about to depart, he offered it to Geoffery, +saying, "I had better give this to you, I suppose, sir?"</p> + +<p>"By no means," replied Geoffery; "but I must request that you will take +especial charge of it. 'Tis scarcely to be supposed that circumstances +so mysterious and extraordinary will be passed over without some +investigation, in which case that scrap of paper will be of infinite +importance."</p> + +<p>The Doctor took out a memorandum-book with trembling fingers, placed the +bit of paper within its leaves, and sighing as he restored the +depository to his pocket, said, "Ours is a wretched profession, sir! It +is not enough that we must witness every agony that is felt, and see +every tear that is shed; but other and still more painful duties, which +at first sight one would suppose to be quite distinct from the medical +department, are daily thrust upon us by circumstances. The nakedness of +human misery as well as human depravity both, are for ever before our +eyes!" after a pause he added, "I wish it to be distinctly understood, +that I shall decline all interference which is not enforced by +law—which is not, in short, matter of sad necessity."</p> + +<p>"We must be in a great measure guided by circumstances," said Geoffery, +"My situation is peculiarly painful and delicate; I heartily wish I had +not arrived when I did—had my own suspicions never been awakened, I had +not been called upon either by honour or by feeling, to take a part +which may, notwithstanding, be supposed by many to be very invidious. +You don't think I could with propriety allow this affair to blow over +without an investigation? What do you say, Doctor?"</p> + +<p>"I can offer no advice on such a subject," replied the Doctor, "it would +be quite stepping out of my sphere, sir."</p> + +<p>"I commend your prudence," observed Geoffery, "It is time enough for you +to answer questions when you are on your oath."</p> + +<p>"A surmise at least," interrupted the Doctor, with the air of one who +had suddenly recollected an important fact, if not an absolute knowledge +that poison had been taken, "must have existed previously to my being +sent for, as the servant who came for me, desired that I should bring +antidotes; and, by-the-by, arsenic was particularly mentioned. Possibly +Sir Willoughby is known to have put a period to his own existence?"</p> + +<p>"Wherefore, in that case," replied Geoffery, "should the paper which had +contained the poison have been so carefully concealed, where both of us +saw it come from? Besides, Sir Willoughby's affairs were in the most +prosperous state possible. He was also on the point of marriage with a +very charming young woman. A match quite of his own choosing, too."</p> + +<p>After a slight degree of hesitation, Geoffery assuming a look of +affected mystery, through which, however, flashed that fiendish sparkle +of the eye, which betrays the self-gratulatory acumen of knavery, added,</p> + +<p>"I should scarcely suppose that there had existed much cordiality +between the brothers of late. Both were pretenders to the hand of the +same lady, and the feeling of mutual jealousy on the subject was, I +myself happen to know, very strong. The lady in question, too, is an +heiress of considerable wealth, by whose means there is little doubt +that Alfred Arden had, before poor Sir Willoughby became his <i>rival</i>, +hoped to mend his fortunes as a younger brother. Indeed, I think he was +very ill treated in the business from first to last. It was enough to +exasperate the feelings of any man;—not that I mean to justify a crime +like this."</p> + +<p>"These are family matters with which I can have no concern," interrupted +the prudent man of medicine. "As it is highly probable, however, that +some investigation of the sudden death of Sir Willoughby must take +place, it becomes, I apprehend, my imperative duty, being the medical +attendant on the occasion, to take charge of the contents of this +glass."</p> + +<p>So saying, he rang the bell, asked for a bottle, and carefully putting +every particle of the supposed poison into it, took his departure, +carrying the bottle with him.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXI" id="CHAPTER_XXI"></a>CHAPTER XXI.</h2> + + +<p>As soon as Doctor Harman had taken his departure, Geoffery, with an +officious affectation of sympathy, followed Alfred up stairs.</p> + +<p>He found him seated beside the bed on which the deceased was laid, and +leaning against it, with his face buried in both his hands.</p> + +<p>The attendants had all quitted the apartment; Geoffery attempted some +commonplace expressions of condolence. Alfred moved his head in a +desponding manner, but did not raise it.</p> + +<p>Geoffery while standing waiting, as it were,—for he deemed it necessary +to remain a few moments with his cousin,—cast his eyes, from mere +unfeeling idleness, round the apartment, when something on an adjacent +table arrested his attention. He looked down upon it for a few seconds, +then raised his eyes cautiously in the direction of Alfred, and +perceiving that his face was still covered, lifted the object of his +curiosity, which appeared to be a letter, slid it into his pocket, and +after repeating his expressions of condolence and adding some sage +advice respecting firmness under the unavoidable trials of life, and the +expediency of courting the salutary influence of sleep, was about to +retire; but Alfred, while he was bidding him good night, looked up for a +moment, and said,</p> + +<p>"I would not on any account have it known that poor Willoughby had been +guilty of suicide. They may deny him Christian burial;—besides it would +add greatly to my poor mother's affliction. Did not the doctor say +something of a sudden seizure, a fit, having similar symptoms, and of +its being likely to prove equally fatal?"</p> + +<p>"He did."</p> + +<p>"Let it be so supposed then, and discourage all further inquiry. Good +night—" and here he again covered his face; on which Geoffery sought +his own room, and having carefully shut and bolted his door, drew the +purloined letter from his pocket, and without waiting to sit down, +perused its contents with a countenance of eager satisfaction. He then +proceeded to unfold and read an enclosure which seemed to make him look +grave. After this he paced the apartment lost in thought, from which he +broke into occasional soliloquy, thus: "My coming over too, just at this +juncture, was the merest chance: if I had not been short of cash, I +should not have thought of it." A long pause followed.—"He was always a +vain fool," he recommenced: "the dread of being laughed at, I make no +doubt, has goaded him to this! There must have been derangement of +course, temporary, at least." He opened the letter again, and looked at +a passage or two—"Incoherent enough!" he ejaculated. "But my happening +to see the packet," he pursued, "was so fortunate——He had not noticed +it, I should think——that, however, is a point which I must ascertain, +for he appears to be by some means, aware of the suicide——but can he +prove it, if necessary?——at present he seems desirous to conceal the +fact, which is so far well, the mystery will look suspicious.——" Here +he again opened the enclosure, shook his head, looked serious, and paced +the room once or twice——"Their being abroad, however, just at this +time, has happened well," he said—stopped and stood still—then added, +after a long pause of deep and motionless thought, "This is most +probably the only proof——It would certainly appear from its style that +he had made no previous disclosure——I must talk with him——I shall +easily perceive how far he is informed, and, at any rate, it is highly +improbable that the letter has been seen by any witness."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXII" id="CHAPTER_XXII"></a>CHAPTER XXII.</h2> + + +<p>The slumbers which followed the prolonged reveries of Geoffery Arden, +were rendered unrefreshing by feverish dreams, some of a truly horrible +character; in particular the vision that presented itself on his first +closing his eyes; which was, that he had himself for some reason or +other been condemned to be hung; that it was the night before his +execution, and that he was laying trembling in the condemned cell, +dreading the approach of dawn. The agony of his feelings awoke him. What +he had just suffered, and his infinite relief on finding that all was +but a dream, had for some moments a salutary effect, even on his heart, +which, if ever heart of man was justly entitled to the epithet, was +indeed "desperately wicked;" now, however, the scheme with which he had +laid his head on his pillow, seemed almost too diabolical to be +attempted; he almost shrank from the idea of inflicting on any human +creature the intense suffering with the recent escape from which his own +heart still beat audibly.</p> + +<p>These were the thoughts of solitude and of darkness. He slept again, and +awoke only to fear, as he beheld the full light of day penetrating every +where, and making the true forms of all things evident, that his scheme +of murderous treachery was too monstrous to be practicable. No one would +listen to such a proposition: and as for proofs, could circumstances be +indeed tortured into any strong enough to meet the powerful current of +opinion, flowing in the opposite direction? Yet, on the other hand, such +things had been heard of, and without one-tenth part the stake as to +property, which in this instance might be alleged as one powerful +incentive, while there was room also to suppose the workings of violent +jealousy, and even of revenge. His own mother, moreover, could be +summoned to prove that he had actually been accepted, and that he +himself ascribed his disappointment afterwards to the rivalship of his +brother.</p> + +<p>At this moment a servant answered Geoffery's bell, prepared to assist +him at his morning toilet.</p> + +<p>The man's face was full of importance and mystery; Geoffery noted this, +and willing to encourage the fellow, in whatever he might have to tell +respecting the opinions of servants, &c., said,</p> + +<p>"Why, Davison, you look absolutely frightened! What is the matter?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know that I have got any occasion to look frightened," said the +man, "for whatever way the poor gentleman came by his death, whether by +a fit, as some <i>sais</i>, or by poison, as others <i>thinks</i>, it was nearly +over with him before ever we came to the house. But there's no saying, +for that matter, who'll be blamed, or who wont; they are all in such a +taking about it below, as never was."</p> + +<p>"How do you mean?"</p> + +<p>"Why the coachman thinks that as it was he that went to Arden for the +arsenic for laying for the rats, for it was in the stable-lofts they +were most troublesome, that he'll get brought into some mischief, +although he had his master's orders; but who is to prove that, now poor +Sir Willoughby's dead and gone? And for the butler, he's afraid of his +life, but people may think that something must have been wrong with the +glasses or the water, when he carried them in; and so he took Johnson +and myself to the saddle-room, that we should see where the arsenic lay, +and so judge that it was impossible for it to come near any thing that +was for eating or drinking. When we got there, however, the packet with +the poison was nowhere to be found, although it had lain on the very +shelf he showed us, in that selfsame room (the butler <i>sais</i>), no longer +ago than yesterday forenoon, when poor Sir Willoughby and Mr. Alfred +looked at it themselves."</p> + +<p>"Strange indeed!" said Geoffery, "and has inquiry been made? Does any +one own to having moved the packet? This may throw light on the whole +affair. It is rather too bad that gentlemen are to lose their lives in +this manner by the shameful carelessness of servants. How are they to +prove it carelessness either? How are they to show it was not +intentional? The half of them will be hung, I make no doubt, and richly +they deserve it."</p> + +<p>"The servants are all ready to swear, that not one of them touched it, +or so much as went near the place," replied Davison; "and what's more, +the groom who was leading the horses round, after the gentlemen returned +from riding, <i>sais</i>, that he saw Mr. Alfred coming out of the +saddle-room with a paper parcel in his hand; so that if one of the +family thought proper to remove the arsenic himself, and an accident +happened in consequence to any article of food, the servants all say +that was no fault of theirs."</p> + +<p>"Can the man swear to this?"</p> + +<p>"So he <i>sais</i>."</p> + +<p>"If this could be proved it might certainly clear servants from blame, +but it is, I must say, altogether a very improbable story. If Sir Alfred +had wished to have the arsenic removed to any other place, he would have +given orders to that effect, and not have gone about the thing himself +in the clandestine manner you describe. No, no, this won't do, it is but +a flimsy excuse, and as I told you before, gentlemen are not to lose +their lives by the shameful carelessness of servants; nor are their +nonsensical excuses to be taken, and the thing hushed up. As for poor +Sir Alfred, he is too much overcome by his grief to attend to any thing; +it necessarily devolves upon me therefore to make the proper +inquiries.—Send Johnson here, I must question him. I shall, in fact, +examine them all, both separately and face to face."</p> + +<p>Geoffery was determined, by this means and on this pretext, to collect +all the information he could as to what were the surmises of others, and +what the facts of the case, that admitted of proof or of distortion. He +knew enough to be perfectly aware that the servants were not in fault, +but he considered it his most judicious play, to pretend to blame them; +exciting their ignorant and selfish fears, might be useful, and at +length make them willing to hear even their master accused rather than +themselves. Although he had sources of information not open to others, +he could by no means understand the extraordinary circumstance of the +paper which had fallen from Alfred's bosom. The attempt to rinse the +glass, he now indeed thought might be ascribed to the wish Alfred had +since expressed to conceal the fact of the suicide; but as he had not +explained his motive to the doctor at the time, the circumstance looked +so very suspicious, that he hoped it might be turned to account. He +could of course deny what his cousin had said to him in private. Knowing +however, as he did, that the inference to be naturally drawn from all +that had at present transpired was false, he was aware that he must +proceed with caution; something positive might yet come to light, which +would do away with all fallacies, and render it imprudent in him, or at +least invidious to breathe a suspicion against his cousin.</p> + +<p>Before he took any step, therefore, he must find out what all the +servants had to say; and as he had already determined to do, sound +Alfred himself,—without any witness present, however; for if, as he now +began to hope, his cousin's exculpation should rest entirely on +explanations to be made by himself, his not offering such till after +formal accusations were brought against him, would look very suspicious. +He would, therefore, make himself the medium of communication between +Alfred and all others; and, if possible, encourage him not to see any +one else. In the end, if necessary, he could and would firmly and boldly +deny every word which had been said to him only, and so give to his +cousin's motives the colouring of excuses, subsequently invented to +cover guilt. This, however, was a desperate game, which he would not +venture to play till he could see that his card would sweep the board.</p> + +<p>The circumstance of Alfred's having been seen bringing away the packet +of poison, would certainly be very strong if it should so turn out that +it could be proved; he feared, however, that it must be a mistake: he +had his own reasons for thinking that it would be found to have been Sir +Willoughby whom the groom had seen pass and carelessly mistaken for Sir +Alfred.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXIII" id="CHAPTER_XXIII"></a>CHAPTER XXIII.</h2> + + +<p>"Pray, Johnson," said Geoffery, when the person so named made his +appearance, "what is all this that Davison has been saying, about a +paper of arsenic being missing from where it lay no later than +yesterday; and the groom's absurd assertion, that Sir Alfred was the +person who removed it? This is a mere excuse, to hide the carelessness +of some of you servants, who have probably flung the paper of poison in +among the glasses; and now that you see the consequences of your own +misconduct, you are all terrified. And very justly, for I make no doubt +of it, the half of you will be hung!—The plea of carelessness, let me +tell you, and I know something of the law, will not be taken; malicious +interest will be supposed. As I told Davison, if Sir Alfred chose to +have the arsenic removed, he would have given his orders to that effect, +and not have gone about the thing himself, in a skulking clandestine +manner: why should he take so much trouble, unless concealment were his +object; and what motive could he have for concealment?"</p> + +<p>"The lad <i>sais</i> it was Sir Alfred," answered Johnson.</p> + +<p>"Can he swear to the fact?"</p> + +<p>"He <i>sais</i> he can."</p> + +<p>"Poor Sir Alfred," proceeded Geoffery, "is not in a state of mind to be +spoken to; or the thing might be cleared up in a moment, by my asking +him the question. Indeed he has given orders that no one shall go near +him; besides, it would be the utmost cruelty to allude to such a subject +at present; particularly if he really has, by any carelessness about +this paper of which you speak, been the cause of the accident, he will +never forgive himself;—so that, in that case, from respect to his +feelings, the circumstance ought in fact to be hushed up." Geoffery was +well aware that ordering servants to hush a thing up, was the best +possible mode of giving it publicity.</p> + +<p>The groom, when he appeared, was so firm to his text, that Geoffery +began to hope the assertion, whether true or false, might be turned to +account. He endeavoured, accordingly, to terrify the lad into a steady +evidence, by telling him, that what he once said, he must, on his peril, +stand to throughout; for that the slightest prevarication, or even +hesitation on so serious an affair, might hang him. "And I know +something of the law," he added, as usual. So saying, he dismissed the +groom, desiring him to send up the butler.</p> + +<p>"This is a shocking business, Thomas," said Geoffery, as the butler +entered.</p> + +<p>Thomas made no reply.</p> + +<p>"Poor Sir Alfred," continued Geoffery, "thinks, it seems, that his +brother died of a fit, and it is better for his peace of mind, that he +should think so; although there is no doubt, that Sir Willoughby was +poisoned. Do you think, Thomas, that you will be able to clear +yourself?"</p> + +<p>"Clear myself!" answered the man, his eyes flashing with rage, through +the honest tears he had been shedding for his master. "I'd be glad to +know who'll accuse—I who have served his father, and his grandfather +before him, man and boy these fifty-five years, and have nursed himself +and his brother one on each knee, many's the time."</p> + +<p>"Far be it from me, Thomas, to accuse you or any one else of such a +crime as murder; I only suspect you of unpardonable carelessness; but I +must say, and I know something of the law, as you may suppose, that +circumstances are very strong against you; it may be thought that you +intended to poison both brothers, and rob the house; my arrival was +unexpected; such things you know have been done! Nothing I should think +can clear you, but its being satisfactorily proved who is to blame. You +brought up the glasses; poison has been found in one of them, and there +was no one in the room but Sir Willoughby, his brother, and yourself. +You certainly would get nothing by the death of Sir Willoughby, unless, +as I said before, you had made away with both gentlemen, and robbed the +house; that is so far in your favour: yet no one, you know, could think +of suspecting his own brother, and circumstances seem to lay the +mischief, however it happened, at the door of one or the other."</p> + +<p>"No one who had not got the heart of the devil in his breast would lay +it at the door of either," replied the man, angrily.</p> + +<p>Without noticing his irritation, Geoffery proceeded, "I still mean in +the way of accident or mistake. Some of you talk, I understand, of Sir +Alfred having been the person who removed the paper of arsenic." And +here he enlarged as before, on the affliction our hero would no doubt +suffer, could he at all blame himself for any thing that had happened, +and how cruel it would therefore be to mention the subject to him.</p> + +<p>"Was the arsenic at any time kept in the same place with the glasses? Do +you think you might have scattered any quantity about, in lifting it +from shelf to shelf?"</p> + +<p>"I wiped out the glasses with my own hands, the moment before I carried +them in. Besides, the arsenic was never in the cupboard with my things +at all, it lay on a shelf in the saddle-room, quite out of the way of +what was for any one's use, and was marked in large letters, "arsenic, +poison"; for Sir Willoughby was very particular in his orders to me to +be careful about it, and made me show him where I put it, and that Mr. +Alfred knows, for he was with his brother at the same time, no longer +since than yesterday forenoon."</p> + +<p>"If your statement is correct, I do not see how it was possible for an +accident to have happened," said Geoffery, "could you swear that it was +not possible for an accident to have occurred?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, I could," he replied, though sulkily. "That is," he added, "as +long as the arsenic lay where I left it."</p> + +<p>This was one of the main points which Geoffery wanted to establish. He +now dismissed the butler, who was sobbing so violently, that he could +scarcely answer the questions put to him.</p> + +<p>The coachman next entered; and it being Geoffery's object, with the +views already stated, to alarm all the servants for their own safety, he +looked extremely austere, and, aware that the individual he had now to +deal with was not overburdened with wisdom, began thus:</p> + +<p>"So I find, James, you don't pretend to deny that you brought arsenic +from Arden, and the defence which I understand you pretend to set up, +is, that you did so by your master's orders, for the purpose of +poisoning rats. Now, this is quite too hackneyed an excuse; as to the +orders you <i>say</i> you received, I fancy you have no proof that you +received any."</p> + +<p>"I told the groom that went with me, and the boy at the apothecary's, +that my master sent me."</p> + +<p>"You told them! What sort of proof is that? You don't suppose that your +own word will be taken for yourself, whatever it may against yourself! +This will never do. I know something of the law, and unless there is +stronger evidence against some one else, you will certainly be hung for +the murder. The only thing in your favour is, that you would get nothing +by Sir Willoughby's death."</p> + +<p>"If they <i>chooses</i> to hang an innocent man," replied James, very +philosophically, "I can't help it, I dun as I was bid."</p> + +<p>"It's a very awkward thing having no witness in your favour but a dead +man. Are you sure it was not Sir Alfred who gave you the orders? for if +so, he is there, you know, to say so, which might save you."</p> + +<p>"No, it was Sir Willoughby himself."</p> + +<p>After a little more cross-questioning, James retired to the servants' +hall, where the effect of Geoffery's interference, was just what he +intended it should be: the utmost excitement existed. The one general +argument in their own favour, cunningly suggested to each by Geoffery, +that they would get nothing by the death of poor Sir Willoughby, was +constantly recurred to, while every time this was said, the remembrance +naturally suggested itself of who it was that would gain everything by +the melancholy event; not that any of the household yet dared in word, +or even perhaps in thought, to connect accusation or suspicion with the +mental recognition of the abstract fact. The strangeness, too, of +attempting to rinse the glass, and the strangeness of taking away the +paper of arsenic were named, while other still stranger circumstances +were from time to time, as they transpired, cautiously whispered to a +chosen few, by Geoffery's man, Davison, but no one ventured to draw +inferences. As the servants, however, of neighbouring families came in +to make inquiries respecting the sudden demise of Sir Willoughby, +already beginning to be generally known, many very extraordinary rumours +soon got abroad.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXIV" id="CHAPTER_XXIV"></a>CHAPTER XXIV.</h2> + + +<p>Alfred, wholly unsuspicious of the evil thoughts which dwelt in the +minds of others, was seated in the retirement of his own chamber, +writing the melancholy announcement of Willoughby's death to Lady Arden. +With the idea, however, that the knowledge of his brother's having put a +period to his own existence would add much to his mother's affliction, +he made no allusion to that part of the subject; nor any mention of the +supposition, that Willoughby's death had been occasioned by poison; he +merely stated, that it had been very sudden, and that Dr. Harman was of +opinion, that something of an apoplectic fit, had been the cause.</p> + +<p>While he was thus employed, Geoffery presented himself, and renewed his +officious offers of condolence.</p> + +<p>Alfred thanked him, but begged to be left alone. While Geoffery stood +behind his cousin's chair, his restless eye (expressive at once of +outlook and precaution), wandering as usual in every direction, and +scanning every object, descried, as much to his astonishment as delight, +in one of the recesses of the escritoire, the paper packet marked +arsenic, which it may be remembered, Alfred had put there the day +before. How it had got there, which to Geoffery was of course a mystery, +there could be little doubt that this was the packet spoken of by the +servants as missing. Here indeed was a powerful circumstance in favour +of a scheme, so diabolical in purpose, so improbable in execution, that +it was his wishes, not his hopes, which had first given entertainment to +the thought. This monster, this creation of the evil one, was now +assuming an almost palpable, or at least plausible form. If, as he had +strong reason to suspect, the entire truth was known only to himself, it +seemed now, no great stretch of probability to hope, that this +extraordinary combination of unlooked-for circumstances might establish, +by apparently irresistible evidence, the next to incredible accusation, +which, could it indeed be established, would in the selfsame hour build +up at once his own long despaired-of fortunes. Caution, however, must +still be observed, while steps must be taken, to procure the +interference of the coroner; and get him to require that the body should +be opened; he must also receive a hint to search the escritoire; and the +result of the coroner's inquest must decide him, whether or not it would +be prudent to take any further steps. In the mean while, however, lest +the poison should be removed, previously to the time of a legal search +being made, he must contrive, that the packet, where it now lay, should +be seen by an impartial witness. His own evidence might not be received, +as he was known of course, as heir at law, to have an interest in +Alfred's being proved guilty. These were his thoughts, while descending +to the hall. Here he summoned Davison, and instructed him to go up to +Sir Alfred's room; to enter quietly, as though fearful of disturbing +him; to proceed to the back of his chair before he spoke; then to +apologize for his intrusion by saying, Mr. Geoffery had sent him for his +gloves, which he had laid on the table and forgotten. While pretending +to search for the gloves, he was to fix an attentive eye on the part of +the escritoire described to him by Geoffery, till he saw with sufficient +distinctness to be able to swear to the fact, a paper packet with the +word arsenic marked upon it. He was of course not to make a comment, or +even allow Sir Alfred to observe the direction of his eyes.</p> + +<p>This service punctually performed, but the gloves, which, by-the-by, +were on Geoffery's hands, still unfound, Davison returned to his master, +who, after ascertaining that he could swear to having seen the arsenic, +added,</p> + +<p>"You must have perceived, Davison, by the delicacy of my conduct from +the first, how glad I should be to retain the charitable opinions of +every one as long as possible; but at the same time I have a duty to +perform, though a painful one, and so may you, perhaps, when called upon +in a court of justice. In the mean time, however, be prudent, and don't +hurt the feelings of the older servants, by any rash or premature +remarks. As for strangers they don't care, and every one must know +sooner or later, so that your denying facts to them would be wrong, and +might invalidate your future evidence."</p> + +<p>Davison looked half puzzled and half frightened, but said nothing.</p> + +<p>"Doctor Harman," proceeded Geoffery, "has not been quite prudent; he +has, I find from one or two neighbours who have called this morning to +make inquiries, been gossiping already." And here, under pretext of +repeating what the Doctor had been saying, though poor Harman, to do him +justice, had not opened his lips, Geoffery, in an under voice, and with +much mystery of manner, mentioned the suspicious circumstance of the +paper which had fallen from Sir Alfred's bosom. As for the attempt to +rinse the glass, several servants had been present at the time.</p> + +<p>Geoffery, now thinking that he had supplied his attendant with +sufficient topics of conversation for any servants' hall he might enter, +ordered his horses. He had several objects in view in his morning ride, +one of the principal ones, a call on business at Doctor Harman's.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXV" id="CHAPTER_XXV"></a>CHAPTER XXV.</h2> + + +<p>With what indescribable feelings of exultation did Geoffery ride through +the splendid park, look back on the baronial remains of the ancient +castle, and the grandeur of the modern mansion, then around them on the +immeasurable extent of the grounds, the endless variety of the scenery, +the magnificent, unfathomable woods, the beautiful openings, displaying +in the distance the rich low pastures, with their grazing flocks; the +bare hill rising beyond, crowned with herds of deer; bends of the +picturesque river, with here the swan or the wild duck sailing on its +smooth bosom, there a waterfall, veiling its rocky sides in spray, and +clothing its surface with a sheet of foam; all, in short, on which he +had so long looked with corroding envy, and fierce thirst for +possession, but for many years without a hope.</p> + +<p>He checked the bridle of his horse on the centre of a little eminence, +inhaled a long draught of the fragrant air, and smiled with supercilious +self-importance while he thought of the cheering probability, to which +time and chance had at length given birth, that all might yet be his.</p> + +<p>He found Doctor Harman at home, and with great solemnity and well-acted +sorrow, made known to him the discoveries of the morning. The packet of +arsenic being missing, Sir Alfred having been seen coming from the place +where it had lain, and the still more extraordinary and, he feared, +perfectly decisive circumstance of his having himself seen a packet +marked arsenic in Sir Alfred's escritoire.</p> + +<p>It was too shocking to be thought of, he said, yet how were such +staggering facts as these, together with those which had previously come +under the Doctor's own eye, to be got rid of? He wished to retain +charitable opinions to the very last. Investigation, however, had become +a duty, although he would certainly wish it to be conducted in the most +delicate manner possible. In answer to an inquiry from Geoffery, the +Doctor said he had already tested the dregs found in the glass, and +proved them to be arsenic; to obtain full satisfaction, he added, that +it would be very desirable to open the body, and examine by similar +tests the contents of the stomach. "But," he proceeded "the request must +come from Sir Alfred."</p> + +<p>"Which we know will not be the case," replied Geoffery; "on the +contrary, I fear he will refuse to permit an examination, and if so, the +proper authorities must enforce submission; but I am so anxious to +proceed in this affair with the utmost delicacy, that you would greatly +oblige me, Doctor, if you would first urge it as your own request—as a +matter of favour to yourself—as throwing a light on science. I do not +wish unnecessarily to hurt the feelings of Sir Alfred, and if ever I am +myself compelled to yield my belief to the frightful suspicions which +circumstances, I am sorry to say, almost justify, it must not be till +the most ample proof has no longer left me free to doubt."</p> + +<p>His object in wishing to act with this affected delicacy was, that +Alfred might refuse to allow the body to be opened; as such conduct, +under the circumstances, would look suspicious, and he felt certain, +knowing as he did Alfred's wish to repress the suicide, that so +requested he would of course refuse, while, if he were informed that +suspicions already existed, it was to be supposed that he would for his +own sake instantly consent. The Doctor, however, still objected to +attend unsummoned.</p> + +<p>As soon, therefore, as Geoffery returned to Arden, he despatched a +servant on horseback with a verbal message, requesting that Doctor +Harman and two surgeons would attend prepared to open the body of Sir +Willoughby. This succeeded in taking in the honest-hearted Doctor, to +whom it did not occur to inquire who had given the message to a servant +who was one of Sir Alfred's household.</p> + +<p>On the arrival of the medical gentlemen, Geoffery, who was determined +that every point unfavourable to his cousin should admit of proof by +other witnesses than himself, sent a servant up to Sir Alfred with a +message purporting to be from Doctor Harman to say, that if Sir Alfred +had no objection, the Doctor was very desirous of being permitted to +open the body of the deceased, for the purpose of ascertaining whether +or not his view of the case were correct, in supposing that the sudden +death of Sir Willoughby had been occasioned by a fit of apoplexy.</p> + +<p>Alfred, surprised at the officious impertinence of such an interference +to which he had no idea of sacrificing the solemn injunctions of his +dying brother, sent back an immediate and positive refusal; on which +Geoffery with a face of solemn sorrow, dismissed the medical gentlemen, +adding many flourishes and innuendoes, and confessing that he certainly +had ventured to send for them himself, in the hope that Sir Alfred might +have been induced to permit an examination, for which the circumstances +of the case so loudly called. This might be thought officious in him, +but his motive was, to combine delicacy with a step he felt it his duty +to take.</p> + +<p>Alfred had many reasons for his refusal; first, and above all, were his +brother's anxious and repeated injunctions, which, except superseded by +sad necessity, would of course be laws to him; next, he was, as we have +already said, very desirous that the idea of a suicide should not be +even suggested; lest it should come to the ears of his mother, and add +to her distress: and, finally, he wished, that if the idea were +suggested, the fact should not be proved, lest as we have already +hinted, Christian rites should be refused. At the same time, feeling +himself but too certain, that his poor brother must have put a period to +his own existence, he had no anxious doubts to be satisfied by an +examination. As to the opinions which might be entertained by others, +though the doctor had said at first, that the symptoms resembled those +of poison, he had, at the same time allowed, that an apoplectic fit +might have caused the sudden death, and been attended with similar +symptoms. Alfred naturally thought, therefore, that the family appearing +satisfied with this solution, it would become the prevalent opinion, and +the melancholy event pass over, as little noticed by the public, as the +private sorrows of individuals generally are.</p> + +<p>This honourable and exalted mind never once conceived the idea, that any +combination of circumstances whatever, could have suggested to any human +being such a thought of horror, as that of his having shortened the life +of his dear brother; much less did he imagine, that by the part he was +now acting, he was actually furnishing a treacherous enemy with a sort +of presumptive evidence that such was the fact: so that while every +unfortunate coincidence, on which the ignorance of some, and the +malignant designs of others, could found an evil report, was being +universally disseminated, and discussed. Alfred sat apart, unsuspicious +of evil, yielding to his grief, and communicating with none, except to +give such orders as were absolutely necessary; while the arts of +Geoffery, and the delicacy of friends, prevented any creature's offering +him a hint of what was unhappily, by this time, passing in the minds of +many. For, not only were all the particulars which the servants had +witnessed, already in circulation; but, the circumstances of the marked +paper falling from Alfred's bosom, and the missing packet being seen in +his escritoire, were also beginning to be pretty generally known, to the +great surprise of the poor Doctor, who, as we said, had never breathed a +hint on the subject. Yet had his prudence gained him no credit; for +Geoffery had not confined his insinuations against the Doctor's talents +for taciturnity, to what he had said to his man Davison; but had also +complained to several confidential friends, how that meddling, gossiping +fellow, Harman, had been saying so and so—giving here each particular, +in the form of a quotation. If his auditors <i>chanced</i> to reply, that +they had heard nothing of the kind before, Geoffery would express his +surprise; assure them that every one else had; lament that such should +be the case; and add, how much he had wished, to suppress unpleasant +reports; at least, until the whole affair should necessarily become +matter of public discussion.</p> + +<p>Geoffery having, as we have said, his reasons for being aware that +Willoughby had taken poison, was determined, for the furtherance of his +diabolical schemes against Alfred, that the body should be opened; and +proof thus furnished, of the fact of poison having been swallowed. He +took care, therefore, that not only reports, but direct information +should reach the coroner, of a nature to render it his duty to demand an +investigation of the whole affair.</p> + +<h3>END OF VOL. II.</h3> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Dilemmas of Pride, (Vol 2 of 3), by +Margracia Loudon + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK DILEMMAS OF PRIDE, (VOL 2 OF 3) *** + +***** This file should be named 35057-h.htm or 35057-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/5/0/5/35057/ + +Produced by Heather Clark, 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) + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Dilemmas of Pride, (Vol 2 of 3) + +Author: Margracia Loudon + +Release Date: January 24, 2011 [EBook #35057] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK DILEMMAS OF PRIDE, (VOL 2 OF 3) *** + + + + +Produced by Heather Clark, 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) + + + + + + + + + + DILEMMAS OF PRIDE. + + BY MARGRACIA LOUDON + + THE AUTHOR OF FIRST LOVE. + + + IN THREE VOLUMES. + + VOL. II. + + LONDON: + + BULL AND CHURTON, HOLLES STREET. + + 1833. + + + + +DILEMMAS OF PRIDE. + + + + +CHAPTER I. + + +Alfred felt a strong and restless desire to absent himself from +Cheltenham for a time. What might ultimately occur he saw as a frightful +spectre in the distance, and he even strove to keep his mental vision +fixed with stern steadiness on the unwelcome image, while he laboured to +discipline his mind to generous emotions, and teach it to desire +absolutely the happiness of his truly generous brother, without any +remaining reference to self, even though Willoughby should become a +serious and a successful admirer of Caroline's. But to witness the early +steps, the daily progress towards such a consummation, was what seemed +to his imagination impossible to be endured. Caroline's gentle +smiles--the privilege of walking beside her on the Montpelier +promenade--of sitting near her little work-table in Lady Palliser's +drawing-room--of joining his voice to hers in certain duets which he +called to mind individually: these had been his own. The dread of seeing +them appropriated by another, appeared, in the present disordered state +of his mind, to terrify his fancy even more than all the vague and +distant views of that irremediable step; the very despair attending the +contemplation of which awed every gentler emotion into stillness; and +produced comparatively, a seeming, if not a salutary calm. Accordingly +he made up his mind to go to town, on the plea of aiding to complete +some arrangements then in progress for his promotion. We forgot to +mention that our hero held one of those fashionable licences to be shot +at, an ornamental commission in the Dragoon Guards. By using the word +ornamental, we do not wish to infer that a regiment of Dragoons is not +useful in a field of battle; we only mean to say, that in peaceful times +like the present, young men go into the Guards more with a view to +becoming _ornamental_ members of society than useful engines of warfare, +and very naturally feel more ambitious to attract the attention of +ladies than to repel the enemy. + +Alfred set out for town. For several days however, Willoughby continued +in a very unsettled state of mind, avoiding rather than seeking the +society of Lady Caroline Montague. + +He had always entertained towards Alfred an affection much stronger +than, from the strangeness of his temper, was known to any one but +himself, or perhaps even to himself. His thoughts were now absorbed and +saddened by the remembrance that Alfred was not happy. He felt a +fastidious repugnance to draw happiness himself from the same source +which had caused, and was still causing his brother pain; and rather +than run the risk of aggravating that pain, he doubted whether it would +not be better to relinquish at once an acquaintance of only a few days. +He almost wished he had gone to town with Alfred; yet town had +unpleasant associations for him just then. + +For a time, guided by feelings such as we have described, he almost +avoided Caroline; yet a fatality seemed to hang upon him. Though he told +himself again and again that she was but the acquaintance of an hour, it +seemed as if the matured attachment of Alfred had, by some mysterious +tie, by some identity of sympathies existing in nature between the twin +brothers, flung its spell, from the first interview, over the heart of +Willoughby, as though those more than brothers scarcely enjoyed a +divided being, but that the wishes and affections of both were still +united by hidden links, which irresistibly propelled them to one object. + +The very efforts which Willoughby made not to attach himself to our +heroine seemed to invest his feelings with a seriousness, a pathetic +tenderness, so strangely mingled with his pity for Alfred, that while he +sometimes sat apart, yet unable to withdraw his gaze from the mild and +lovely features of Caroline, his sensations approximated to torture. + +Her beauty appeared to him, the more he gazed upon it, Nature's only +perfect work. That any one could admire any other style, any other +lovely being, seemed to him a thing impossible. His former fancied +attachment he now saw to have been indeed but a dream of vanity, and +that it had touched any other feeling. + +He could not, however, maintain the struggle long; he soon began to seek +for arguments favourable to his wishes. Alfred's love, he told himself, +could not bear comparison with his in fervour, or he would have +persevered longer--he would have renewed his offer again and again. The +attachment was not mutual, Caroline having herself rejected him. Such an +attachment then would, in all probability, soon be forgotten; then why, +if he could, make himself acceptable, might he not be happy? In a little +time he arrived at the certainty that Alfred would himself be generous +enough to rejoice in his happiness. + +Lady Palliser's encouragement was decided. Caroline's indeed was but +passive. Geoffery, however, himself believing his cousin's attachment to +be a hopeless one, pretended to point out many marks of a hidden +preference, which he said could not be mistaken, averring that a cool +looker-on was better able to judge than a party interested. + +Willoughby, more even than the rest of the world, was liable to being +flattered into the belief of what he wished; he very soon, therefore, +gave himself over to a passion which left him no longer master of any +one thought or feeling. + +Geoffery's motives were such as we have already pointed out. +Unsuccessful courtships were at least time lost, while his being the +administering medium of flattery and flattering hopes kept up his own +influence. + +Willoughby, when he wrote to his brother, which he did frequently and +kindly, thought there was a delicacy in refraining entirely from any +mention of Caroline, or of his own growing admiration; accordingly he +did not even allude to the subject. + +Three or four letters had been severally received by Alfred, and opened +with excessive trepidation, dreading what they might contain; yet when +they were concluded and found not to contain even the name of Caroline, +the feeling of momentary relief was followed by one allied to +disappointment; one which was at least an access of the miserable +suspense, the restless craving to know something, even the worst, rather +than look any longer upon the desolate blank, which, without the +slightest variation, each weary day now presented. From the hour he had +quitted Cheltenham, and it was now some weeks, he had seemed to himself +a being cut off from the past, apart from the present, shut out from the +future. It was a state of mind no longer to be endured. Within about +half an hour after the receipt of Willoughby's last letter, though it +was then about ten o'clock at night, he set out for Cheltenham. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + + +Alfred arrived at Cheltenham at an early hour in the morning. On +repairing to Lady Arden's villa, however, he found that the family had +already gone to the walks. + +That Caroline was probably there also was his first thought; his next, +that Willoughby perhaps at that very moment walked beside her as her +received lover. He certainly dreaded to behold realized the picture his +imagination had formed. Yet a strange restless feeling, a sort of +desperation, blended with a faint hope that he might be quite wrong, +impelled him to turn his footsteps towards Montpelier. + +It chanced that the band which had paused for one of the usual +intervals, recommenced just at the moment. It would be utterly +impossible to describe the universal thrill which, on hearing the +well-known sounds, took possession of Alfred's whole frame, the rush of +associations, numerous, various, vivid, yet so cruelly contrasted with +his present feelings. + +He wandered on, and entering what may be termed _the_ walk, beheld close +to him, but in the act of turning, Caroline and Lady Palliser, with +Willoughby in attendance. He had seen Caroline's countenance for one +moment, but none of the party had seen him. Their backs being now +towards him he followed within a few paces, endeavouring to summon +resolution for the necessary task of joining and speaking to them. + +Willoughby it was evident had no eyes for any object but his fair +companion, towards whom he turned and addressed with an eagerness which +precluded the possibility of his ever once looking before him, much less +over his shoulder. Caroline of course turned her head from time to time +towards Willoughby to reply. She wore the memorable close bonnet of +white sarsenet which Alfred had thought so becoming. The morning he had +first seen her wear it became present to memory, while imagination +vividly pourtrayed within its own beautifying sanctuary that vision of +loveliness which it now seemed to be the peculiar privilege of another +to behold, as once it had been his, sheltered from the common gaze, and +beautiful for him alone. + +Lady Arden's party also was close before him, but his agitation, instead +of being at all composed by the time he reached the front of the +pump-room, was so much increased, that while the ranks of fashion were +wheeling to the right or left, to turn down the prescribed limit, he +found a convenient screen behind the crimson velvet pelisse of Lady +Whaleworthy who chanced to be near, and a moment after, turning off by a +cross walk, he made his way home. On the plea to the servant who +admitted him, of fatigue after his journey, he sought the shelter of his +own apartment; where, while he was supposed to have retired to bed and +slept, he sat strengthening and preparing his mind by meditation for a +meeting with his brother, and endeavouring to resolve what should be the +tenor of his own conduct. + +He had been but a very short time shut into his room, his mind still in +much too perturbed a state for society, when he heard the family party +coming in below. He could distinguish Willoughby's step cross the hall +and hastily ascend the stairs, but he had not yet resolution to admit +him; he therefore bolted his door without noise, and remained quite +still. He heard Willoughby turn the handle of the lock gently, and after +pausing a moment retire. "They have told him of my arrival, and with his +wonted kindness, poor fellow, he is impatient to see me," thought +Alfred. "And if he is destined," he added, after a pause, "to a better, +a brighter lot than mine, shall I wantonly embitter his happiness by +allowing him to perceive that the confirmation of hope to him will be +the sealing of despair to me? No, no, I will be more generous, he shall +see me firm, collected--if possible cheerful. Nay, that he is happy, +surely ought to be, and as surely is, a source of rejoicing to me. Would +this admit of a question were his happiness derived from any other +source?--Certainly not! What perverted feeling, then, can it be to which +I yield?--Selfishness! yes, selfishness the most aimless, the most +degraded! For shame! for shame! I must cast it from me and be a man." + +As he formed this resolve he rose from his seat and stood erect. After a +few seconds he hastily decided on descending to the breakfast-room, lest +Willoughby should again seek him; for he felt that he should have more +self-command in the full family circle, than were his heart just at this +moment subjected to the probing of his affectionate brother's anxiety in +a private interview. + +Alfred, too amiable not to be a general favourite, was received by every +individual of the party with the most entire cordiality, except, indeed, +Geoffery, who had no good will for any one. + +Willoughby, by the manner of shaking hands, and a look which accompanied +the action, implied a kind and even anxious enquiry into the state of +his brother's feelings, which it cost Alfred an effort to parry. He did +so, however, though with an air of rather overdone carelessness. + +Willoughby, deeply interested in believing him sincere, and himself not +a very keen observer, was more than satisfied--he was delighted. And by +the time breakfast was concluded, so well had Alfred, aided by a +feverish excitement, acted the part of cheerfulness and even gaiety, +that Willoughby now looked forward to the coming evening with unmixed +pleasure. It was the one fixed for a splendid ball at Lady Arden's, and +Lady Caroline Montague was already engaged to open it with him. + +The ball was so far a fortunate circumstance for our hero, for his +sisters could think of little else, which prevented their bantering him +in the unmerciful manner they might else have done about forsaking his +post. Mrs. Dorothea Arden, who after being at the walks with the young +people, always breakfasted with the family party, was so anxious on this +particular morning to see that meal concluded--having many arrangements +to recommend to her nieces, that she too made but one remark on the +painful topic, merely saying, as she rose from table; "Well, I am glad, +Alfred, you have returned in time not to allow your beautiful heiress to +be run away with. Willoughby has been paying fierce love in that quarter +I assure you. However, I should hope that with his ninety thousand +a-year of his own, he has no serious intention of interfering with your +making so desirable a match." + +Mrs. Dorothea had effected her exit by the time she finished her speech, +so that fortunately no answer was required. An awkward silence however +followed; for though all the ladies had by this time departed in various +directions, Geoffery's presence precluded any thing like confidential +conversation between the brothers. + +By our constant mention of Geoffery, it may be supposed he lived with +the Arden family, and it must be confessed that he found it both +convenient and agreeable to do so in a great measure; he had, however, a +nominal home at a hotel. For the last few moments Alfred had yielded to +a reverie of no very agreeable nature, the result of which was, a +conclusion arrived at with inward dismay: namely, that if he would avoid +calling down a universal clamour of remark both upon himself and Lady +Caroline, he must continue on friendly, and apparently intimate terms +both with Lady Palliser and her daughter, and for this purpose pay to +both every polite attention which intimacy claims; and still more that +the exertion, however painful, must be made at once. + +Accordingly, with as much ease of manner as he could assume, he proposed +to Willoughby and Geoffery that they should accompany him in a morning +visit to Jessamine Bower. + +"I suppose you forgot to ask Mrs. Dorothea's permission before you fall +in love," murmured Geoffery aside to Willoughby, as they passed out; +"how absurd it is of aunts and mothers to suppose that they are to +dictate to young men in these matters; but women love to hear themselves +talk." + + + + +CHAPTER III. + + +Lady Palliser not being at home, Alfred was spared the trial of this +first visit, and felt that the respite, even till evening, was a +sensible relief. + +Geoffery, after a vain effort to draw Willoughby to the billiard rooms, +repaired thither himself; and the brothers, thus left to each other's +society, wandered on into a quiet walk, and naturally fell into +confidential conversation. + +So well had Alfred hitherto acted his part, and so successfully did he +during this interview conceal his emotions, that Willoughby was +gradually led to open his whole heart, to dwell with enthusiasm on his +attachment, and even to speak of his hopes. He would not have approached +this latter part of the subject had he not at length mistaken Alfred's +fortitude for indifference, and persuaded himself that prudential +considerations must have been chiefly influential in tempting his +brother to seek the hand of Caroline. + +"I cannot tell you how happy you have made me, Alfred," he said, "by +returning among us, and in such good spirits. And remember," he added, +"that whenever and wherever you may fix your ultimate choice, it will be +my joy to forward your views to the utmost of my power. Whatever +settlement the lady's family shall require, you may command at my hands; +I speak without limit." + +Alfred made an evasive, but affectionate and grateful reply. + +"That we may be sometimes mistaken in the strength, or rather the +reality and consequent durability of our feelings," continued +Willoughby, "I am now fully aware from my own experience. I thought +myself very sincerely attached to Lady Anne Armadale, and for a short +time after her worthless breach of faith, I believed myself quite +miserable; yet how deeply am I, in point of fact, indebted to her +ladyship for giving me an opportunity of being undeceived before it was +too late! You see, my dear Alfred," he added, smiling, and looking round +in his brother's face, "that a disappointment is not always an +irremediable misfortune." Alfred had not time to assume cheerfulness of +countenance; and Willoughby sighed as he continued, "Not always, I say; +for how widely different are my present feelings. I sometimes shudder +when I think how little they are within my own control! Alfred," he +added, suddenly standing still, and laying his hand on his brother's +arm, "if the hopes to which I have now given up my whole soul prove less +than true, I shall--become a madman!" he subjoined, after a moment's +pause. "You can have no idea," he pursued, "of the wildness of my +thoughts, when I give way to a doubt----" A long silence followed, which +Willoughby at length broke by saying, "I am well aware that suicide is +one of the greatest of crimes; yet without even visible or absolute +insanity, I can imagine the balance of the mind being so entirely upset +on one all-engrossing object, as to render us for the time no longer +accountable beings." + +"There are cases," replied Alfred, with mournful solemnity, "which +certainly require a more than common exertion of fortitude to carry us +through the hour of trial. Impulses, however, of a sinful tendency must +not only be resisted, but from the first they must be dismissed from our +very thoughts; they must not be dwelt upon even to be condemned, lest +our minds become, as it were, familiar with crime, and one barrier be +thus broken down." + +"Fortitude!--reason!" repeated Willoughby. "Alfred," he added, laying +both his hands on his brother's shoulders, "I fear I am already in a +delirium! I have intoxicating hopes, yet I know not if they are +rational; for there are times when I conjure up fears and calculate +chances, till breathless and with beating pulses I could almost rush on +self-destruction as a refuge from the mere possibility of ultimate +failure!" While uttering the words self-destruction, he looked wildly +round for a moment, as if in search of the means. + +Alfred was indescribably shocked: the painful surmise which, on less +important occasions, had frequently crossed his imagination, now struck +him with redoubled force. His sympathy with his brother, mingled as it +was with the strange circumstances of his own case, became a sort of +agony. "Why should you, my dear Willoughby," he said, "who can command +every means of enjoyment this earth has to offer--why should you give +way to dreams, so wild, so incoherent? Banish all such thoughts, and let +me have at least the happiness of seeing you happy." An anxious +inquiring look was Willoughby's only reply to this. He shrank +unconsciously from seeking any unwelcome confession--a selfish feeling, +of which he was not aware, secretly urging him to believe without +probing too deeply, that Alfred was comparatively indifferent. In +silence, therefore, the brothers now bent their steps homewards, Alfred +reflecting the while on the peculiar cruelty of his fate; for if a +miracle could now be wrought in his favour, and Caroline be restored to +him all he had once believed her, his compassion for Willoughby, he +felt, would render the remainder of his own life wretched. Yet how did +his heart sicken at the thought of the scenes he must witness, the +confidences he must hear, the thoughtless railleries he must parry, if +he would act successfully the part which he felt it his duty to +maintain: for why should he wantonly embitter for another the cup of joy +which he was himself forbidden to taste; that other a brother whom he +fondly loved--a brother who he knew loved him with the most enthusiastic +affection? in short, in a futurity now become evidently unavoidable, he +beheld, as it were, all the appalling apparatus of torture displayed +before him, yet felt necessitated to submit his spirit to agony, with +almost the stern fortitude of an Indian chief, yielding his limbs to the +cruelty of his foes. + +No sooner did he enter the drawing-room than his sisters began to teaze +him, first about the length of his visit; and when they found he had not +been admitted, one observed that a runaway lover did not deserve the +favour of an audience; another asked archly, if he had commissioned +Willoughby to take the sole charge of Caroline in his absence. Lord +Darlingford, who was holding a skein of silk on the extended fingers of +both hands for Jane to wind, being unconscious how painful the subject +was to Alfred, said that he would not suspect Mr. Arden of conduct so +imprudent, for that love-making by proxy was universally acknowledged to +be extremely perilous. + +Louisa declared that with her the lover who was present was always the +favourite. Sir James, who was standing beside her, giggled, and drew a +step nearer. An expression of disgust passed over her countenance, +which, however, she concealed, by stooping closer to her scrap-book, +into which she was writing some passionate lines given her by Henry, of +the ardour of whose manner when he last repeated the said lines she was +reflecting at the moment. + +Jane thought, but did not say, that absence would rather add tenderness +to feeling where it did exist; without, however, daring to associate the +thought with the idea of one now absent--and who had once been +remembered with tenderness--for his marriage with another had some time +since appeared in the _Morning Post_. + +Madeline, whose heart was free, expressed openly the sentiment Jane had +secretly thought, though not without one of those prophetic blushes +which will suffuse the cheeks of even disengaged young ladies at the +very anticipation of being one time or other in love in their turn. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + + +Geoffery was still at the billiard table, where, with the assistance of +Sir William Orm, he was engaged in plucking a new pigeon, no less a +personage than the future head of the Salter family. + +Mr. John Salter was a vain, vulgar, selfish fool; in natural clumsiness +a caricature of John Bull personified, yet so determined to be French +and Frenchified, and so proud of his travels to and through Boulogne, +that the young men about the rooms, to whom he afforded infinite +amusement, called him the Marquis. Sir William Orm, though he had long +since cut the other members of the Salter family, sometimes did the +young man the honour to win his money; while Geoffery Arden, and several +other fashionables, granted him the privilege of a limited portion of +their acquaintance on the same liberal terms. When the Misses Salter, +however, saw their brother bow to one gentleman, speak to another, and +walk with a third, their drooping hopes naturally revived. + +"Who is that, John?--Has he much fortune--Is he married?--Couldn't you +ask him to dinner some day?--And who is that? I never saw you speak to +him before." Such were the questions and comments addressed by the young +ladies to their hopeful brother, who never, however, took the trouble of +giving them any satisfaction; his usual polite reply being, "If I choose +to ask him to dinner, I won't wait for your leave you may depend upon +it." + +"Well," said Miss Salter to her sister, "if we get plenty of men +acquaintance through John, we needn't much care about the ladies after +all. It's the men we want you know." + +"I know that," said Grace, "but I don't know that we shall get them: +however we might have had both the ladies and the gentlemen, only for +your improper conduct to Mrs. Dorothea. Isn't this Mr. Arden that John +knows, her nephew; and Sir Willoughby Arden, and the other Mr. Arden +both her nephews? besides, her knowing all the fine people; why she +would have been the very best acquaintance in Cheltenham, if we had only +kept her while we had her." + +"Well, I wish you'd keep your temper I know, and not be always harping +on that old story." + +"Temper, indeed! The less you say on that subject the better; but for +that matter I mean to take your advice and _keep_ my temper, as it +happens to be one of the best going; but I recommend you to part with +yours as soon as possible, for you can't exchange it for a worse let me +tell you." + +Miss Salter, who had just finished washing her hands, snatched up the +basin, flung its contents in her sister's face, and effecting her +retreat during the first consternation of the enemy, said, as she +flounced out of the room, "except I changed it for yours." + +Descending in haste, she encountered her brother, Sir William Orm, and +Mr. Geoffrey Arden in the entrance hall. Astonished, delighted, and +covered with smiles, she accompanied them into the drawing room; ere +however they had time to be seated, in rushed Miss Grace, dripping from +the shower bath so lately administered by her affectionate sister, and +her eyes so blinded by the visitation of soap suds, that, alas, she saw +not the strangers; but having heard her brother's voice as he crossed +the hall, she poured forth her bitter complaints, sobbing violently, and +relating the particulars of the assault perpetrated by Miss Salter. John +laughed rudely--Sir William and Geoffery looked foolish--and Grace, +having received a private hint from her sister, wiped her eyes, beheld +the gentlemen, and after standing for a moment perfectly aghast, took +her departure; while Miss Salter, in utter confusion, and with a +countenance of the deepest mortification, yet trying to force a laugh, +said it was very childish of Grace to take her silly jest amiss. + +"You're such a pair of little innocent children, to be sure," said her +brother with a sneer. + +"Some people have a particular dislike to practical jokes," observed Sir +William Orm. + +"This is not the entertainment however that I brought my friends home to +receive," continued the amiable Mr. John. "So I beg you'll keep your +quarrels to yourselves, and order some dinner." + +Mr. Salter entering at the moment Miss Salter made her escape, she flew +first to the room to which her sister had returned to repair the injured +adornments of her person, opened the door, thrust in her head, grinned a +silent defiance, and slamming the door to again, ran down to Mrs. +Johnson, to consult in providing a proper entertainment for guests so +valuable, or rather so invaluable, as were two fashionable beaux. Hotels +and pastry cooks were ordered to be laid under contribution, and no +expense spared, let papa scold as he might. In cases of such vital +importance, thought Miss Salter, people mustn't stick at trifles. She +then ran up stairs again and in breathless haste, with the assistance of +a housemaid changed her dress, and throwing on all the gold chains and +bracelets she could muster, made her appearance in the drawing-room, +looking however, as might have been expected, after so much exertion +both mental and corporeal, not quite so cool as she could have wished. +Whether, therefore, it was most to her relief or to her disappointment, +when she found the gentlemen too much occupied to perceive her entrance, +she was not able to define her feelings with sufficient accuracy to +decide, although she had plenty of time for self-examination, having +nothing to do during the full hour that dinner was delayed by the +necessary additions, but to sit in perfect silence beside her sister on +a sofa. The fact was, that the four lords of the creation had got to a +rubber at whist and looked as if the slightest interruption would annoy +them. + +And young ladies, who have neither beauty nor fortune to recommend them, +are obliged to be so amiable, that they learn to acquire an anticipative +perception of what will be pleasing and soothing to the whims and +tempers of those falsely important personages--bachelors. Alas! alas! +for the dignity of the poor ladies! But this is only another of the many +evil consequences of the monopoly of property; for that monopoly being +generally vested in the male line, women are early taught that it is +only by worshipping some golden calf, in other words some man of +fortune, that they can hope to be restored to any participation, either +in the comforts of domestic, or in the distinctions of public life. Were +there but a little more justice laid in at the foundation of society, +surely there would be less occasion for this heartless scramble, so +revolting to almost all, while too many of those who were made for +better things, find themselves necessitated by circumstances to join the +throng, whose every movement and motives they despise; but as they +cannot change the world, they are compelled to let the world change +them; for tastes and feelings may be outraged, but dinners cannot be +dispensed with. + +How different an aspect would the world in a very short time present if +that offspring of pride and prejudice, the unjust law of primogeniture, +were abolished. The slaves of circumstances, whether men or women, would +thus, without spoliation or revolution, be gradually emancipated, and +the worship of wealth, that most universal and degrading of all +idolatries, be put down. The standard of ostentation would be lowered, +tis true; but the sum of human felicity would be increased, not only in +a natural proportion, but still more through the medium of that ideal +estimate which now poisons the very sources of peace. For then, not only +would the number possessed of comfortable independence be much greater, +but all those so blessed would learn (their understandings being no +longer warped by invidious comparisons) to know themselves rich and feel +themselves happy. Imagine then pride, prejudice, and famine thus +banished from the world. Fancy this amended state of things to have +existed for some centuries, and the happy generation then in being +looking back on the records of our times. Would they believe what they +read to be a grave statement of facts? Certainly not! On the contrary, +they would be inclined to suppose the whole not only a work of fiction, +but the conception of a madman's mind; so extravagant, so far removed +from nature and probability would every action appear, so insufficient +every motive, the sacrifices of realties to phantoms so egregiously +inordinate, so hyperbolically absurd, that the feelings and adventures +of personages so unlike themselves would find no fellowship with their +sympathies. As well might we be expected to feel pious awe when we read +of the gross idolatries of the ancient sage or modern savage. When, +however, we look back on obsolete absurdities, or abroad on foreign +follies, and find that when objects are removed from the artificial +atmosphere of interests and habits we can discern them with +distinctness, it seems not unreasonable to hope, that our mental vision +is in itself perfect, and that therefore when the great luminary truth, +which is gradually climbing the intellectual horizon, shall have arrived +at its meridian, and dissipated the mists of prejudice, we shall behold +with equal distinctness those objects, which lying in and around our +homes and our times more intimately concern our happiness. Were all the +world governed by rational, sufficient, and consistent motives, how few, +comparatively speaking, would be the ills of life! + +The objectors to the just division of paternal inheritance urge that the +wellbeing of a state is best secured by the members of the community +having as great a stake in the country as possible, and assert that such +a division would lessen that now possessed by the heads of families. But +is not the heartfelt happiness, the peaceful and joyous prosperity of +the many, not only a greater stake than the ostentatious pride of the +few, but one much more calculated to rouse when necessary the +lion-spirit of national defence? + +To those who would bring forward, as so many insurmountable objections, +the thousand remote evils they think they can foresee, as the probable +results of the system we thus advocate, we can only reply, that we do +not pretend to understand the difficult science of political economy, we +only know that what we recommend is just. Do justice then in all things +we would say, not in the pride of opinion but on principle, and let the +Allwise Disposer of the fates dispose of the consequences. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + + +At dinner young Salter was vastly liberal of his father's wine, and +called loud and often for Champaigne, sparkling bumpers of which had +shortly the effect of so raising the spirits of his guests, that they +began their usual merciless quizzing of the Marquis, as they styled +their younger host; for, holding as they did, all the family in +sovereign contempt, the presence of father and sisters was no sort of +check. Indeed they rather seemed to expect that their easy familiarity +would be received as a compliment by the whole domestic circle; nor were +they far wrong in their calculations. Mr. Salter, honest man, thought +that, as he had been at a great expense about his son's education and +travels to foreign parts, it was no wonder that his said son should on +his return home create a very great sensation. As for the young ladies, +they were particularly well pleased; for John's getting so intimate with +men of fashion must, they thought, lead to their receiving more or less +attention. + +"You import the silk for your own waistcoats, I suppose, Salter?" +observed Sir William Orm, "there is nothing like it to be had in this +country." + +"I heard a lady--a lady of title too--say, no later than last night," +chimed in Geoffery, "that she would give anything for a pair of slippers +made out of one of the Marquis's waistcoats, they were all so perfectly +beautiful." + +"She don't mean to go barefooted till she gets them, I hope," replied +the polite object of this delicate compliment. + +"I suspect," said Sir William, "that it is the Marquis's own beauty +which the lady has so associated with the patterns of the silks he wears +that she knows not how to separate the ideas." + +"Salter is certainly a fortunate fellow," rejoined Geoffery, "the ladies +all admire him." + +"Confess the truth now, Marquis," cried Sir William; "in round numbers +at home and abroad, how many hearts do you think you have broken in your +time?" + +"I know better than to kiss and tell," answered young Salter +conceitedly. + +"That chain," said Geoffery, "which you wear in such graceful festoons, +Marquis, must be either Venetian or Maltese, the workmanship is so +exquisite. By-the-by, there was a lady last night admiring that too, and +wishing so much you would make her a present of it." + +"What," cried Sir William, "the ladies volunteering to wear his chains? +you may well be vain, Marquis." + +"They may volunteer to wear this that get it," said young Salter, +looking down at the chain. + +"You are a great fool, John," observed his father, "hanging money round +your neck that way, that's paying no interest." + +"Pardon me!" interrupted Sir William, "it is interesting to the ladies." + +"He will be able to afford it to be sure," continued old Salter, "for +which he may thank an industrious father. Why, gentlemen, when I began +the world--confound it!" he cried, shoving back his chair violently, +"what are you treading on my gouty foot for?" + +Miss Salter, who knew too well what was coming, had tried to avert the +impending evil by, not it would seem a gentle hint under the table. It +had for many years of Mr. Salter's life been his boast that he had +earned every shilling of his own fortune. "Any fool might belong to an +old family," he would say, "but a man deserved credit, he thought, who +could make a new one;" which as we have already hinted he was determined +to do, by heaping all his wealth on the noble Marquis. On Mr. Salter's +first coming to Cheltenham, however, his daughters had prevailed on him, +much against his will, to be silent on this favourite topic; while they +had flourished away from morning till night about family--respectable +family--highly respectable family--old family--ancient family; till at +length, by dint of retrograde movements, they had arrived, for aught we +know, at coming in with the conqueror. But, alas, about this time Lady +Flamborough jilted, and Ladies Whaleworthy and Shawbridge cut poor Mr. +Salter, and so put him out of humour with all sorts of quality, as he +called them, that he derived a species of consolation from suffering the +full tide of his old notions to overflow once more both his soul and his +conversation. In vain, therefore, was Miss Salter's hint, as well as +many subsequent interruptions. "When I began the world," he recommenced, +"the young man in the song who had but one sixpence was better off than +I was. My father came by his death in a colliery you see in Cumberland, +and left my poor mother with six of us upon the parish. I was big enough +at the time, I remember, to lead a cart, so was apprenticed to a farmer, +who moving some years after to a farm in Ayrshire, took me with him. +There I picked up the knowledge of Scotch farming that afterwards made +my fortune, and brought me a wife into the bargain, who, were she +living, good woman, wouldn't believe her own eyes, that that there fine +gentleman, and these here fine ladies were her own born children! Look +here to be sure," he continued, pointing to Miss Salter's ornaments, +"such chains, and rings, and bracelets, and nonsense; and if you'll +believe me, gentlemen, the first pair of shoes ever her mother had on +her feet I bought for her at Maybole fair, in Ayrshire. As for +ornaments, we were married with a rush ring, and all the household +furniture we possessed was a chaff-bed." + +"Well, Mr. Salter," said Sir William, "I can only say that times are +greatly changed for the better, and you have yourself to thank for it." + +"That's what I say, sir," cried Salter, striking his clenched hand on +the table till he made the glasses ring. "Let me see the man that has +done so much out of so small a beginning. My son will have as fine an +estate as any gentleman in the country, and as fine a house upon it as +any nobleman. And if the family is _new_, why so is the _property_, and +likely, therefore, like a _new_ coat, to give some wear, which is more +than some of the old ones will do," he added, winking, and looking +exceedingly wise as he laughed at his own wit. The mortified young +ladies here rose, and tossing their heads and biting their lips, took +their departure. + +"Nothing would serve my daughters, when first we come to this +vanity-fair," continued Mr. Salter, "but they must pass themselves off +for ladies of high family, forsooth, and behave with impertinence to +their betters, till they got themselves blown and cut too, as all that +sail under false colours deserve to be. But let a man, I say, come +forward with nothing but the truth in his mouth, and who shall despise +him for having made his way in the world by honest industry?" + +Mr. Salter's guests assented, in words at least, to his proposition, and +thus encouraged, he proceeded, "A man who has had his own and his +children's bred to get, may not have had much time, to be sure, _ither_ +for book-_larning_ or bow-making, and may not, therefore, be over good +company neither for your schollar nor your fine gentleman; but what e +that; there are plenty neither wiser nor genteeler than himself, why +shouldn't he be happy with them! As for his children, why, if he can +afford to make them independent, let him give them, as I have done, +plenty of schooling with it, and so make them company for any man." + +Geoffery here interrupted the discussion by rising to take his +departure, pleading the ball at his aunt's, which he must attend, while +Sir William Orm, finding there would be no chance of renewing the whist +party, inveigled away the Marquis to the hazard-table. Mr. Salter, thus +left to himself, was soon fast asleep in his chair; and his usual nap +being prolonged by his unusual potations, it was a couple of hours +before he found his way into the drawing-room. The disappointment of his +daughters, on his making his appearance alone, may be imagined, when it +is duly considered that they had waited tea, though we cannot say +patiently, till near one o'clock in the morning for the gentlemen, of +whose early retreat they were not aware. + +So much for feeding illbred men of fashion, in the hope of securing in +return what they have not to give--their politeness. After, therefore, +expressing warmly their disapprobation of such rudeness, the Misses +Salter had nothing for it but to retire to rest, venting on each other, +'till sleep closed their lips, the aggregate of spleen collected +throughout the day from so many fruitful sources. Yet here were people +whose more than common prosperity might have brought with it more than +common happiness in their own line, had not silly ambition and idle +vanity poisoned every fountain of attainable enjoyment, and created an +inconvenient thirst for the springs of a land of which they were never +likely to become naturalized citizens. + +The Misses Salter had always heard their poor father say, that he had +spared no expense in their education; they knew that they possessed +accomplishments, and prided themselves on remembering what they had been +made to read at school. But they knew not, for it came not within their +sphere to know, that there is an education of early habits effecting the +minutiae of outward bearing, and acquired it would seem, by the +unconscious mimicry of infancy, the stamp of which no after-school +discipline can yet either erase or bestow; and still less were they +capable of comprehending, that there is a further education of refining +sympathies and ennobling sentiments which, while as children of Adam we +all share one first nature, bestows, in combination with that already +named of early habits, a sort of second nature, on the privileged few, +who from generation to generation have been reared, like exotics, amid +the beautiful and beautifying blossoms of delicacy and feeling, +sheltered from the rough winds of coarseness, the blighting atmosphere +of necessity, and the cold ungenial climate of that almost justifiable +selfishness unavoidably learned by those who have not only their own, +but their family's imperious wants to supply by their individual anxious +exertions. + +Thus it is that shades of thinking, of feeling, and of judging, scarcely +sufficiently palpable to form subjects of instruction, pass, +unintentionally imparted, unconsciously imbibed, from father to son, +from mother to daughter, till education in this enlarged sense, in other +words refinement, becomes a kind of hereditary distinction, which must +be possessed for several succeeding generations before it can well exist +in its highest perfection. + +That these are very sufficient reasons why the various classes of +society, for the comfort of all parties, should keep in their respective +spheres, till gradually assimilated by time and circumstances, no one +who knows the world can deny; the error lies in making pride instead of +expediency the ground of separation,--the sin, in suffering the +manifestations of that pride to be offensive. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + + +Lady Arden stood with Alfred receiving the still arriving guests, while +Willoughby was just leading away Lady Caroline to commence dancing. He +trembled as she took his arm, some of the uncomfortable doubts expressed +in his last interview with his brother recurring at the moment. "Why did +she always receive his attentions without hesitation, he thought, or +rather with a gentle, a winning acquiescence, yet never look happy." +This was a problem on which he pondered night and day, yet one which he +could never solve to his entire satisfaction. His intentions were +declared in their manner and in their object, and when this is the case, +he told himself again and again, not to avoid is surely to encourage. + +This ball was Caroline's first meeting with Alfred since his return; for +it may be remembered that in the morning he had only seen, not spoken +to, nor been seen by her. Willoughby's impatience had led him to +overstep the bounds of etiquette. He had been watching near the door, +and hearing Lady Palliser and her daughter announced in the first hall, +had hastened forward to meet them, given an arm to each, and led them +into the ball-room. To address both with tolerable composure was no easy +task for Alfred, but imperious necessity seemed to furnish him for the +time with the necessary strength. Lady Palliser, all smiles, expressed +great pleasure at seeing him, but Caroline's eyes instantly sought the +ground, and a glow which no effort could suppress, suffused her cheeks. +Alfred became as suddenly pale--a kind of terror seized him when he +recognized the well-known symptom of emotion, and beheld that accession +of loveliness which the fleeting brilliancy never failed to bestow on +one, the perfect beauty of whose features and form was always to him an +object sufficiently dangerous. Willoughby's leading her away, as already +noticed, to commence the dancing, was almost a welcome relief. + +"I cannot understand, my dear Alfred," said his mother anxiously, as +during a pause in the arrivals they stood for a moment quite apart; +"your present position with Lady Caroline? Willoughby seems as if by the +general consent of all the parties to have taken your place; the lady +receives him just as but the other day she did you, and you stand by as +if perfectly satisfied that your services were no longer required." + +"They are no longer required," said Alfred, "and this is, in fact, the +only explanation that can be given." + +"No, no; there is some foolish misunderstanding," said Lady Arden, "and +I fear," she added, "you are resigning not only your interest, but your +happiness too easily." + +"You would not deny a lady freedom of choice," whispered Alfred, as the +approach of fresh guests put an end to the conversation. Lady Arden +however, who loved all her children tenderly, but Alfred above all, was +far from satisfied. She sighed, and was compelled to await in silence a +more favourable opportunity for discussing the subject. + +The quadrille, and the waltz which succeeded it, being concluded, +Willoughby led his partner to a kind of arbour, formed by enclosing the +veranda, which was well supplied with exotics and flowering shrubs, with +an awning of canvass, so that the whole range of French windows could, +without imprudence, be permitted to stand open. It would seem that they +must have found this retreat a pleasing one, for it was some time before +they re-appeared, and when they did so, the countenances of both wore a +suspicious aspect, Willoughby's looked delighted, Caroline's conscious +and confused. + +Alfred had been considering that, to keep up appearances, he must, +particularly being at home, ask Lady Caroline to dance. He felt sick at +heart when he contemplated the exertion of false spirits it would +require to carry him through such an undertaking; yet the more he +dreaded the task, the more imperiously did he feel himself called upon +to go through its performance. As soon, therefore, as our heroine with +her late partner returned to the dancing-room in the manner described, +he approached. He was much struck by the expression of Willoughby's +countenance: he, however, proffered his request by a sort of indistinct +murmur. It was acceded to in sounds quite as inarticulate, and he felt +Caroline's trembling fingers laid as lightly as possible on his +proffered arm. The room now swam round, and how he found his way into a +quadrille which was forming, he never knew. The quadrille ended: a waltz +tune instantly commenced, and all the couples fell into the ring, as if +it were a matter of course; and with the rest, Alfred and +Caroline,--neither perhaps, now that the latter had forfeited her plea +of never waltzing, being prepared to give a reason for not doing as +others did. If even the quadrille had been an agitating task to poor +Alfred, the waltz certainly did not tend to compose his nerves; while +the idea of Willoughby, which was never for a moment absent, made every +thought and feeling agony. Yet was it useful; it gave firmness, if not +sternness to his deportment, and so enabled him to get creditably +through the concluding ceremonies of leading Caroline to a sofa beside +Lady Palliser, and procuring for her an ice, &c. + +On crossing the apartment he encountered Willoughby near a window, took +his arm, and drew him into the veranda. He had, as we have already +mentioned, been struck with the expression of Willoughby's countenance, +and could not help suspecting that some conversation of a peculiarly +interesting nature must have just passed between him and Caroline; while +he fancied that, could he once know the worst to a certainty, he should +afterwards be able to meet his fate with composure. + +"I think, Willoughby," he said, with tolerably well acted playfulness, +but looking down, for he could not venture to meet his brother's eye, +"that you have something to communicate that has given you pleasure; and +if so, do not fear it can give me pain. I trust I am not so wretchedly +selfish! That I have not been fortunate myself, I already know; that +you, my dear brother, should be more so, should not surely add to my +disappointment; nay, believe me, if I had a lingering regret remaining, +it would vanish before the certainty of your happiness." + +Thus encouraged, Willoughby, after some little hesitation, confessed +that Alfred's suspicions were just; that there had been a conversation +of the nature he supposed, and that he had met with so favourable a +hearing that he intended on the following day to speak to Lady Palliser +on the subject. Alfred, who had overrated his own strength, had not a +word to offer in reply. Fortunately, however, at the moment both +brothers hearing themselves inquired for by some of their sisters, +returned accordingly into the dancing-room. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + + +When Alfred quitted Lady Arden, her ladyship was joined, at her post +near the door, by Mrs. Dorothea, who having much anxious business to +arrange, was looking very important, with a large pack of her own +printed visiting cards in her hand. On the said cards was added in +writing, the words "At Home," together with a certain date, and in a +corner nine o'clock; from which latter memorandum hopes of dancing were +to be inferred. The date had been chosen with great nicety; for this was +to be Mrs. Dorothea's grand party for the season, and must be given +while she had her nice house, and before she should be obliged to go +back into miserable little confined lodgings, and discharge her footman, +&c. Still she wished it to be after Lady Arden's ball; for on that +opportunity was placed her grand dependence for picking up beaux. It was +for this laudable purpose that the pack of cards already mentioned had +been brought in her reticule, and the convenient position near the door +taken up. Every lord of the creation who made his appearance was +immediately introduced by Lady Arden to Mrs. Dorothea; for, if her +ladyship was in any danger of forgetting to do so, she invariably +received a reminding twitch of the sleeve, which obliged her in +self-defence, or rather in defence of the sit of her blond, to perform +the ceremony forthwith: notwithstanding which preventive measures, a +nice observer might have remarked, for the remainder of the evening, a +slight droop about the elbow of the gauze balloon, which had the +misfortune to be nearest the assailant. The introduction made, a card +was instantly presented by Mrs. Dorothea to each gentleman, and with a +slight bow pocketed by him. At length, however, one beau arrived, whom +it was Mrs. Dorothea's turn to introduce to Lady Arden. She did so with +great pomp and circumstance, as well as with evident triumph. The +gentleman, whose name was Cameron, was rather on the wrong side of +fifty-five, with a bald head, and blinking eyes, an Indian complexion, +and small features; but a certain smirking expression withal, and an air +of youthful activity, which denoted that he was still a bachelor. + +We did our friend Cameron injustice when we said that he was bald; for +he was still in possession of certainly not less than three hairs on +either side his head. While, as to the high estimation in which those +said hairs were held by their owner, no one could entertain a doubt, who +had ever seen the establishment kept expressly for their due culture and +arrangement. In the first place, Mr. Archibald Cameron's dressing table +was adorned with a display of no less than four large-sized, patent, +penetrating hair brushes, of the latest and most improved kind; next, +were ranges of bottles of self-curling fluid, _huile antique a la rose_, +&c. and pots of _pommade aux mille fleurs_, with combs of every +description; to say nothing of a sly little one in a case for the +waistcoat pocket, which, on all such occasions as morning visits, state +dinners, &c, was taken out in the hall, and used with the assistance of +a pocket glass, drawn from the fellow pocket, to coax the two said side +locks upwards, and by pointing them towards each other, induce them, as +nearly as possible, to meet over the centre of the naked polished +forehead. But as this was an undertaking too difficult to be always +achieved with perfect success, the restive curls not unfrequently stood +on end with the most obstinate pertinacity, like the pricked-up ears of +a listening cur. There was no help for this; for when the curls refused +to be coaxed, they were too great favourites to be quarrelled with, so +they were; just obliged to be allowed to have their own way. + +While Mr. Cameron stood speaking to Lady Arden and Mrs. Dorothea, the +latter lady looked frequently about her, with evident anxiety. At length +she made what she intended for a private signal with her fan to +Madeline, whom she espied walking up and down, leaning on the arm of her +last partner, one of those unhappy young men, _no match for any one_, of +whom the most prudent mothers are, notwithstanding, obliged to admit a +certain number when they give a ball, merely as dancing machines. This +is one very serious objection to giving absolute balls at all: it being +rather awkward to cut people whom one has exhibited at one's own house. +We question, therefore, whether it would not be more prudent in ladies +with unmarried daughters to resign, altogether, the eclat of +ball-giving, and limit themselves to a select quadrille, got up +_purposely_ by accident; in which every partner for the dance should be +a desirable partner for life: in case it should so happen. + +Madeline, in obedience to her aunt's summons, approached: Mrs. Dorothea, +with the greatest stateliness, held out her elbow, of which her niece +accepted the proffered support, making at the same time a slight +courtesy to her late partner, as at once a dismissal, and a recompence +for past services. He accordingly perceiving he was _de trop_ took +himself off. Aunt Dorothea, now glancing at Madeline with the side of +her eye, drew herself up, pursed her mouth, and looked amazingly +consequential; at length, after a delay sufficient in her opinion to +take off all particularity, she availed herself of a pause in the +conversation, and after remarking to Mr. Cameron, that she supposed he +was a dancing man, presented him to Madeline. Had Cameron been but +three-and-twenty he might have affected indifference about, or even a +dislike to, the particular modification of locomotion alluded to; but as +any demur at his particular stage of existence might have given occasion +for ill-natured people to surmise that his dancing days were over, he +declared himself a most devoted votary of the mirth-promoting rites of +the light fantastic toe, and asking Madeline to dance, led her towards +the ball-room. + +"Well," said Mrs. Dorothea, to Lady Arden, "I have managed that so +nicely." + +"And who, my dear madam, is that comical quizz?" demanded her ladyship. + +"Quizz, indeed! I should not have introduced Mr. Cameron to my niece," +said Mrs. Dorothea, haughtily, "had he not been a man of high +connexions, unexceptionable character, and very large fortune." + +"I have not the slightest doubt of your prudence, my dear ma'am, I +merely alluded to his appearance." + +"I see nothing the matter with his appearance, ma'am." + +"The matter, oh, no; merely he is a droll looking being: but what did +you say was his fortune?" + +"While Governor of Madras he is said to have realised about fifty +thousand pounds, and a short time before he returned from India, he +succeeded unexpectedly to the family property, about seven thousand +a-year, beside which, now that his elder brother is dead, he is heir to +his uncle, Lord Dunsmoor, whose title and estates, of full thirty +thousand per annum, he must inherit. That is a sort of quizz which I +think your ladyship will allow is not to be met with every day." + +"No, certainly, as you say. If he should take a fancy to Madeline, I +hope she won't think him too old." + +"If Madeline should, like many other young people, be very silly, I +should hope she would have your ladyship to think for her." + +All this was of course said aside, and _sotto voce_. Had the situation +been better adapted to confidential conversation, much more would have +been said, particularly by Aunt Dorothea, who considered Mr. Cameron the +very first prize in life's lottery. + +At two or three-and-twenty, when a poor younger brother and "_no match +for any one_," he had been a passionate lover of Aunt Dorothea, then a +beautiful girl of nineteen. But a marriage at that time would have been +too imprudent a thing to be thought of, and so they parted. This was +five-and-thirty years ago. For about the first ten years both parties +had been very faithful; but the affair had since, like most early +engagements, died a natural death. + +Aunt Dorothea, to do her justice, had too much good sense to dream of +any one continuing to be a lover of hers at her present age. And as for +Cameron, although a halo of romance had lingered around the remembered +image of his "First Love," even 'till their meeting on the very morning +of the evening we are now describing; it was the blooming girl of +nineteen whom his fancy still painted, such as she had looked +five-and-thirty years before; when vowing eternal truth, he had bade her +a long farewell. One sight of our respectable friend Mrs. Dorothea +Arden, now fifty-four years of age, banished in an instant every +romantic idea as associated with the personal attractions of that lady. + +The former lovers became, however, at once excellent friends; and in the +course of that day Aunt Dorothea laid her plan for making up a match +between one, whom she considered a sort of valuable heir-loom that ought +not to be allowed to go out of the family, and her favourite niece, +Madeline, who had always been reckoned like Mrs. Dorothea, and her aunt +knew her to be still disengaged. + +Woman--the delicate day lily, blooms her hour--fades, and disappears for +ever from beauty's garden! Man--the hardy evergreen braves the cold +storm of disappointment--stands through the long winter of delay--and +when his genial season of prosperity at last arrives, finds fair +companions still in the smiling buds of each succeeding spring. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + + +Madeline was considered by every one very like her aunt. To Cameron she +was the vision of his early days, restored unchanged. + +The years of past toil faded to a dream--the polished barrenness of the +forehead--the scanty growth and restive sit of the side locks--nay, +certain twitches of rheumatism in the knee and ancle joints were all +forgotten; he felt himself five-and-twenty, and not a day more! He was +in an ecstacy--a delirium;--in short, he was desperately in love. He +danced like a Vestris, and between the regular evolutions of the +quadrille, frisked about his partner, a perfect grasshopper: for such +was his excessive eagerness to oblige, that he waited not between each +service rendered to make the obsequious angle of knee or elbow straight +again, but fetched and carried with the docility of a spaniel, in +attitudes which, could he but have seen himself in a mirror, must have +made even himself laugh. The performance ended, Madeline took his arm +and walked towards aunt Dorothea, with a strange, conscious, +half-pouting expression of countenance, evidently not knowing whether +she ought to be flattered or annoyed by the conspicuous assiduities of +her old beau. + +Cameron was sent in pursuit of a passing tray to procure an ice. With an +air of infinite triumph Mrs. Dorothea patted the dimpled cheek of her +niece, and whispered, "I wish you joy, my dear, of your brilliant +conquest, for I do think Mr. Cameron seems to be quite smitten already." + +"Oh, but aunt, such an old man!" + +"Nonsense, my dear, we were all young once, and you won't be young +always recollect, so mind what you're about." + +The return of Cameron put an end to the lecture, which was only however +postponed to a more convenient opportunity. This occurred on the +dispersion of the company, when the family party collected at one end of +a long deserted supper table to talk over the events of the evening. + +"I only hope, Madeline," commenced Mrs. Dorothea, "that this affair may +go on as prosperously as it has commenced, and you will be quite an +Eastern queen." + +"If he were a nice young man," said Madeline. + +"He is quite young enough," retorted Mrs. Dorothea, "a girl should +always marry a man somewhat older than herself." + +"Somewhat; yes, but not twice or three times." + +"It is impossible, my dear child, to combine every advantage," observed +Lady Arden, with a sigh, "and the establishment, as your aunt says, +would undoubtedly be a very brilliant one." Willoughby, Jane, and +Louisa, all enquired eagerly about the fortune and connexions of the +gentleman, and on being informed of every particular, confessed that it +would certainly be a most desirable match. + +"When we consider too," said Lady Arden, "the great difficulty, the next +to impossibility, of meeting with suitable establishments for girls of +good family and small fortunes. They cannot marry wealthy men of low +connexions--that would be disgracing their families; they cannot marry +the younger sons of good families, as they too are of course poor; and +the elder sons cannot marry them, for they want money to pay off their +incumbrances; so that when a girl so situated chances to make a conquest +of a man who can afford to marry her, she may be said to be unusually +fortunate." To have escaped, she might have added, the saddest of all +the _Dilemmas of Pride_. + +"Whatever sort of fellow the man may be," interrupted Willoughby, +laughing. + +"That is not at all a fair inference," replied her ladyship. "We are of +course taking it for granted that the gentleman is of unexceptionable +character, agreeable, and, in short, all that a gentleman ought to be." + +"Which is, you will allow," persisted Willoughby, "taking a good deal +for granted. The only thing you ladies seem determined not to take for +granted is the fortune." + +"Luckily," observed Mrs. Dorothea, "there is nothing to take for granted +in this case. Indeed," she added, drawing up, "I should not, as I said +before, have introduced Mr. Cameron to my niece if he had not been in +every way a desirable connexion." + +The immediate prospect of the title was now discussed, the uncle being +eighty-six; the magnificence of the fine old place; the splendour of the +town residence; the entertainments to be given; the equipages, the +diamonds, and so forth: while at every pause Madeline was pronounced by +her aunt a most fortunate girl, till vanity at length stirring within +her, she began to think that she really was fortunate; and that she +must, she supposed, be civil to her old beau the next time she saw him. + +After this, when Lady Arden had retired to her own room, accompanied by +Madeline, who was her sleeping companion, she renewed the conversation +in a serious and tender strain, representing strongly to her daughter +the great danger of appearing for a season or two unappropriated, with +the ultimate and utter wretchedness of the single state, than which she +did not know if even an unhappy marriage were not preferable. "Mrs. +Dorothea says, you know," she added, trying to treat the subject +jestingly, though herself ill at ease, "that a bad husband, from which +heaven preserve you, my child!" she fervently ejaculated, "is quite a +_natural_ misfortune, and therefore easy to endure, in comparison with +the unnatural misery of having no tie to life; no affections, no +feelings, no hopes, no fears, no joys, no sorrows; yet to be surrounded +with the most undignified annoyances, and to feel that for want of more +important objects of interest, one's mind is degraded into being their +very slave, with just enough left of its former self to make it sensible +of its debasement. The cares of the wife and mother, however numerous, +however anxious, are comparatively ennobling! For though it is our +second self, and our children, who may be said to be parts of ourselves, +that are their objects, still they are not felt for self alone; they do +not spring from that most unredeemed of instincts, individual +selfishness. Then, in the case of Mr. Cameron," proceeded her ladyship, +"he is, your aunt says, so peculiarly amiable, and bears in every +particular so high a character, that there is every reason to hope that +where he fixed his affections he would make a kind and good husband." +And here again Lady Arden enlarged on the splendour of the match, yet +with tears in her eyes, and even more than her usual indulgent +tenderness of manner; for while she could not bear to resign prospects +so dazzling, she looked anxiously at her blooming child, and feared the +sacrifice might be too great. + +Madeline, very much affected by her mother's fond and winning +gentleness, said, and thought at the time, she was sure that she should +be quite happy in doing anything that would give her pleasure, promising +to be always and in every thing guided by her advice. + +"Still, my love, 'tis you yourself who must ultimately decide; only +don't be rash in casting away, should it ever be in your offer, what has +so many advantages." + +This doubt as to the fact of her having made the so much talked of +conquest at all, sounded somewhat disagreeable in Madeline's ear; and +perhaps went further in creating a desire to secure the said brilliant +establishment than all which had been said in its favour. She began +already to think herself threatened with the fate of Aunt Dorothea; and +contrasting that in imagination with what she was told her lot would be +as the wife of Mr. Cameron, she came to the conclusion, that whenever he +made her an offer of his hand she supposed she must accept it! + +What were the while the thoughts of the lover, as "sleepless he lay on +his pillow?" Smiles, dimples, and ringlets, floated in lovely confusion +before his mind's eye; the latter, however, brought with them a painful +remembrance of the scantiness of his own locks; then immediately +followed visions of gold and silver, and precious stones; and gratitude +and adoration; all to be offered at the feet of his fair idol, if she +would but kindly overlook the _slight_ disparity in their ages, and +become his wife. What equipages, too, she should have; what a palace she +should dwell in; and as to her own fair person, it should blaze the very +queen of diamonds! + +What a happy man, despite an extra twitch of rheumatism, brought on by +his dancing, would our old beau have been, had "some good angel," not +exactly "ope'd to him the book of fate" perhaps, but whispered to him +the propitious resolve just formed by the lovely object of his +affections. + +The angel, of course, would have had too much politeness to mention that +the lady intended to marry him solely for the glitter of his title and +his gold. + +Thus do we see the identical class of persons whom pride, were they +starving, would not suffer to seek a livelihood by selling any thing +else in the world, for very pride's sake willing to sell themselves!!! +Such are the strange monsters of inconsistency to which the prejudices +of society give birth. + +Such, in short, are the _Dilemmas of Pride_!!! + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + + +Willoughby was fidgeting in and out of the drawing-room, looking at his +watch every five minutes, drawing off and on his gloves, and whistling +out of tune, although his ear was excellent. Alfred was seated in a +corner reading a book, which he said he was anxious to finish, having on +that plea, though in general so obliging, refused to walk out with his +sisters. The fact was, that he was miserably desirous to watch the +movements of Willoughby, and be on the spot to hear from himself the +earliest account of the result of his intended visit at Lady Palliser's. +Willoughby suspected as much, but neither had the courage to speak to +his brother on the subject, though they had the room quite to +themselves, and knew that they enjoyed each other's confidence. At +length Willoughby, after looking at his watch rather longer than usual, +put it abruptly back into his pocket, once more drew on his gloves, but +now so hastily that he deprived one of a thumb; he then took his hat and +smoothed it round and round three several times with the wrist of his +coat, paused irresolutely between each deliberate performance of the +operation, as if intending to say something, and yet at length, without +speaking at all, rushed through one of the French windows which opened +on the lawn, and disappeared. Alfred, as soon as he was alone, raised +his head from his book, and with parted lips held his breath, to listen +for the tread of his brother's foot on the gravel, first in their own +garden, then in the adjoining one. He next heard his knock, and a few +moments after could distinguish, though not the precise words, +Willoughby's voice inquiring, of course, if Lady Palliser were at home. +Lastly he heard the entering step and closing door. + +Now it was Alfred's turn to pace up and down the apartment. He did so +with hurried and unequal steps for about ten minutes, then flung himself +on a sofa, and lay perfectly motionless, his eyes vacant of expression, +for their sight was turned inward, where fancy was busily pourtraying +the scene probably passing at the moment in Lady Palliser's +drawing-room--that very room in which he had lately spent so many +blissful hours; in which he had so often yielded to the fatally +fascinating conviction that he was beloved by a heart too innocent to +hide its feelings; that very room in which he had finally been accepted +with seeming confidence, with seeming tenderness; and yet in which but a +few hours after, he had been as capriciously, as unfeelingly rejected; +nay, rejected with the most unequivocal symptoms of personal aversion, +and that without any possible cause being assigned, except the lady's +having, in the mean time, met with and determined to captivate his elder +brother, who was a much richer, and as head of the family, a greater +man. And she had accomplished her end. Willoughby was probably at this +very moment declaring his love! How did Caroline listen? He pictured her +such as she had looked while he had himself spoken; and the most +pitiable agitation overwhelmed him. After the lapse of half an hour he +again heard footsteps on the gravel. He started up--he stood at the +window; he saw Willoughby approaching, his countenance beaming with +satisfaction. How strange were his own sensations; the exquisite pang +instantly checked by the bitterest self-reproach. Was it +possible?--Could he when he beheld the face of his kind, affectionate, +dear brother, expressive of happiness, grieve at the sight?--Oh, for +shame! it was not so--it should not be so--as to his own disappointment, +that had been an ascertained thing long before;--why recur to it now! By +this time Willoughby had entered and grasped his hand. Alfred mastered +his emotion, and cordially returning the pressure of the hand, said with +a forced smile, "I see you have been accepted?" + +"I have--it is not however to take place for several months; so Lady +Palliser has invited me in the mean while to stay some time with them in +----shire; and after I have been to Arden, and made all my arrangements +there, I am to join them in Paris, whence we are to proceed through some +parts of Italy and Germany; all previous to--to--the ratification of our +engagement. They will leave Cheltenham, I believe, to-morrow or next +day; but I am to spend this evening with them _en famille_, when I shall +know all their plans." + +Fortunately for Alfred, the walking party returned at this moment, which +spared him the painful necessity of either hearing more or speaking at +all, beyond the one warmly expressed ejaculation, "May you be truly +happy!" + +Each of the girls was attended by her respective lover; Louisa indeed by +both of hers, and Mrs. Dorothea was chaperon, as she was on all +occasions when Lady Arden felt fatigued; for the young people knew very +well they had only to get about their good-natured aunt and declare they +could not do without her, to make sure of her services. + +"What has become of Mr. Cameron?" asked Mrs. Dorothea. Madeline had been +thinking the same question. "Surely he has not slipped away without +bidding us good morning!" continued the old lady, "he came to the door +with us." + +The object of their enquiries now made his appearance; he had merely in +passing through the hall slunk behind the party a little to comb up the +side curls; and they had either been more unmanageable than usual, or +their owner had become more than ever anxious about his personal +appearance. + +A long luncheon-table was laid in the dining-room, furnished with many +good things which had adorned the supper of the night before; with this +resource, a little flirtation, and a good deal of music--for all the +girls sang and played on various instruments, nothing could be more gay +and agreeable than the party. Even Henry Lindsey was in high good +humour; for Louisa had that morning bestowed on him two smiles for each +one she had vouchsafed Sir James. + +Lady Arden, who was never early after a night of raking, joined them in +the midst of their merriment, looking, however, rather serious herself; +for Willoughby had been up to her dressing-room, and had confided to her +his pleasing prospects, and though she could not absolutely grieve at +the happiness of any of her children, she certainly could not help +regretting in this particular instance that Alfred had not been the +successful suitor. Setting aside a peculiar overflow of tenderness for +him as the secret favourite of her heart, she considered that, in a +pecuniary point of view it would have been a most desirable match for +him, while his brother did not require fortune. And then she had watched +Alfred, and had traced, or at least thought she could trace, effort in +his manner, and even in the very tones of his voice a cadence that was +not quite natural. There was something, in short, in the sound, that +made her look at him while he spoke, and pained her, she could not tell +why. He sat opposite to her at the said luncheon-table, and had just +offered to help her to something. She met his eyes and saw that they +rose and fell unsteadily before the enquiring expression of hers. The +first time they were alone, or at least thought themselves so, her +enquiries were so tender that he could no longer act a part. His eyes +filled with tears; ashamed of these he hid his face for a few moments, +then, as if to apologise for his weakness, with a vehement burst of +feeling confessed the ardour of his attachment; the hopes he had been +authorised to entertain--nay, how he had been on the morning of the very +evening on which Willoughby arrived, actually accepted; and then on the +very morning after as absolutely rejected, and from interested motives +he could not doubt; there was no time for preference. And here, he added +some bitter reflections on the misery of being a younger brother, till +his more generous feelings prevailing again he spoke with his usual +affection of Willoughby, and of his chief consolation being in the +thought of his happiness, for the sake of which it was that he had +struggled, and still would struggle to conceal, and ultimately subdue +every feeling of his own. + +Geoffery had been all this while laying _perdu_ on a sofa in the +adjoining drawing-room, the folding doors to which were open; he had +therefore heard enough of the foregoing conversation to be tolerably _au +fait_ of the family secrets of which it treated, sufficiently so at +least for a future purpose, of which, however, he was not, indeed could +not be at the time aware. On the philosophical principle, however, that +"knowledge is power," perhaps he thought it as well to have all the +knowledge he could obtain. A knowledge of peoples' affairs does +sometimes, there is no question, place them in our power. + +Without therefore announcing his presence he retained his unseen +position till Lady Arden and Alfred had severally quitted the room. + + + + +CHAPTER X. + + +In the evening, when Willoughby was preparing to go to Lady Palliser's, +he received a miniature note from her ladyship, saying, that Caroline's +cold was so much worse that she was not able to leave her room, which +untoward circumstance compelled them to resign the pleasure of seeing +him that evening. + +He was of course much disappointed. The next morning, and for several +succeeding ones, he called regularly; sometimes saw Lady Palliser, +sometimes not; but Caroline was still invisible, being confined to her +apartment by severe indisposition. Alfred, who felt that his fate was +now sealed, longed for the quiet of Arden; and on the pretext of +shooting, had proposed going thither. But Mrs. Dorothea would not hear +of his leaving Cheltenham till after her party; and Lady Arden wished +him, if possible, to be present at his sister Jane's marriage. Our +kind-hearted hero therefore, the least selfish of beings, though +fatigued by the perpetual effort to force his spirits imposed by +society, consented to remain for the present. + +Madeline, in pursuance of the prudent resolve she had formed, received +Mr. Cameron's attentions in so amiable a manner, that he became very +shortly a declared and received lover, and the happiest of men. She too, +was for the present, or at least thought herself quite happy. Being the +least striking of the family she had hitherto had rather an humble +opinion of her personal attractions; she was therefore highly flattered +and gratified by Mr. Cameron's absolute adoration. Her imagination too, +dazzled by anticipations somewhat resembling the Arabian Nights' +Entertainments, learnt to revel in the prospect of splendours heaped on +splendours, as offerings at the shrine of her own charms; while, never +having entertained a preference for any one else, her better feelings +also found a pleasing resting place, in the thoughts of the promised +fond devotion of her future husband. She could now sit like one really +in love, and muse with delight on the prospect of the accomplishment of +her every wish--the indulgence of her every whim--the worship of her +very faults, which she flattered herself she was securing for life by +marrying Mr. Cameron. In short, she was in high spirits; and in such +good humour with fate, that she even began to think she should not have +been half so happy had she been about to marry a younger man, who would +have met her on more equal terms; or, had he been a man of fortune, +would have thought perhaps that he was doing her the favour. + +Louisa's mind, on the contrary, was in a very unsettled state. Sir James +had proposed to her more than once. He had certainly not been accepted, +but he had as certainly not been rejected with any thing like rational +decision. But people did not seem to think it necessary to be rational +with poor Sir James. She had told him, it is true, again and again, in a +pert and childish manner, that she never would marry him; but she had +laughed the while, and he had taken it all in good part, saying, that +the girls liked to be tantalising. He had asked her at length for the +measure of her finger: she had given him that of her wrist. With this he +had repaired to a jewellers. + +The shopman had assured him there must be some mistake; but at the same +time recommended his taking the lady a very splendid bracelet, which +was, he added, a present that should always precede the presentation of +the ring. + +Though Sir James was by no means careless of his money in general, he +was now too much in love to give prudential considerations a thought; he +therefore allowed the man to put up the highest priced bracelet in his +whole collection. Its beauty pleased Louisa, and she was silly enough to +accept and wear it: nay, Sir James himself was allowed to clasp it on +her arm. This produced a scene with Henry: for our little baronet, vain +of his unusual munificence, had kept the circumstance no secret. Louisa, +beginning to fear she was getting entangled with a man whom she could +not seriously decide on accepting, was vexed and out of spirits, and +consequently staid at home that evening from the walks, on pretext of a +headache. + +Henry, always violent and imprudent, the moment he saw that she was not +of the walking party, quitted the promenade, and repaired to Laden +Arden's villa. + +It was late and almost quite dark when, unannounced, he entered the +drawing-room from the lawn by an open French window. + +Louisa, who was alone and had flung herself on a sofa, thus taken by +surprise, had but time to rise partially from her reclining position. + +He approached. It so happened that though the apartment was without +lights, a stray beam from a lamp at the distance of the little lawn +gate, was caught and reflected, as Louisa moved her arm, by the bright +jewels of the luckless bracelet. + +Henry seized the arm with the fierceness of a highwayman, wrenched the +snap, and flung the bracelet to the further end of the room; then +suddenly calmed by a sense of shame and contrition at his own brutal +violence, stood petrified without attempting to utter a syllable. Louisa +rose proudly. "By what authority, Mr. Lyndsey," she exclaimed, "have you +dared to offer me this insult?" While speaking she was crossing the room +to ring the bell and order the intruder to be shown out. Guessing her +intention, he started from his state of stupor, flew to intercept her, +flung himself at her feet, seized both her hands, and leaning his face +against them, sobbed violently. + +"Hear me!" he exclaimed in broken accents. "My ruffianly, my wholly +unjustifiable conduct, was at least unpremeditated; I had no thought of +even uttering a reproach. I entered here but to bid you an eternal +farewell! Louisa, I am a miserable, a desperate man----I am about to +quit England for ever." + +Louisa, who was speaking at the same time, was commanding him to quit +her presence instantly, or suffer her to reach the bell; but when he +mentioned quitting England for ever, her voice became less firm. Yet she +persisted in telling him that he must be gone--that she must not incur +the unjust suspicion of having remained at home to receive his highly +improper visit. How soon such commands were obeyed is not precisely +known; when the party however returned from the walks Louisa was alone, +though in manner strange and abstracted, and in a state of agitation so +great, that when requested, as the only one who had not a bonnet to +remove, to make tea, the small bunch of keys fell twice from her +trembling fingers ere she could contrive to open the caddy; while every +other part of the simple ceremony was performed in an equally bungling +and insufficient manner: from all which it seems scarcely more than fair +to infer, that whether the scene concluded in a reconciliation or a last +farewell, the lady had had but little time to compose her nerves between +the departure of her lover and the entrance of her friends. + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + + +Aunt Dorothea had fixed her ball for the evening of the day of Jane's +marriage, that it might be a kind of wedding party; and such had been +the mighty preparations for a day, thus doubly momentous, that what with +selecting and displaying wedding finery--finding out where to hire +cheapest coloured lamps, waiters, and forms--hurrying milliners, and +seeing packing-cases carefully opened--hunting up newly-arrived beaux, +begging evergreens, admiring jewels and new carriages, ordering ices and +rout cake, bargaining with confectioners about a standing supper, and +ordering in some wine; for, as a single lady, she had of course no +cellar; then planning where the said wine had best stand, that it might +not be drank by the waiters instead of the company; and, lastly, +considering where to put the music, that it might be heard by the +dancers, without taking up room; that, as Sarah said, when dressing her +mistress for the great occasion, "It was surprising that she had a foot +to stand on at last." The feet were a little swollen, it must be +confessed, which obliged her, so Sarah, in support of her assertion to +that effect told Mrs. Johnson, to snip the binding of her new white +satin shoes. + +She had got on wonderfully however; had gone to church with the wedding +party--been of great assistance to Lady Arden in getting through the +public breakfast; seen the happy couple off; helped to send away +packages of cake and gloves; refused to dine at her sister-in-law's, on +the plea of all she had to do at home; eat a mutton chop in her +bed-room, the dining-room being already occupied by the standing supper, +the drawing-room by a great step-ladder, and two workmen hanging a hired +lamp from the centre of the ceiling; the spare bed-room with card +tables, the bed being taken down; and lastly, the dressing-room being +fitted up with the already mentioned evergreens, as a grotto for the +refreshments. The mode in which they were here arranged was Mrs. +Dorothea's happiest invention, and one on which she greatly prided +herself. + +At the upper end of the grotto was erected a pile of real ornamental +rock-work, which had been brought in on purpose from the garden. Between +the crevices of the rocks were stuck all manner of flowers and flowering +shrubs; at the top of the heap, on a large space purposely made level, +were placed a well-known common kind of dessert dishes, of green china, +in the shape of large leaves, and on those dishes moulds turned out of +different coloured ices, resembling so many painted specimens of +variegated spars and marbles; while among and around all were scattered +rout cakes in abundance, which formed a very tolerable imitation of +pebbles, shells, and mosses. The grotto was furnished with rustic seats +and a rustic table, also borrowed from the garden; and on the table lay +a supply of the small leaves, or small plates, of the said green china +dessert set, with spoons, of course; so that, as Aunt Dorothea said, the +gentlemen must be very stupid if they could not take the hint, and help +their partners to a spoonful of marble or spar, and a few pebbles or +shells, as taste should direct. There was very little fear, however, of +mistake or oversight; for the grotto was Mrs. Dorothea's hobby, so that +she not only showed almost every couple the way to it herself, but +favoured each with geological lectures on the virtues and properties of +all its _natural_ productions. That all might be in perfect keeping, the +only light admitted to this favoured spot, proceeded from a single +ground-glass lamp, of the size and shape of the moon, and so ingeniously +placed among the evergreens, as to bear a respectable resemblance to the +queen of night, rising to view from behind a forest. + +Mrs. Dorothea, by another excellent contrivance, added much to the +effect of her drawing-rooms, which, like those of most watering-place +villas, were on the ground floor, and had French windows. The end one of +these looked directly up one of the public walks, which the proprietors +were in the habit of illuminating on occasion, and which was therefore +provided with lamps. These Mrs. Dorothea had obtained permission to have +lighted, so that the long vista from her open French window, looked very +beautiful; particularly as some of the least prudent of the company +thought fit, between the dancing, to step out and walk up and down. + +It happened to be one of the few very hot summers we are occasionally +blessed with in this country. So that though it was now the middle of +September, the weather was still very sultry, and it was only late at +night that there was any thing like a refreshing coolness in the air. + +Lady Caroline Montague was still so unwell as to keep her room, so that +neither her ladyship nor Lady Palliser were able to come out. This was a +great disappointment to others besides Mrs. Dorothea; it was one, +however, for which Willoughby was fully prepared; for though he had of +course called every day to inquire for Lady Caroline, she had not been +well enough to see even him. The ball was, nevertheless, going off with +great spirit. Being a wedding party, in the first place, gave it +_eclat_; and then Aunt Dorothea had insisted on its being opened by her +favourite Madeline and that far-famed hereditary beau of her own, Mr. +Cameron, whom she was so proud and so pleased to have handed down to her +niece in such high preservation. + +Fate, however, had ordained that Mrs. Dorothea Arden's ball should be +marked by more than one memorable event. + +Louisa, after dancing with Sir James, had also, as she generally did, +danced with Henry Lindsey; who, instead of quitting England, had made +his appearance at Mrs. Dorothea's with a flushed cheek, an angry eye, +and a hurried, absent manner. When the quadrille had concluded, they +were among the _imprudent_ couples who ventured to promenade the +illuminated walk. Henry seemed to think the affair of last night +forgiven or forgotten, for he began in his usual passionate strain to +talk of the fervour of his own attachment, and reproach Louisa with +comparative coldness. + +For the gratification of a culpable vanity, as well as from really +feeling a secret preference for Henry, Louisa had so long listened to +such language as this, and thus authorised him to believe himself +beloved, that she now literally knew not how to pacify him; although she +was far from having made up her mind to sacrifice, either to his +feelings or her own, the title and brilliant establishment which still +awaited her acceptance, if she could but bring herself to take the +advice of her friends, and marry his brother. + +Henry could not be blind to what were the wishes of Louisa's family; and +he had of late had many reasons, besides the acceptance of the bracelet, +to suspect that she herself hesitated. The idea drove him almost mad. +The interview of last night, though it had convinced him of his power +over Louisa when present, had by no means silenced his fears as to what +she might be persuaded to do or to promise in his absence; he had +determined, therefore, to bring matters to a crisis. He besought her, +with all the eloquence of which he was master, to end his suspense, and +pronounce his doom. She hesitated--she knew she should never be +permitted to marry Henry; and thinking that she had already indulged too +long in an idle flirtation, a foolish preference that must end in +nothing, she confessed at last how much it was her mother's wish that +she should marry Sir James. Henry lost all self-command; overwhelmed her +with reproaches; raved at her perfidy, her cruelty; and after working +himself up to a perfect phrenzy, threatened to put a period to his +existence that very night--that very hour, and before her eyes. + +As his agitation increased, his step quickened, till it was almost +impossible for Louisa to keep pace with him; while, as the interest of +the conversation deepened, he led her first as much apart from the other +couples as possible, and finally, turning short round a corner, quitted +the general promenade altogether. He then, with his really alarmed +companion, entered a cross walk, which was shrouded in almost total +obscurity, except that at the furthest point of its long and +unfrequented vista, one solitary lamp glimmered, as if but to make the +surrounding gloom more apparent. + +Louisa's terror was now extreme: she felt certain that he had dragged +her to this gloomy spot to witness, as he had declared she should, the +horrible act of suicide he was about to commit. + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + + +Arrived about midway in the long dark walk, Henry at length paused. What +with agitation and the quickness of his pace, he seemed himself +exhausted, while Louisa, faint with alarm and fatigue, was no longer +able to stand unassisted, much less to walk. There was no seat near, he +was obliged to support her by an arm round her waist. She leaned her +head on his shoulder and sobbed hysterically. His resentment now gave +way to tenderness. Her alarm could only be for his safety--the thought +soothed his chafed spirit--he whispered the fondest expressions of +endearment mingled with incoherent apologies for his violence. He +ascribed all his faults, as he had done on the evening before, to love +and jealousy. When the bare possibility, he said, of loosing her but +crossed his imagination, he was no longer an accountable being--he +should be ranked with the veriest madman in bedlam! She only sighed in +reply, but it was a sigh from which no lover could fail to derive +encouragement, nor did it falsely report what was passing in the bosom +whence it came. The ardour of Henry's manner, assisted by her late fears +for his safety, had driven all prudential considerations from her +thoughts, reduced the vanities of wealth to a mere puppet-show, and for +the moment at least made all the bliss of earth seem concentrated in the +enthusiastic devotion and actual presence of such a lover. Encouraged by +the tremulous tenderness of her sigh, and the gentle quiescence of her +manner, Henry ventured to whisper that his leading her from the +frequented walk was not altogether accidental, but that driven to +distraction by alternate hopes and fears, he had that evening determined +at all hazards to make one desperate effort to secure a happiness that +it was intoxication even to think of, and would be phrensy to lose--that +he had consequently taken the daring step of having a carriage in +waiting, which was now not many yards distant. He then entreated her +with all the eloquence of wildly excited passion, instead of resenting +his audacity to end the cruel doubts which had thus stung him to +madness, and fly with him at once. + +"I must not, Henry!" she exclaimed, "indeed I must not--I must not," she +repeated. But in fluttering broken accents of tenderness and joy, so +encouraging, that the arm which was still round her waist, continued the +while with a gentle violence propelling her forward; and so light, so +willing, though tremulous were her steps, that the tiny white sattin +slippers, twinkling like little stars, scarcely touched the earth. + +"Oh! Henry, dear Henry, my mother will be so grieved--my brothers will +be so angry! Let us go back--and I will promise you to--to--." But she +faltered. + +"Never, Louisa, will I trust you out of my sight again, till by the +sacred name of wife you are mine for ever!" + +The passionate tone of voice in which this was uttered sank into +whispers of tenderness. Louisa attempted no reply, but all her remaining +scruples vanished, and recklessness of consequences came over her: the +whole of life seemed comprised in the present moment--the whole world +seemed to contain but herself and her lover. A chariot and four was now +visible outside a gateway which they were approaching. They glided +through the portals, and Louisa suffered Henry to assist her into the +carriage. He sprang in after her--the door was closed--"All right," said +Henry's man, though begging his pardon it was all very wrong, and off +set the horses at their full speed. + +It was some weeks before Louisa remembered the gifts of fortune she had +resigned, or Henry thought with painful misgivings of the meditated +abandonment of him and his love, which he had so strongly suspected +before he had been driven to take the violent step we have just +described. + +What will Tommy Moor say to this, after having declared that +_sweetbriar_ is the safest fence for the "Garden of Beauty;" nay, that +there is more security in it than in the guardianship of that unamiable +duenna, the "Dragon of Prudery, placed within call." + +Now, every one knows that the Cheltenham walks are hedged with +sweetbriar. Perhaps Louisa Arden, not being a daughter of the Emerald +Isle, may account for "that wild sweetbriary fence" which the poet has +pronounced their characteristic barrier, not proving effectual in her +case. But to return to our ball. + +"I wonder which room Miss Louisa is in," said Sir James to Lady Arden; +"I have been looking in all the rooms for her, and I can't find her." + +"I hope she is not gone into that foolish lit-up walk," replied her +ladyship, looking rather anxiously towards the window. "I am afraid it +will give all the young people cold." + +"I never thought of that," said Sir James, bustling off. + +"I wonder what is become of Louisa," said Mrs. Dorothea, coming up to +Lady Arden. "Sir James," she added, calling after the retreating +baronet, "do bring Louisa here; I want another couple for this quadrille +in the next room." + +"Oh, yes, I'll bring her if I can find her," said the little man, "but I +don't know where she is." + +"Where can Louisa be?" said Madeline. + +"In the ball-room, I suppose," replied Mr. Cameron. "They were in the +refreshment-room." + +"Where can Louisa be?" asked Alfred, who was in the ball-room, "my aunt +is looking for her." + +"In the refreshment-room, I suppose," replied the person questioned. + +"What can have become of Louisa?" asked Willoughby, looking round the +supper-room. "My aunt wants her." + +"Is she not in the ball-room?" said Geoffery. + +"No, I have just come from thence." + +"Nor in the refreshment-room." + +"I have not looked there," and away went Willoughby. + +In came poor Sir James, looking very silly. + +"She is not there," he said, addressing Geoffery. + +"Who?" + +"Why, Miss Louisa, she promised to dance the next set with me, and I +can't find her any where." + +"But where have you been looking for her, Sir James?" asked Geoffery, +who never missed an opportunity of quizzing the little baronet. + +"I looked in all the rooms first, and now I have been to the far end of +the lighted walk, up one side and down the other, and I can't find her +anywhere." + +"But did you not try any of the dark walks?" + +"I never thought of that, but I don't think she'd go there." + +"She must be somewhere, Sir James; you say she is not in any of the +rooms, nor in the lighted walk, therefore, she must be in one of the +dark ones!" + +Sir James, looking innocently convinced by the force of this logic, +replied, "Well, I'll go and see," and turned to depart. + +"But you can't see in the dark; had you not better take a lantern?" + +"I never thought of that," he replied, and making the best of his way +into the hall, he asked every servant and waiter who crossed his path +for a lantern to look for Miss Louisa. They all stared at him in turn, +and seemed more likely to stumble over him in their bustle, than either +to comprehend or grant his request. At length he perceived Sarah in the +back ground, filling her office, as warden of cloaks and boas, and +tossed off for the occasion in a net fly cap, quite on the back of her +head, to display her innumerable curls; and decorated with bows of pink +ribbon full a quarter of a yard long, made stiff with wire in the +inside, to give them an enviable resemblance to horns. By her assistance +he obtained the illuminator used by Mrs. Dorothea when she was returning +home on foot from evening parties; and thus provided, set forth on his +voyage of discovery. He was secretly followed at a certain distance by +Geoffery and a knot of wags, who concealed themselves behind trees and +shrubs, and when Sir James, holding up the light at the entrance to each +dark avenue would cry, "Are you there, Louisa?" they would answer +simultaneously in all directions, and in feigned voices of course, "Yes, +I am here----" till our puzzled little baronet would stand, looking now +before him--now behind him--now on the one side--now on the other, +literally not knowing which way to turn, to the infinite amusement of +his hidden tormentors, to whom he was, with his lantern, a conspicuous +object, whilst they, in their various dark retreats, were invisible to +him. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + + +It is scarcely necessary to observe, that Sir James's researches proved +fruitless. + +By the time he returned to the house the alarm was becoming serious. +Indeed it was beginning to be an ascertained thing, not only that Louisa +was missing, but that Henry Lindsey had also disappeared, which latter +circumstance afforded a solution of the young lady's absence by no means +agreeable to her family. The news spread quickly, and every one was +looking amazingly amused, except they happened to meet the eye of Lady +Arden or Mrs. Dorothea, when they thought it necessary to quench their +smiles; and if they were particular friends, add a few inches to the +length of their faces. + +It was now very late, and the rooms were thinning fast, though many were +induced to delay their departure by the spur and zest which so fair an +opportunity of making ill-natured comments had given to conversation. +Yet who can say that we do not live in a good-natured considerate world, +when we can assert, as an incontestable fact, that poor little Sir +James, as soon as it was whispered about that his intended bride had +gone off with his brother, received the sweetest possible smiles from +several young ladies, who had scarcely taken any notice of him ever +since his engagement had been generally known. What but the most +generous compassion for the forsaken baronet could have dictated so +sudden a change of manner. + +Had it not been for this untoward accident, Mrs. Dorothea would have +insisted on setting up another and another quadrille, _ad infinitum_; +for the pride of a dance is in how late you can keep it up, however +tired of it host and hostess, chaperons, musicians, and dancing +gentlemen may be; as to young ladies, they are never tired of dancing, +except they _don't dance_. + +Mrs. Dorothea, however, now courteseyed to her retreating guests with an +anxious countenance, and an absent manner, without making any attempt to +dissuade them from _running away_, as she would have designated their +departure, but for the real _run away_, which caused her very serious +uneasiness: first on her niece's account, and secondly on her own; for +she was mortified beyond expression to think that her grand party, which +had cost her so much trouble, and would cost her so much money, should +have been so sadly broken up. + +She need not however, good lady, so far as her party was concerned, have +afflicted herself; for it was pronounced the next day to have been so +enlivened by the elopement that it was quite delightful. + +Willoughby and Alfred, having ascertained that a chariot and four, the +horses' heads to the east, had been seen driving off from the Montpelier +gates the night before at a furious rate, set out in pursuit on the road +thus indicated. They soon, however, lost all traces of the fugitives, +and after an absence of two or three days, returned to Cheltenham. Lady +Arden had by this time received a letter announcing the marriage, and +begging pardon, and so forth. There was therefore nothing more to be +done, and Willoughby accordingly repaired to Lady Palliser's, to inquire +after the health of Caroline. As he crossed the little lawn, he observed +great ladders set up against the front of the house, and persons within +and without apparently employed in cleaning the windows. The hall door +was open, and a slatternly looking woman, not the least like a servant, +on the steps, washing them down and rubbing them white with a stone. He +knocked, and another woman, who was crossing the hall at the moment, +armed with a broom and a duster, threw them aside, came forward, and +asked him if he was wanting the lodgings. "They will not be quite ready +for coming into before twelve o'clock to-morrow," she continued, without +waiting for a reply; then fancying that Willoughby looked disappointed, +she added, "If you're particular about coming in to-night, sir, I'll set +more hands to work, and see what can be done; but the family only left +this morning, and they kept so many servants, that there is no saying +all there's to do after them; for as for servants, as I _sais_, they +always makes more work than three masters, or their mistresses either, +which was the cause why I was endeavouring to assist a little myself +just with dusting the book-shelves." + +"Has Lady Palliser then left Cheltenham, or only changed her house?" +asked Willoughby. + +"Oh, left Cheltenham, sir. Her ladyship was not likely to change from my +house while she staid, if it had been seven years. Indeed, situation and +all, where could she be so well, except it were next door, which also +belongs to me. Sixteen guineas a week, sir, is the lowest farthing I can +take! Indeed they should have been twenty, but you seem such a nice +civil spoken gentleman that----" + +"Thank you," interrupted Willoughby, "I don't want the house; it was +Lady Palliser I was inquiring for." + +"And where were your eyes that you didn't see the bill on the window; as +if I'd nothing to do but stand talking to you!" and away she flounced. + +During Caroline's protracted illness, Willoughby had had some +uncomfortable misgivings; not that he had confessed his feelings even to +himself, yet he had thought that during convalescence, he might have +been permitted to see a lady to whom he now considered himself +betrothed. True, he had frequently been admitted, and been received very +graciously by Lady Palliser; and on such occasions he had tried to feel +satisfied with the excuse that Caroline had not yet been able to quit +her room. He had addressed to Caroline very many and very tender _billet +doux_; to all of which he had received very gracious and encouraging +replies, though written by Lady Palliser, to spare, as he supposed, the +invalid the fatigue of being her own amanuensis. This was all perfectly +proper, yet though he told himself so again and again, he could not help +feeling that some more direct communication would be much more +satisfactory. + +So sudden a recovery as was implied by this journey, undertaken too +during the few days of his absence, seemed so strange, that every +painful feeling was instantly increased tenfold. Yet he knew not what to +apprehend; suspense, however, becoming wholly intolerable, he resolved +to set out immediately for ----shire. + +He did so within an hour, but without communicating any of his doubts or +fears even to Alfred. As soon as Willoughby had set off, Alfred also +hastened to quit Cheltenham, where every object, and every circumstance, +which used formerly to yield him delight, was fraught with the most +miserable associations. + +He went to Arden; nor could he have chosen a better retreat: for the +instantaneous effect of a sight of its well-known scenes was for a time +to give to the feelings and affections of childhood and boyhood a most +salutary preponderance over the newer and more vivid, but far less +uniformly happy sensations of the last few months. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + + +Lady Arden, about the same time, set out for her house in town, +accompanied by Madeline, her only remaining daughter. Mrs. Dorothea, +thus left alone, began to ponder on the prudential step of breaking up +an establishment, which she found much too expensive for her means--more +so, infinitely, than she had anticipated. For it so happened, that her +maid-of-all-work cook, whom she took with the house, was one of a set, +who not being sufficiently reputable to get places in private families, +are frequently employed by speculators in furnished houses, to take +charge of the same when vacant, living on their wits the while, and on +their lodgers when they can get them. Moreover she belonged to a club +for supplying servants out of place with broken meat. Poor Mrs. +Dorothea, therefore, was sadly puzzled about the consumption in her +kitchen. At last she ventured to consult her confidential abigail, +Sarah. + +Servants, however, though they had been pulling caps five minutes +before, always stand by each other in the grand common cause--defence of +extravagance! Sarah, therefore, assuming an expression of countenance, +in which sauciness and sulkiness were combined, replied, + +"You can't expect to be much of a judge, ma'am, not being used to +housekeeping; I'm sure I never see no waste; but people must have enough +to eat of something." + +"I am far from wishing any person under _my_ roof not to have sufficient +to eat," replied Mrs. Dorothea, with offended dignity, "but I certainly +expected of you, Sarah, that you would not see me imposed upon by +lodging-house servants." + +"I never seen you imposed upon, ma'am; but you seem to forget that +you've got a man now to feed. Where there is a man, there's no end to +the consumption; in particular butcher's meat, and they will have it. +It's no place of mine, however, to see the larder, and I am not a going +to get myself mobbed, meddling with other servants." + +Sarah was ordered to leave the room, and send the cook. There had been a +shoulder of mutton at the table the day before, in which Mrs. Dorothea +had made the usual first gash with the carving-knife, intending to help +herself, but changed her mind; the meat had, of course, separated a +little, as in a shoulder it always does. + +"You have the cold mutton for your own dinners," commenced Mrs. +Dorothea: the servants dined some hours before she did. + +"The mutton, ma'am!" repeated Jones, such was the cook's name, "I +believe John picked the bone for his breakfast: but, really, the joint +was so severely cut in the parlour that I didn't think it worth looking +after." + +Mrs. Dorothea explained; but jerks of the chin were all the satisfaction +she could obtain. + +Jones's blotted account of the last sovereign she had had for small +expenses was given in. + +Mrs. Jones would have made a good M. P., for her hand was as illegible +as it was large. The first item in the account certainly seemed to be a +bag of ground salt for the bird. The canary having been added to the +establishment only the beginning of the last week, Mrs. Dorothea was +obliged to enquire what this meant. + +"Groundsel, ma'am, for the bird; I paid a boy for gathering some, you +can't get people to do things for nothing." This was not the only +expense the bird had occasioned--he was the alleged cause of a great +additional consumption in many things: eggs for boiling hard, bread for +crumbling into his tea, white sugar for sticking between the wires of +his cage, &c. &c. &c.; while there was a charge for bird-seed every +second day, half a pound each time. So much for the bird. The charge for +soap had always been enormous, but this week it was twice as much as +usual. Mrs. Dorothea remonstrated: "You told me," she said, "that the +reason you had used so much soap hitherto, was, that there were so few +glass towels, that you were obliged to wash them continually; I got a +dozen new ones accordingly, and here is more soap than ever charged." + +"It stands to reason, ma'am, where there is more linen, it must take +more soap to wash it," answered Jones, with the coolest effrontery +possible; and having, of course, no change to return out of the +sovereign, she retired to the kitchen, to pronounce her mistress the +_most meanest_ lady she had ever met with--indeed no lady at all; to +grudge people the mouthfuls of meat they had earned, and the poor bird +its two or three seeds; but what was worse than all, she wouldn't have +them to wash their hands, for fear of using a bit of soap. + +"Considering the difference a canary bird has made," thought Mrs. +Dorothea, "it is a fortunate circumstance that I was not persuaded to +add an errand-boy to my establishment, as Jones so much wished." Jones, +by some sort of accident, happened to have a son of eight or nine years +old, whom, of course, she wished to see provided for. + +If one could but afford it, proceeded Mrs. Dorothea, I don't know a +greater luxury than the peace of allowing oneself to be plundered +without seeming to see it. Mrs. Dorothea had had so much experience of +the discomforts of lodgings, that she had entertained some thoughts of +trying a boarding-house; indeed she had dined at one, one day of the +last week, by way of seeing how she should like the kind of thing; but +the company had been so different from the refined society she had been +living among lately at Lady Arden's, that she had felt quite +uncomfortable. Her neighbour on one side had entertained the party in a +loud, almost angry voice, the whole time of dinner, with accounts of +accidents on rail-roads; she heard afterwards that he was a great holder +of canal shares. Her neighbour on her other hand had quite disgusted +her, by eating of every dish at table; at the same time that he had made +her laugh, by mentioning to her, in confidence, as a sort of apology for +his gluttony, that never having been much out of his own part of the +country before, he wished while in such a fine new fangled place to get +all the insight into the world he could. And after all, if eating a +certain number of dinners give a knowledge of the law, why should not +eating a certain number of dishes give a knowledge of the world. + +After this essay Mrs. Dorothea had given up the idea of a +boarding-house. She had even began to turn her thoughts again towards +her old lodging with the good carpet. Winter was now coming on and the +heat of the oven would no longer be an objection. And she could stand +out for the sofa, and the key to the chiffonier, and the drops to the +chimney-lights, before she went into the lodging at all. To be sure the +new carpet, that had made the room look so respectable, might be getting +faded by this time; she would step in, however the next day and see how +it looked, and inquire what the set could be had for during the winter +months. As she formed this resolve a vague remembrance of past +annoyances came over her mind, producing a sense of the utmost +dreariness. + +It was getting dusk, for she did not dine till six, and while she sat +looking at the fire the days of her youth returned. She dwelt on the +thoughts of Arden Park, then her home, and of her father's princely +establishment. Now all belonged to her nephew; while she was an outcast, +almost hated, because she could not afford to be cheated; and paying +more than the half of her small income for a single sitting room, not so +good as that in which at Arden her own maid used to sit at needle-work. +At this moment the train of her reflections was interrupted by a voice +of complaint under her window. She looked out. It was raining, but there +was still twilight sufficient to discern a poor creature sitting on the +ground, and looking through the iron railing in at the kitchen-window, +where the light for cooking made the preparations for dinner visible. +The poor woman, was miserably clad! and, from her accent, Irish. She was +eloquently appealing to the compassion of the cook, while she carried in +her hand, as a sort of shield against the vigilance of English +policemen, a bundle of matches to sell, worth perhaps one half-penny. + +"Ye that's warm and well fed yonder, pity the poor crathur could and wet +and hasn't broke her fast this blessed day!" + +The cook's shrill voice was heard in a key of reproof. + +"Oh, mistress," proceeded the mendicant, "but it ill becomes the face +that the fire's shining upon and the mate roasting before, to look round +in anger on the desolate. Sure I wouldn't be troubling you here in the +could this night if I had a hearth or a home of my own to go to!" + +Mrs. Dorothea was struck with compassion for the poor wanderer. She +opened the window, handed her money from it, and ringing the bell +ordered her to have some dinner. "What a cheerful thing fire-light is!" +she thought, as she resumed her seat, unconsciously made happy by the +performance of a good action. She now remembered her late murmuring +thoughts with shame, as she contrasted her own situation with that of +the really destitute and became conscious that the source of her +discontent was not any actual deprivation, but _pride_, a pride too, +fostered into supernatural growth by the constant contemplation of the +wealth and splendour belonging to the head of her own family, "If I +could but afford to retain such a home as this," she thought, "how truly +happy I might think myself. However, the poorest lodging I am at all +likely to get into is a better shelter than many of my fellow creatures +possess; let me not, therefore, murmur!" + +A dapper double rap here startled her from her reverie. "Who could be +calling at so late an hour?" + +A gentleman entered whom Mrs. Dorothea had never seen before. He +apologized for being so late. He had been detained by a client from the +country, and had a journey to perform at an early hour in the morning. +The writings had not been completed till that day, and he feared that +before his return Mrs. Arden might have had the unnecessary trouble of +moving from a house which was now her own freehold property. He then +explained, that by order of Sir Willoughby Arden he had effected the +purchase of the premises, with the fixtures, furniture, &c. &c., every +thing as it stood; and was instructed to present her with the deeds, +which accordingly he did. + +This was, as may be well believed, welcome news to Mrs. Dorothea. She +was thus not only comfortably settled in the home she liked so much, but +rendered for her quite a rich woman; as her income, hitherto so +insufficient, would, now that she was relieved from her heaviest +expense--rent, be ample for all her other wants. + +Willoughby, the most liberal and generous of mortals in money matters, +had frequently heard his sisters talk over Aunt Dorothea's adventures in +lodgings, and lament that she could not afford to keep her nice pretty +house which suited her so well. He had, in consequence given the orders +we have just seen executed, and from a feeling of delicacy had said +nothing of his kind intentions, which had thus invested the transaction +with the character of an agreeable surprise. + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + + +While Willoughby is travelling towards Lady Palliser's, or rather Lady +Caroline Montague's magnificent country seat, we shall endeavour to +account for some of those contradictory circumstances and +inconsistencies of manner which to him seemed so unaccountable; or +rather for which he was so unwilling to account by that solution which +yet pressed itself upon his judgment as most probable. + +Caroline, though from her extreme timidity the worst of actresses, had +yet ventured to form a vaguely conceived plan, for the execution of +which she hoped one time or other to summon courage. In the mean while, +perhaps unconsciously, the thoughts which were passing in her mind +affected her manners, and sometimes even the expression of her +countenance, and thus led to the most fatal misconstruction of her +sentiments. Her total ignorance of the world, too, occasioned by that +want of communication with any one older than herself already mentioned, +as one of the evil results of her mother's harsh and heartless system of +education, rendered tenfold the dangers of her difficult situation. + +Lady Palliser had informed her daughter that she meant to marry her to +Sir Willoughby Arden. Caroline's attempt to remonstrate had been +silenced, as usual, with the most tyrannical violence. What was to be +done?--poor Caroline felt quite unequal to open opposition: she had +recourse accordingly to the dangerous expedient alluded to. She resolved +to make a friend of Sir Willoughby; and the first time that by a +declaration of his sentiments he gave her an opportunity of speaking on +such a subject, to cast herself on his compassion, and entreat him to +withdraw his addresses, without making it known to her mother that she +had rejected him. This it was which gave to her manner that gentle +acquiescence in his attentions, and especially that willingness to +listen, which it is impossible to define, but which is, above all +things, encouraging to a lover. And this it was which at Lady Arden's +ball had produced the scene of misunderstanding, from which Willoughby +re-appeared in the dancing room with a countenance so delighted. The +interview in the veranda had commenced by some lover-like speeches, +which, while they could not be misunderstood, did not absolutely call +for reply: and Caroline, unwilling to seem too ready to comprehend, +became uneasy and anxious, but yet did not speak. The ardour of +Willoughby's manner increased; more than once Caroline moved her lips to +commence her difficult task, but no sound proceeded from them; while +every moment she grew more miserably conscious that her silence would +be--must be misconstrued. At length, by way of exordium, she murmured a +few scarcely audible words, thanking him for his flattering preference; +but what she wished to add required so much courage--so much +explanation, that she knew not how to proceed. She faltered, and became +silent; and while striving to find words in which to recommence, she +suffered so intensely from the tumult of her agitation, that she lost +much of the purport of the enthusiastic declarations of attachment which +Willoughby was now pouring forth. When he began, however, to talk of his +gratitude for the favourable hearing she had granted him, she felt the +necessity of speaking, and in fearful trepidation commenced: "The--the +confidence I--I am about to place in--in you, Sir Willoughby----" + +"Will never be abused by me," he exclaimed, with fervour. + +"I--I fear--" she recommenced, colouring, stammering, and withdrawing +her hand gently, but in the utmost confusion. At this moment several +other couples, who seemed to have just discovered the veranda, entered +from different windows almost simultaneously. + +"May I then call to-morrow morning?" said Willoughby, in a hasty +whisper, "and be permitted to----" + +"Yes; but speak to me alone!" she replied, resolving that to-morrow she +would make the painful explanation, now more than ever necessary. It was +on their returning to the dancing-room at this juncture, that Alfred had +remarked the delighted expression of Willoughby's countenance. + +The last injunction of Caroline, to speak to her alone, sounded odd; but +surely it was kind and encouraging. The whole interview, in short, +amounted to as favourable a reception of his now fully declared passion +as he could desire. In the course of the evening he found an opportunity +in an aside conversation with Lady Palliser, of expressing his rapturous +hopes, and alluding to the visit he was to pay by permission on the next +morning. + +The ball concluded--the morning arrived--and Lady Palliser at breakfast +told her daughter that she was happy to find from Sir Willoughby, that +she had shown a proper sense of obedience, in accepting the offer of his +hand, which he had made her the evening before. + +Poor Caroline's attempt at manoeuvring was thus entirely defeated. She +had, as we have stated, resolved to entreat Sir Willoughby, by +withdrawing his addresses apparently of his own accord, to shelter her +from the rage of her mother; but she was quite unprepared for taking +herself an active part in the deception, and maintaining that part by +bold and decided falsehood: completely thrown off her guard, she +exclaimed with fervour, "Oh no, no! he has entirely misunderstood me; I +feared he had, but I have not accepted him--I never can--I never will +accept him!" + +"Do you dare assert that you will not obey my commands?" said Lady +Palliser, rising, and assuming that fierceness of aspect before which +our heroine habitually trembled. + +Caroline sunk on her knees, and promising never to listen to any one of +whom her mother did not approve, only intreated permission to remain +single. + +Lady Palliser was well aware that her daughter might at her leisure +command many much more splendid matches than the one now in agitation; +but in the first place she was determined, from the spirit of tyranny, +to be obeyed; added to which there was a second motive, which though too +contemptible to be confessed even to herself, had no doubt a certain +influence on her present conduct. + +The time had been when the loveliness of the infant, held on the knee +purposely for effect, had added interest to the matured and lustrous +charms of the beautiful mother: but now that mother and daughter had +become two distinct objects, and that the eye of the beholder not +unfrequently passed with hasty indifference over the still striking +countenance of the former, to pause in evident delight on the fresher +charms of the latter, an irksome sense of secret mortification +incessantly assailed Lady Palliser. In childhood she had treated +Caroline with harshness, from the united effect of a worthless nature, +and a mistaken plan of education; but now the constant proximity of one +who was the innocent cause of the diminution of those triumphs which had +hitherto formed the sole charm of her existence, was becoming irksome to +her; and awaking feelings closely allied to angry aversion! And +therefore it was though, as we have said, she would have blushed to have +confessed it to her own heart, that her ladyship was impatient to rid +herself of annoyances such as these; of, in short, the meek unconscious +rival who was, notwithstanding, the only being that had ever disputed +with her the reign of vanity she had so long enjoyed, and even still +felt that she recovered whenever she appeared in public without her +daughter. For it must be allowed that her ladyship's beauty was at the +very time of which we speak, still of so striking and splendid a +character, that it lost little by comparison with any loveliness but +that of Caroline, whose similarity of feature seemed to render the +advantageous dissimilarities of extreme youth and infinite superiority +of expression peculiarly conspicuous. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + + +Lady Palliser was inexorable, and Willoughby's knock being heard, while +our heroine was still at her feet, she commanded her to retire to her +own apartment and remain there till prepared to render implicit +obedience to her commands. + +The lover on his entrance was told with the sweetest smiles imaginable, +that Caroline had taken cold the evening before, and was unable to leave +her room. He was, however, encouraged to make known his sentiments and +his wishes to Lady Palliser, who both accepted his proposals on the part +of her daughter, and in the most gracious manner possible pronounced her +own approval of his suit. Then followed the arrangement respecting the +visit to ----shire, and the tour on the continent, &c. mere manoeuvres +of her ladyship's to gain time, in case Caroline should prove +untractable. + +All this, it may be remembered, Willoughby mentioned to his brother on +his return from his morning visit already described. His not having seen +Caroline herself, however, he suppressed; he felt he knew not why, an +insuperable objection to mention the circumstance; not that he deduced +from it at the time a doubt of his happiness, of which he felt he +thought perfectly secure. He longed, it is true, for evening, and could +not help thinking that his felicity would be still more complete when +his fate had been pronounced by Caroline's own lips; yet surely the +night before in the veranda she had accepted him quite as explicitly as +young ladies generally do. His disappointment again that evening annoyed +him very much; and during our heroine's protracted illness, the anxiety +it was natural he should feel respecting her state of health, was +mingled at times with gloomy apprehensions, which had yet another and a +more agitating source. + +At length he left Cheltenham as we have seen for Montague House. His +last interview with our heroine herself was that already described as +having taken place in the veranda on the night of Lady Arden's ball. + +The secret of Caroline having never since been visible, was, that she +still continued to resist Lady Palliser's tyrannical commands, while her +ladyship, astonished at conduct so unparalleled, on the part of her +hitherto submissive child, and unaccustomed to be baffled, was more than +ever determined that she should finally yield. + +Accordingly she had put off the lover from day to day with promises and +excuses which yet she scarcely expected him to believe, and with which +in fact she cared very little after all, whether he was or was not +satisfied, being with her usual whimsical inconsistency fully prepared, +whenever he refused to play _blind-man's-bluff_, as she called it, any +longer, to laugh excessively and turn the whole affair into an excellent +jest. In the mean time she derived quite as much gratification from the +amusement of quizzing Willoughby, as from the prospect of tyrannizing +over her daughter. + +For it was a part of Lady Palliser's character, which was as absurd as +it was worthless, to think it exceedingly witty to succeed in deceiving +any body, though by the gravest, and therefore of course the dullest lie +imaginable: we mean in the April-fool style, not vulgar business +lying--that would have been out of her line. + +On Willoughby's arrival at Montague House, Lady Palliser, though +scarcely able to keep her countenance, attempted to carry on the farce +by saying, that she had removed her daughter in the hope that change of +air might prove beneficial, but that she was still unable to leave her +room. This went on for a day or two, during which her ladyship, more +than ever anxious to carry her point, because now getting tired of the +business, treated the still inflexible Caroline with great harshness. +The third morning, a female servant, who had evidently watched her +opportunity, entered with great caution the breakfast-room where +Willoughby was alone, and handing him a letter vanished again. He read +the epistle, turned deadly pale, gasped for breath, read it again, rose, +paced the apartment, stopped, looked wildly round him, threw open a +window, the room being on the ground floor, and rushed into the lawn. It +is difficult to say what he might have done, or whither directed his +steps, had he not perchance encountered his groom, who had been +exercising his horses and was bringing them home. + +With a vague idea that it was necessary to affect perfect composure, +Willoughby waved to the man to stop, and his signal being obeyed, walked +quietly to the side of the led horse, and laying his hand on its neck, +raised a foot as if with the intention of mounting; the absence of the +stirrup however rendering the movement abortive, he stood for a moment +looking confused. + +"Shall I saddle him, sir?" enquired the groom. + +"Do," replied Willoughby, with the air of one relieved from a great +embarrassment, and walking on as he spoke. + +"Where will you please to mount, sir?" asked the servant, following a +step or two, with his hand to his hat. + +After a few moments employed in recalling ideas, which had evidently +already gone forth on some far distant execution, Willoughby answered, +"Any where." + +John, as the best mode in his judgment, of obeying commands so far from +explicit, returned to the stable, exchanged the body cloths of the +animals for the saddles, and following in the direction he had seen his +master take, soon overtook him, walking slowly on the side of the road, +with his arms folded, and his head uncovered. John had before observed +that Willoughby was without his hat, and had been thoughtful enough to +bring it with him. He now presented it, then held the horse; Willoughby +put on the hat, mounted the animal and rode on, followed by John, +without a word being spoken on either side: nor was it till they had +performed one stage of their journey towards Arden, and were lodged at +an inn, that John ventured so far to obtrude himself upon the evident +abstraction of his master, as to enquire if they were going home. He +received an answer in the affirmative; on which he made bold to ask +further, whether Sir Willoughby had left orders with the other servants +to follow with the carriage, &c. To this enquiry he received a reply, +first in the negative, then in the affirmative, and again finally in the +negative. + +On which he begged permission to dispatch a line to the coachman +himself. He stood ten minutes without obtaining any answer, and then +taking silence for consent, proceeded to do as he had suggested. + +The exertion of mind necessary to comprehend and reply to John's +queries, or even a part of them, seemed to recall Willoughby to some +recollection of the duties he had himself to perform. He must write to +Lady Palliser--he must account for his abrupt departure. That he might +do so in strict compliance with the request contained in the letter of +this morning, he applied himself to the reperusal of the epistle which +had already caused him so much affliction. It was, as our readers have +probably anticipated, from Caroline. Driven to desperation by her +mother's perseverance in her determination of marrying her to Sir +Willoughby, and terrified by her violence, which at every interview +increased, she was at length compelled to conquer all the timid +reluctance she felt to take what to her seemed the boldest of steps, and +address to Sir Willoughby the letter we have seen him receive in so +frantic a manner. + +After a hesitating, and almost unmeaning commencement, consisting of +broken sentences, and awkward apologies, she went on to say: "Yet if I +would avoid calling down upon myself your just resentment, by appearing +in your eyes to be guilty of the most unjustifiable caprice; I must I +fear relate a circumstance which--I have been so unwilling to mention, +that--I have--I know--in consequence--delayed this explanation much too +long. But before your arrival in Cheltenham, before ever our +acquaintance had even commenced, I had promised to--to--accept--the hand +of--of--Mr. Arden, your brother; and though by my mother's positive +command, I was compelled the next day to withdraw that promise, I +cannot--I never can--I am sure too--you will think.--But I know I +express myself very badly--very confusedly, yet I hope you will see--at +least that my being quite--quite unable ever to enter into the +engagements my mother has wished to form for me, does not proceed from +any caprice or change of mind on my part, or any want of gratitude for +the flattering regard with which you have so kindly honoured me. + +"What I now entreat of your compassion is, that you who have nothing to +fear from my mother's anger, would generously interpose yourself between +me and a storm, before the very thought of which I tremble till my hand +can scarcely hold the pen with which I attempt to write. + +"I know I ought to have made this explanation long since, but a foolish, +a culpable fearfulness, made me ever ready to believe no opportunity a +fitting one. At Lady Arden's ball I did attempt it, but we were +interrupted; so that I only made things much worse. I was so confused +too, I was glad of the respite. I thought I could say what I have now +written, when you should call the next morning;--but on that occasion my +mother interfered, and has never since allowed me to see you." + +On finishing Caroline's letter for the second time, Willoughby, in a +sort of desperation, wrote a hurried scrawl to Lady Palliser, towards +whom he felt strong resentment for the deception she had practised. His +epistle was written in strange incoherent language, but its general +purport was that he considered himself trifled with in having been so +long debarred from seeing Lady Caroline Montague; and in consequence, +begged leave to withdraw his addresses finally. Nor was the truth in +this much disguised, for he felt that had he been permitted to see +Caroline from the first he should much sooner have been undeceived. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + + +With a trembling hand, and apparently in the utmost haste, Willoughby +folded and sealed the letter he had just finished; and without allowing +himself one moment for reflection, rang and ordered the person who +appeared to take it to the post-office immediately. + +As the door closed, however, after the servant to whom he had given this +command, a sense of terror at having thus himself rendered his fate +irremediable, overwhelmed him; and, with an instinctive impulse, he +grasped at the bell, but immediately flinging it from him, he assumed a +mock composure, and as though there had been some one present before +whom to act a part, with a ghastly sort of smile, seated himself. He had +for some time been almost expecting, though he would not confess it to +his own thoughts, some such blow as this: he had seen, despite every +effort to avert his mental vision from the view, that all could not be +right; and, weary of secret dread--the true definition of that hope +deferred, which maketh the heart sick--he now fancied, for the moment, +that there was a sort of stern satisfaction in knowing that fate had +done its worst. His brain, however, was already beginning to wander; he +was already contemplating, though vaguely, the fatal step which finally +ended his career. He thought of Alfred, and his soul secretly yearned +for the consolation of pouring out all its sorrows into his affectionate +bosom; but _Pride_, under the form of wounded vanity, with a jealous +soreness, shrank from the salutary exposure; while so irritable was the +state of his mind, that the very pleadings of his own heart, for the +balm it longed for, seemed importunate, and were resisted with something +of his characteristic obstinacy. Nay, the pettiest and most contemptible +considerations from time to time blended themselves indistinctly with +his despair, and became, to a certain degree, governing motives of +conduct. + +The story of his former disappointment, and of such recent occurrence +too, he reflected, with a very disproportionate share of uneasiness, +would now be renewed, coupled with the present affair: he should become +a proverb--a byword--an object for the finger of scorn to point at. Then +the wild excitement of the hope with which, despite his fears, he had +with strange inconsistency fed his passion; this was gone, and he could +not endure the void within; while it was upon the brain, the fever +seemed to feed. Whether there was a physical cause for this, such as +Alfred had sometimes feared; or whether the attachment, though violent, +being recently formed, still dwelt more in the imagination than in the +heart, it might be difficult to decide; but the effect on Willoughby was +that some active principle of misery and evil seemed urging him on to a +frantic resistance of his fate; compelling his very pulses to beat at a +maddening pace; causing an alternation of quickened and suspended +breathing, which fatigued him sensibly; and the while presenting to his +imagination, snatches of thoughts, and visions of projects so terrific, +that while they were in fact the effects of incipient insanity, they +became, in their turn, by the fearful excitement they produced, powerful +causes of its future development. There was still an inward struggle, +but it ended fatally. He could not--no, he never would pronounce her +name again! He--in whom else he would have confided every thought--he it +was who was preferred; and, though he could not feel a rival's hatred +towards his kind, his generous, his unoffending brother--no, he did not, +he would not even love him less; but still there was a remembrance that +he was his rival; and with it thoughts, strangely blended, of +littleness, and the wildest, most extravagant generosity. Alfred should +have all--love, wealth, title; and then Lady Palliser could no longer +object; but he must wait--it might be for a few days, perhaps only a few +hours--nay, the sooner the better; why should he live but to cause and +to endure misery? Endure!--did he endure? Can powerlessness to resist +the decrees of fate, while yet the heart and feelings openly and +wilfully rebel against them, be called endurance? Certainly not. But +alas, such rebellion brings with it its own punishment. How often had +Willoughby, while fearing the worst, inwardly vowed that were he indeed +destined to disappointment, he would never survive the blow. Now the +blow had fallen, and though his heart secretly turned towards his +habitual, his earliest, his deepest seated affection, the love he bore +his twin brother, he was pledged, as it were, to resist every gentler +emotion, to embrace despair! and unhappily he did so. + +He would carefully conceal every circumstance, every thought; he would +allow it to be believed, that the preparations for his marriage were +still going forward; nay, he would assume the most exuberant spirits, +and to the last moment of existence preserve his fatal secret. When he +was gone, when he had found a resting-place for his weary spirit in the +grave, Alfred should know all! Reflecting thus, he journeyed on. + +Lady Palliser at first took no notice of Sir Willoughby's sudden +departure. At a late hour in the evening, however, she received his +note. During its perusal she laughed immoderately, then flinging it +towards Caroline, said, "Silly young man! my only object in marrying you +to him was to chastise you for your improper conduct. It has happened, +however, quite as well; for I was getting amazingly tired of the thing. +Let the intended punishment," she added, with returning severity of +manner, "be a lesson to you, that young women in your station, and with +the fortune you will possess, are not to make choice for themselves. +When I choose you to marry, and have decided to whom I shall marry you, +I shall let you know." + +Poor Caroline, how little understood was her position by those, and they +were many, the springs of whose peace were poisoned by envy of her +greatness! Oh _Pride_, bane of human happiness! mingling bitter +mortification in the otherwise palatable cup of humble competency, and +lading with its glittering chains, the slaves on whom it seems to heap +its choicest gifts. + +Caroline, who had apprehended a storm of rage and disappointment, +heightened by, perhaps, some suspicion of the truth, was greatly +relieved; and, though habituated to the unaccountable caprices of her +mother's temper, was somewhat surprised, at the perfect indifference +thus shown by Lady Palliser, respecting her ultimate failure on a point, +to carry which, so violent a determination had previously been +manifested. + +On Willoughby's arrival at Arden, he strained every power of his mind to +hide from his brother the true state of his feelings; and, to a certain +degree, succeeded; his strange manner inducing in Alfred a belief that +it was the immediate prospect of the fulfilment of his wishes, which had +unsettled his intellect; for, that it was to a certain degree unsettled, +this affectionate brother could not help detecting, in the extravagance, +the sometimes almost terrific wildness, of the gaiety assumed by +Willoughby. It is impossible to describe the wretchedness of Alfred, +while with an aching heart, he watched the flushed cheek and flashing +eye of his brother, and listened to the strange unnatural sound of his +laugh. We may say, without in the slightest degree exaggerating the +disinterestedness of our hero, that every thought of self was forgotten, +in the miserable excess of sympathy which the extraordinary +circumstances of others now called forth. It was not only for his +brother, that brother to whom from infancy he had been so tenderly +attached, that he now felt the cruellest apprehensions; but what was +also to be the fate of Caroline, and what would be the misery of their +mother, the sorrow of the whole family, if, indeed, the awful infliction +he had so long dreaded, had at length fallen upon them? + +Or even, were this excitement which now alarmed him so much, to subside +again for the present, how dreadful was the prospect opened by its +having ever assumed so serious a form; and the inconsistency of +Willoughby's conduct and manner, the incoherence of his expressions in +his ill-sustained attempts at conversation, put the fatal truth beyond a +doubt. Yet, were all those symptoms so far to abate, that no eye less +watchful, less practised to watch than his own, could detect the lurking +malady, was it fair, was it honourable, to involve in so frightful a +family affliction, the happiness of a being as yet unconscious of it? +Yet who could, who would, who ought to interfere? Delicacy and all good +feeling for ever forbade that any surmise should proceed from him. Oh +impossible! quite impossible! Fate must roll on, and overwhelm whom it +would, he must be passive! But he was more: instinctively he strove to +conceal from servants, and the few country neighbours whom chance threw +in their way, the hourly increasing infirmity of his brother; treating, +while such were present, his extravagance as hilarity, and every +contradiction and inconsistency as an intended jest; adding thus the +while, by the violent and unnatural contrast to his own secret +sufferings. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + + +Alfred sometimes thought that possibly he ought so far to conquer his +scruples as to write to his mother, and communicate to her, in strict +confidence, his apprehensions respecting the state of Willoughby's mind: +but he might recover after a short period of quiet, and then his mother +might be spared the pang: and he could not, as he had before decided, +even within the bosom of his own family,--he could not, be the +consequence what it might, bring himself to be the first to suggest such +a thought. His mother, of course, would not suspect him of a base desire +to grasp at his brother's birth-right, and of a consequent +quicksightedness in discerning the approaches of this frightful +visitation; but there were those who might so misjudge him. It was, +however, he thought, at least his duty to prepare his mother's mind in +some degree for whatever might be the result, by saying, that he did not +think Willoughby quite well: this, therefore, he did in one or two of +his letters. Yet Willoughby himself made no complaint; and to servants +and occasional visiters appeared to be in particularly good health and +spirits. We remark this now because the comment subsequently becomes +important. + +After a few days, however, Willoughby, like one who had run at full +speed as long as his strength would permit, flagged; his efforts were +first less sustained, then his gaiety became confined to wild bursts of +noisy mirth, while at length whole hours, with a seeming unconsciousness +of the lapse of time, were passed in gloomy abstraction. The bursts of +seeming mirth, however, were always assumed when servants or strangers +were present; the gloom and abstraction given way to only when alone +with his brother. + +Willoughby had always felt, and often expressed, great horror of persons +being opened after death: to this subject he now recurred with a +frequency, and clung to it with a pertinacity quite extraordinary; +adding the most solemn injunctions to Alfred to be the protector of his +remains whenever he should die. + +"You will then be master here," he would say; "every thing will then be +yours; my very body I bequeath to you--I make it your property: do not, +Alfred, I conjure you, suffer the defenceless corse of your poor brother +to be mangled. It would be hard indeed," he would sometimes subjoin, +with a wild ironical laugh, "if a man could not find rest even in the +grave." + +On occasions like these Alfred would sit beside him, and endeavour to +sooth him by every kind and rational argument he could devise; not +unfrequently Willoughby would appear entirely deaf to all that could be +urged; while at other times, he would take Alfred's hand, thank him with +gentle kindliness of manner, and hope that he might yet be as truly +happy as he deserved to be; joining with this latter expression an +earnest and expressive solemnity which almost seemed a blending of +prophecy with the prayer of affection. He often talked of having a +foreboding that he should die young. + +"But why, my dear brother," Alfred would reply, "give way to such +thoughts? Why should you die young? You have no ailment, no care, no +sorrow----" + +"It may be a silly fancy, yet I am possessed with the idea:"--this much +Willoughby said with well-acted carelessness. "My only anxiety in +dying," he added, with a suddenly altered tone, and an inquiring look of +the most mournful tenderness, "is for you, Alfred; I fear you will feel +it severely; but do not!--do not! Why should any one be miserable?--I +shall not be missed, except by you: no selfish happiness, I know, will +enable you entirely to forget me. My mother is kind, very kind; but you +were always her favourite--and that in time will reconcile her--" + +Caroline was in Alfred's thoughts; her name even trembled on his lips, +but he had not courage to give it utterance. + +"You speak wildly," he said, "my dear Willoughby; you not missed! +you--who--who--you who love and are beloved." Willoughby laid his hand +on Alfred's, and looked anxiously in his face for some moments, but +continued silent; at length he moved his lips, as if about to speak; +then pressing his brother's hand, dropped it, and exclaimed, "I +cannot!--I cannot!" An instant after he burst into a passion of tears, +and laying his head on Alfred's shoulder, wept like a child, till +relieved by giving way to his feelings, though completely exhausted, he +seemed to sleep. In a few seconds, however, he started, looked up, and +repeated anxiously once or twice, "What have I been saying, Alfred? what +have I been saying? I think I have been asleep," he added; "but I have +lately got into a strange habit of laying awake the whole night: it is +merely a habit. Sleep is altogether a habit, I think. I don't sleep at +all now, as I tell you; and yet you see I am perfectly well!" + +Alfred looked mournfully at him, and replied, "Would to heaven you were, +Willoughby! Do," he added, anxiously, "let us go to town; you ought to +take some medical advice; if, as you say, you do not sleep, you cannot +be well." + +"Well--I am perfectly well I assure you--shall we ride?" he added, +rising and calling his two beautiful greyhounds that lay on the rug +before the fire: "I wonder, by the by," he continued, "if they have laid +the poison which I ordered for the rats in the stable-lofts; shall we go +out at the back way, and I'll see to it myself." + +Willoughby hurried out, Alfred followed, and heard him inquire with +great precision respecting the poison, and give, in the most rational +manner, precautionary directions against mistakes or accidents in its +use. A servant in reply pointed out a shelf in the saddle-room, where it +lay perfectly apart from all articles of food; and showed both the +gentlemen that the outward paper was, according to a usual and very +proper precaution on the part of druggists and apothecaries, strongly +marked in very large letters--"_Poison, Arsenic_." The characters too, +though done with a pen, were those of print, which made them more +strikingly legible to every eye. + +The brothers now proceeded to ride as Willoughby had proposed; Alfred, +however, could think of nothing but the poison: he had often heard of +the most artful preparations on the part of deranged persons, and he +could not banish the idea that Willoughby had made the particular +inquiries he had just heard with a view to possessing himself of the +arsenic; and he determined, lest this should indeed be the case, that he +would, as soon as he returned to the house, privately take away the +packet from where he had seen it, and put it in some place of security. +If the fearful project of self-destruction did indeed dwell among the +wanderings of his brother's mind, the quiet removal of the means would +not only prevent the immediate execution of his fatal purpose, but might +by possibility change the current of his thoughts into some more +healthful channel. Accordingly, as soon after their return as he could +find a convenient opportunity, he repaired to the said saddle-room, and +not wishing to confide his fears to any one, possessed himself, +unobserved as he supposed, of the paper of arsenic, which he locked up +carefully in his own escritoire, feeling, as he did so, almost a +security, that he had thus for the present, at least, removed one danger +from the reach of his poor brother; for as Willoughby had been scarcely +out of his sight, since they came back from their ride, there was no +reason to fear that the mischief was already done: nor did it indeed +occur to Alfred, when he found the packet laying where he had seen it in +the morning, that without displacing the whole, sufficient for the +purpose he dreaded might have been taken away. + +For the remainder of the day, and especially during dinner, he observed +that Willoughby's manners were more than ever strange and inconsistent; +and that his efforts at gaiety were fewer and worse sustained than on +any former occasion; yet, as long as the servants were present, +extravagant. While, the moment the brothers were alone, there was an +overflow of mournful tenderness, and an expression of the same character +in his countenance which filled Alfred with the most harrowing +sensations. Yet a circumstance had occurred when they were riding, which +had in a great measure allayed his immediate fears, and given his +thoughts too, a somewhat new direction. They had met with a neighbouring +squire who, possessing little either of tact or delicacy, and also +thinking himself privileged as being not only an old man but an old +acquaintance, immediately began to rally Sir Willoughby on the report of +his approaching marriage. + +Willoughby saw that Alfred watched him anxiously; and, being rendered by +the presence of a stranger doubly determined to keep his secret to the +last, he aroused himself to great exertion and replied with astonishing +coolness, at the same time admitting the fact of his intended marriage, +that the event to which the squire alluded was not to take place so +immediately as he seemed to imagine, for that previously to his becoming +a benedict he was to join his friends at Paris, and proceed with them on +a tour which would occupy some months. + +The old gentleman at parting commended him for showing Lady Anne +Armadale so soon how little he thought of her, and congratulated him on +the great superiority of his present choice, both in beauty and fortune. +The gloom and abstraction of Willoughby after this was so marked that it +suggested to Alfred the possibility of his not having yet conquered his +first attachment, and of his having entered into his present engagement +more out of pique than preference. How strange and absorbing for a time +were the speculations occasioned by such a surmise, while some of them +were calculated almost to reawaken selfish regrets, yet were these again +checked by the appalling thought that such a supposition strengthened +his worst fears; contending emotions were more likely seriously and +permanently to unsettle the mind than the excitement, however great, of +a successful attachment; at least, to suppose such a cause, it was +necessary to take for granted a predisposition stronger than there was, +perhaps, sufficient grounds to believe did exist. + +That disease however, was present, whatever the cause, there could be no +doubt; and Alfred firmly resolved, therefore, if he could not the very +next day prevail with Willoughby to accompany him to town, that he would +send thither for the first medical advice that could be obtained, and +also entreat his mother to come to Arden. For he now began to fear with +infinite self-reproach that he had already carried delicacy on this +point too far. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX. + + +A biscuit and a glass of wine-and-water was usually the temperate supper +of the brothers. They generally took it in the library, and read till +they felt disposed to retire for the night. This evening Alfred, who had +risen from the table for a book which he happened to be some little time +in selecting, observed on his return, but without a suspicion at the +moment as to the cause, that the water which Willoughby was pouring into +his glass looked less clear than usual. He remarked upon the +circumstance and advised his brother to put it away and have some fresh +brought up. + +"It seems very good," said Willoughby, adding wine and taking off the +whole at one draught, though in general he sipped it from time to time +during perhaps an hour of either reading or conversation. + +Alfred accustomed to his brother's love of opposition in trifles was not +at all surprised. He sighed, however, for he always considered this +infirmity of temper a symptom of the incipient malady he dreaded; so +simply saying, + +"There is quite a sediment in the goblet you see," he read on, but still +without an apprehension. It had somehow never once entered into his +calculations, amid all his vague fears, that a mode and occasion so +public as the present would have been chosen. + +"Put away your book, Alfred," said Willoughby, a few moments after. +Alfred looked up and saw that his brother was pale in the extreme, and +with a ghastliness of expression quite alarming. + +"I have the idea more strongly impressed upon my mind than ever this +evening that I shall not live long!" said Willoughby in a voice changed +and hoarse; "and that when I do die," he continued, "it will be +suddenly, very suddenly: let our good-night then be also a farewell; we +know not what may happen before morning." + +"Do not make me miserable by such melancholy forebodings," said Alfred, +"surely--there is, there can be no cause for such! Willoughby! +Willoughby! you do look ill!" And the thought crossed his mind, that had +he not secured the poison he should now be really alarmed. + +"It is only a presentiment," said Willoughby, affecting a ghastly smile; +"yet, lest it should be verified, indulge me in my childishness, and +before I go to bed take leave of me, and--forgive, say you forgive every +pettish word, every wilful act, of which I have ever been guilty towards +you, my kind, my excellent, my too amiable brother." + +"Forgive! dear Willoughby! surely I have all that is kind and noble in +intention to thank you for, nothing to forgive--unless indeed," and he +paused in silent alarm. "Oh, Willoughby," he added, gazing at the +working of his countenance, "I fear--I fear some terrible purpose! speak +to me! tell me I am wrong--you have no such thought--no you would +not--you press my hand, what does that mean? Speak, Willoughby! Is it to +reassure me?--oh, my poor mother--think of her!--think of me, how much, +how truly I love you, never should I know happiness again, if--oh +misery--those eyes--he does not know me!" Willoughby attempted to speak; +the words were not only indistinctly uttered, but evidently without +purpose in their arrangement; while unable longer to maintain the +struggle against bodily suffering, with the wildness of delirium in his +looks and gestures, he sank on a sofa writhing in agonies which partook +of the nature of convulsions. + +The now terrified Alfred, calling aloud for help, hastily loosed his +brother's stock and undid the buttons of his waistcoat; within which, +while so employed, his eye was unavoidably drawn from its close +connexion with the frightful circumstances of the moment, by a piece of +crushed paper, on which the word "_Poison_," in the conspicuous +characters already described, was nevertheless strikingly visible. +Alfred snatched up this fatal witness; it was a part of what he had seen +in the morning, and had but too evidently been thrust into the bosom as +a place of concealment after its contents had been emptied into the +goblet; nay, it had still a considerable portion of the powder lurking +in its folds. The terrible conviction that his precaution had been too +late, and that his brother had assuredly swallowed the _poison_, flashed +at once upon Alfred, fearfully strengthened by the appearance of +Willoughby laying on the sofa, his eyeballs rolling beneath their closed +lids, except when they started wildly open for a second and closed +again. He still attempted to speak, but now nearly without the power of +articulation, saving that the name of Alfred was more than once +distinguishable amid a low rapid murmur, which however soon faded into +whispers, then subsided into a mere movement of the lips without sound, +and then ceased altogether. By this time the poor sufferer had become +quite insensible, and no one had yet answered Alfred's continued calls +for help. He now ran to the bell, then to the door, giving orders to the +servants, who at length appeared, to fly for the nearest medical aid, +adding incoherent directions about bringing antidotes for _poison_, and +even naming arsenic in particular; yet at the same moment, without any +direct consciousness of what he was doing, his fingers with a sort of +instinctive movement were thrusting within the breast of his own +waistcoat, the fatal scrap of paper he had found in his brother's bosom; +for all the while that with the aid of servants he was vainly +endeavouring to render assistance to Willoughby, confused notions were +floating through his mind of the dreadful addition, that in case of the +worst, it would be to his poor mother's grief to know that Willoughby +had committed the awful crime of putting a period to his own existence; +and mingled with these, were thoughts still more disjointed of Christian +rites refused to persons guilty of suicide: so that altogether Alfred +was actuated, without any power of defining his motives, by a vague +sense, that some sort of necessity existed for suppressing the proofs of +his brother having wilfully taken the _poison_. He was of course quite +incapable at such a moment of a process of reasoning by which to decide +what other supposition it would be either probable or desirable should +be formed. + +Messengers had been despatched in every direction; yet before any +medical man arrived, the convulsions had subsided, and death, +accompanied by the most ghastly appearances, taken place. + +At length the bustle of an arrival was heard; instead, however, of the +expected doctor, Geoffery Arden entered the room. + + + + +CHAPTER XX. + + +The arrival of Geoffery at this critical moment was accidental. He had +scarcely time to gather from the appearance of Willoughby, and the +incoherent expressions of Alfred, who seemed at one moment half wild, +the next stupified by his grief, a somewhat confused notion of what had +occurred, when his entrance was followed by that of Doctor Harman. + +The patient, however, being already quite dead, there remained nothing +for the Doctor to do, but pronounce his opinion as to the probable cause +of death, founded on the appearance of the body, and the symptoms of the +attack, as described by those who had been present. This he did by +expressing a suspicion that Sir Willoughby had swallowed poison, +although he granted that similar symptoms might have been occasioned by +a fit of apoplexy, and that such a fit might have had a fatal +termination. To all Alfred's anxious inquiries if there was nothing that +could be done, he replied decidedly that all was over. Alfred now stood +for a considerable time with his arms folded, looking on his brother +with a sort of mute despair, when a strange unbidden vision of the +appearance which the water in Willoughby's goblet had presented, +occurred to his memory. He turned towards the table on which the glasses +still remained, and in a species of day-dream, lifted and examined that +from which Willoughby had drunk. He perceived in the bottom a +considerable quantity of whitish powder. Unfit for cool calculation, as +were the powers of his mind at the moment, this, with all the +circumstances, seemed to place it beyond a doubt, that Willoughby had +taken the poison at the very time he had commented on the want of +clearness of the water into which he was pouring his wine. With this +conviction came again vague thoughts, as before, of expediency of +concealing the fact of the suicide. Too wretched, however, to remember +how strange his conduct, if not explained, must appear to those present, +he poured some water into the glass, and was about to empty the same +into a basin on the table. + +"Should not the contents of that glass be preserved?" said Geoffery, +aside to the Doctor. + +"Undoubtedly!" replied the tatler, darting forward, and seizing the +visibly trembling hand of Alfred. + +"This may be of consequence, my dear sir," he said, mildly. + +Alfred, as though he had been a detected culprit, who had not a word to +plead in his own excuse, yielded without a comment, not only his whole +attention, but his whole heart and soul, being at the instant recalled +to the sofa, whence some of the servants were about to remove the +remains of Willoughby, for the purpose of conveying them to a +bedchamber. But for this circumstance, he would, in all probability, +have explained his motives to the Doctor. Alfred now assisted the +servants with as much tender solicitude, as though the unconscious +object of his care were still capable of distinguishing affection's +gentle hand, from all the aid that may be bought or sold. The Doctor and +Geoffery had also approached the sofa, on the impulse of the moment, +ready to give their assistance had it been required; it was not +required, however, and they stood to let the melancholy procession pass. +While doing so, their eyes naturally rested on the interesting figure of +Alfred, bending over his poor brother, and consequently it so happened +that while he was in the act of stooping, accompanied with some share of +exertion, in the performance of his pious task, they both distinctly saw +the piece of paper he had so lately placed within the breast of his +waistcoat, glide out from thence, and fall to the ground. Geoffery +perceived the Doctor's eye follow it; he kept his own upon it, for there +was sufficient visible of the conspicuous letters with which it was +marked, to draw attention. When all but the Doctor and himself had +quitted the apartment, he pointed at it. The large characters, as we +have already particularly remarked, being, though strongly done with a +pen, those of print, were so distinct, that they were legible, even at +the distance where the paper lay on the floor. After both gentlemen had +stood looking down upon it for a considerable time, Geoffery said, at +length, + +"Will you have the goodness, Doctor, to pick up that paper?" The Doctor +did so, though not without hesitation. + +"I would not have touched it myself for the world!" continued Geoffery, +as soon as it was in the Doctor's hand. "You saw whence it fell?" he +proceeded. The Doctor was gazing in horror, one after another, at the +letters which spell the word poison, and carefully collecting together a +minute particle or two of powder, which still remained in some yet +unfolded crevices of the crumpled paper: + +"I am sorry to say I did," he answered, shaking his head. + +"What powder is that?" asked Geoffery. + +"It is scarcely fair to form a judgment on so small a portion," replied +the Doctor, "but it certainly resembles arsenic." + +Geoffery looked very hard at him; he returned the look, for a moment +only, then dropped his eyelids, and compressed his lips, as though he +feared his thoughts would assume the shape of words, and escape from +them unbidden. + +"What can be the meaning of all this, Doctor!" said Geoffery, after a +pause of some duration. + +"I don't know, sir--I don't know," replied the Doctor, hastily, and +almost angrily. + +"There seems to be no comment necessary," observed Geoffery. "Yet," he +added, after another pause, "the only possible solution is too horrible +to be thought of." + +"Quite so, sir, quite so!" replied the Doctor. "I wish," he subjoined, +shortly after, "that any other medical man but myself had been called +in." + +"That, too, was strange!" said Geoffery, turning towards the table: +"what object could Mr. Arden, or Sir Alfred, rather, as we must _now_ +call him I suppose, have had in attempting to rinse that glass?" + +"It is impossible to say," replied the Doctor. + +"Why should he," persisted Geoffery, instead of being anxious to +ascertain the truth (as every near relative who had not his own reasons +for a contrary line of conduct must be), "seek to make away with +evidence?" + +The Doctor compressed his lips harder than before. + +"What do you suppose these dregs to be?" asked Geoffery, after a long +pause, devoted to a careful scrutiny of the contents of the glass. + +"Arsenic, apparently," replied the Doctor;--this was a point on which he +considered himself called upon to speak. + +"And you think Sir Willoughby's death was caused by poison?" + +"I did certainly from the symptoms described suspect as much; but I +should, for the further satisfaction of the family, recommend the body +being opened." + +"You are quite right," said Geoffery; "it ought to be satisfactory to +every member of the family that the cause and manner of Sir Willoughby's +death should be clearly ascertained." + +The good Doctor moved his head mournfully but made no reply. The paper +was still in his hand. Being about to depart, he offered it to Geoffery, +saying, "I had better give this to you, I suppose, sir?" + +"By no means," replied Geoffery; "but I must request that you will take +especial charge of it. 'Tis scarcely to be supposed that circumstances +so mysterious and extraordinary will be passed over without some +investigation, in which case that scrap of paper will be of infinite +importance." + +The Doctor took out a memorandum-book with trembling fingers, placed the +bit of paper within its leaves, and sighing as he restored the +depository to his pocket, said, "Ours is a wretched profession, sir! It +is not enough that we must witness every agony that is felt, and see +every tear that is shed; but other and still more painful duties, which +at first sight one would suppose to be quite distinct from the medical +department, are daily thrust upon us by circumstances. The nakedness of +human misery as well as human depravity both, are for ever before our +eyes!" after a pause he added, "I wish it to be distinctly understood, +that I shall decline all interference which is not enforced by +law--which is not, in short, matter of sad necessity." + +"We must be in a great measure guided by circumstances," said Geoffery, +"My situation is peculiarly painful and delicate; I heartily wish I had +not arrived when I did--had my own suspicions never been awakened, I had +not been called upon either by honour or by feeling, to take a part +which may, notwithstanding, be supposed by many to be very invidious. +You don't think I could with propriety allow this affair to blow over +without an investigation? What do you say, Doctor?" + +"I can offer no advice on such a subject," replied the Doctor, "it would +be quite stepping out of my sphere, sir." + +"I commend your prudence," observed Geoffery, "It is time enough for you +to answer questions when you are on your oath." + +"A surmise at least," interrupted the Doctor, with the air of one who +had suddenly recollected an important fact, if not an absolute knowledge +that poison had been taken, "must have existed previously to my being +sent for, as the servant who came for me, desired that I should bring +antidotes; and, by-the-by, arsenic was particularly mentioned. Possibly +Sir Willoughby is known to have put a period to his own existence?" + +"Wherefore, in that case," replied Geoffery, "should the paper which had +contained the poison have been so carefully concealed, where both of us +saw it come from? Besides, Sir Willoughby's affairs were in the most +prosperous state possible. He was also on the point of marriage with a +very charming young woman. A match quite of his own choosing, too." + +After a slight degree of hesitation, Geoffery assuming a look of +affected mystery, through which, however, flashed that fiendish sparkle +of the eye, which betrays the self-gratulatory acumen of knavery, added, + +"I should scarcely suppose that there had existed much cordiality +between the brothers of late. Both were pretenders to the hand of the +same lady, and the feeling of mutual jealousy on the subject was, I +myself happen to know, very strong. The lady in question, too, is an +heiress of considerable wealth, by whose means there is little doubt +that Alfred Arden had, before poor Sir Willoughby became his _rival_, +hoped to mend his fortunes as a younger brother. Indeed, I think he was +very ill treated in the business from first to last. It was enough to +exasperate the feelings of any man;--not that I mean to justify a crime +like this." + +"These are family matters with which I can have no concern," interrupted +the prudent man of medicine. "As it is highly probable, however, that +some investigation of the sudden death of Sir Willoughby must take +place, it becomes, I apprehend, my imperative duty, being the medical +attendant on the occasion, to take charge of the contents of this +glass." + +So saying, he rang the bell, asked for a bottle, and carefully putting +every particle of the supposed poison into it, took his departure, +carrying the bottle with him. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI. + + +As soon as Doctor Harman had taken his departure, Geoffery, with an +officious affectation of sympathy, followed Alfred up stairs. + +He found him seated beside the bed on which the deceased was laid, and +leaning against it, with his face buried in both his hands. + +The attendants had all quitted the apartment; Geoffery attempted some +commonplace expressions of condolence. Alfred moved his head in a +desponding manner, but did not raise it. + +Geoffery while standing waiting, as it were,--for he deemed it necessary +to remain a few moments with his cousin,--cast his eyes, from mere +unfeeling idleness, round the apartment, when something on an adjacent +table arrested his attention. He looked down upon it for a few seconds, +then raised his eyes cautiously in the direction of Alfred, and +perceiving that his face was still covered, lifted the object of his +curiosity, which appeared to be a letter, slid it into his pocket, and +after repeating his expressions of condolence and adding some sage +advice respecting firmness under the unavoidable trials of life, and the +expediency of courting the salutary influence of sleep, was about to +retire; but Alfred, while he was bidding him good night, looked up for a +moment, and said, + +"I would not on any account have it known that poor Willoughby had been +guilty of suicide. They may deny him Christian burial;--besides it would +add greatly to my poor mother's affliction. Did not the doctor say +something of a sudden seizure, a fit, having similar symptoms, and of +its being likely to prove equally fatal?" + +"He did." + +"Let it be so supposed then, and discourage all further inquiry. Good +night--" and here he again covered his face; on which Geoffery sought +his own room, and having carefully shut and bolted his door, drew the +purloined letter from his pocket, and without waiting to sit down, +perused its contents with a countenance of eager satisfaction. He then +proceeded to unfold and read an enclosure which seemed to make him look +grave. After this he paced the apartment lost in thought, from which he +broke into occasional soliloquy, thus: "My coming over too, just at this +juncture, was the merest chance: if I had not been short of cash, I +should not have thought of it." A long pause followed.--"He was always a +vain fool," he recommenced: "the dread of being laughed at, I make no +doubt, has goaded him to this! There must have been derangement of +course, temporary, at least." He opened the letter again, and looked at +a passage or two--"Incoherent enough!" he ejaculated. "But my happening +to see the packet," he pursued, "was so fortunate----He had not noticed +it, I should think----that, however, is a point which I must ascertain, +for he appears to be by some means, aware of the suicide----but can he +prove it, if necessary?----at present he seems desirous to conceal the +fact, which is so far well, the mystery will look suspicious.----" Here +he again opened the enclosure, shook his head, looked serious, and paced +the room once or twice----"Their being abroad, however, just at this +time, has happened well," he said--stopped and stood still--then added, +after a long pause of deep and motionless thought, "This is most +probably the only proof----It would certainly appear from its style that +he had made no previous disclosure----I must talk with him----I shall +easily perceive how far he is informed, and, at any rate, it is highly +improbable that the letter has been seen by any witness." + + + + +CHAPTER XXII. + + +The slumbers which followed the prolonged reveries of Geoffery Arden, +were rendered unrefreshing by feverish dreams, some of a truly horrible +character; in particular the vision that presented itself on his first +closing his eyes; which was, that he had himself for some reason or +other been condemned to be hung; that it was the night before his +execution, and that he was laying trembling in the condemned cell, +dreading the approach of dawn. The agony of his feelings awoke him. What +he had just suffered, and his infinite relief on finding that all was +but a dream, had for some moments a salutary effect, even on his heart, +which, if ever heart of man was justly entitled to the epithet, was +indeed "desperately wicked;" now, however, the scheme with which he had +laid his head on his pillow, seemed almost too diabolical to be +attempted; he almost shrank from the idea of inflicting on any human +creature the intense suffering with the recent escape from which his own +heart still beat audibly. + +These were the thoughts of solitude and of darkness. He slept again, and +awoke only to fear, as he beheld the full light of day penetrating every +where, and making the true forms of all things evident, that his scheme +of murderous treachery was too monstrous to be practicable. No one would +listen to such a proposition: and as for proofs, could circumstances be +indeed tortured into any strong enough to meet the powerful current of +opinion, flowing in the opposite direction? Yet, on the other hand, such +things had been heard of, and without one-tenth part the stake as to +property, which in this instance might be alleged as one powerful +incentive, while there was room also to suppose the workings of violent +jealousy, and even of revenge. His own mother, moreover, could be +summoned to prove that he had actually been accepted, and that he +himself ascribed his disappointment afterwards to the rivalship of his +brother. + +At this moment a servant answered Geoffery's bell, prepared to assist +him at his morning toilet. + +The man's face was full of importance and mystery; Geoffery noted this, +and willing to encourage the fellow, in whatever he might have to tell +respecting the opinions of servants, &c., said, + +"Why, Davison, you look absolutely frightened! What is the matter?" + +"I don't know that I have got any occasion to look frightened," said the +man, "for whatever way the poor gentleman came by his death, whether by +a fit, as some _sais_, or by poison, as others _thinks_, it was nearly +over with him before ever we came to the house. But there's no saying, +for that matter, who'll be blamed, or who wont; they are all in such a +taking about it below, as never was." + +"How do you mean?" + +"Why the coachman thinks that as it was he that went to Arden for the +arsenic for laying for the rats, for it was in the stable-lofts they +were most troublesome, that he'll get brought into some mischief, +although he had his master's orders; but who is to prove that, now poor +Sir Willoughby's dead and gone? And for the butler, he's afraid of his +life, but people may think that something must have been wrong with the +glasses or the water, when he carried them in; and so he took Johnson +and myself to the saddle-room, that we should see where the arsenic lay, +and so judge that it was impossible for it to come near any thing that +was for eating or drinking. When we got there, however, the packet with +the poison was nowhere to be found, although it had lain on the very +shelf he showed us, in that selfsame room (the butler _sais_), no longer +ago than yesterday forenoon, when poor Sir Willoughby and Mr. Alfred +looked at it themselves." + +"Strange indeed!" said Geoffery, "and has inquiry been made? Does any +one own to having moved the packet? This may throw light on the whole +affair. It is rather too bad that gentlemen are to lose their lives in +this manner by the shameful carelessness of servants. How are they to +prove it carelessness either? How are they to show it was not +intentional? The half of them will be hung, I make no doubt, and richly +they deserve it." + +"The servants are all ready to swear, that not one of them touched it, +or so much as went near the place," replied Davison; "and what's more, +the groom who was leading the horses round, after the gentlemen returned +from riding, _sais_, that he saw Mr. Alfred coming out of the +saddle-room with a paper parcel in his hand; so that if one of the +family thought proper to remove the arsenic himself, and an accident +happened in consequence to any article of food, the servants all say +that was no fault of theirs." + +"Can the man swear to this?" + +"So he _sais_." + +"If this could be proved it might certainly clear servants from blame, +but it is, I must say, altogether a very improbable story. If Sir Alfred +had wished to have the arsenic removed to any other place, he would have +given orders to that effect, and not have gone about the thing himself +in the clandestine manner you describe. No, no, this won't do, it is but +a flimsy excuse, and as I told you before, gentlemen are not to lose +their lives by the shameful carelessness of servants; nor are their +nonsensical excuses to be taken, and the thing hushed up. As for poor +Sir Alfred, he is too much overcome by his grief to attend to any thing; +it necessarily devolves upon me therefore to make the proper +inquiries.--Send Johnson here, I must question him. I shall, in fact, +examine them all, both separately and face to face." + +Geoffery was determined, by this means and on this pretext, to collect +all the information he could as to what were the surmises of others, and +what the facts of the case, that admitted of proof or of distortion. He +knew enough to be perfectly aware that the servants were not in fault, +but he considered it his most judicious play, to pretend to blame them; +exciting their ignorant and selfish fears, might be useful, and at +length make them willing to hear even their master accused rather than +themselves. Although he had sources of information not open to others, +he could by no means understand the extraordinary circumstance of the +paper which had fallen from Alfred's bosom. The attempt to rinse the +glass, he now indeed thought might be ascribed to the wish Alfred had +since expressed to conceal the fact of the suicide; but as he had not +explained his motive to the doctor at the time, the circumstance looked +so very suspicious, that he hoped it might be turned to account. He +could of course deny what his cousin had said to him in private. Knowing +however, as he did, that the inference to be naturally drawn from all +that had at present transpired was false, he was aware that he must +proceed with caution; something positive might yet come to light, which +would do away with all fallacies, and render it imprudent in him, or at +least invidious to breathe a suspicion against his cousin. + +Before he took any step, therefore, he must find out what all the +servants had to say; and as he had already determined to do, sound +Alfred himself,--without any witness present, however; for if, as he now +began to hope, his cousin's exculpation should rest entirely on +explanations to be made by himself, his not offering such till after +formal accusations were brought against him, would look very suspicious. +He would, therefore, make himself the medium of communication between +Alfred and all others; and, if possible, encourage him not to see any +one else. In the end, if necessary, he could and would firmly and boldly +deny every word which had been said to him only, and so give to his +cousin's motives the colouring of excuses, subsequently invented to +cover guilt. This, however, was a desperate game, which he would not +venture to play till he could see that his card would sweep the board. + +The circumstance of Alfred's having been seen bringing away the packet +of poison, would certainly be very strong if it should so turn out that +it could be proved; he feared, however, that it must be a mistake: he +had his own reasons for thinking that it would be found to have been Sir +Willoughby whom the groom had seen pass and carelessly mistaken for Sir +Alfred. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII. + + +"Pray, Johnson," said Geoffery, when the person so named made his +appearance, "what is all this that Davison has been saying, about a +paper of arsenic being missing from where it lay no later than +yesterday; and the groom's absurd assertion, that Sir Alfred was the +person who removed it? This is a mere excuse, to hide the carelessness +of some of you servants, who have probably flung the paper of poison in +among the glasses; and now that you see the consequences of your own +misconduct, you are all terrified. And very justly, for I make no doubt +of it, the half of you will be hung!--The plea of carelessness, let me +tell you, and I know something of the law, will not be taken; malicious +interest will be supposed. As I told Davison, if Sir Alfred chose to +have the arsenic removed, he would have given his orders to that effect, +and not have gone about the thing himself, in a skulking clandestine +manner: why should he take so much trouble, unless concealment were his +object; and what motive could he have for concealment?" + +"The lad _sais_ it was Sir Alfred," answered Johnson. + +"Can he swear to the fact?" + +"He _sais_ he can." + +"Poor Sir Alfred," proceeded Geoffery, "is not in a state of mind to be +spoken to; or the thing might be cleared up in a moment, by my asking +him the question. Indeed he has given orders that no one shall go near +him; besides, it would be the utmost cruelty to allude to such a subject +at present; particularly if he really has, by any carelessness about +this paper of which you speak, been the cause of the accident, he will +never forgive himself;--so that, in that case, from respect to his +feelings, the circumstance ought in fact to be hushed up." Geoffery was +well aware that ordering servants to hush a thing up, was the best +possible mode of giving it publicity. + +The groom, when he appeared, was so firm to his text, that Geoffery +began to hope the assertion, whether true or false, might be turned to +account. He endeavoured, accordingly, to terrify the lad into a steady +evidence, by telling him, that what he once said, he must, on his peril, +stand to throughout; for that the slightest prevarication, or even +hesitation on so serious an affair, might hang him. "And I know +something of the law," he added, as usual. So saying, he dismissed the +groom, desiring him to send up the butler. + +"This is a shocking business, Thomas," said Geoffery, as the butler +entered. + +Thomas made no reply. + +"Poor Sir Alfred," continued Geoffery, "thinks, it seems, that his +brother died of a fit, and it is better for his peace of mind, that he +should think so; although there is no doubt, that Sir Willoughby was +poisoned. Do you think, Thomas, that you will be able to clear +yourself?" + +"Clear myself!" answered the man, his eyes flashing with rage, through +the honest tears he had been shedding for his master. "I'd be glad to +know who'll accuse--I who have served his father, and his grandfather +before him, man and boy these fifty-five years, and have nursed himself +and his brother one on each knee, many's the time." + +"Far be it from me, Thomas, to accuse you or any one else of such a +crime as murder; I only suspect you of unpardonable carelessness; but I +must say, and I know something of the law, as you may suppose, that +circumstances are very strong against you; it may be thought that you +intended to poison both brothers, and rob the house; my arrival was +unexpected; such things you know have been done! Nothing I should think +can clear you, but its being satisfactorily proved who is to blame. You +brought up the glasses; poison has been found in one of them, and there +was no one in the room but Sir Willoughby, his brother, and yourself. +You certainly would get nothing by the death of Sir Willoughby, unless, +as I said before, you had made away with both gentlemen, and robbed the +house; that is so far in your favour: yet no one, you know, could think +of suspecting his own brother, and circumstances seem to lay the +mischief, however it happened, at the door of one or the other." + +"No one who had not got the heart of the devil in his breast would lay +it at the door of either," replied the man, angrily. + +Without noticing his irritation, Geoffery proceeded, "I still mean in +the way of accident or mistake. Some of you talk, I understand, of Sir +Alfred having been the person who removed the paper of arsenic." And +here he enlarged as before, on the affliction our hero would no doubt +suffer, could he at all blame himself for any thing that had happened, +and how cruel it would therefore be to mention the subject to him. + +"Was the arsenic at any time kept in the same place with the glasses? Do +you think you might have scattered any quantity about, in lifting it +from shelf to shelf?" + +"I wiped out the glasses with my own hands, the moment before I carried +them in. Besides, the arsenic was never in the cupboard with my things +at all, it lay on a shelf in the saddle-room, quite out of the way of +what was for any one's use, and was marked in large letters, "arsenic, +poison"; for Sir Willoughby was very particular in his orders to me to +be careful about it, and made me show him where I put it, and that Mr. +Alfred knows, for he was with his brother at the same time, no longer +since than yesterday forenoon." + +"If your statement is correct, I do not see how it was possible for an +accident to have happened," said Geoffery, "could you swear that it was +not possible for an accident to have occurred?" + +"Yes, I could," he replied, though sulkily. "That is," he added, "as +long as the arsenic lay where I left it." + +This was one of the main points which Geoffery wanted to establish. He +now dismissed the butler, who was sobbing so violently, that he could +scarcely answer the questions put to him. + +The coachman next entered; and it being Geoffery's object, with the +views already stated, to alarm all the servants for their own safety, he +looked extremely austere, and, aware that the individual he had now to +deal with was not overburdened with wisdom, began thus: + +"So I find, James, you don't pretend to deny that you brought arsenic +from Arden, and the defence which I understand you pretend to set up, +is, that you did so by your master's orders, for the purpose of +poisoning rats. Now, this is quite too hackneyed an excuse; as to the +orders you _say_ you received, I fancy you have no proof that you +received any." + +"I told the groom that went with me, and the boy at the apothecary's, +that my master sent me." + +"You told them! What sort of proof is that? You don't suppose that your +own word will be taken for yourself, whatever it may against yourself! +This will never do. I know something of the law, and unless there is +stronger evidence against some one else, you will certainly be hung for +the murder. The only thing in your favour is, that you would get nothing +by Sir Willoughby's death." + +"If they _chooses_ to hang an innocent man," replied James, very +philosophically, "I can't help it, I dun as I was bid." + +"It's a very awkward thing having no witness in your favour but a dead +man. Are you sure it was not Sir Alfred who gave you the orders? for if +so, he is there, you know, to say so, which might save you." + +"No, it was Sir Willoughby himself." + +After a little more cross-questioning, James retired to the servants' +hall, where the effect of Geoffery's interference, was just what he +intended it should be: the utmost excitement existed. The one general +argument in their own favour, cunningly suggested to each by Geoffery, +that they would get nothing by the death of poor Sir Willoughby, was +constantly recurred to, while every time this was said, the remembrance +naturally suggested itself of who it was that would gain everything by +the melancholy event; not that any of the household yet dared in word, +or even perhaps in thought, to connect accusation or suspicion with the +mental recognition of the abstract fact. The strangeness, too, of +attempting to rinse the glass, and the strangeness of taking away the +paper of arsenic were named, while other still stranger circumstances +were from time to time, as they transpired, cautiously whispered to a +chosen few, by Geoffery's man, Davison, but no one ventured to draw +inferences. As the servants, however, of neighbouring families came in +to make inquiries respecting the sudden demise of Sir Willoughby, +already beginning to be generally known, many very extraordinary rumours +soon got abroad. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV. + + +Alfred, wholly unsuspicious of the evil thoughts which dwelt in the +minds of others, was seated in the retirement of his own chamber, +writing the melancholy announcement of Willoughby's death to Lady Arden. +With the idea, however, that the knowledge of his brother's having put a +period to his own existence would add much to his mother's affliction, +he made no allusion to that part of the subject; nor any mention of the +supposition, that Willoughby's death had been occasioned by poison; he +merely stated, that it had been very sudden, and that Dr. Harman was of +opinion, that something of an apoplectic fit, had been the cause. + +While he was thus employed, Geoffery presented himself, and renewed his +officious offers of condolence. + +Alfred thanked him, but begged to be left alone. While Geoffery stood +behind his cousin's chair, his restless eye (expressive at once of +outlook and precaution), wandering as usual in every direction, and +scanning every object, descried, as much to his astonishment as delight, +in one of the recesses of the escritoire, the paper packet marked +arsenic, which it may be remembered, Alfred had put there the day +before. How it had got there, which to Geoffery was of course a mystery, +there could be little doubt that this was the packet spoken of by the +servants as missing. Here indeed was a powerful circumstance in favour +of a scheme, so diabolical in purpose, so improbable in execution, that +it was his wishes, not his hopes, which had first given entertainment to +the thought. This monster, this creation of the evil one, was now +assuming an almost palpable, or at least plausible form. If, as he had +strong reason to suspect, the entire truth was known only to himself, it +seemed now, no great stretch of probability to hope, that this +extraordinary combination of unlooked-for circumstances might establish, +by apparently irresistible evidence, the next to incredible accusation, +which, could it indeed be established, would in the selfsame hour build +up at once his own long despaired-of fortunes. Caution, however, must +still be observed, while steps must be taken, to procure the +interference of the coroner; and get him to require that the body should +be opened; he must also receive a hint to search the escritoire; and the +result of the coroner's inquest must decide him, whether or not it would +be prudent to take any further steps. In the mean while, however, lest +the poison should be removed, previously to the time of a legal search +being made, he must contrive, that the packet, where it now lay, should +be seen by an impartial witness. His own evidence might not be received, +as he was known of course, as heir at law, to have an interest in +Alfred's being proved guilty. These were his thoughts, while descending +to the hall. Here he summoned Davison, and instructed him to go up to +Sir Alfred's room; to enter quietly, as though fearful of disturbing +him; to proceed to the back of his chair before he spoke; then to +apologize for his intrusion by saying, Mr. Geoffery had sent him for his +gloves, which he had laid on the table and forgotten. While pretending +to search for the gloves, he was to fix an attentive eye on the part of +the escritoire described to him by Geoffery, till he saw with sufficient +distinctness to be able to swear to the fact, a paper packet with the +word arsenic marked upon it. He was of course not to make a comment, or +even allow Sir Alfred to observe the direction of his eyes. + +This service punctually performed, but the gloves, which, by-the-by, +were on Geoffery's hands, still unfound, Davison returned to his master, +who, after ascertaining that he could swear to having seen the arsenic, +added, + +"You must have perceived, Davison, by the delicacy of my conduct from +the first, how glad I should be to retain the charitable opinions of +every one as long as possible; but at the same time I have a duty to +perform, though a painful one, and so may you, perhaps, when called upon +in a court of justice. In the mean time, however, be prudent, and don't +hurt the feelings of the older servants, by any rash or premature +remarks. As for strangers they don't care, and every one must know +sooner or later, so that your denying facts to them would be wrong, and +might invalidate your future evidence." + +Davison looked half puzzled and half frightened, but said nothing. + +"Doctor Harman," proceeded Geoffery, "has not been quite prudent; he +has, I find from one or two neighbours who have called this morning to +make inquiries, been gossiping already." And here, under pretext of +repeating what the Doctor had been saying, though poor Harman, to do him +justice, had not opened his lips, Geoffery, in an under voice, and with +much mystery of manner, mentioned the suspicious circumstance of the +paper which had fallen from Sir Alfred's bosom. As for the attempt to +rinse the glass, several servants had been present at the time. + +Geoffery, now thinking that he had supplied his attendant with +sufficient topics of conversation for any servants' hall he might enter, +ordered his horses. He had several objects in view in his morning ride, +one of the principal ones, a call on business at Doctor Harman's. + + + + +CHAPTER XXV. + + +With what indescribable feelings of exultation did Geoffery ride through +the splendid park, look back on the baronial remains of the ancient +castle, and the grandeur of the modern mansion, then around them on the +immeasurable extent of the grounds, the endless variety of the scenery, +the magnificent, unfathomable woods, the beautiful openings, displaying +in the distance the rich low pastures, with their grazing flocks; the +bare hill rising beyond, crowned with herds of deer; bends of the +picturesque river, with here the swan or the wild duck sailing on its +smooth bosom, there a waterfall, veiling its rocky sides in spray, and +clothing its surface with a sheet of foam; all, in short, on which he +had so long looked with corroding envy, and fierce thirst for +possession, but for many years without a hope. + +He checked the bridle of his horse on the centre of a little eminence, +inhaled a long draught of the fragrant air, and smiled with supercilious +self-importance while he thought of the cheering probability, to which +time and chance had at length given birth, that all might yet be his. + +He found Doctor Harman at home, and with great solemnity and well-acted +sorrow, made known to him the discoveries of the morning. The packet of +arsenic being missing, Sir Alfred having been seen coming from the place +where it had lain, and the still more extraordinary and, he feared, +perfectly decisive circumstance of his having himself seen a packet +marked arsenic in Sir Alfred's escritoire. + +It was too shocking to be thought of, he said, yet how were such +staggering facts as these, together with those which had previously come +under the Doctor's own eye, to be got rid of? He wished to retain +charitable opinions to the very last. Investigation, however, had become +a duty, although he would certainly wish it to be conducted in the most +delicate manner possible. In answer to an inquiry from Geoffery, the +Doctor said he had already tested the dregs found in the glass, and +proved them to be arsenic; to obtain full satisfaction, he added, that +it would be very desirable to open the body, and examine by similar +tests the contents of the stomach. "But," he proceeded "the request must +come from Sir Alfred." + +"Which we know will not be the case," replied Geoffery; "on the +contrary, I fear he will refuse to permit an examination, and if so, the +proper authorities must enforce submission; but I am so anxious to +proceed in this affair with the utmost delicacy, that you would greatly +oblige me, Doctor, if you would first urge it as your own request--as a +matter of favour to yourself--as throwing a light on science. I do not +wish unnecessarily to hurt the feelings of Sir Alfred, and if ever I am +myself compelled to yield my belief to the frightful suspicions which +circumstances, I am sorry to say, almost justify, it must not be till +the most ample proof has no longer left me free to doubt." + +His object in wishing to act with this affected delicacy was, that +Alfred might refuse to allow the body to be opened; as such conduct, +under the circumstances, would look suspicious, and he felt certain, +knowing as he did Alfred's wish to repress the suicide, that so +requested he would of course refuse, while, if he were informed that +suspicions already existed, it was to be supposed that he would for his +own sake instantly consent. The Doctor, however, still objected to +attend unsummoned. + +As soon, therefore, as Geoffery returned to Arden, he despatched a +servant on horseback with a verbal message, requesting that Doctor +Harman and two surgeons would attend prepared to open the body of Sir +Willoughby. This succeeded in taking in the honest-hearted Doctor, to +whom it did not occur to inquire who had given the message to a servant +who was one of Sir Alfred's household. + +On the arrival of the medical gentlemen, Geoffery, who was determined +that every point unfavourable to his cousin should admit of proof by +other witnesses than himself, sent a servant up to Sir Alfred with a +message purporting to be from Doctor Harman to say, that if Sir Alfred +had no objection, the Doctor was very desirous of being permitted to +open the body of the deceased, for the purpose of ascertaining whether +or not his view of the case were correct, in supposing that the sudden +death of Sir Willoughby had been occasioned by a fit of apoplexy. + +Alfred, surprised at the officious impertinence of such an interference +to which he had no idea of sacrificing the solemn injunctions of his +dying brother, sent back an immediate and positive refusal; on which +Geoffery with a face of solemn sorrow, dismissed the medical gentlemen, +adding many flourishes and innuendoes, and confessing that he certainly +had ventured to send for them himself, in the hope that Sir Alfred might +have been induced to permit an examination, for which the circumstances +of the case so loudly called. This might be thought officious in him, +but his motive was, to combine delicacy with a step he felt it his duty +to take. + +Alfred had many reasons for his refusal; first, and above all, were his +brother's anxious and repeated injunctions, which, except superseded by +sad necessity, would of course be laws to him; next, he was, as we have +already said, very desirous that the idea of a suicide should not be +even suggested; lest it should come to the ears of his mother, and add +to her distress: and, finally, he wished, that if the idea were +suggested, the fact should not be proved, lest as we have already +hinted, Christian rites should be refused. At the same time, feeling +himself but too certain, that his poor brother must have put a period to +his own existence, he had no anxious doubts to be satisfied by an +examination. As to the opinions which might be entertained by others, +though the doctor had said at first, that the symptoms resembled those +of poison, he had, at the same time allowed, that an apoplectic fit +might have caused the sudden death, and been attended with similar +symptoms. Alfred naturally thought, therefore, that the family appearing +satisfied with this solution, it would become the prevalent opinion, and +the melancholy event pass over, as little noticed by the public, as the +private sorrows of individuals generally are. + +This honourable and exalted mind never once conceived the idea, that any +combination of circumstances whatever, could have suggested to any human +being such a thought of horror, as that of his having shortened the life +of his dear brother; much less did he imagine, that by the part he was +now acting, he was actually furnishing a treacherous enemy with a sort +of presumptive evidence that such was the fact: so that while every +unfortunate coincidence, on which the ignorance of some, and the +malignant designs of others, could found an evil report, was being +universally disseminated, and discussed. Alfred sat apart, unsuspicious +of evil, yielding to his grief, and communicating with none, except to +give such orders as were absolutely necessary; while the arts of +Geoffery, and the delicacy of friends, prevented any creature's offering +him a hint of what was unhappily, by this time, passing in the minds of +many. For, not only were all the particulars which the servants had +witnessed, already in circulation; but, the circumstances of the marked +paper falling from Alfred's bosom, and the missing packet being seen in +his escritoire, were also beginning to be pretty generally known, to the +great surprise of the poor Doctor, who, as we said, had never breathed a +hint on the subject. Yet had his prudence gained him no credit; for +Geoffery had not confined his insinuations against the Doctor's talents +for taciturnity, to what he had said to his man Davison; but had also +complained to several confidential friends, how that meddling, gossiping +fellow, Harman, had been saying so and so--giving here each particular, +in the form of a quotation. If his auditors _chanced_ to reply, that +they had heard nothing of the kind before, Geoffery would express his +surprise; assure them that every one else had; lament that such should +be the case; and add, how much he had wished, to suppress unpleasant +reports; at least, until the whole affair should necessarily become +matter of public discussion. + +Geoffery having, as we have said, his reasons for being aware that +Willoughby had taken poison, was determined, for the furtherance of his +diabolical schemes against Alfred, that the body should be opened; and +proof thus furnished, of the fact of poison having been swallowed. He +took care, therefore, that not only reports, but direct information +should reach the coroner, of a nature to render it his duty to demand an +investigation of the whole affair. + +END OF VOL. II. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Dilemmas of Pride, (Vol 2 of 3), by +Margracia Loudon + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK DILEMMAS OF PRIDE, (VOL 2 OF 3) *** + +***** This file should be named 35057.txt or 35057.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/5/0/5/35057/ + +Produced by Heather Clark, 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) + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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