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diff --git a/39425.txt b/39425.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..f7e41b0 --- /dev/null +++ b/39425.txt @@ -0,0 +1,3378 @@ +Project Gutenberg's The Mysterious Wanderer, Vol. III, by Sophia Reeve + +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/license + + +Title: The Mysterious Wanderer, Vol. III + A Novel in Three Volumes + +Author: Sophia Reeve + +Release Date: April 11, 2012 [EBook #39425] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE MYSTERIOUS WANDERER, VOL. III *** + + + + +Produced by Mark C. Orton, Wiebke and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was +produced from images generously made available by The +Internet Archive) + + + + + + + + + + THE + MYSTERIOUS WANDERER. + + A NOVEL: + IN THREE VOLUMES. + + Dedicated, by Permission, + _TO THE RIGHT HON. LADY ELIZABETH SPENCER._ + + BY SOPHIA REEVE. + + VOL. III. + + LONDON + + PRINTED FOR THE AUTHOR, BY C. SPILSBURY, ANGEL-COURT, + SNOW-HILL; + + AND SOLD BY RICHARDSON AND SON, ROYAL-EXCHANGE; + J. HIGHLEY, FLEET-STREET; AND DIDIER AND TEBBETT, + ST. JAMES'S-STREET. + + 1807 + + + + +THE + +MYSTERIOUS WANDERER. + + + + +CHAPTER I. + + +"The sudden death of Sir James Elvyn," said Sir Henry, "and the +deprivation of the fortunes he designed his daughters, you were long +since, Captain Howard, informed of by Jarvis; I must therefore commence +my narrative from the time those circumstances happened. + +"With her fortune, Eliza Elvyn lost every attraction in the eyes of my +grandfather, which could render an union between her and his son +desirable; and he accordingly forbade my father to continue his +addresses; but, finding his commands were disregarded, he hurried him to +Caermarthen, where he endeavoured to enforce my father's obedience to +relinquish Eliza, and address the daughter of Mr. Holly: but as every +menace proved ineffectual, and intercepting a letter my father had +written to Eliza, proposing an elopement; Sir Horace placed him in the +strictest confinement, and, leaving the Hall, put in execution the +simple piece of finesse by which he secured the person of Miss Elvyn, +and with which you are already acquainted. + +"Sir Horace conveyed her to the Hall, and to a private apartment +adjoining his own; where he resolved she should remain till my father's +marriage with Miss Holly was completed. This was prevented by my +mother's elopement, and my father, seizing the first moment of liberty, +flew to the late residence of his Eliza. She was gone; but where to, he +could not trace! Sir Horace, however, feared it; and, though he had +failed in one point, warily executed a plan, which put it beyond the +power of fate ever to unite her to him. + +"Prior to his marriage with my grandmother, he seduced the daughter of +one of his tenants; and by her had a son; whom, more from a sense of +shame than affection, he had indeed reared and educated; but with a +parsimony, which plainly showed with what reluctance he did it. Joseph, +however, rose superior to every obstruction the avarice of my +grandfather presented, and shone unrivalled in every branch of +literature. + +"At college my father first became personally acquainted with him, and, +struck with admiration at his amiable qualities and extraordinary +abilities, soon felt that friendship he merited; and Joseph, equally +pleased at the mildness of my father's demeanour, so different from the +manners of Sir Horace, received and returned his friendship with an +enthusiastic affection, that ended only with his life. + +"In spite of every effort of reason, Joseph never came into the presence +of Sir Horace, without experiencing in some degree the dread he +entertained of him when a child, and which his harshness indeed +justified: Sir Horace's will was an absolute law, to which he had ever +yielded implicit obedience, nor was my grandfather's tyranny over him +then less absolute. + +"Joseph was unacquainted with the late transactions; the last letter he +had received from my father, was on the immediate death of Sir James +Elvyn, which he knew had deferred the intended nuptials. He now, with +surprise, read Sir Horace's invitation to the Hall; the idea, however, +that it was on account of the marriage, and perhaps to perform the +ceremony, as he had taken holy orders, overcame his reluctance of being +with Sir Horace; especially as he regarded the invitation as a proof of +my father's friendship. + +"Greatly was he deceived: for on his arrival he was introduced to Sir +Horace, who, after recapitulating the favours he had, or pretended to +have conferred, told Joseph he had sent for him to present him with the +Corbet living, then vacant by the death of the incumbent; but on the +condition that he accepted a wife provided for him. Joseph, recovering +from the surprise this unexpected donation and overture had occasioned, +thanked my grandfather for a provision so far beyond his hopes; assuring +him at the same time he would obey his command, if there were the least +probability of his proving agreeable to, or liking the lady he had +proposed. + +"The lady, Sir Horace said, was perfectly agreeable to the match; she +was handsome and good-natured, and he might look on the living as her +dowry: and finally gave him to understand he was determined on the +match, whether he approved it or not. Joseph silently acquiesced; his +heart was unengaged, and, as I before observed, my grandfather's will +was a law he had never dared to dispute.--Satisfied with his tacit +compliance, Sir Horace left him, and went to Miss Elvyn, who was little +prepared for the peremptory command he gave her to marry Joseph." + +"I must retire, Henry;" said Mrs. Blond, in vain endeavouring to +suppress the obtrusive tear; "recollection is too painful to let me +listen to the relation. I will rejoin you by and by." + +Sir Henry kissed her hand, and conducted her to the door; then, +re-seating himself, resumed his relation. + +"Our unhappy friend, who had too fatally experienced to what lengths Sir +Horace dared to go, at first strove, by tears, to move his obduracy; +but his heart was callous; nor, when roused to anger, were her +reproaches more regarded. Marry Joseph, she should, he was determined. +She gave a positive refusal! She would suffer death first! He had +sanctioned Henry's addresses to her; had witnessed and approved their +reciprocal vows of affection and fidelity; vows which, however he might +then disapprove, it was not in his power to break! Sir Horace's eyes +gleamed fury--she would suffer death first--he repeated; then so she +should! For from that apartment she should never go alive, except she +acceded to his proposal. + +"He left her, and returning to Joseph, told him the presentation of the +living should be made out; but as the parsonage wanted a great many +repairs, his marriage should be deferred till it was fit for the +reception of his bride. Joseph marked the contraction of his brow, +acquiesced, and, changing the discourse, ventured to inquire after my +father. He was not at the Hall, Sir Horace said, nor did he expect him +for some time. + +"He was, indeed, searching the country for his Eliza: this Sir Horace +knew; and therefore determined, if possible, to force her into a +marriage with Joseph before his return; but the resolution of Miss Elvyn +rose superior to his harshness and ill treatment; and at the time my +father's nuptials took place, she was still a prisoner. + +"After spending some months in endeavouring to find Miss Elvyn, my +father, at the positive injunction of Sir Horace, returned to +Caermarthen; where he passed the greatest part of his time with Joseph, +unconscious that the Hall contained the jewel whose loss he deplored. + +"When Miss Holly visited her brother, to intercede for her niece, Sir +Horace again insisted on my father's receiving the fair fugitive as his +wife. My father faintly murmured the name of Eliza. + +"'Miss Elvyn,' said my grandfather, exalting his voice, 'is now the wife +of another: she gave her hand to Mallet, Mr. Holly's steward, and is now +with him in France. Read that,' throwing him a letter, 'and be +convinced.' + +"My father eagerly took the pretended epistle of Mallet; it was +addressed to Mr. Holly, and, after apologizing for his abrupt departure +from his service, and mentioning some circumstances respecting his late +stewardship, proceeded to inform him of his marriage with Miss Elvyn, +which had taken place through the friendship of Sir Horace, who had +presented him with a genteel competence, on condition of his leaving the +kingdom. That he had accordingly proceeded to Paris, where he hoped the +amusements of that metropolis, and his attentions united, would, in a +little time, reconcile his wife to her fate. + +"The letter answered Sir Horace's expectation; my father knew him +capable of acting in the manner related, too well to entertain a doubt +of the letter being genuine; and looked on Eliza as irrecoverably lost +to him; and, my grandfather repeating his commands with denunciations of +the heaviest curses if he refused, he yielded an unwilling consent, and +two days after attended him to Mr. Holly's, where he was united to my +mother. + +"Sir Horace exulted in the success of his artifice, and became so +attached to his daughter-in-law, that he appeared never to be happy out +of her presence. That happiness, however, was soon after interrupted by +the severe indisposition of my mother; and Sir Horace not only dreaded +losing his favourite; but that my father, should he again be free, might +discover and still espouse Eliza, to whom his hatred had increased to a +most rancorous degree: he, therefore, took the opportunity of my +father's going to visit a neighbouring gentleman; and, sending for +Joseph, reminded him of the condition on which he had given him the +living, and told him he intended his marriage should take place +immediately. + +"Joseph's heart revolted at the indelicacy of Sir Horace's proceedings; +but what was his surprise, when he beheld him enter the secret chamber, +and peremptorily tell Miss Elvyn she must, that instant, accept the man +he had provided for her husband! + +"'Never!' cried Eliza. + +"'This instant, Madam!' vociferated Sir Horace. 'Henry is married to +Miss Holly; nor will I longer be baffled by your refusal.' + +"'Henry married--O God!' she ejaculated. At that moment my father, who +had returned, not finding his friend at home, entered the outward +chamber, and saw the long-lost Eliza, sinking at his father's feet. + +"Poor must be the attempt to describe his emotions at that moment: he +flew to raise her, and on her revival an eclaircissement, dreadful +indeed to him, took place. Sir Horace stamped and raved; but still +declared, she should instantly marry Joseph. + +"This Joseph resolutely refused to consent to; and severely reproved him +for the measures he had pursued. Sir Horace did not receive the rebuke +unmoved, and was denouncing vengeance on them all, when my mother +likewise entered, to inform him the clergyman he had sent for, was +arrived. What a scene for a wife, like my mother: Eliza was weeping on +the bosom of my father!--there needed no more---- + +"Oh, Captain Howard, let me pass what followed! Sir Horace, finding it +impossible to terrify them to compliance, as a last resource, sunk on +his knees, and vowed to fix his eternal curse on my father, if they +longer refused the marriage he had proposed: and began to pronounce a +solemn anathema, when the half-distracted Eliza broke from my father's +arms, and throwing herself beside him, implored for mercy on her Henry: +she would consent--she would marry Blond! + +"Joseph's horror and agitation were nearly equal to Eliza's, nor dared +he longer urge denial: the clergyman was summoned, and my wretched +father, amidst the taunts and reproaches of his unfeeling wife, was +witness to the marriage! + +"This was the last tyranny of which fate allowed Sir Horace to be +guilty. Displeased at a letter, he intercepted, from my grandmother to +my father, he went to Cornwall, and was severely upbraiding her, when +Lady Corbet, who had been some time in a decline, regarded him with a +look of mingled anguish and pity, and, extending her hand to him, +said--'I forgive you, Corbet; but, oh--have mercy on my children!' then, +sinking gently back on her seat, resigned her spirit without a sigh! + +"The impressive manner of her last few words, her death, by him so +unexpected, struck to his heart; he felt he had been a tyrant, and had +accelerated an event which must shortly happen to himself; and, for the +first time, wished he had been less severe. The expressive +exclamation--'Have mercy on my children!' still vibrated on his ear: he +returned to the Hall, from whence he was summoned to the bedside of Mr. +Holly, who died a few days after. + +"This was too much, even for the callousness of Sir Horace: horror +filled his bosom; and his constitution, apparently robust, yielded to +the agitation of his mind; he took to his bed, and for some days +experienced torments unspeakable. Repeatedly he conjured my father, who +never quitted him, to forgive him; and at last desired to see Joseph and +Mrs. Blond; but the appearance of the pale, emaciated Eliza, added to +his agonies: he struggled for breath. + +"'Forgive--forgive me!' he pantingly cried. 'Do not curse me! Oh, +Ellenor! my child, mayest thou find a better friend than thy father has +proved!--Send for my lawyer this instant--let me alter my will: for you, +too, Corbet!--' + +"He sunk in the arms of my father. + +"At such a moment, could they refuse the forgiveness he entreated? Oh, +no! Death was fast approaching: with a last struggle he seized the hands +of my father and Blond, and, joining them, pronounced an emphatic, +'Bless you!' and immediately expired! + +"Mrs. Blond was conveyed to the Parsonage, in a state approaching to +insensibility: my mother was confined to her apartment; but chose to be +present at the opening of the will; where my father, though nominated as +heir, found himself restricted from assisting his sister, or living +separate from his wife, under forfeiture of the greatest part of his +property to the uncontrolled will of my mother, already independent by +the death of her aunt; or, in case of her demise, from marrying Eliza, +under the like forfeiture to a distant branch of the family. + +"To Joseph he left two thousand pounds; and the estate in Cornwall, to +my mother, in addition to her jointure. + +"My father felt not the restriction till the arrival of his Ellenor; +but, too well had he proved my mother's disposition, to hazard the +alienation of his fortune from me, who was then about three months old; +he therefore conducted her to Blond's, where she was received with open +arms, and settled to her satisfaction, without infringing the clause in +my grandfather's will. + +"That my parents were unhappy, was the first idea I imbibed: and as +reason expanded, every sorrow they felt caused equal anguish in my +heart. No wonder then the settled grief, the pale dejection of my +father, rendered him more dear to me, and imperceptibly added to the +ties of affection; and oft have I wept at the wayward behaviour of my +mother, calculated to make him appear in the eyes of the world as a +tyrant: indeed, her pretended gentleness, and resignation to the choice +of her father, in company, were only to be equalled by her unfeeling +haughtiness and contempt, in private!" + +"This is a character, Sir Henry," interrupted Mr. Talton angrily, "Lady +Corbet, I am certain, by no means deserves!" + +"Think not, Mr. Talton," answered Sir Henry, "I wish wrongfully to +traduce my mother. Hear me with patience, and be yourself the judge.-- + +"Pride, delicacy, regard for his child, every consideration, forbade his +exposing the duplicity of my mother; and, indeed, had he attempted +it--it would but have confirmed the opinion, her deep-laid project had +established. + +"As home was truly disagreeable to my father, he passed the greatest +part of his time at the Parsonage. His friendship with Blond suffered +no diminution; and the society of his sister and Eliza, soothed even +whilst it added to his affliction, for the irretrievable loss of the +latter. + +"When I was seven years old, I first accompanied him in his daily +visits; and, with Edward, received my instruction from the worthy Blond. +The infant Eliza, too, claimed my father's attention, and, as he traced +in her the semblance of her mother, he would indulge a wish that she +might one day hail him by the name of father! + +"Thus passed seven years; when my father showed evident symptoms of a +decline; but not all the entreaties of my aunt and Blond could urge him +to seek medical assistance. + +"Cease, Joseph," he would say, "to importune me. My disease, my brother, +is past all but the power of death to remedy." + +"To describe the agonies of my mind, as I saw him sinking to the grave, +is impossible: and none but a son in danger of losing such a father, can +form an idea of them. At last he yielded to my persuasions to try the +air of France, and accordingly set sail for St. Malo's, attended by +Thomas, and two other domestics. + +"During his absence, Mallet, who had so abruptly quitted the service of +Mr. Holly, returned to Caermarthen; and was appointed by my mother to +the stewardship of her landed property. This step was highly +disagreeable to my father, and he determined immediately to return: the +malady of his mind was rapidly destroying his constitution; he +entertained no hopes of recovery, he scarcely wished it; and Sister +Francoise being at that time liberated from her monastic vows, he +escorted her to Plymouth, and then returned to the Hall; where, for the +first time in my life, I heard him reproach my mother for her conduct. +Trivial as the circumstance was, it not only rendered home more +disgusting, but appeared to accelerate his dissolution. At the +Parsonage only he looked for peace; whither, under pretence of +wandering in the grounds, I used to follow him; my mother having +prohibited my visits to Blond, and my father, from affection, not +wishing me ever to be from his presence. + +"At last he became so feeble, as to be incapable of leaving the Hall; +and my mother changing her usual mode of conduct, became attentive, and +even assiduous about him; so much so, that for three weeks previously to +the period which bereft me of the best of fathers, she rarely quitted +him, even for necessary rest and refreshment. The evening, however, +before he expired, she had retired for a few hours repose, and the +attendants likewise quitting the room, my father looked expressively at +me some moments, and, pressing my hand to his bosom, said,--'The time +will shortly arrive, my Harry, when I shall moulder into dust, and you +be deprived of him who might almost be termed your only parent. Thy +mother--but no matter!... Little of happiness have I experienced in this +world; and, but for thee, should quit it without regret. Yet remember, +Harry, she is thy mother! and, whatever may hereafter reach thy +knowledge, let it not for a moment blot from thy mind the sacredness of +that tie! + +"'You will be the inheritor of my fortunes; your mother is already well +provided for; but I charge and entreat you take care of my Ellenor, and +her son: Sir Horace's restriction reaches not to you: and if hereafter +the child of my brother and Eliza should gain your affection, let not +her want of an adequate fortune be a hindrance to your happiness; too +many have already been sacrificed to avarice. Blond knows my sentiments, +and will add a blessing to your father's; he has a copy of my will: the +original you will find in----.' + +"The entrance of my mother prevented his finishing the sentence, and her +strict attention afterwards precluded all opportunity of informing me +where he had put his will. + +"In the morning Blond, as usual, came to visit my father; and perceiving +a considerable change for the worse, consented to remain, till the life +he prized above his own, should cease to animate its earthly mansion. + +"Worthy, affectionate Blond! dear to my memory, must ever be thy +behaviour in that awful hour; when suppressing thy own sorrow, which oft +and oft obtruded to thine eye, thou spakest comfort to the heart of thy +expiring friend, and supportedst the affliction of a son! Rest ye in +peace, beloved pair! Together ye trod the rugged path of life: pure and +sincere was your friendship; and death, unwilling to divide ye, +summoned both to the same sepulchre!" + +The emotions of Sir Henry prevented him from proceeding. At last +recovering, he continued. + +"My mother behaved at first with the greatest show of sorrow; and the +tears she shed apparently to the memory of my father, revived every +spark of affection; alas! I perceived not the tempest gathering over me, +and ready to dart its most dreadful vengeance on my head. + +"The day after the funeral, had been appointed for the perusal of the +will, which was, my mother said, with other papers of consequence, in a +private drawer of my father's escritoire. She desired the attendance of +Blond, as the nearest friend of my father; and, at the stated time, the +will was produced, in the presence of him, a neighbouring clergyman, +Mallet, Thomas, Owen, and the principal domestics; but what was my +surprise, to find my mother declared not only my sole guardian, but +heiress of every part of my father's property, the entailed estates +excepted; and from which I was to have an allowance of only four hundred +pounds, annually, during my minority! + +"Indignation sparkled in the penetrating eyes of Blond; whilst he +vehemently declared the will was a false one! 'Here is a copy of the +real one,' he continued, 'which will prove to your shame, Madam, that my +noble brother has chosen a worthier heir than his wife.' + +"Quick as lightning my mother tore it from his hands, and the next +instant, forced it between the bars of the grate; whilst, with equal +vehemence, she retorted the charge of forgery, and threatened to deprive +him of his gown for the nefarious action! Never before had I seen Blond +betray the least symptom of passion; and as affection for my mother +prevented my regretting this deprivation of nearly two thirds of my +fortune, I, after the first moment of surprise, endeavoured to mediate +between them; but Blond still declared my father had left me the whole +of his fortune, under the guardianship of the elder St. Ledger and +himself: and my mother as resolutely declared the will produced, was the +real one, and that by which I should abide; and insulted Blond to such a +degree, as a mercenary intermeddler in the family, that, unable to bear +it, he hastily left the Hall. The speed with which he returned to the +Parsonage, joined to the agitation of his spirits, brought on a fever; +which indignation in seeing me thus deprived of my rights, prevented him +from paying proper regard to; this was increased, the following Sunday, +by his getting wet in going to church; where, unable to change his +clothes, he was necessitated to perform divine service in those he had +on. The consequence was, that before the end of the second day, he was +confined to his bed! + +"During this, my mother, though exulting in the success of her artifice, +behaved to me with her wonted show of affection; but Blond getting +hourly worse, at last entreated to speak with me; and then it was my +mother first unmasked herself to me! + +"She peremptorily refused to let me go--the servant said his master was +expiring! I begged, conjured--at last insisted! But, looking at me with +that haughty contempt, she had too often regarded my father +with--'Recollect yourself, young gentleman,' she said: 'you shall not +go, but where, and to whom I please!--So far at least I can control you. +Insist!' she repeated with increasing hauteur: 'henceforth, Sir, this +apartment is the boundary of your steps, till you have learned to show +more respect to the will of a mother!' + +"She quitted the room, leaving me confounded at a behaviour so +unexpected. + +"The expiring Blond, however, took full possession of my mind; in him I +was losing a second father; and as I could not but regard my mother's +denial as unfeeling and unjust, I determined to obey the impulse of my +heart: but, on trying the door, I found it locked, and, after some +ineffectual attempts to force it, I was obliged to desist; the window, +however, presented the means of escape; I instantly got out, and lightly +dropping to the ground, hastened through the plantations, to the +Parsonage, where I found my worthy uncle, indeed expiring. As soon as he +beheld me, he extended his hand, + +"'Welcome, Sir Henry! From the answer your mother returned to my +request, this was a happiness, with which I dared not flatter myself: +nor could I, as she desired, transmit what I had to impart, in writing. +The urgency of the moment must prevent my dwelling on particulars:--take +this packet, my Henry; given to my care, by your deceased father, to be +delivered to you, on your attaining your one-and-twentieth year, or +before if occasion required.--Keep it carefully from the knowledge of +your mother; the contents will explain the reason, and in part account +for her late conduct: for, the will she produced was forged!--the real +one if not destroyed, you will find in the closet of the secret +apartment: your father, Sir Henry, left you the undivided possession of +his fortune!' + +"These were nearly the last words he pronounced, as he expired in less +than an hour after. + +"I wonder not, my Eliza, at your tears; and a richer offering than +those which spring from filial affection, cannot ascend to the throne of +mercy! + +"I shall pass over the distress of our friends at this juncture; your +own hearts may best do justice to their feelings. It was late in the +evening, when I slowly directed my steps to the Hall; where I +immediately retired to my own room; but, a few minutes after, was +summoned to attend my mother in the apartment where my father died. + +"I obeyed.--But ah, who can paint the rage with which she addressed me! +After upbraiding me for leaving the Hall, she demanded for what Blond +had so earnestly desired to see me? + +"'Your own heart, Madam,' I replied, 'may best answer that question. The +will produced, he says, was not that of my father.' + +"'Insolence unparalleled!' she exclaimed. 'Know, Sir, the estates and +property I hold, were bequeathed me by Sir Horace. Your father for years +supported his vagrant sister, and thereby forfeited them to me!' + +"'It is strange then, Lady Corbet,' I replied, 'you did not exert your +right during the life of my father; and not make him will them to you +after his decease: but you mistake, Madam; my father never afforded my +aunt the least pecuniary assistance, nor can you prove it. Her +maintenance has been at the hand of Blond: he was not forbidden to +succour a sister, though my father was.--Why are you agitated, +Madam?--Is there not wealth enough for both, without using illegal means +to enrich yourself: or did my mother think her Henry needed the severity +she has this day shown, to induce his assent to her enjoying the whole +of his fortune, had she wished it?' + +"I took her hand; but, casting me from her, she said with increasing +agitation--'The severity you complain of, boy! is nothing to what you +shall experience for this behaviour! From these windows you cannot +escape; this room is your prison; and here you may ruminate, and learn +to dread the anger of your mother!' + +"'Ruminate indeed!' I sighed, as she closed and locked the door--'for +inexplicable are thy proceedings.'--But the packet Blond had given me, +he said, would in some measure account for her conduct; to that I +resolved to apply, and, seating myself, broke the seal of this, my +father's last bequest." + +Sir Henry drew the packet from his bosom, and, half suppressing a sigh, +read as follows: + + + + +CHAPTER II. + + + "When these lines, my beloved Henry, reach your hands, time will + have left only a tender remembrance of the name of father! Yet I + trust the affection you evinced for him in life, will make you + regard this his last (though secret) request, and advice. + + "Too oft have you heard the relation of my early misfortunes, to + need a repetition here; but prepare, my Harry, for a tale you + little expect, and which reached my knowledge a few months after my + marriage. + + "Some years prior to that event, your mother bestowed her + affections on Mallet, her father's steward; who, at last, asked her + of his master in marriage; but Mr. Holly refused him with the + proudest disdain, and threatened to dismiss him, if he ever again + renewed the subject. Miss Holly proved more favourable to his + addresses, and at the time Sir Horace demanded her as a wife for + me, was in a state advancing to become a mother!" + +"Just Powers!" exclaimed Mr. Talton. "Do I hear aright? or can I credit +the assertion?" + +"My father's veracity, Sir," faltered Sir Henry, "is not to be doubted; +even if my mother's subsequent conduct had not confirmed the +circumstance as true." + +"Proceed--proceed, dear Henry!" cried the agitated Louise. Sir Henry +resumed the relation of his father. + + "Alarmed at a circumstance which must inevitably have exposed her + shame, she fled for protection to her aunt, and by a well-feigned + tale, not only induced that lady to receive her; but to promise + secrecy respecting her state, and the place of her retreat: whilst + Mallet, dreading a discovery of their illicit connexion, withdrew + to France; and four months after Miss Holly was delivered of a + daughter, which the aunt undertook to rear; and, at the desire of + her niece, who was wearied of solitude and restraint, waited on Mr. + Holly, to intercede in her behalf. He admitted their excuses, + consented to receive his daughter, and to bury the past in + oblivion; but to prevent her again disappointing him, he informed + Sir Horace of her expected return, and with him projected the + scheme which plunged me into misery! + + "A few months after our ill-fated marriage, Mr. Holly's sister + died, leaving the whole of her fortune to your mother in secret + trust, as I not two months since discovered, for her infant + daughter. But avarice is your mother's motto, as well as Sir + Horace's; to that she yielded, and, smothering every softer + feeling, abandoned the child to the care of its father; and, + appropriating the money to her own use, sent a peasant with the + infant Louise to Mallet at Rennes!" + +Sir Henry was here interrupted by Louise, who, bursting into tears, +said--"Ah the dreaded secret is explained! Oh, Harland, will you not +now despise the woman to whom you are united? The conduct of her parents +must stamp indelible shame on her name!" + +"The virtues of Louise," said Harland tenderly, "are all her own, nor +can the actions of her parents lessen her for a moment in my regard." + +Sir Henry paused a moment, till the violence of her emotion had +subsided; then continued: + + "The discovery of these circumstances by the officiousness of the + woman she employed to transport the child, considerably degraded + your mother, in my opinion: had she, indeed, been as amiable as she + endeavoured to appear in the eye of the world, she might in time + have obliterated Eliza from my heart; but the pity I had felt for + her, as a victim, like myself, of parental tyranny, was then turned + to contempt and disgust: she perceived the change, and soon learned + the cause, and from that time marked me as the object of her + vengeance. + + "Already a favourite with Sir Horace, she easily insinuated herself + into his affections, by continual coincidence with his opinion, and + the appearance of personal attachment; and the ascendancy once + gained, bent him entirely to her will. His anger to Ellenor, which + had been gradually subsiding, was by her revived, and artfully + fanned to the greatest height: whilst the coldness of my behaviour + was exaggerated, and imputed to the affection I still retained for + Miss Elvyn. Enraged at the bare supposition, he made his will, + restricting me from assisting one, or ever marrying the other. Not + satisfied with this, however, as your mother became seriously + indisposed, and fearing I should disregard the sacrifice of my + fortune if again at liberty; he determined to accomplish the design + he had before projected of uniting Eliza to my brother. + + "The deaths of Mr. Holly and Sir Horace, were followed, my Henry, + by your birth; nor till you are yourself a father, can you conceive + with what transports I pressed you to my bosom. In you I + anticipated a future source of happiness; and as my fondness + increased, you became with me (be not surprised, my Henry, if + chance have not yet discovered it) likewise an object of thy + mother's indifference--and hatred! But, for your sake, I buried my + sorrows in my own bosom; enduring every species of behaviour + studiously calculated to drive me to a separation; and, could I + have been assured you would have enjoyed the property after her + decease, I would not have hesitated a moment in my determination; + but too well did I know her principles to place the power in her + hands. + + "The return of my Ellenor and her infant, increased the anxiety + which preyed on my mind; though I trust, she will do justice to + her brother, in believing his heart never for an instant coincided + with the will of her father. + + "For years your mother continued the same unwearied course of + conduct; affecting an outward appearance of submission to me, and + affection to you; whilst in secret she rendered home distasteful, + and embittered every moment I was obliged to pass in her society. + + "How different the conduct of Eliza! She, though united to a man + she did not love, learned to esteem him for his virtues; cheerfully + fulfilling the duties of her station, she enjoyed the sweets of + friendship, and experienced content from internal rectitude. What a + contrast! + + "The hours I passed at the Parsonage, with friends so beloved, in + assisting to form the mind of my Henry, I need not recount; but, + comparatively happy as they were, they could not compensate for the + behaviour of your mother, which at last has forced me to an early + grave. + + "At your intercession, I consented to visit France; but receiving + intelligence Mallet had revisited Wales, I as hastily returned, and + found your mother had, indeed, renewed her acquaintance with this + her early lover! Unfeeling--insulting woman! couldst thou not stay + a few short weeks, till death had left thee free to accept the + lover of thy choice!--Yet even this I could have excused; nay, + perhaps, have pardoned: but from the private room, I heard them + exulting in the prospect of my death, and projecting plans to + deprive you, my beloved boy, of your inheritance; but the measures + I have pursued, I trust, will render Mallet's schemes abortive. + + "By this means, I likewise learned that the infant Louise had been + deserted by its equally unnatural father, who left it exposed at + the Convent gate of St. Ursule. Even your mother, for a moment, + reprobated the inhumanity of the action; till he informed her the + Abbess had received, and consented to rear the child, as a + foundling from Heaven; but whether it still existed, he knew not. + If it do, (and be it your care, my Harry, to inquire) I charge you + to assist the unfortunate girl; yet likewise respect your mother, + nor wilfully seek to raise a blush of shame on her cheek: let the + consideration, that she is your mother, induce you to pardon what + otherwise you might condemn! + + "To you she has ever preserved the appearance of maternal + affection, and, should you inherit her fortune, remember thirty + thousand pounds of it was left by her aunt, for the deserted + Louise; and to her let it be restored. But should Mallet, whose + hatred to you, I believe, is as unbounded as his influence over + her, induce her to bestow it on himself or others; forget not, my + son, she is your sister, and provide for her according to the + dictates of your own generous heart; to which, I must likewise + leave the care of my Ellenor and her son. + + "Large is the fortune you will inherit, and the years of your + minority will considerably add to it. Sir Horace ever designed to + give his Ellenor fifty thousand pounds, which sum, should she be + re-united to the worthy but misguided Howard, you can present her + with; but should her Edward still be denied the knowledge of a + father, I would have you secure to him, in addition, the estate I + purchased of Howels. + + "And now, my Henry, let me mention the subject, which, though + sinking to the grave, will still maintain the superiority of hope + in my bosom,--that the child of her I once fondly thought to have + called my own, may become your wife. With satisfaction, I have + perceived your youthful partiality for each other, and cherished + every spark of growing attachment. Yet if another should gain your + maturer affection, Heaven forbid that I should thwart your + inclination, or be the means, however indirectly, of uniting you to + a woman you could not prefer to the rest of her sex. Should you, + therefore, behold another with the eye of prepossession, at least, + regard Eliza as a sister, and give her a portion accordingly. + + "And here, my Henry, let me rest. Though scarcely can I bring + myself to resign my pen; but it must be.--Harry, dear beloved + boy--dearer far to my heart than life itself, farewell! May every + blessing this transitory state affords, fall to your lot, till we + meet in those realms where eternal happiness rewards the virtuous + and afflicted! + + "H. CORBET." + +"Surprise and concern," continued Sir Henry, as he folded up the +packet, "for some time absorbed every faculty. Again I perused the +papers, which opened a mother's character to my view, and which the +occurrences of that day had marked as too just. Yet, for what purpose +could she confine me?--had she not succeeded in obtaining the estates? +at what further then did she aim? I could not resolve the question, but +insensibly reverted to the death of my father. The bed he expired on, +was before me, my destined couch of rest. Nature revolted at the idea, +and revived, with additional poignancy, the remembrance of his last +moments. + +"'And Blond too is gone!' I cried, rising, and wildly pacing the room: +'and she who should prove the friend and guardian of her son, too +surely seeks his destruction!--But, perhaps, the will is not destroyed: +no one but Blond knew where it was placed.' + +"My mother had secured my father's keys; but some months prior to his +decease, he had presented me with one of the private room; which had my +mother known, she would, most probably, have chosen another apartment +for my confinement. + +"With a palpitating heart I unlocked the door, and hastily advanced to +the closet, where Blond had said it was deposited; but in vain I +searched; no will could I discover. + +"'Too surely, it is destroyed,' I sighed; and at that moment my ear was +saluted by the voice of my mother in the adjoining apartment, which, +indeed, was her own; and, by the familiarity of her address, soon +discovered Mallet to be her companion. I was, indeed, on the spot whence +my father mentioned overhearing a former discourse. Listening +attentively, I heard my mother say--'You are wrong, Charles. Confining +him in the room where Corbet died, is the only way to effect my purpose. +Naturally of a pensive disposition, the recollection of his father, +forced on his mind by every object, cannot fail still more to deject +him. Could I but find this accursed will, and destroy it, I should not +fear him; but as it is--there I will keep him, till I either turn his +senses, or have a fair pretence for saying he is insane; which may +answer as well. Let me once get the entire management of his estates, it +is all I desire.' + +"'I never doubted your abilities, Caroline,' said Mallet, 'but cannot +clearly comprehend how you can accuse him of insanity, when the evidence +of the servants must prove to the contrary; and as for really turning +his senses--your hopes, I am afraid, are rather too sanguine: Sir Henry +is soft in heart; not the head.--There is an easier way to settle your +pretensions. Were Sir Henry at rest with his father, no one would have a +just right to dispute the validity of the present will; which, if he +live to come of age, is a thing not at all unlikely to happen.--If he +were dead--' + +"'The entailed estates,' interrupted my mother, 'would go to the heir at +law, and I should lose eight thousand a year.--So, no more on that +subject, Sir. He is the son of Corbet, of the man I hated; but I will +not consent to embrue my hands in his blood, though I should glory in +reducing him to the state in which you left Louise!' + +"'Well, well, Caroline,' said Mallet, 'I yield: if you can accomplish +your design, far be it from me to dissuade you from it.' + +"They proceeded to settle their future plans, and I retired to the +outward apartment, in a state nearly answering my mother's wishes. + +"In the morning, Mallet brought my breakfast. I started from my seat at +his entrance; his injuries to my father, his villanous intentions toward +myself, rose on my tortured imagination, and hurried me nearly to +madness! Impelled by the phrenzy of the moment, I hurled my chair at him +with the utmost force, and levelled him with the floor! The folly of the +action, the moment I had committed it, served to restore my +recollection; for would it not aid my mother in her intentions to accuse +me of insanity? Mallet, perhaps, believed me then deranged, for, +springing on his feet, he with the greatest trepidation hurried out of +the room. He, however, took care to secure the door, and I was left to +reflect on my want of forbearance to one who, I was certain, would not +pass by the opportunity of injuring me. My prognostic was right: in less +than half an hour, my mother entered the room; her eye glanced with +secret satisfaction on the fragments of china scattered on the floor; +but, advancing to me, she haughtily asked the meaning of the outrage I +had committed? My heart swelled to agony at the question, though +certainly to have been expected. I could not avow the motive which had +instigated me.--I could not utter a falsehood: and, at last, throwing +myself on the bed, covered my face, and found a slight relief in +groans. + +"Still now do her contemptuous taunts vibrate on my ear, as she told me +my new-acquired dignities would not sit graceful on me, if I knew not +better how to sustain the character of a gentleman! + +"'They sit not easy on me, indeed, Madam,' I replied with a sigh. 'Would +to Heaven, that he who has borne them since my birth, still existed; +then should I not want a friend--a parent!' + +"'No more of this insolence, Sir,' she retorted;--'lest you make me +forget I bear that title: and remember, it is in my power to prove an +enemy!' + +"'It is indeed!' I repeated. 'I had at the moment, forgotten you gave +me birth!' + +"She darted a look of scorn and anger at me, and desiring me +henceforward to behave with the duty which became me as a son and ward, +left me again to the torments of reflection. + +"At noon, Mallet brought my dinner; and an hour after took it away, +untouched. + +"For a week I was regularly served by him, and in that time, by means of +the closet, learned that the clergyman who was present with Blond at the +reading of the will, had been presented with the Corbet living; though, +as he refused to resign the house where he had long resided, Mrs. Blond +was permitted to remain at the Parsonage, at least till a proper +opportunity should occur of turning her out: likewise, that my mother, +wishing to preserve the character she had ever maintained in the opinion +of the world, immediately granted her request, that Blond, as he had +entreated, might be interred in the same vault with my father. + +"This act of complaisance, however, was soon followed by one I little +expected. + +"On the death of Sir Horace, my father, regarding the legacy bequeathed +to Blond as far less than he had a right to expect, would have added a +considerable donation to it; but this Blond refused, and was at last, +with difficulty, prevailed on to accept a small but pleasant estate, +which adjoined the Parsonage lands. This, however, from some neglect, +for which I cannot account, but most probably from Blond's unwillingness +to receive it, had never been properly assigned to him; though the rent +was constantly paid to him, and he regarded as the owner. + +"This estate, my father, a few months before his decease, informed me he +had, with one more considerable, left in the fullest manner to his +brother. Nevertheless, my mother now reclaimed it and, as no writings +could be produced to prove it Mrs. Blond's, basely wrested from her the +principal means of her subsistence. + +"Nor did she longer delay the execution of her devices to make me appear +insane; but one morning came to the door, and gently tapping, called me +by name, entreating to be admitted. + +"'Your Ladyship,' I replied, 'has secured the means of entrance at all +times: why then demand it of me?' + +"'What does he mean?' I heard her say, in a voice of concern, to her +maid who accompanied her: 'Henry, dear Henry, I conjure you, open the +door!' + +"'If you, Madam,' I again answered, 'had intrusted me with the key, I +might have complied with your request: but at present would wish to know +for what offence I am treated as a prisoner.' + +"'Heavens! how wildly he talks!' she continued to her companion; and +with greater energy begged and entreated to be admitted: whilst every +answer I could return, was by her artifice regarded as a proof of my +insanity by her servant; who did not fail to exaggerate what she had +heard to her companions; and in a few days it was believed, that I was +actually deranged. + +"I learned the success of my mother's plan, by my usual channel of +intelligence; and for the future resolved to persevere in silence; but +it was of no avail; and some months passed, during which it was affirmed +that my confinement was from my own choice. + +"In the course of this time, I had frequently renewed my search for the +will, though without effect; but one day, in examining the contents of a +secret drawer, I discovered bank-notes to the value of seven hundred +pounds, which I made no scruple of securing; and determined, should an +opportunity offer, to leave the Hall, and put myself under the +protection of St. Ledger. + +"Providence, in this respect proved favourable; for, a few weeks after, +I was awakened in the night, by a person moaning at my door: thinking +it some new device of my mother, I disregarded it, till I heard the +voice of Thomas lamenting the supposed loss of my reason. I then +hesitated not a moment, but, springing out of bed, soon convinced him +the account he had received of me was false. This worthy servant's joy +was unbounded, and he promised to effect my liberation in the course of +a week; hinting at the same time, that he suspected his lady +participated in the disposition of Sir Horace. + +"Thomas kept his word. He soon discovered Mallet was intrusted with the +key; he therefore ventured into his room one night, and perceiving him +in a sound sleep, took the key from his pocket, lightly stepped to my +apartment, and, with an expression of joy in his countenance not to be +described, proclaimed me at liberty. + +"Little preparation was necessary; and, bidding my faithful old servant +farewell, I directed my steps to the Parsonage. + +"My aunt and Mrs. Blond immediately rose on hearing who it was; and +after a short conference, I prevailed on them to receive part of the +money I had obtained, as their income was then reduced to little more +than one hundred pounds; for Blond possessed too benevolent a +disposition ever to think of amassing money. He had truly regarded his +parishioners as his children; as such their wants ever found the +readiest relief; and to the stranger his heart, his hand, and his door +had ever been open! + +"After an affectionate adieu, I hastened to the church, where, for some +time, I indulged in an unrestrained sorrow over the ashes of my father +and Blond. + +"The appearance of day at length warned me to retire; and tearing myself +from their sacred remains, I ran to the village, where I procured a +horse, and thence directed my course toward London. + +"St. Ledger was from home; but I was received with the greatest +cordiality by his amiable wife, your beloved sister Francoise, +Louise--." + +"Sister Francoise, my brother!" cried Louise with vivacity. "Ah, pardon +my interruption: but tell me--satisfy my curiosity respecting her." + +"In a few words, Louise. St. Ledger, the man she was privately united +to, was in his youth the bosom-friend of my father: on his travels, he +saw and became enamoured of the amiable Francoise; and on her father's +refusing him her hand, prevailed on her to consent to a private +marriage. Their intercourse had continued some time, when he was +discovered by Monsieur de Colline, and the consequences which followed +were as you recited them, from the words of Sister Brigide. Francoise +was delivered of a son, who was doomed by the grandfather to an early +grave; but was preserved and secretly conveyed to St. Ledger, by the old +confident. This soon reached the knowledge of Monsieur de Colline, who +in the first paroxysm of passion, would have sacrificed her life, for +the innocent one she had preserved. He spared her, but on condition of +her taking an oath, never to divulge the retreat of Francoise to St. +Ledger, or to undeceive his daughter respecting the death of her infant; +for he well knew that whilst she supposed her child living, she would +not consent to retire from the world. Poor Francoise was deceived, and +imagining herself bereaved of both husband and offspring, gladly took +shelter from the anger and reproaches of her father and sisters, in the +Convent of St. Ursule. St. Ledger, in the mean time, after vainly +demanding his wife of her father, searched the country for some miles +round; till, imposed on by a fabulous tale of her death, he, in a state +of mind truly disconsolate, returned with his infant son to England. + +"My father went to France at the time of Monsieur de Colline's death. +The circumstances attending the liberation of Francoise were too +publicly discoursed of to escape his knowledge, and he immediately +proceeded to Rennes, where, introducing himself as the intimate friend +of her husband, she joyfully accepted his offer of escorting her to +England. + +"Francoise had written to St. Ledger, who, with an impatience equal to +his regard for this amiable woman, was hastening with his son to +France, to meet her, when my father unexpectedly presented her to his +embrace at Portsmouth, where St. Ledger was waiting for a favourable +wind, to convey him to the opposite coast. + +"Since that time their happiness has never had the least interruption; +except from the hymeneal expedition of my friend Henry. They are, +however, perfectly satisfied with his choice of a bride, who, on her +part, appears sincerely attached to the parents of her husband. + +"The elder St. Ledger, on his return in the evening, received me with +his usual friendship. To him my father had never divulged the secret of +his unhappiness; nor could I reveal it: but on his inquiring the reason +of my journey to London, I related what had passed between me and my +mother since the death of my father, and the means she had used to make +me appear insane. St. Ledger listened to my tale with complaisance; but +regarded my conduct as proceeding from youthful folly; and plainly told +me, he should sooner credit the idea of my insanity, than any thing to +the prejudice of Lady Corbet, who, he was well assured, loved me too +well, and was too just, wilfully to injure me or any one! He, however, +requested I would make his house my home as long as I remained in town; +and, at my entreaty, forbore to inform my mother where I was. The +precaution, however, was useless, as Lady Dursley accidentally saw me, +and wrote to my mother, who immediately came to London. + +"With our subsequent rencontre at Sir John's, you are already +acquainted. My mother, on her first arrival in town, designed to have +called on St. Ledger; but, understanding he was at his country seat, +deemed it unnecessary; and, having recovered her emigrant, took leave of +her friends, and reconducted me to the Hall, where, a few days after, I +was again placed in confinement. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + + +"The visits of Mr. Talton in some degree restored my liberty: but +solitude was then become my choice; my mind, by constantly dwelling on +the waywardness of my fate, became gloomy; and my wretchedness was +farther encreased, by hearing the exultations of my mother, at the +subjection to which she had reduced me. + +"Mallet, nevertheless, wished my death, under an apprehension that I +might, one day, discover the means which had been used to defraud me of +my possessions; and repeatedly endeavoured to persuade her to let him +administer such drugs as, without leaving any signs of violence, would +quickly send me to the grave.--This, however, my mother as often +opposed; and, at last declared, if I died, she would marry Talton. + +"This arrangement by no means satisfied Mallet, whose real motive, I +believe, was an idea, that if I were dead, he might persuade or terrify +her into a marriage with himself. + +"In the mean time, my mother continued her usual mode of behaviour +toward me; occasionally allowing me the liberty of rambling in the +surrounding plantations, though with two or three servants to watch me, +lest I should again attempt to escape. + +"Thus passed more than a twelve-month, when I was taken ill; I loathed +my food; my strength failed me; and repose became a stranger to my +pillow. Frequently I passed the night in pacing my room; or, when the +moon afforded sufficient light, in contemplating the venerable structure +where the ashes of my father rested, or in tracing the different haunts +where he had so often attended me in my juvenile rambles. + +"One night, as usual, I deserted my bed, my mind brooding on the ills +which might befall my Eliza and her friends, if fate should consign me +to the tomb; an event I thought very likely to happen;--restless, and +not knowing where to fly for relief, I, after some time wandering about +the chamber, unlocked the door of the private room; and, almost +unconsciously, advanced to the spot which had afforded me such a source +of unhappiness. + +"Mallet was with my mother, and I soon found a disagreement, of no +trivial nature, had taken place. + +"'--I speak more from a consideration of your safety, Lady Corbet, than +my own,' I heard him say. 'I have many resources which you have not; +and--I again repeat it--whilst Sir Henry lives, not only your property, +but your life also, is in danger: and, a moment's consideration would +make you sensible of what the consequence must be, should Mrs. Blond or +Mrs. Crawton seek the protection of Talton. They have eloquence as well +as you, nor might even their beauty vainly plead in their favour!' + +"'Charles, no more!' said my mother. 'You have instigated me thus far, +nor will I now leave half my scheme unaccomplished. If you, Sir, are so +easily intimidated--I am not! Let them seek his protection--it will be +of no avail. I have Talton too securely in my toils, to fear any +application they may make!' + +"'Perhaps not!' continued Mallet. 'I do not like trusting to a chance, +when you can proceed on a certainty. What would avail all your fine-spun +policy, if Sir Henry should ever discover the will?--Your ruin must +inevitably follow; nor will a charge of insanity then avail. With such a +proof in his favour, he will soon find friends to support him; and you +may then wish you had followed my advice. If he were dead, you would be +at least secured in your present property.' + +"'Would then he were dead!' ejaculated my mother.--'But it is impossible +he should ever discover the will; though where Corbet could put it, I +cannot think. But it must and shall be found--and soon too!' + +"Their discourse ceased; but I was too much lost in reflection to remark +it; and stood expecting its continuation, when my mother entered my +apartment. An exclamation of surprise and dismay escaped her, on +beholding the private room open, and anxiously advancing, she discovered +me, my head resting against a pilaster, and my hand pressed to my +beating temples. + +"'What mean you, Sir?--How came you here?--How dare you enter this room, +without my permission?' she angrily demanded--her eye quickly glancing +from me to every part. + +"'The same reason which brings you here, Madam,' I replied, 'first +induced me to enter: the hope and expectation of finding my father's +will.' + +"'Your father's will!' she repeated. 'What means the boy?' + +"'Not to establish my rights on a mother's destruction,' I replied: +'though most undoubtedly to do justice to those she has wronged. Oh, my +mother! in mercy, go no farther; nor thus lay up a source of +wretchedness for thy latter years. Life smiles gaily now, the meridian +of a summer's day; but recollect, that night, however late, must still +succeed. Will not my mother's soul then shrink from its glooms, and +dread to meet the record of her actions?' + +"'Knowest thou to whom thou art speaking?' she cried, darting a look of +mingled scorn and fear at me. + +"'To my mother!' I replied: 'and as such let her for once listen to me +with patience!--You must be conscious, Madam, I am not ignorant of the +measures you have pursued, to obtain the greatest part of my father's +property; neither for what reason you now regard and treat me as an +enemy. Believe me, you injure me, if you imagine that for the sake of +regaining those possessions, I should ever wish to expose you to the +censure of the world. Far from my heart be such a thought! I want not +superfluous wealth; for me the fortune inherited from my forefathers, is +amply sufficient. Freely then enjoy what you have obtained; by me you +shall never be molested. All I ask is the restoration of Blond's +property, and the society of my friends.' + +"'Wretches!' she exclaimed. 'You too, I suppose, like your father, would +foster the vagrant Ellenor! But let her, and your friends, as you call +them, beware!' + +"'She never injured you, Madam,' I cried; 'and recollect, she is the +sister of the man, to whom you bound yourself by the most solemn ties +before the face of Heaven. For myself I plead not; but as you hope for +mercy hereafter, show it to her and the unhappy Elvyns.' + +"'And art thou to prescribe to me?' she contemptuously exclaimed.--'To +your chamber this instant, Sir; I shall not apply to you for guidance: +and, as you value your existence, dare not again to give such licence to +your tongue!--Begone, Sir!' + +"I obeyed; taking the key from the door as I passed. + +"She instantly followed me, and peremptorily demanded it. + +"'Excuse me, Madam,' I replied, 'I cannot yield it. It was given me by +my father; and, as master of this mansion, I have an undoubted right to +retain it.' + +"'Master of this mansion!' she franticly repeated. 'Never whilst I +exist.--Thinkest thou I will stoop to acknowledge thy superiority?' + +"'Had I not been willing to acknowledge yours, Lady Corbet,' I answered, +'I had not thus long submitted to the restriction you have ordained; +though I do not promise much longer patiently to bear it!' + +"She regarded me with a frenzied eye--'Dost thou threaten too?--Severely +shalt thou suffer for this! This instant, Sir, deliver the key.' + +"'For God's sake, my mother,' I cried, 'do not thus oppress me: long +have I borne each ill you have inflicted, and nearly without a murmur; +in pity, then, spare me; nor thus add to the sorrows of a heart that is +already nearly broken.' + +"'No trifling, Sir; my purpose is fixed; nor, by all that is sacred, +will I be dissuaded from it! I will not be subjected to your control, or +longer kept in awe by your pretensions!' + +"'I do not wish it,' I cried; 'all I ask, is that which, if not +possessed by me, cannot devolve to you.' + +"She stamped with rage.--'The key, Sir; this moment give it me.' + +"'I have already told your Ladyship, I cannot--I will not yield it!' + +"Never before had my mother experienced such opposition from me. Her +passions, already raised by the insinuations of Mallet, hurried her +nearly to madness; she snatched a pen-knife from the table where I had +been writing, her lips quivered as she grasped my arm--'Harry--if thou +darest again refuse--thou forfeitest thy life!' + +"'Then take my life,' I cried; the tears starting to my eyes, and so +agitated that I could scarcely speak; 'when a mother seeks to destroy +it, what hand shall be raised for its preservation!--Yet think not by +depriving me of existence, to secure your safety. A charge of lunacy +may screen the action from the knowledge of the world; but there is an +all-seeing eye, Lady Corbet, that would mark it, and make you for ever +dread to meet the face of Heaven!' + +"She regarded me with an agitation, that too plainly showed the state of +her mind, then cast me from her with violence, and hurled the knife to +the further part of the room. I was hastening to secure it, when Mallet, +either for the purpose of assisting her to search for the will, or from +a motive of a darker nature, entered the chamber. He started on +beholding me, and, with a well-counterfeited surprise, asked the reason +of my being up at such an unseasonable hour? + +"'Where the assassin dwells,' I replied, 'it is requisite to watch, +instead of sleeping!' + +"'Assassin!' he repeated as he advanced; when perceiving the knife in my +hand--'What madness, Sir Henry, have you been attempting? A strait +waistcoat I believe will soon terminate your nightly exploits!' + +"My mother here informed him of her finding me in the private room, and +of my refusing to resign the key.--'A circumstance,' he significantly +returned, 'at which I am not in the least surprised. Your Ladyship will +most probably be very soon convinced, that the measures I advised were +highly requisite.' + +"My mother regarded him with an expressive countenance, but was silent, +and Mallet continued--'It is not yet too late to rectify the error; and +as I know the necessity for it, I shall take the liberty of +dispossessing Sir Henry of the means of future entrance to that +apartment.' Then addressing me--'I have no time to lose in persuasion, +young gentleman: if you do not peaceably resign the key, I shall use +effectual means to obtain it!' + +"'Never from my hands shall you receive it,' I indignantly cried: 'nor +whilst I have life will I part with it. I know the blackened purpose of +your heart too well; but Corbet still has a friend, who will deliver him +from your machinations.' + +"'What mean you by that insinuation, Sir?' he ferociously exclaimed. + +"'Look on this wasting form,' I replied, 'and let that answer +thee.--Wretch that thou art, could not thy injuries to my father satisfy +thee, but thou must also seek to destroy his son!' + +"He did not receive this imprudent accusation calmly, but seized me with +a strength I had not power to oppose.--'Since you have taxed me with +such an intention,' he exclaimed, 'it shall not be for nothing. Your +life has long been in my power, though I have weakly spared it!' + +"My mother called to him to forbear; but rage had bereaved him of all +prudence or consideration, and, wresting the pen-knife from me, he +attempted to plunge it into my bosom. + +"Quick as lightning, my mother caught his hand, and again commanded him +to desist, or she would instantly alarm the family. + +"This declaration recalled him to a sense of his own safety: he sullenly +obeyed; but at the same time asserted that the provocation he had +received, was more than sufficient to authorise what he had done; and, +with many bitter invectives, declared, my insanity should be no defence +for offering him such insults! + +"'Your excuse, Sir,' I exclaimed, 'is too absurd to pass even with a +madman; and I am not yet sufficiently bereaved of my senses, to need an +explanation of the motives which instigated you to seek my destruction!' + +"'Then I will not attempt one,' he fiercely replied; 'but boldly +say--Corbet Hall cannot--nor shall any longer contain two masters!' + +"My mother regarded him with a look of ineffable scorn.--'Surely thou +too art insane!--Know you not, Sir, where I am, no one shall claim the +title of master? and as you value my good opinion, never again dare to +entertain such an expectation.' + +"Mallet was abashed, and, after some moments pause, said--'Do I rightly +understand you, Lady Corbet?' + +"'It appears not, Sir,' answered my mother; 'or you would not thus +insolently assume the privilege of acting contrary to my injunction! But +from this time, Sir, learn that I expect implicit obedience to my will: +if not--as I have raised, you shall likewise find it is in my power to +replace you in your original obscurity!'--'To you, Sir,' addressing me, +'I shall only say, that unless you resign the key, I will immediately +bring a charge of lunacy against you: nor shall you ever again pass +beyond the walls of your present apartment!'--Then ordering Mallet to +follow her, with an air of the sternest dignity, she quitted the room. + +"Mallet knew my mother's temper too well, to irritate her, by a further +opposition to her commands; he therefore slowly directed his steps +toward the door, when perceiving she was beyond hearing, he turned to me +in a menacing manner--'Next time we meet, young man, your life shall +surely pay the forfeit for this night's adventure!' + +"He closed the door; leaving me in a state of wretchedness surpassing +aught I had then experienced. To resign the key, was to yield the only +means by which, as I imagined, I could ever hope to obtain my father's +will; and would be consigning not only myself, but my aunt, Mrs. Blond, +and all who were dear to me, to ruin!--To retain it--or indeed to remain +where I was, would be equally destructive; for Mallet, I doubted not, +would keep his word. + +"I stood for some time nearly stupified with horror. 'Is no resource +left to save me?' I at last sighed, advancing to the window. The morning +had dawned, and a gypsey I had two or three times spoken to, was +crossing the lawn toward the house. To me he came the angel of +deliverance; and, allowing myself scarcely a moment's consideration, I +broke a square of glass--for the windows were too well secured to admit +of my opening them---and called to him. + +"He heard me, and immediately approached; when tying five guineas in my +handkerchief, I threw it to him, and briefly telling him my situation, +promised him twenty more if he would aid me to escape. + +"He declared himself willing to assist me; but that he knew not how to +effect my liberation. No time, I was certain, was to be lost; I +therefore directed him to an outhouse, whence he procured a ladder, +which he placed against the window, and breaking another square of +glass, severed the wood-work that divided them; with some difficulty I +got through, and thus, once more, found myself at liberty! + +"I gave him his promised reward, and hastened, as fast as my feeble +state would admit, to the Parsonage; where my aunt and Mrs. Blond, on +hearing what had passed, urged me instantly to fly; but not choosing to +put the friendship of St. Ledger again to a trial, or knowing where else +to go, my aunt advised my seeking the protection of her Howard, whose +generous heart, and the remembrance of his Ellenor, she doubted not, +would render him favourable to my suit. + +"You were then at Yarmouth; for my aunt had constant intelligence of +your destinations from the time of your quitting Brighthelmstone; and +refusing the money she would have forced me to accept, I set out on foot +for Hay. But my escape was already discovered. Mallet, early in the +morning, entered my room, and finding me gone, immediately dispatched +the servants in pursuit of me. + +"This I learned from old Owen, and was again obliged to have recourse to +the gypsey, who, knowing the urgency of the moment, refused the offer of +my clothes for his, without a considerable gratuity. It was not a time +to argue or deliberate; I therefore paid his demand, and soon found +myself in rags, and with something less than three guineas. I, however, +travelled in safety, though reduced to some distress from the lowness of +my purse, and at last reached the spot, where the benevolence of my +friend Frederick relieved me from apprehended danger. + +"I was beginning to recover my tranquillity, when the appearance of Mr. +Talton drove me from your protection:--of my subsequent rencounter with +the smugglers, I have already informed you. After my escape from them, I +worked my passage to Cardigan; where, anxious to see my aunt and Eliza, +I proceeded immediately for the Parsonage, secure, as I thought, in my +sailor's habit. The appearance of Mallet drove me to the cottage of +Owen, who informed me of the report circulated of my death, and that +you, Mr. Talton, had previously to your going to Holland, in my mother's +name, demanded of Mrs. Blond, the back rents of the lands, my father +had attached to the Parsonage, and which my mother had already torn from +her possession." + +"'I now,' said Mr. Talton, 'take shame to myself for the action, to +which I was instigated by Lady Corbet, who informed me, Mrs. Blond had +in her house a woman the late Sir Henry had kept previously to his +marriage, and on whom he had since lavished immense sums; that, to +reward Blond for affording her his countenance, he had allowed him the +free rent of the lands; likewise, that she suspected Mrs. Blond was +endeavouring to inveigle you, Sir Henry, into a marriage with her +daughter. I cannot say this account agreed with the characters I ever +received of Mr. and Mrs. Blond; but such was my affection for your +mother, that I still retained the opinion she had impressed me with. She +did not, she said, want the money; but being certain they were the +instigators of your elopement, she wished to have them removed to a +greater distance, but knew no other means to effect it, without exposing +the conduct of the late Sir Henry, which she would willingly avoid. On +going to the parsonage, I was introduced to a lady I had never before +seen: the beauty of her face and figure, added to the extreme shyness +and embarrassment with which she received me, induced me to think she +was the mistress your mother had mentioned; and I am sorry to say, I +behaved to her with a harshness and severity, I am now convinced she +did not deserve; but I should sooner have discredited the evidence of my +senses, than the word of your mother; and scarcely, indeed, can I +believe them, in the discovery this day has afforded! But, I beg pardon, +Sir Henry; pray proceed.'" + +"Alarmed at the intelligence I received," continued Sir Henry, "I +hastened to the Parsonage, and found it deserted by all but Mary, who +confirmed the truth of old Owen's report: and that, on the news arriving +of my death, they had been obliged to fly, as Mallet had threatened to +send them to gaol. Mary wept as she gave me the relation of their +distress, and at last said--'Ah! Sir Henry, would to Heaven you had +never left the Hall; for I heard old Thomas tell my Lady, if you had +staid, and thought of the pannel, all had been well; they should not now +have had to regret your death, or been unjustly driven on a merciless +world, to seek their maintenance.' + +"Mary knew not the meaning of what she uttered, but, quick as lightning, +it brought to my recollection a pannel which concealed a small cavity in +a closet adjoining the library. There, I doubted not the will was +placed! The woman my father loved, my aunt, her Edward, and her on whose +happiness I then found mine depended, were wandering without support: +and the idea determined me, regardless of the consequence which must +ensue, should I be discovered, to venture beneath the roof I so lately +fled from! + +"Favoured by the night, I entered by the servants offices, and got, +unperceived, through the library to the closet. Mary had provided me +with a small dark lanthorn, and, with some difficulty I opened the +cavity; but again was doomed to disappointment; it was vacant! With an +aching heart I closed the pannel, and was going to leave the closet, +when my mother and Mallet entered the library. They discoursed on the +improvement of an estate he had purchased for my mother a few weeks +before; till Mr. Talton's name was casually mentioned, when he asked if +she really designed to marry him? and, on her answering in the +affirmative, he endeavoured to dissuade her from it, and to prevail on +her to bestow her hand on himself. + +"'I love you, Charles,' she answered, 'and believe your sentiments are +reciprocal; but will never put it in your power to controul me. I am now +mistress of a noble fortune; and you are welcome to partake of it, even +if increased by that of Talton. Cease then to repeat the only request I +wish to refuse you; and rest satisfied with the title of my lover.' + +"He still urged his suit, still she peremptorily forbade the subject, +and reverted to the newly-purchased estate; he soon after retired to his +office, and my mother entered the closet where I was, for the purpose of +writing. Never was surprise and horror greater than that expressed on +her countenance at beholding me: scarcely could her trembling hand +retain the light which exposed the features of a son to her view.--'It +is the phantom of the drowned Corbet!' she at length faintly screamed. +'Approach me not! Help--help!' + +"'No, Madam,' I exclaimed, 'your son still lives! and you may now glory +in having reduced him to the state, in which your lover deserted +Louise.' + +"I rushed by her, hearing the servants approaching; escaped into the +garden, and, scaling the wall, retraced my steps to Cardigan; every hope +lost of discovering the will, or ever being restored to my rights. +Cooler reflection, however, offered a different interpretation to the +words of Mary, to what I had at first imagined they implied; and I +thought it not impossible, but even probable, that Thomas had discovered +the will (as he actually had), and conveyed it to my aunt and Mrs. +Blond. But where to trace them--I knew not. I was moneyless, and +certainly in danger of being discovered by my mother; and the same +precaution they must use to elude the knowledge of Mr. Talton; would, I +feared, as effectually conceal them from me. For some days, however, I +endeavoured to gain intelligence of them, but in vain; and the powerful +demands of hunger, at last, compelled me to engage as a common sailor in +a merchantman trading to Havre-de-Grace; where, disgusted with the +Captain, I left the vessel, and, having an ardent desire to know if my +deserted sister was in existence, I travelled on foot to Rennes. My +adventures there--my rescue of Louise, I have already related; till the +period when Providence directed my steps to L'Orient, where, impelled +again by necessity, I engaged to serve in a vessel destined with others +to Pondicherry. The day after we reached St. Helena, you, Captain +Howard, also arrived there, and fortune, there wearied of persecuting +me, not only restored me to your friendship, but discovered to me a +sister, endeared to my heart by her misfortunes, before a personal +knowledge made me love her for her virtues; yet the recollection of past +events, forced continually to mind by her striking resemblance to my +mother, preyed on my heart. I again sunk under it; and, but for the +attentions of you, my friends, should most probably, ere this period, +have left my mother the lawful possessor of the fortune she now +illegally holds." + +"Thank Heaven, my prayers were heard for the preservation of your +existence:" said Louise: "though, had you, my brother, entrusted me with +the secrets you have this day disclosed, Louise would have been your +comforter, and, by sharing your griefs, have lightened the sorrow which +oppressed you." + +"Say, rather, have added to it, my dear girl;" said Sir Henry, "from +the consciousness of having rendered you as unhappy as myself: and but +for the discovery of last night, this of to-day would never have taken +place. For the friends we here found, I wished the recovery of my +fortune; as indeed with them the means rested: and, had not Providence +conducted us to them, should never on my own account oppose her, who, +whatever are her failings,--is still my mother!" + +The company here unanimously joined in thanking Sir Henry for the +elucidation of the mysteries which had perplexed them. + +"Yet has he not related every particular," said Ellenor, smiling. "He +might have added, that since the deaths of his father and Blond, his +hand has not only sustained Ellenor and her son, but the descendants of +Sir James Elvyn. + +"On your second emigration, my Henry, your mother, not being able to +discover you, turned the effects of her rage against us, and sent a +peremptory demand, by Mr. Talton, for the back-rents. This message, +which portended our ruin, threw us into the utmost consternation; +though, had I entertained a suspicion the lover of Lady Corbet was the +former friend of my Howard, I should not have hesitated a moment in +discovering myself to him, and appealing to the rectitude of his own +principles against the injustice and inhumanity of the claim. Your +mother, however, at that time, went to London, and Mr. Talton +accompanying her, in some degree freed us from our fears of immediate +distress; but the following morning, Mallet, attended by an officer, +entered the room whilst we were at breakfast, and arrested Mrs. Blond +for three and twenty hundred pounds, the amount of the rent for +seventeen years.--Nor was my unhappy friend treated with either respect +or mercy, but, on declaring her inability to discharge the debt, +instantly hurried away to confinement. + +"To sue for lenity, I was certain would be in vain, I therefore +(trusting to Sir Henry's friendship, to redress the injury,) paid the +money; consisting of my father's legacy to Blond, which had hitherto +been preserved for Eliza, and the money Sir Henry had supplied me with, +for my Edward's maintenance at the University. + +"Lady Corbet, however, was determined on forcing us from Caermarthen; +for, a few weeks after, we were privately informed by a servant from the +Hall, that he had overheard Mallet threatening to arrest both me and +Mrs. Blond, as joint tenants, for the rent of the parsonage since the +death of Blond, and from Mr. Talton's name being likewise mentioned, he +was induced, he said, to think that gentleman concerned in the +business.--This relation, added to the late occurrence, considerably +affected the health of Hannah; and she earnestly entreated her sister to +leave the Parsonage, and seek a surer asylum at the house of Lieutenant +Booyers, at least till we should hear from Sir Henry. Mrs. Blond readily +acceded to the proposal, and, writing for my Edward to return, we +prepared for our departure. + +"At that time Thomas returned from Cornwall, where he had been sent some +time before Sir Henry's elopement; and on being informed of that +circumstance, and our sentiments respecting Lady Corbet, he declared he +had supported my brother, when he took his will from the private room, +and placed it in the recess of his closet; but ever supposed it had been +the same which was produced after his decease. He undertook to procure +it; but could not accomplish his design, till the day previous to Lady +Corbet's return; the library being shut up, and Mallet in possession of +the keys: an opportunity then presented itself, of entering unperceived, +and he found the will, indeed, where my brother had placed it. He +immediately brought it to me; when every ardent hope, the discovery had +raised, was destroyed, by the report of Sir Henry's death. Thomas's +dislike to Lady Corbet being greatly increased by the knowledge of this +action, he determined to follow my fortunes, and attach himself to my +son as his future master. We accordingly proceeded to Lieutenant +Booyers, where the amiable Hannah--her gentle spirit broken by repeated +afflictions--sunk beneath this last misfortune, and, a few weeks after, +found a refuge from her sorrows in the grave. + +"We were yet mourning her loss, when we were alarmed by Susan informing +us, she had seen you, Mr. Talton, alight at the inn.--Not doubting but +that you were in pursuit of us, we ordered a carriage from the adjoining +village, and prepared again for flight. On Booyers' return with Ellen, +being made acquainted with the emergency of our situation, he consented +to accompany us, and we thus set out--Providence our guide--to seek a +future habitation. Heaven conducted us to this spot, where happiness has +once more become an inmate of my bosom; and where justice, I hope, by +the hand of my Howard, will re-establish Sir Henry in the possessions of +which he has been defrauded." + +"My obligations to Sir Henry, on your account, my Ellenor," said the +Captain, "I can never sufficiently acknowledge; indeed every action or +account but heightens my admiration and regard. Let me then know, my +young friend, how you wish to proceed--and command my fortune and +interest." + +"It is now the subject to be considered," said Sir Henry. "Violent +measures we cannot pursue. The will my mother produced is forged: think +then what must be the consequence, if I commence a process of law +against her. No--rather let me rest satisfied with the entailed estates. +I would wish to appoint you my guardian, for the remainder of my +minority: my mother, at her decease, may perhaps be just: if +not--whilst blessed with the friendship of those I so highly esteem, and +as I trust with the hand and affection of Eliza, I shall not only have +sufficient to fulfil my father's request, but to enjoy every comfort of +life: its luxuries I am content to dispense with." + +"I cannot agree to this arrangement," said Mr. Talton: "and if you, Sir +Henry, will allow me to be joint guardian with Captain Howard, I may, +perhaps, be able to re-establish you in your rights, without the aid of +the law." + +Sir Henry readily consented, on condition that his mother was not +exposed. + +"That, Sir Henry," continued Mr. Talton, "I shall carefully avoid. My +affection to your mother, first founded on personal attractions, was +confirmed only by the appearance of every virtue. Think, then, what must +be my sentiments, at the discovery of her real character. I shall +respect your feelings, my amiable young friends, nor forget that she is +your mother: but these proofs of her duplicity, have raised a sentiment +of indignation, perhaps not altogether excusable, against the woman for +whom I so lately avowed an ardent attachment: but sooner will I tear the +dearest hope, the richest prospect of happiness my fancy could pourtray +from my heart, than be an accomplice in wronging her already too much +injured offspring! + +"Misled by her insinuations, I regarded the late Sir Henry as a tyrant, +and her son, as a youth of sordid unsocial principles! I am +undeceived--and here avow myself the supporter of his cause. Lady Corbet +shall find, that when led into an error, Talton is neither ashamed to +acknowledge it, nor to make reparation as far as lies in his power! Nor +do I think it will prove an improper punishment to her, to be deprived +of her ill-obtained wealth, by the man she pretended affection to, and +would have accepted, with no other view than to increase it. But whether +I succeed or not in this act of justice, you, Sir Henry, shall ever find +a father in me!" + +Sir Henry returned his acknowledgements for the regard Mr. Talton +professed; and began to cherish a hope, that all would yet terminate to +his satisfaction. The re-appearance of Mrs. Blond added to the pleasure +which prevailed: only the bosom of Louise sometimes heaved a sigh, at +the disappointment of the ideas she had cherished, of being restored to +the arms of a mother. + +The messenger returning with the licence, arrangements were commenced +for the approaching nuptials. The Captain wished to have secured his +Ellenor an ample competence, independent of himself: but she refused the +jointure, telling him, with a smile, she would not be restricted to a +part of his fortune. They, therefore, agreed to dispense with the +delays of the law, and appointed the following day for their re-union: +after which, they proposed to proceed to Mr. Talton's, and there wait +the return of Lady Corbet. + +Enlivened by genuine gaiety, the hours passed imperceptibly; and the +ensuing morning, Ellenor, for the second time, gave her hand to the man +she loved: and the transports of the Captain on the occasion, showed how +highly he prized the gift. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + + +A few days after the marriage, they bade adieu to the humble roof, which +had so many months afforded them a secure asylum; presenting the stock +on the farm, and the furniture, to the peasant, who, with his wife, had +proved themselves zealous and faithful servants. + +By pleasant journeys, Sir Henry and his friends proceeded toward the +seat of Mr. Talton, which, as he had informed the Captain, adjoined to +the Corbet estate.--On approaching the Parsonage, Edward, who was +conversing with his father, checked the pace of his horse, and, pointing +it out to his observation, said,--"I can scarcely, my dear Sir, express +the pleasure I feel in this return to the scenes of my earlier days. How +often have I trodden the spot we are now passing, and plucked the wild +heath from its native soil--gayly carolling as the lark soaring over our +heads, unconscious of evil, and a stranger to sorrow! Here, too, the +worthy Blond, and my generous uncle, would often join Sir Henry and +myself, in our boyish amusements; and whilst we inhaled health from the +mountain breeze, would, from each object and incident, mix instruction +with our pastime. Here, too, I last beheld one of the fairest of +nature's creation----." + +"Which circumstance," said the Captain, with a smile, "I believe, my +son, you remember with as much regret as pleasure. I have, Edward, from +the time I first beheld you, imagined your cheerfulness to be forced. +Your mother, too, has observed it; and I have wished for the +opportunity, which now offers, of inquiring the cause? Make me your +confident; nor think, in unbosoming yourself, it is to a rigid censor, +but to a father, whose anxiety for your happiness equals--and perhaps +exceeds your own." + +"I doubt not your indulgence, my dear Sir," answered Edward, after a +slight hesitation: "your heart, I am certain, will afford an excuse for +the wanderings of mine. I have, as you justly observed, affected a +gaiety I am far from feeling, or hope ever again to experience." + +"Can you despond," said the Captain still smiling, "with such an example +as the loves of your parents before you? But who is the fair-one, who +has thus gained your affections, and at the same time reduced you to +despair?--Is she above your hopes, or in a state of life too far beneath +you?" + +"Your questions, my father," answered Edward, "add to my distress: I +know not who she is? Her state in life, if I may judge from her +appearance, is equal--if not superior--to my own." + +"And when, Edward," asked the Captain more seriously, "did you first see +this object of your regard? Some acquaintance, I suppose, must have +existed--you could not, I imagine, become enamoured merely from seeing a +fair face?" + +"My acquaintance," said Edward, "if it deserve that epithet, with this +truly beloved girl, began nearly three years since. I was returning, +with some of my fellow-collegians, from an evening's excursion, toward +our college; when a horse, on which was a lady, approached with a +rapidity fright only could occasion: the impulse of humanity hurried me +to her assistance: I caught at the rein, at the moment when, +overpowered by terror, she quitted her hold, and fell senseless to the +ground. I failed in my attempt to stop the affrighted animal, who darted +along with the utmost velocity; but fortunately so far broke the fall of +his lovely burthen, that she received no material hurt. I raised her +from the ground, and recollection was returning, when a gentleman, +followed by his servant, rode up to us; but, to my great astonishment, +instead of expressing any concern at the accident, or inquiring if the +lovely object I held in my arms had sustained any injury, he broke into +violent exclamations of rage at her mismanagement of her steed, and +declared she would only have received her due reward, if she had broken +her neck! I could not listen to him with patience, but sharply told +him--I should have supposed he designed her to meet the fate he had +mentioned, by his trusting her on an animal, more fit for the hands of a +horse-breaker than a lady. + +"'And who, Sir,' he vociferated, 'asked your opinion of the matter? +Cease your impertinence, or talk to your fellows! For you, Madam, you +shall ride this horse for six months to come: and, if you dare, repeat +this day's behaviour!' + +"He then commanded the servant to ride after the horse; in the mean time +I endeavoured to encourage the weeping girl, who, however, was too much +terrified by the menaces of her father, for such he was, to pay much +attention to me. + +"The horse had been stopped by some farmers; and, on the servant's +returning with it, her father peremptorily commanded her to +re-mount.--'Dear--dear father,' she cried, wringing her hands, 'do not +insist on it;--pray let me walk.' + +"'Get up this instant,' he replied, 'and do not irritate me, or my whip +shall enforce your obedience!'--He was going to execute his threat, when +I lifted his trembling daughter on the saddle, and, taking hold of the +bridle, told my companions I would soon rejoin them, then, begging her +to dispel her apprehensions, for I would guide her horse, led it by the +side of her father's. + +"She looked her thanks for my care, whilst a faint smile played through +her tears; nor was my precaution useless, as the frequent starts of the +frightened animal plainly showed he would again have hurried his lovely +mistress into danger, if he had not been restrained by a more powerful +hand. + +"Her father, as his passion subsided, I believe, became more conscious +of her danger; for when we had proceeded nearly a mile, he stopped, and, +alighting, commanded the servant to change the saddles; the man obeyed +with alacrity, and in a few minutes had the satisfaction of seeing her +on her father's horse; that gentleman mounting the runaway steed; then, +with more politeness than I expected from his preceding behaviour, he +thanked me for the attention I had shown his daughter: and wishing me +good evening, bowed and proceeded on his way. I remained on the spot, my +eyes directed after them, till they quitted the road, when I slowly +retraced my way to the college. + +"This incident remained, with the image of the lovely girl, impressed +for some time on my mind; but in vain I visited every place of public +amusement, or inquired amongst my acquaintance, no one knew the person I +described. + +"Time had nearly effaced the circumstance from my mind, when I received +my mother's letter, enjoining me to return to the Parsonage. I obeyed, +and, the day after my arrival, was going to the cottage of Owen, for the +purpose of meeting Thomas, when, on approaching the spot we have now +passed, I beheld three females, and as many children; one, who appeared +by her dress to be superior to the others, was seated on a ridge of +rock, caressing the infants; one appeared a servant, and the other, by +the loudness of her exclamations and thanks, I discovered to be an +object of charity, whom the beneficence of the first had relieved. I +approached, and with surprise beheld the features of her I had formerly +assisted; but, gracious Heaven, how was every charm improved! She as +instantly recalled me to remembrance, and, with a blush which heightened +every beauty, rose to return my salutation. At that moment I forgot the +purport of my walk--my mother--all but the lovely object before me. In +answer to my expressions of surprise, at meeting her in such an +unfrequented place, she informed me, she was on a visit to a relation of +her mother, who resided not more than two miles off; then, in terms as +elegant as language could express, or gratitude inspire, she thanked me +for the assistance I had formerly afforded her; enumerated each little +circumstance of the adventure, and again repeated her thanks. They led +to other subjects: the woman and her children retired toward the +village, and the time passed imperceptibly, till her maid warned her it +was time to return to the house of her friend. I would have escorted +her; but she declined my offer, adding--'As I informed you, I am under +the care of a relation, whose ideas of propriety are too rigidly severe, +to let her pardon such a liberty, should I grant it: and I think you, +who so humanely saved my life, would not wish, even for a moment, to +render that life unpleasant or unhappy.' + +"I could urge no farther, and with a smile which nearly compensated for +her refusal, she presented her hand as she bade me farewell.--My peace +fled with her! Each look, each word, her vivacity, the animation which +sparkled in her eyes, were all impressed on my heart--and too deeply to +be ever effaced! + +"The moment she disappeared from my sight, I regretted that I had not +asked her name; hope, however, whispered I might soon again behold her, +and, after vainly endeavouring to catch a glimpse of her between the +distant trees, I recalled to mind the cottage of Owen, to which I then +directed my steps. Thomas soon joined me, and with the highest +exultation of joy, informed me he had obtained the will of my deceased +uncle! I hugged the worthy old man in my arms, and with quicker steps +than I went, returned with him to the Parsonage. + +"The transports of my mother and Mrs. Blond nearly equalled those of +Thomas, and joyfully did we anticipate the return of Sir Henry, and his +restoration to the honours of his house: but short-lived was our +promised happiness! The next morning Thomas returned, and with the +bitterest exclamations of sorrow, delivered the account of his death. + +"Wretched indeed were the moments which succeeded this intelligence; +for, in him, we had lost our only protector against the wiles of Lady +Corbet: the return of Mr. Talton added to our apprehensions, and the +next morning we privately quitted the Parsonage. My expectation and hope +of again beholding this enchanting girl, were thus destroyed: in my mind +she is ever present; but, from that period I have never beheld her." + +"Your heart, Edward," said the Captain after a pause, "I am afraid, has +been too susceptible: yet my love for your mother was as sudden, and +equalled that of yours for this fair Unknown. You are, however, returned +to the most probable place to gain intelligence of her; if, as she said, +she have relations residing so near Mr. Talton. Seek and inquire after +her; and if you find--and she prove worthy of you, neither fortune, nor +your father's consent, shall be wanted to ensure your happiness." + +Edward thanked his father with a vivacity he had rarely before shown; +adding--"Often have I wished to acquaint my mother with my predilection +for this Unknown, and intreat her permission to seek her; but, the +difficulties we have been involved in, her fear of being discovered, +and her superior fear that I should quit her maternal arms to seek a +father (whom I knew not, till the report of Sir Henry's death, to be in +existence), has repeatedly checked the confidence I ever designed to +place in her." + +They continued conversing, till Mr. Talton inquired the cause of their +desertion; when they hastened to rejoin him, and soon after arrived at +the seat of that gentleman; where they received intelligence that Lady +Corbet had returned to the Hall the preceding day. + +She had, indeed, been informed, when near London, by a gentleman, whom +she accidentally met, and who was personally acquainted with Sir Henry, +of his seeing him at Bristol with Captain Howard; she, therefore, gave +up the idea of going to London, and immediately proceeded to Bristol, +where she learned, the Captain had some time since gone on an excursion +into the country; but to what part no one could inform her. Perplexed at +this account, and fatigued with her journey, she resigned her first +intention of pursuing Sir Henry, and resolved to return to the Hall; as +the vigilance of Mr. Talton, she doubted not, would soon recover her +son, without her immediate assistance in the search. To her great +astonishment, a few days after, she was informed Sir Henry was a +visitant at Mr. Talton's; and, unable to reconcile the circumstance with +that gentleman's professions of attachment to herself, wrote to him, to +request the favour of an interview. + +"I shall certainly comply with her Ladyship's desire," said Mr. Talton, +on perusing her note; "as I hope, by alarming her with a pretended +recourse to justice, I shall induce her to resign the estates of Sir +Henry; and, as witnesses may be proper, shall beg the attendance of you, +Howard, and Lieutenant Booyers." + +These gentlemen readily assented; but before they were prepared for +their departure, perceived her Ladyship's equipage advancing up the +avenue. Sir Henry started on beholding it. + +"Would to Heaven," he cried, "this interview were over! I think, Mr. +Talton, I had better retire." + +"Louise, my love," said Harland, "let me conduct you to your apartment. +Your pallid looks convince me, an interview with your mother ought not +now to take place." + +"No, Harland," answered Louise, "let me stay. Long have I ardently +wished to be blessed with the sight of her who gave me being; to hear +the voice of a parent, though circumstances forbid my hoping to receive +a blessing: then, I entreat you, let me stay. Believe me, if I tremble, +it is for her; unprepared to answer so serious an accusation; to meet +those she has so greatly injured!" + +Harland reluctantly consented. + +"You can stay, my dear girl," said Mrs. Blond; "but, as my presence is +not necessary, I shall beg leave to accompany Sir Henry:" and a servant +then announcing the arrival of their visitant, she took Sir Henry by the +arm, and hastily quitted the room. + +With that innate elegance which marked her demeanour, Lady Corbet +entered the drawing-room: the appearance of such an unexpected party, +for a moment checked the smile which played on her lips; but, quickly +recovering herself, she informed Mr. Talton of the report which had +reached her, and begged to know if Sir Henry were actually under his +roof, or if it were the appearance of the youth she beheld, which gave +rise to the rumour? + +"I do not wonder at your Ladyship's perceiving the resemblance of +Captain Howard's son to Sir Henry," said Mr. Talton; "it is indeed an +uncommon one. But this young gentleman is too well known in these parts, +although you, Madam, never before beheld him, to be mistaken for Sir +Henry, who, as you have been informed, is certainly in my house. It was +my intention to have waited on your Ladyship, as I have a circumstance +of some importance to unfold: the present period, however, may answer as +well; and, as Sir Henry has chosen me his joint-guardian with Captain +Howard, we will, if you please, come to the point at once." + +Lady Corbet bowed, and Mr. Talton continued--"Disagreeable is the task I +have imposed on myself: but, as I think it my duty to make reparation, +as far as lies in my power, for the injuries I have, however +unintentionally, committed; your Ladyship must pardon me for espousing a +cause, which will prove so detrimental to yourself." + +"I cannot comprehend, Mr. Talton," interrupted Lady Corbet, "to what you +allude; and will thank you to come, as you said, to the point at once. +My son, you inform me, has chosen you his guardian: I would wish to know +from what motive; or what induced you to accept the trust?" + +"To reinstate him in his rights, Lady Corbet," answered Mr. Talton; "of +which, I am sorry to say, you have deprived him." + +"This is an accusation, Sir," said Lady Corbet, haughtily rising, "you +have no right to make; and an insult I did not expect from you." + +"I do not wish to discompose you, Madam," said Mr. Talton, coolly; "pray +be seated. This accusation, though of a most serious nature, is not the +only one I have to offer. Injuries designed against myself I can pardon; +but, not those you wished to make me the instrument of committing toward +others. But this is deviating from the principal charge--your Ladyship, +I presume, is conscious the will produced, and by which you hold the +possessions of the late Sir Henry, is a false one?" + +"I can now pardon the treatment I have received," answered Lady Corbet, +recovering her composure. "My unhappy son, I perceive, has been relating +a tale, originating in his own distempered imagination: yet, surely, you +might have acted with greater delicacy, than to accuse me thus in +company, even had you, my friend, supposed the improbable account to be +true." + +"It is past supposition, Lady Corbet," said Mr. Talton: "proofs have +confirmed its truth. As for Sir Henry being insane, the idea is absurd: +although, I acknowledge, the treatment he received at your hands, was +more than sufficient to have deprived an indifferent person of their +senses, much less a son, who ought to have expected a different conduct +in his mother!" + +"Conduct!" repeated Lady Corbet. "I know not, Sir, what you would +insinuate: but my conduct as a mother, and in every respect, will bear +any scrutiny you can make!" + +"It must soon be brought to the proof," said Mr. Talton; "though I +greatly fear it will not stand the test!" + +"What mean you, Sir!" exclaimed Lady Corbet, exalting her voice. "I +would not have you imagine, because I have demeaned myself, by +permitting an intimacy, that you are authorised to treat me with this +freedom! Lady Corbet, Sir, believe me, will not be insulted with +impunity!" + +"Have you not deserved this treatment, Lady Corbet?" asked Mr. Talton +solemnly. "Nay more!--Look round this circle--here are more than one to +prove the injustice of your conduct. This Lady, you falsely informed me, +your husband kept previously to his marriage--an abandoned mistress: +and, as such, did you not drive his sister destitute on the +world?--Demeaned by my acquaintance!--There sits a living proof of that +existing between yourself and the Steward of your father. This young +lady was left an infant at Rennes, nearly twenty years since, by +Mallet; and is, as I have been informed, the daughter of her whom I am +now addressing, and entitled to the sum of thirty thousand pounds, +bequeathed in trust to you, by the late Miss Louisa Holly! I mention +these circumstances, Madam, just to convince you--" + +"Spare--spare my mother!" shrieked Louise, wringing her hands, "I want +no fortune! Force not a parent's curses on my head!" + +"Compose yourself, my Louise," said the alarmed Harland; "and let +consideration for your husband calm these transports!"--But, breaking +from his arms, she threw herself at the feet of the apparently +horror-stricken Lady Corbet; clasped her hand to her bosom, and, faintly +murmuring--"Oh my mother!" sunk insensible on the floor. + +She was immediately conveyed from the room by her husband, followed by +Mrs. Howard, Ellen, and Eliza. Mr. Talton's agitation, which he in vain +strove to conquer, prevented his immediately proceeding; but, the +Captain perceiving Lady Corbet recovering from her surprise, said, + +"I believe, Madam, you will no longer wonder at Mr. Talton's becoming, +with me, the guardian of your son; who, at length, has consented to +commit his cause to the decision of justice: and, the ensuing term, will +commence a suit, which, I am afraid, will render you an object of +abhorrence in every worthy heart." + +"And who art thou?" asked Lady Corbet, scornfully, "or by what right +dare you impute these crimes to me--or threaten me with an appeal to +justice? The estates--the property I hold--are mine; nor can you deprive +me of them. By the will of my husband I hold them; and, protected by the +law, I will enjoy them!" + +"The will you hold them by, Madam," repeated Mr. Talton, "is a false +one! and so it shall be proved, to your utter confusion!" + +"Assuredly," cried Lady Corbet, "I ought to discredit my senses, which +tell me it is Talton who addresses me; or, you, perhaps, my good friend, +are affected by the phantasms of your new ward! I can prove him insane +from the evidence of my servants; think then, what weight his accusation +will have in a court of judicature!--But, if the will, which awarded +this property to me, be false--where, Sir, is the real one?--Produce +it!--and by that, if you can, prove the illegality of my tenure!" + +"As I told you, Madam," said Talton, "neither proofs--nor witnesses, +substantial ones too, are wanting. To oblige Sir Henry, who does not +forget you are his mother, though you have proved unmindful of that tie, +I should have waited on you, that you might not be unprepared for the +charge: for there are many circumstances, too tedious to be now +discussed, which must be explained in a court of justice! The real will +of the late Sir Henry is found, and now in my possession: from whence it +will pass to that of the Lord Chancellor; together with a packet, +likewise of your husband's writing, containing an account of your +proceedings and conversations with your favourite, Mallet; which he +overheard, by means of a closet in the private room adjoining your +apartment; and by which means, the present Sir Henry is likewise well +informed of every artifice you have used to make him appear insane, and +your intentions to have destroyed the will, could you have discovered +it!" + +He was prevented from proceeding, by the horror which appeared in the +countenance of Lady Corbet. An universal trembling seized her frame, +and, had not the Captain supported her, she would have sunk on the +floor: he replaced her on the settee, and when she had in some degree +recovered from this agitation of guilt and fear, he said:--"A candid +confession on your part, Lady Corbet, with the restoration of the +property bequeathed Sir Henry, by his father, are the only means to +avoid the ruin which threatens you. It is not my wish, nor Mr. Talton's, +far less Sir Henry's, to bring his mother to a public trial; but +justice, either by your hand or ours, shall be rendered him! If you +refuse to afford it him--all shall be discovered!" + +"All is discovered!" cried Lady Corbet, distractedly. "But never shall +Henry triumph over me, in a court of justice! No--sooner shall my own +hand plunge me into eternity!" + +"Little are you prepared for so serious a change," said Talton. "You may +fly from the accusations of a son, but would meet those of a husband, +injured in every respect, before a Being from whom there is no escape: +and whose justice, though blended with mercy, is equal to his power! +Rather, Lady Corbet, endeavour to atone for your past actions, and by a +life of repentance, seek that mercy, you at present so little deserve!" + +This address, delivered in a manner, equally solemn and affecting, +appeared to increase the horror of Lady Corbet. + +"Louise, too;" she faintly articulated;--"would I had not seen her! But +no matter, there is still a resource!"--She burst into tears; then, +after a moment's pause, hastily continued--"I presume, Sir, you have +nothing farther to communicate, and I am now at liberty to depart?" + +Mr. Talton bowed, and ringing the bell, Lady Corbet, in a state +approaching nearly to derangement, followed the servant to her carriage, +and returned to the Hall. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + + +Mr. Talton silently paced the room, some minutes after her departure; he +had gained the triumph over his feelings in this interview, but, he +felt, too dearly, and would cheerfully have resigned half of his +fortune, had Lady Corbet proved herself as amiable as he formerly +thought her. He was soon joined by all the party, except Louise, who was +too ill to leave her apartment; and Sir Henry being anxious to know the +particulars of the interview, requested him to recount what had passed. +Mr. Talton instantly complied. + +"Forbid it, Heaven," Sir Henry ejaculated, as he concluded, "that she +should meditate suicide! Never more should I experience a moment's +happiness! Sooner would I embrace the most abject poverty, than enjoy a +state of affluence by driving a mother to self-destruction!" + +"I do not apprehend her Ladyship will commit any act of desperation on +herself," said Mr. Talton: "but rather, as I intended by alarming her, +endeavour to escape from justice, by resigning your possessions." + +He was right in his conjecture: Lady Corbet, justly alarmed at the +discovery of her guilt, and dreading the power of that justice she +pretended to despise, immediately on her return to the Hall, summoned +Mallet, and, informing him of what had happened, ordered him to repair +to London, and withdraw her property, amounting to nearly fourscore +thousand pounds, exclusive of Louise's fortune, from the funds, and +follow her to France. + +Mallet by no means approved of her precipitation:--"I wish your safety, +Lady Corbet," he answered, after a pause; "yet reflect before you +determine on flight. Did Talton produce the will?--No! Then may not this +accusation be a plan to entice you to confess what, I grant, they may +suspect, but cannot prove! Where--or how should Talton have obtained +the will? Sir Henry possessed it not when he quitted the Hall, or this +claim would have been made sooner. But even supposing this account of +their having it to be true, (which I can scarcely credit), may there not +be means to get it from their possession?--Reflect a little, Caroline, +and if you can keep--there is no occasion to throw away so much +property." + +Lady Corbet hesitated--"If I can keep--Charles: but impossible! Talton +too surely has the will: he is not a man either to trifle or be trifled +with. Yet how--where--or when he could obtain it--" + +"Is at present," interrupted Mallet, "of very little consequence. Had +the measures I advised been pursued, this would never have occurred: +but as it is--all I can say is, if he really have it, means must be +found to get it from him." + +"Impossible--impossible, Charles!" + +"Why so, Lady Corbet? Consent to give me your hand if I succeed, and +trust to my management for the obtaining of it--if in his possession." + +"I do consent!--I will consent to any thing," answered the agitated Lady +Corbet, "on the condition you have named!" + +"But one question, then," said her crafty lover: "Where does Talton keep +his papers of consequence?" + +"In a cabinet, which stands in his chamber. But wherefore do you +ask?--What means do you propose to pursue?" + +"Forcible ones," replied Mallet, "if I find them requisite." + +"Let them be prudent, cautious, and expeditious," said Lady Corbet, +emphatically: "and if danger await me, be quick as fear itself to give +me intelligence!" + +They separated; and Mallet, his head teeming with various projects, +proceeded toward Mr. Talton's. On approaching the house, he perceived +the servants were assembled in their own apartment; he, therefore, +confidently entered by one of the lower windows, and, being well +acquainted with every room, hastened to that Lady Corbet had mentioned. +His heart beat with malicious pleasure on beholding the cabinet; and, +securing the door, to prevent discovery, he lightly advanced, and with +trembling impatience attempted to open the drawers. All, however, were +secured; he then tried various keys, but without effect; and being +certain no time was to be lost, resolutely applied a chissel he had +brought, and forced the lock of the principal drawer. He looked not far +for the will; the hand-writing of the deceased Sir Henry soon met his +view, and, hastily securing his prize, he, with an exulting heart, was +retreating from the chamber, when Sir Henry, who with Harland, had left +the drawing-room to visit Louise, returned from her apartment. The +figure of Mallet caught his eye, and the appearance of the cabinet +forced open as instantly disclosed the reason of his being there. Sir +Henry sprung to oppose his escape, and seizing him by the collar, +demanded the restitution of the writings he had so feloniously obtained. +Rendered desperate by this unexpected discovery, Mallet, after vainly +struggling for liberation, drew the chissel from his pocket, and aimed a +stroke at the bosom of Sir Henry. + +It was too well directed to have failed in its effect, and Sir Henry +must inevitably have fallen a victim, had not Harland, surprised by his +exclamation, hastened from his wife's apartment, and, perceiving his +danger, torn the destructive weapon from the hand of the assassin! + +Mallet was still endeavouring to force his way from Sir Henry, when Mr. +Talton and the Captain, surprised at the scuffle, hastened to the spot, +followed by Frederick, Edward, and several of the servants, who had +likewise been alarmed. The cause was soon explained, and Mallet +effectually secured; he was then searched, and the will, with the packet +written by the deceased Sir Henry, produced. + +"Lady Corbet, I find," said Mr. Talton, "is resolved to tear her image +from my heart! By heavens! this last action exceeds all I could ever +have supposed a woman, and a mother, could have been guilty of!--For +you, Mallet, your life shall answer for this outrage!" + +This last sentence, pronounced with uncommon energy, reached the ear of +Louise, who rushed into the passage.--"He is--he is my father," she +cried in a voice of anguish. "Oh, for my sake, have mercy!" She threw +herself at the feet of Mr. Talton, who, with Sir Henry and Harland, +endeavoured to raise her from the floor, as the former said--"He has +attempted the life of your brother, Mrs. Harland. But retire to your +chamber, this scene is not fit for you." + +Harland would have borne her away; but, with the wildest screams, she +broke from him, and threw her arms round the neck of Mallet, who +appeared as much confounded at her claim, as at the discovery of his +preceding action. + +"I am your Louise," sobbed his agitated daughter; "her whom you left at +the gates of St. Ursule.--Will you not speak to me, and say you are my +father?" + +"The name of father," answered Mallet sullenly, "affords no pleasure to +me, but has given a stab to my heart, I never thought to have +experienced. Neither, I think, can it be gratifying to your ears, if you +recollect the treatment you have received at my hands. If you wish, +however, to show yourself my daughter, remind Sir Henry it is not in my +power or your mother's now to injure him. I am at his mercy; but I do +not expect to find it." + +Louise turned a tearful eye to Sir Henry.--"My brother!" plaintively +escaped her lips, and falling on his bosom, she wept in silence. + +"Compose yourself, my dear girl:" said Sir Henry: "the tears of Louise +can never plead in vain!--Go, Sir," he continued, addressing Mallet, as +he unfastened the cord which confined him.--"For Louise's sake, you are +free: and that this evening's transactions may teach you a useful +lesson, take with you the forgiveness of the man you would have +deprived--even of life!" + +"I will not oppose your generous sentence, Sir Henry," said Mr. Talton; +"but if you, Mallet, be found in this part of the country to-morrow--the +next morning, notwithstanding Sir Henry's clemency, you shall certainly +be the inmate of a prison." + +Louise wrung her hands, and again burst into tears; whilst Mallet's brow +assumed a deeper gloom: but, as he passed her, he said--"This is, most +probably, then, Louise, our last interview. As the merit of my release +rests with you, may a better blessing than mine be your reward!" He +descended the stairs, followed by Mr. Talton and the servants; whilst +Louise, satisfied by his liberation and benediction, yielded to +Harland's entreaties, that she would retire to her own apartment. + +In the mean time, Mallet retraced his steps to Corbet Hall; one moment +furious from the loss of the prize he had obtained; the next, +overwhelmed with shame at his detection. Unwillingly he approached Lady +Corbet, who awaited his return with the utmost anxiety and impatience; +eagerly her eyes glanced to catch intelligence from his; they sparkled +not with exultation--"What hopes--what success--what fortune--await me?" +she hastily interrogated. "Your only hopes--are in flight!" answered +Mallet, churlishly. "Sir Henry has, indeed, the will to produce, with +the packet Talton mentioned." He then recounted what had passed: but, +when Lady Corbet learned, the will had actually been in his possession, +and that he had neglected to destroy, the moment he obtained it, her +rage exceeded the power of restraint. + +Mallet listened impatiently to her reproaches; and at last said--"The +best concerted schemes, Caroline, may sometimes be rendered abortive; +nor can I in the least reproach myself for the failure of this. But, it +is useless wasting time in words, which ought to be employed in making +preparations for a safe retreat; and, as our affairs are situated, the +sooner we depart the better." + +"But for your foolish prevention, Sir," said Lady Corbet, "I should, ere +this time, have been beyond the reach of Talton: but you, forsooth, +must raise hopes--only, by a futile project, to dash them more forcibly +to the ground, and make me more sensibly feel the loss of wealth and +honour, by reflecting, you had it in your power--but neglected--to +secure them to me!" + +She left him with increasing anger, yet with every fear awake to +apprehended danger. She, therefore, packed up jewels and money to a +considerable amount; and, a little after midnight, set out for Pembroke; +leaving Sir Henry to establish his rights as he thought proper. + +In the mean time, Sir Henry experienced a state of anxiety and +wretchedness, little inferior to Lady Corbet's. He had given the power +of acting as they wished, into the hands of Mr. Talton and the Captain: +his mother, they had promised, should not be exposed: but, he feared, +this last disappointment of her plans, and discovery of her principles, +might, indeed, instigate her to some act of desperation. + +His apprehensions were relieved the next morning, when the following +laconic letter was delivered to Mr. Talton:-- + + "Tell my unnatural son, he never shall triumph over the fall of his + mother!--By the time this reaches your hands, I shall have bidden + an eternal adieu to England; to seek a retreat where I may + securely laugh at, and despise both him and the power of justice. + + "As Louise's offence of appearing in my presence, I believe, was + unintentional, tell her, I forgive her--and, some years hence, may, + perhaps, be induced to remember I am her mother. + + "CAROLINE CORBET." + +The satisfaction of Sir Henry's friends at this event, so much more +favourable than they had expected, could be equalled only by his own, at +the disappointment of his fears, respecting his mother. Cheerfully he +returned their gratulations; till Mr. Talton reminded him, it was +requisite he should go to the Hall, and examine into the state of his +affairs. A carriage was accordingly ordered, and Sir Henry, accompanied +by Mr. Talton and the Captain, took possession of his paternal +habitation. On inquiring after the retreat of Lady Corbet, the +housekeeper informed them, she had left the Hall, unattended, and in a +hired carriage; and that Mallet was likewise gone--they knew not +whither. + +The tenantry were then assembled; who with satisfaction admitted the +justice of his claim, and openly rejoiced at their young landlord's +succession to the fortunes of his father. On examining the accounts of +Mallet, Sir Henry was induced to coincide with Mr. Talton's opinion, +that his mother had not left England unprovided for; and knowing that +his father, at his decease, had money to a considerable amount, in the +Caermarthen and Pembroke banks, immediately agreed to his guardians +proposal, of going to those places, that he might be certified what +property he had still remaining. Accordingly, writing to his friends at +Mr. Talton's, to acquaint them with their proceedings, they set out for +Pembroke. + +Whilst Sir Henry and his guardians were thus employed, Edward, +authorised by the previous approbation of his father, commenced his +inquiry after the fair Unknown. Nor was the heart of Frederick more at +ease than Edward's: from the time he beheld Ellen at the grave of her +aunt, he had cherished a secret attachment. Restrained, however, by the +consideration of his dependent state, he would have refrained from an +avowal of his love; but, unused to disguise, the secret of his heart +escaped him: nor could the artless Ellen conceal the delight which +sparkled in her intelligent eyes at the declaration; yet a moment after +saw them suffused in tears. + +"Prudence, Frederick," she timidly answered, "must forbid your +encouraging any sentiments of regard for me. I am an orphan, and, though +not friendless, poor in the extreme!" + +"I am equally poor, Ellen," said Frederick; "for I have no certainty but +my commission, and might term myself an orphan, like you, for any +consideration I expect from my parents. Yet, in a few years, promotion +may place me in independence. I have a real and generous friend in my +uncle, though I have no right to expect--nor do I--that he should +deprive Edward of any part of his property on my account. I am a sailor, +and must fight for fortune; and cheerfully could I face every danger my +profession exposes me to, if assured the hand of Ellen would at last be +my reward." + +"My uncle, Frederick," she replied, "must here direct my conduct,--if he +approve, Ellen will not oppose your wishes. I want not grandeur in my +establishment for life; but will never marry, to involve the man I +esteem in difficulties, which may destroy--instead of securing--his +happiness." + +"Such were my hopes, and such the answer of my Hannah!" said Lieutenant +Booyers, entering from an inner apartment, "May your fate, my children, +prove more fortunate than hers and mine! Frederick, I esteem and respect +you; nor know I the man, on whom I would sooner bestow my Ellen--the +only treasure I now can boast. You certainly are entitled to a provision +from your father, equally with his other children: if he will settle +five thousand pounds on my girl, I will, with pleasure, consent to your +union; and afterwards, my young friend--fight for fortune!" + +Scarcely could Frederick find words to thank the worthy Booyers for his +generous consent, which raised a hope, that his father, who possessed +nearly eight thousand a year, might be prevailed on to part with the sum +proposed. + +He wrote to Sir Arthur immediately: of his uncle's concurrence, he +entertained not a doubt; and impatiently waited the answer which would, +as he imagined, confirm or destroy the happiness of his life. + +At last it arrived--and in an instant doomed him to despair! Sir Arthur, +after expressing his surprise at the application, reminded him of the +Captain's agreement to establish him in life. To him, therefore, he +desired Frederick to make his claim; and concluded with expressly +forbidding any farther demands. + +"Here then end all my flattering prospects of felicity!" sighed +Frederick.--"Unkind father! Unjustly you condemn me to wretchedness, to +enrich a son, whose regard, I am convinced, does not exceed, nor perhaps +equal--mine. To my uncle I can never apply--he has done too much +already." + +He pensively paced the room, when the appearance of the Captain roused +him from his disagreeable reflections. The concern he felt was too +deeply impressed on his countenance, to escape the observation of his +uncle, who, perceiving the letter of his brother lying on the table, +immediately read it. + +"This accounts for your unusual dejection, Frederick," he said. "But for +what purpose do you want five thousand pounds?" + +The question brought on an explanation. Frederick ingenuously confessed +the state of his heart, and briefly recounted his interview with Ellen +and the Lieutenant. The Captain expressed his approbation of his choice, +and the conduct of Booyers; adding, with a smile, "Your father's +refusal, Frederick, shall never be a hindrance to your happiness. But +where is my Ellenor? I am come to escort her to the Hall, where Sir +Henry impatiently expects her; Mr. Talton having agreed to remain there +till his affairs are finally adjusted." + +Mrs. Howard and her friends were soon informed of the Captain's return, +and the proposed removal; and, leaving directions for the servants to +follow them, they proceeded to the Hall. + +Sir Henry received them with open arms, and warmly congratulated his +aunt on beholding her once more beneath her paternal roof. He then +conducted them to the drawing-room, where they were soon after joined by +Mr. Talton and the Captain, who had left them on their arrival. The +latter advanced to his nephew, and, presenting him with a writing, +said, "This deed, Frederick, I had executed whilst at Pembroke; and +rejoice it is thus in my power to render you happy, by securing you the +means of uniting yourself to an amiable woman. Not that I would have you +regard this as my final intention in your favour. The affection and +attention I have so many years received from you, I can never +recompense: but at my death, or before, if it be requisite, you shall +find me mindful of the obligation." + +Frederick opened the deed, which secured to him the sum of twenty +thousand pounds. "My dear--my generous uncle!" he exclaimed, clasping +his hand with grateful affection, "never can I sufficiently acknowledge +the many instances I have experienced of your regard. Poor indeed must +be my attempts to thank you; but every act is treasured in the inmost +recesses of my heart!" + +The Captain embraced him.--"Enough, my dear Frederick: if you be happy, +I am fully gratified." + +The worthy Booyers, warmly participated in the joy of the moment; and +readily agreed to the Captain's proposal, that the nuptials should take +place at an early period. + +Sir Henry, at the same time, took the opportunity of presenting Louise +and his aunt with the fortunes his father had mentioned. The Captain +would have checked his generosity; but he declared that the wish of his +father should be fulfilled the same as though specified in a legal will. +Then gaily turning to Eliza, he continued, "I must now become a +supplicant! Will you, my beloved girl, consent to bless me with your +hand on the day your friend, Ellen, becomes the bride of Howard?" + +"I despise affectation, Henry," answered Eliza: "yet not from me, but my +mother, you must receive your answer. If she grant your suit, I will +cheerfully attend you to the altar." + +"Dearest, best of girls!" exclaimed Sir Henry.--"To you then, my mother, +I must now refer." + +"And from that saucy smile on your brow, Harry," said Mrs. Blond, +laughing, "I should suppose, you think yourself ensured of success, +before you ask. I will not, however, disappoint you: the happiness of +Corbet is too dear to my heart." + +"Would you, my dear Madam," said Talton, "as readily consent to a +proposal from me, I should rejoice in depriving Sir Henry of his mother: +or rather--as I ever wished--to become his father. As Corbet Hall will +so soon own the lovely Eliza for its mistress, I should deem myself +inexpressibly happy, would her mother consent to grace the mansion of +Talton. I have long regarded Sir Henry as my son; I love your daughter +as my own: and by uniting our families, I flatter myself it would +increase the felicity of all." + +"A fair proposal!" said the Captain. "Never demur, my dear Mrs. Blond; +but accede to it as cheerfully as you did to Sir Henry's." + +"This proposal," replied Mrs. Blond, in some confusion, "requires +consideration; but my answer shall be sincere." + +Mr. Talton urged no farther; and preparations were commenced for the +marriages of Sir Henry and Frederick; when, one morning, a servant +hastily entered, and announced the arrival of a messenger from +Cornwall. + +"From Cornwall!" exclaimed Sir Henry. "Good God! what can this mean? +Some fatal accident, I am afraid, has befallen my mother! Show the +messenger up, this instant." + +The servant obeyed, and an elderly countryman entered the room. He +advanced with an humble bow to Sir Henry, and, in simple language, +informed him, he rented the principal part of the Cornwall estate, +belonging to Lady Corbet; who was then at the old Mansion-house, +confined by a fractured arm; and as the surgeon who attended her, +apprehended she was in danger, he thought it requisite to acquaint Sir +Henry; more especially as Lady Corbet, who, he acknowledged, was +sometimes delirious, had once expressed a wish to see him and a +gentleman of the name of Talton. + +"I will immediately go to Cornwall," said Sir Henry. "The attentions of +a son may soothe the anguish which oppresses her. And you, Mr. +Talton--will you accompany me?--My mother may be worse than she is +represented." + +"I will readily accompany you, Sir Henry," said Mr. Talton. "If I have +ceased to regard Lady Corbet with affection, I do not forget the +sentiments I once entertained." + +Orders were accordingly given to prepare for their departure, when Sir +Henry anxiously inquired the particulars of the accident which had +befallen his mother. + +Lady Corbet, who, on quitting the Hall, had designed proceeding to +France, altered her resolution before she reached Pembroke; and, +crossing the Channel, went to her estate in Cornwall, where she was soon +after joined by Mallet, and where she proposed to remain, deeming +herself secure from the knowledge of Mr. Talton, till she should learn +his farther proceedings; and whence, if she found it necessary, she +could instantly fly the kingdom. + +Mallet had been with her about a week, the tenant informed Sir Henry, +when a disagreement had arisen, which occasioned his abrupt departure. +That Lady Corbet had appeared very much agitated, and at last commanded +a chaise to be prepared, to convey her to Plymouth; for which place she +set out, but had not proceeded more than half a mile, when, by the +carelessness of the driver, the chaise was overturned, and her arm +severely injured. Lady Corbet was brought, by some country-people, back +to the mansion-house, and a surgeon sent for, who on examining the limb, +declared there was a necessity to amputate it; but Lady Corbet +peremptorily refused to submit to the operation, and desired him to set +the bone, which had been broken in three separate places. He obeyed; but +a fever immediately followed; and, as he had every apprehension of a +mortification ensuing, he had desired the farmer to hasten and acquaint +Sir Henry. + +Sir Henry's countenance assumed a more pallid hue at this relation; +impatiently he inquired if the horses were ready: and on Mrs. Howard +anxiously urging him to take some refreshment before he commenced his +journey, he wrung her hand, saying, "I feel your affectionate care, my +dear aunt; but at this moment my heart is too much oppressed to let me +think of refreshments. Even now--may not my mother be expiring: ere she +forgives--or knows how dear she still is to the heart of--her Henry." + +Louise regarded Sir Henry some moments, with an expressive +countenance--"Let me too, my brother, accompany you. My humble affection +will not be rejected, and the approving blessing of a mother may yet +reward the years of anxious solicitude, I have experienced." + +"You could not, my dear girl," answered Sir Henry, "support the fatigue +of travelling, at the rate I wish to go. Yet follow us--Harland will +escort you." Harland readily consented, and a chaise was prepared, in +which they departed, in less than an hour after Sir Henry. + +In the mean time, Sir Henry and Mr. Talton travelled with the utmost +expedition to Llaugharne, and, crossing the Channel, proceeded towards +the ancient seat of Lady Corbet. They were received by Mrs. Brown, the +tenant's wife, who informed them the surgeon's fears were verified; a +mortification had commenced, and Lady Corbet, at last sensible of her +danger, had, that morning, desired Sir Henry and Louise might be sent +for. Though prepared for this intelligence, Sir Henry was still affected +on receiving it; he, however, struggled with his feelings, and requested +she would inform his mother of his arrival, and his wish to see her, if +her spirits were equal to the interview. She soon returned, and +conducted him to her apartment. The surgeon and a female attendant were +stationed by the bed, on which, supported by pillows, was extended the +still beautiful Lady Corbet. The fever's hectic glow had succeeded the +light bloom of health on her cheek; and the wild lustre of her eye +plainly showed reason retained not its full powers. Sir Henry sprung to +embrace her, and in a voice softened by tenderness and grief, breathed a +prayer for the continuance of her existence. + +"I little thought, Harry," she said, after an internal struggle, "ever +to have beholden you again: but retributive justice has overtaken me, +and I must submit to my fate!--But where is Louise?" she impatiently +continued. "Does she despise the sufferings of a mother; or didst thou +enviously wish to deprive her of a blessing?" + +"Ah, my mother," answered Sir Henry, "stab not my heart by such a +supposition;--in a few hours Louise will be here." + +"And in a few hours," repeated Lady Corbet, with energy, "I may be +numbered with the dead!" + +"I do not apprehend your dissolution so soon as that," said the surgeon; +"although I thought it my duty to tell you there are no longer any hopes +of your recovery. Yet I would wish you not to increase your fever by too +much exertion in speaking." + +"Peace, dotard!" exclaimed Lady Corbet, angrily. "Without thou couldest +bid me live!--But no--no--I must die: there are indeed no hopes for +me!--Let me see Talton--they told me he was here." Her attendant +hastened to desire his presence, and the surgeon renewing his request +that she might be kept quiet, and as composed as possible, retired; +promising to return in the evening. Mr. Talton obeyed the summons. On +his approach, Lady Corbet said: "Thou art come then to behold her, who +would have injured thee to the utmost--had it been in her power! Rejoice +then in my fall--exult over my ashes--and, in the torments I now endure, +be fully revenged!" + +"Far be revenge from my heart," replied Talton: "to pity and relieve are +its dictates; but never to triumph over the fallen or afflicted!" + +"Well--well!" said Lady Corbet, with quickness, "I believe thee! Though +were revenge thy wish, thou hast it--in its utmost extent! Mallet,--the +ungrateful Mallet, has deserted me!--Struck with Louise, and her +behaviour on the evening of his detection, he wished the restoration of +her fortune; but instead of requesting, he commanded it! Had he +entreated--pleaded her claim to maternal attention and justice, I think +I should have complied! But, unused to commands, I peremptorily refused +him: and, in return, he threatened, by the law's aid, to force me to a +restitution of my aunt's fortune! Rendered furious by this insolence, I +forbade him my sight; and, without seeking to mitigate my anger, he +departed for France. Unable to endure his absence, when my passion +abated, I determined on following him; but fate forbade it, and, by +means of a menial wretch, has torn the fascinating joys of life from my +grasp, and hurled destruction on my head!" She burst into tears. "All +will soon be over, Harry!--I rejoiced when Corbet died: he loved +you--and was beloved: but no one will sorrow or weep for me!" + +"Yes--yes, my mother!" said Sir Henry, "I will sorrow and weep for thee +too!" + +"Lay me not, I charge you, Harry," she wildly continued, "by Corbet--my +ashes must not mingle with his. No, no--in the vault by my father--there +I shall rest in peace!" She sunk exhausted on her pillow. Sir Henry +anxiously watched the changes of her countenance, whilst Mr. Talton, +with pity, contemplated the wretched situation of a woman, he once +thought the most perfect of her sex. + +A broken slumber shed a partial oblivion over her senses, and for some +hours relieved her from the tortures of remembrance. She awoke more +collected, and impatiently inquired if Louise were arrived? The rattling +of a carriage round the spacious court, announced her approach, and in a +few minutes the agitated Louise was pressed to the bosom of her mother! + +"Welcome, Louise!" murmured Lady Corbet.--"Child of affection, though +thou hast never been regarded as such--yet I love thee now, Louise.--And +art thou the husband of my child?" she continued to Harland.--"Then I +will say thou too art welcome. Poor thou marriedst my Louise; I +therefore believe thou dost love her; and let not the remembrance of +her mother ever induce thee to slight or contemn her. Mine was the +vice--be mine the shame: if aught can ever be reflected from Louise! But +no--no; the virtues of my Louise, like the beams of the morning, shall +rise superior to the darkness of her parents actions!--Dark, indeed!" +she repeated, with a convulsive sigh.--"For we deserted thy infant +innocence! Yet forgive me, Louise--curse not my memory; I will make thee +rich amends for the injuries I have done thee!" + +"Name not injuries, my mother;" sobbed Louise; "all is rewarded by this +moment of affection! My love, my duty shall prove me worthy of it." + +"I shall not experience them," said Lady Corbet, wildly. "The icy finger +of death has marked the hour of my existence!" + +"Not so--my mother," replied Louise, attempting to speak with +cheerfulness. "My hand shall minister to thy wants; my arm support thee; +affection will teach me the means of relieving thy anguish; and in the +bosom of her Louise, my mother shall yet find peace and happiness!" + +"Peace and happiness!" repeated Lady Corbet, franticly. "Oh, torture me +not, by placing to my view blessings I must never enjoy! In thy bosom, +peace and happiness may dwell, but not for me! Even now the grave is +open to receive me, and all beyond is horror! Thee, I have +injured--Corbet and his son--Ellenor too,--Blond and Eliza--shall point +the finger of condemnation at me, and say--'Not one good action marked +her life!'--Oh, let me live--Off with this fractured limb--Tear me to +atoms: let me but live to atone for my crimes!--The account is too dark +to answer before the Judge I have offended!" + +Louise shrunk aghast from her frantic mother, who, with convulsive +eagerness, attempted to tear the bandages from her arm. + +Sir Henry endeavoured to restrain her.--"This must not be, my mother, +you hasten the dissolution you so much dread." + +"Hence, audacious boy!" she angrily exclaimed. "Darest thou lay the hand +of violence on thy parent! Now, indeed, thou meritest the hatred I have +shown thee! Yet stay--stay: let me not add another sin to the number of +my account! I believe thou lovest me, thou hast oft evinced it. Yet, not +to thee can I fly for consolation; the injuries I have done thee, are +too numerous, and alone sufficient to overwhelm me with perdition!" + +Mr. Talton drew her fevered hand from Sir Henry's, and gently pressing +it, said, "Raise your heart in prayer, Lady Corbet, and seek for +consolation in the mercy of Heaven!" + +"Can I form a prayer--or ask a blessing," said Lady Corbet, "when every +action of my life is marked with vice? No, no--there is no mercy for +me--I never afforded it!" + +"Lay your crimes at the feet of your Saviour," replied Mr. Talton, +solemnly: "remember, he died for the sinner: and the first tear shed, of +true repentance, restores you to the bosom of your God!" + +The frenzied eye of Lady Corbet rested with piercing keenness on that of +Talton. "Repentance!" she ejaculated. "Oh, if that will avail me, deeply +indeed will I repent. Yet save me--save me: let me not die! I will be +patient--calm. But send for the surgeon; I no longer dread a mutilated +frame: and it may not yet be too late to preserve existence!" + +Sir Henry hastily rose--"I will seek the surgeon this instant----" + +"Not you, Harry!" cried Lady Corbet, extending her hand to detain him. +"Quit not my sight.--Little as I have loved you through life, I wish not +at this moment to be deserted. Yet, send for the surgeon--and be quick; +let me but live, and I will atone for all!" + +Harland perceiving Sir Henry's distress sent a servant, who soon +returned with the surgeon. On being informed of Lady Corbet's +determination, he shook his head, saying--"It is now, I am afraid, too +late. Had she submitted to the operation at first--all had been well." + +Anxiously Sir Henry watched the intelligence of his eye, as he examined +her arm, and with a sigh received the account. It was, indeed, not only +too late to amputate the limb; but her state was such, that the +succeeding day would be the utmost limit of her existence! + +A groan burst from the bosom of the wretched patient, who, in agonized +frenzy, alternately entreated the surgeon to save her, and implored the +mercy of Heaven. Medicine was administered to compose her, which, in +some degree, had the effect; and the remainder of the day and following +night passed in broken slumber and prayer. + +The ensuing morning, on awaking, she perceived Sir Henry and Louise +kneeling by her bed; and, regarding them some moments, with a tremulous +voice said--"And dost thou, Harry, kneel to Heaven, to intercede for thy +guilty parent?--Oh God! accept his prayers, though mine be rejected! and +for each ill I have--and would have done him, shower a blessing on his +head! But I must be quick. Reason totters, and life beats uncertain at +my heart. Talton--Harland--come hither. Pursue not Mallet. The wealth he +has taken--let him retain! Let Louise's fortune be restored, and the +rest of my property equally divided between her and her brother--except +my picture; which, Talton, I would wish you to have; and, when you view +the resemblance, let pity draw a veil over my vices, and waft a prayer +to Heaven--they may there be forgiven!--Pray for me, my gentle +Louise!--Harry, forgive thy mother. Leave me not whilst a symptom of +life remains; bear with my wanderings, and whilst I have sense to give +it--receive a last blessing!" + +--Life, however, was not so near its close, though it fluctuated in its +channels. Repeated faintings prepared them for the last awful moment. +Sir Henry and Louise, as Lady Corbet had requested, never left her; and +evening was fast closing as she faintly grasped the hand of Sir +Henry--drew him nearer to her, and, sighing a broken prayer--expired on +the bosom of Louise!-- + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + + +A piercing scream from Louise as she sunk insensible by the side of her +mother, roused Mr. Talton and Harland from a serious reflexion on the +object before them. The Lieutenant gently raised and conveyed her to an +adjoining room, where, by the assistance of Mrs. Brown, life soon +returned. He attempted not to restrain the first effusions of filial +sorrow; the heart of Louise, he knew, was the seat of sensibility; but +fortitude and religion were likewise its inmates. In the latter she +found a resource; and he had soon the satisfaction of seeing her +features impressed with a mild though sad serenity. + +Sir Henry and Mr. Talton, in the mean time, silently retired to pay that +tribute to the memory of Lady Corbet, she had not altogether merited; +but, to Sir Henry, the last moments of her life had atoned for her +preceding conduct: nor could Mr. Talton retain a spark of resentment for +her ungenerous behaviour to himself: over her actions he drew the veil +of oblivion, and gave a sigh and tear of pity to the untimely close of +her existence. + +The next morning he conferred with Sir Henry, and, at his desire, +undertook the care of the funeral. As Lady Corbet had requested, her +remains were conveyed to Holly seat, and deposited in the vault, by her +father. Mr. Talton, Sir Henry, and Harland attended; nor would Louise be +debarred from paying this final mark of respect to her mother; and a +last tear fell on her coffin, as she silently preferred a prayer, that, +with her ashes, the remembrance of her vices might be for ever buried +from the world! + +With minds depressed from the scenes they had so lately witnessed, they +were reconveyed to Corbet Hall, where, to the surprise of Sir Henry, he +was informed the Captain and Frederick were at Sir Arthur Howard's. + +Two days, indeed, after he set out for Cornwall, Frederick received a +letter from Lady Howard, to acquaint him with the death of his brother, +who, in hunting, had been thrown from his horse, and killed on the spot: +and, as the violence of Sir Arthur's grief, at this untimely loss of his +favourite son, had brought on a severe illness, she had written to +request his immediate presence, with that of the Captain. + +They accordingly took a hasty leave of their friends, and returned with +the messenger to Howard Hall, where they were received by Lady Howard, +and an affecting interview took place between her and her son: nor was +the Captain unwelcomed; she had ever felt for him the affection of a +sister; but, as duty was her first consideration, yielded to the +imperious commands of her husband, that he should from that time be +regarded as an alien to the family. + +Sir Arthur, she informed them, was still confined to his bed; the +violence of his grief, which they at first apprehended would have +destroyed his reason, had exhausted itself; and he was then sunk into a +gloomy sorrow, which threatened to retain a longer influence on his +mind; the arrival of the Captain and Frederick (now the heir to his +title and estates), she, however, hoped, would not only rouse him from +an unavailing grief, but be the means of effecting a perfect +reconciliation between them. + +Lady Howard was right. The attentions of his brother and son proved +highly gratifying to Sir Arthur, who, in a few days, consented to rejoin +his family. + +The long-neglected Frederick now appeared to gain an interest in his +heart; though a sigh oft swelled his bosom at the recollection of the +deceased Arthur: but, the rising gloom was ever carefully dispelled by +the lively Theodosia, to whom, since the death of his son, he had +behaved with an unwonted show of affection. + +Six weeks passed, when the Captain proposed returning to Corbet Hall; +and, knowing the anxiety which preyed on Frederick's mind, respecting +Ellen, he took an opportunity to mention his engagement with her, to +Sir Arthur: who, contrary to his expectation, readily gave his consent +to their union. When a boy, he said, he had been intimate with her +father, who once saved his life; and as her family was good, indeed +noble, he would wave the consideration of the fortune Frederick, as his +heir, had a right to expect with a wife. He could not, however, he +added, consent to his leaving him entirely; he should pass at least half +his time, till his marriage, with him. To this, Frederick cheerfully +agreed, and, a few days after, returned with the Captain, to Sir +Henry's. + +During their absence, Mr. Talton had so far improved his suit, that Mrs. +Blond consented again to enter the marriage state. The late Sir Henry, +she frankly told him, was the only man she had ever loved. The virtues +and amiable disposition of Blond had merited her esteem and sincerest +friendship; those she had still to give, but nothing farther: her +affections were buried in the tomb of Corbet. The gift, he felt, was +still too valuable to be rejected; and he doubted not he yet might +realize the scenes of domestic happiness he had formerly planned. + +As the marriages of Sir Henry and Frederick had been deferred, on +account of the decease of Lady Corbet and young Arthur, it was agreed +that, at the time again appointed for that ceremony, Mrs. Blond should +likewise yield her hand to Mr. Talton. Edward sighed as he heard these +arrangements; and the Captain, with concern, perceived his increasing +dejection at his unsuccessful inquiry after the fair Unknown, for whom +he had in vain searched the greatest part of Caermarthen. He then +declared his intention of going to Oxford; to inquire if perchance any +of his acquaintance had seen her since he quitted the University? The +Captain could not oppose his determination, and as Louise and Harland +were going to London, to St. Ledger's, they accompanied him to +Oxfordshire, having promised Sir Henry to return to Wales, before the +time appointed for the marriages. + +In the mean while, preparations were forwarded for that occasion. +Frederick, as his father had desired, passed a considerable part of his +time at Howard Hall. Sir Arthur's regard for him appeared daily to +increase, and on Frederick expressing a wish that he would honour the +nuptials with his presence, he instantly complied; and, with Lady Howard +and Theodosia, accompanied him to Sir Henry's. The arrival of Harland +and Louise, with the St. Ledger family, added to the pleasure of their +society. Edward only was absent, who continued a fruitless search, till +the day preceding that fixed for the union of his friends, when he +arrived, so apparently ill, that the Captain began to be seriously +alarmed. + +Edward endeavoured to rally his spirits; and on Sir Henry and +Frederick's joining him, to chide his long desertion, with forced +cheerfulness, answered their good-humoured reproaches, and prepared to +attend them to the drawing-room. The Captain introduced him to their +several friends; but on presenting Theodosia, Edward, with exulting +transports, exclaimed--"O God, my father! it is my unknown----it is----" + +"Theodosia, the daughter of Sir Arthur Howard," interrupted the Captain, +with vivacity. Sir Arthur, hearing his name, advanced, and instantly +recognised Edward, to whom he proffered his hand, and, reminding him of +the accident at Oxford, renewed his thanks for the service he had +rendered his daughter. + +"Your thanks, I am afraid, Sir Arthur," said the Captain, with a smile, +"will not sufficiently recompense my son for that evening's adventure. +He loves your daughter, and has for some months been seeking her. You +know my fortune; if, on a farther acquaintance, you approve him for a +son-in-law, he shall have half at his marriage, the remainder at the +decease of myself and his mother." + +Sir Arthur paused a moment--but the offer was too advantageous to be +rejected, and he readily acceded to it. + +"But what says Theodosia?" asked the Captain. "Without her consent, ours +are of no effect." + +"Her consent!" repeated Sir Arthur. "She shall consent! Let her refuse +if she dare: I will not again be fooled!" + +Theodosia attempted not to reply; the deepest confusion oppressed her; +yet she withdrew not her hand from Edward, but with a timid interceding +glance, raised her eyes to her father. The flush of anger was fast +crimsoning the cheek of Sir Arthur, at the idea of her not according +with the proposal of her uncle, when Lady Howard joined them, and +tenderly taking the hand of her daughter, said--"Have some +consideration, Sir Arthur, to the delicacy of my girl. Disobedience to a +father she truly loves, is, I am certain, far from her heart or wishes; +but on this subject, unprepared as she was, no answer could be so +proper as her silence. Your nephew has sincere friends in his cause, +and, aided by time, need not despair of success." + +To her mother, Theodosia had mentioned the attention of Edward, when at +Oxford, and their subsequent interview in Wales; pourtraying him in such +favourable colours, and dwelling on each word and incident with such +pleasure and minuteness, as showed he had made no inconsiderable +impression on her heart. + +She now directed a look of grateful acknowledgment to Lady Howard, for +the relief she had afforded her, whilst Sir Arthur, in a milder tone, +replied: "Well--well, Madam, you may be right; but you know I do not +like to be trifled with." + +This discovery, as unexpected as pleasing, added to the happiness of +every individual; nor was Edward long in obtaining a confession; her +affections were too nearly interested in his favour, to let duty have +the merit of her compliance with the wishes of her father. + +At last the morn so ardently expected, arrived! The tenants of Sir +Henry, who the same day attained his one-and-twentieth year, assembled +on the lawn, and proceeded with them to church, where Sir Henry, Mr. +Talton, and Frederick, received the hands of their destined brides. Nor +would old Thomas be denied the gratification of attending his master on +this occasion, at which no one more sincerely rejoiced: he appeared to +have shaken off the infirmities of age; and after the ceremony, joining +the tenants, conducted them back to the lawn, where a noble banquet, by +order of their generous landlord, added to the pleasure of the +peasantry; and a rural ball concluded the day, in which Sir Henry and +his friends did not disdain to join. + +For three weeks the Hall and Mr. Talton's house were proclaimed open as +the hearts of their owners; and at the expiration of that time, the +whole party proceeded to the seat of Sir Arthur, where he yielded to the +solicitations of Edward, and resigned the hand of Theodosia. The +liberality of the Captain on this occasion awakened the generosity of +his brother, and Howard Hall for some weeks vied with the hospitable +mansions of Corbet and Talton. Sir Arthur did more--he insisted on +resigning the family seat to Frederick and Ellen; himself retiring, with +his Lady, to a smaller one he possessed within less than a mile, where, +as he said, he could daily visit or be visited by them. + +Another month, however, elapsed before they thought of separating; and +then with an unanimous promise of frequently visiting each other. + +Harland and his Louise returned to Harland Hill, where, a few months +after, she made him the exulting father of a lovely boy. This +circumstance endeared her not only more to him, but to his parents; at +whose request he relinquished the service, and consented to reside with +them. The amiable manners of Louise had imperceptibly softened the +impatience and harshness of his temper, and his increasing tenderness as +a husband and father, fully justified her in the choice she had made. + +Captain Howard purchased an estate near Sir Henry and Mr. Talton's; and +in the society and affection of his Ellenor found an ample recompence +for the years of unhappiness he had experienced on her account. Edward +and Theodosia, at his desire, consented to reside beneath his paternal +roof: whilst Sir Arthur, who since the death of his son had shown an +unusual urbanity of disposition, again regarded him with fraternal +kindness, which was returned with the sincerest friendship by the +Captain. + +Time softened the sorrow of the worthy Booyers for the loss of Hannah; +and, though he ever dwelt on her memory with tenderness, he no longer +felt those poignant emotions, the remembrance or mention of her would at +one time have occasioned. Frederick, with a delicacy equal to his +regard, presented him with an estate adjoining Howard Hall, which +produced him an easy competence: from the happiness of Ellen he derived +his own, and in her children found a source of amusement for his +declining age. + +Mr. Talton was justified in his choice of Mrs. Blond; nor had either of +them cause to regret the day on which they were united. So far from +deeming her remembrance of Corbet or Blond a slight to himself, he would +join her in the praise he thought justly due to their merits. This +behaviour increased the regard of his wife; and if a sigh sometimes +obtruded for their unhappy fate, the recollection of Talton never failed +to restore her cheerfulness. + +For Mrs. St. Ledger (the once unfortunate Sister Francoise), Louise +retained the sincerest regard; whilst the friendship of that amiable +woman fully recompensed her for the loss of her mother.--Three years +after her marriage, the Marquis de Valois and his family returned to +France, whither Harland attended his Louise, and they passed some +months at the seat of that nobleman. On their return to England, in +which they were accompanied by the Marchioness and her daughters, +they were surprised, on entering Abbeville, by the appearance of Mallet; +his dress immediately informed them he was in the service of the French +Monarch, though in the lowest rank. He as instantly recognized Louise, +who, with mingled sensations of pleasure and grief, received his +embrace. He had, on quitting England, proceeded to Paris, where the +gaming-table soon despoiled him of the wealth he had obtained from Lady +Corbet. He then for some time gained a precarious livelihood, by +practising those wiles by which himself had been defrauded; but being +detected, was obliged to fly, and as a last resource for the +preservation of existence, had taken up a musket. These adventures, +glossed over with the title of misfortunes, fully awakened the pity of +Harland, who readily complied with the wish of Louise, to settle an +annuity on him for life; he would have urged his return to England, but +Mallet declared his resolution never to revisit his native country. He +had, he said, since the death of Lady Corbet, entered into other +engagements, which he by no means wished to break, though he declared +himself extremely willing to quit the army. They accordingly procured +his discharge, and presenting him with a sum of money for immediate use, +he set out for the south of France, where he proposed to fix his +residence, whilst Harland and Louise continued their way toward England, +where the society of her friends soon obliterated the painful +remembrance of an unworthy parent. + +Old Thomas, at his earnest solicitation, still continued with Sir Henry; +who, feeling himself indebted to that faithful servant for the +restoration of his fortune, would have made him independent: but no +consideration could induce him to accept of any reward which should +separate him from his master; with whom he begged he might pass the +remainder of his days. Sir Henry yielded to his wish; and by every +indulgence strove to requite the services he had rendered him. + +Sir Henry, satisfied with his own conduct, could look back on every +action without regret, and to each succeeding day with confidence and +pleasure. Revered by his dependants, and esteemed by all who knew him, +he experienced the true delight of a benevolent heart; whilst in the +affection of Eliza and his children, and the warm attachment of his +friends, he found a recompence for the sorrows he had formerly known. + + +THE END. + +Printed by C. Spilsbury, Angel-Court, Snowhill. + + + + +Transcriber's Note + + +Punctuation errors have been corrected. The quotation at the end of +Chapter II remains open as the quotation extends into Chapter III. + +Errata mentioned in Volume I have been incorporated. + + Page 2, Line 19, for "of," read with. + 130, 15, for "the," read this. + 206, 14, for "them," read him. + 226, 17, dele "with." + +Inconsistent capitalisation of 'Parsonage' and variant spellings have +been preserved. + +The following misprints have been corrected. + + + Page 2: + render an union between her and his son desiraable; + changed to + render an union between her and his son desirable; + + Page 33: + in a private drawer of my father's escrutoire. + changed to + in a private drawer of my father's escritoire. + + Page 111: + but bein certain they were the instigators + changed to + but being certain they were the instigators + + Page 134: + I can scarely, my dear Sir, express the pleasure + changed to + I can scarcely, my dear Sir, express the pleasure + + Page 243: + in which they were accomcompanied by the Marchioness + changed to + in which they were accompanied by the Marchioness + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The Mysterious Wanderer, Vol. III, by Sophia Reeve + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE MYSTERIOUS WANDERER, VOL. 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