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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/6376.txt b/6376.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6e43eb2 --- /dev/null +++ b/6376.txt @@ -0,0 +1,25943 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Self-Raised +by Emma Dorothy Eliza Nevitte Southworth + +Copyright laws are changing all over the world. Be sure to check the +copyright laws for your country before downloading or redistributing +this or any other Project Gutenberg eBook. + +This header should be the first thing seen when viewing this Project +Gutenberg file. Please do not remove it. Do not change or edit the +header without written permission. + +Please read the "legal small print," and other information about the +eBook and Project Gutenberg at the bottom of this file. Included is +important information about your specific rights and restrictions in +how the file may be used. You can also find out about how to make a +donation to Project Gutenberg, and how to get involved. + + +**Welcome To The World of Free Plain Vanilla Electronic Texts** + +**eBooks Readable By Both Humans and By Computers, Since 1971** + +*****These eBooks Were Prepared By Thousands of Volunteers!***** + + +Title: Self-Raised + +Author: Emma Dorothy Eliza Nevitte Southworth + +Release Date: August, 2004 [EBook #6376] +[Yes, we are more than one year ahead of schedule] +[This file was first posted on December 2, 2002] + +Edition: 10 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK, SELF-RAISED *** + + + + +Noemi Millman, Juliet Sutherland, Charles Franks and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team. + + + +SELF-RAISED + OR +FROM THE DEPTHS + + +BY MRS. E. D. E. N. SOUTHWORTH + + + + +CONTENTS + + + +I. RECOVERY +II. HERMAN AND ISHMAEL +III. FATHER AND SON +IV. BEE +V. SECOND LOVE +VI. AT WOODSIDE +VII. AT TANGLEWOOD +VIII. WHY CLAUDIA WAS ALONE +IX. HOLIDAY +X. ISHMAEL AT BRUDENELL +XI. THE PROFESSOR OF ODD JOBS +XII. THE JOURNEY +XIII. LADY VINCENT'S RECEPTION +XIV. ROMANCE AND REALITY +XV. CASTLE CRAGG +XVI. FAUSTINA +XVII. THE PLOT AGAINST CLAUDIA +XVIII. IN THE TRAITOR'S TOILS +XIX. CLAUDIA'S TROUBLES AND PERILS +XX. A LINK IN CLAUDIA'S FATE +XXI. NEWS FOR ISHMAEL +XXII. ISHMAEL'S VISIT TO BEE +XXIII. HANNAH'S HAPPY PROGNOSTICS +XXIV. THE JOURNEY +XXV. THE VOYAGE +XXVI. THE STORM +XXVII. THE WRECK +XXVIII. A DISCOVERY +XXIX. A DEEP ONE +XXX. A NIGHT OF HORROR +XXXI. THE CASTLE VAULT +XXXII. THE END OF CLAUDIA'S PRIDE +XXXIII. THE COUNTESS OF HURSTMONCEUX, 259 +XXXIV. THE RESCUE, 273 +XXXV. A FATHER'S VENGEANCE, 283 +XXXVI. ON THE VISCOUNT'S TRACK, 296 +XXXVII. STILL ON THE TRACK, 306 +XXXVIII. CLAUDIA AT CAMERON COURT, 317 +XXXIX. SUSPENSE, 327 +XL. FATHER AND DAUGHTER, 333 +XLI. ARREST OF LORD VINCENT AND FAUSTINA, 345 +XLII. A BITTER NIGHT, 357 +XLIII. FRUITS OF CRIME, 367 +XLIV. NEMESIS, 378 +XLV. THE VISCOUNT'S FALL, 392 +XLVI. THE FATE OF THE VISCOUNT, 399 +XLVII. THE EXECUTION, 410 +XLVIII. NEWS FOR CLAUDIA, 419 +XLIX. THE FATE OF FAUSTINA, 433 +L. LADY HURSTMONCEUX'S REVELATION, 439 +LI. ISHMAEL'S ERRAND, 449 +LII. THE MEETING OF THE SEVERILD PAIR, 466 +LIII. HOME AGAIN, 475 +LIV. WHICH IS THE BRIDE? 486 +LV. CONCLUSION, 494 + + + + +CHAPTER I. + +RECOVERY. + + Something I know. Oft, shall it come about + When every heart is full of hope for man, + The horizon straight is darkened, and a doubt + Clouds all. The work the youth so well began + Wastes down, and by some deed of shame is finished. + Ah, yet we will not be dismayed: + What seemed the triumph of the Fiend at length + Might be the effort of some dying devil, + Permitted to put forth his fullest strength + To loose it all forever! + --_Owen Meredith._ + + + +Awful as the anguish of his parting with Claudia had been, it was +not likely that Ishmael, with his strength of intellect and will, +would long succumb to despair. It was not in Claudia's power to make +his life quite desolate; how could it be so while Bee cared for him? + +Bee had loved Ishmael as long as Ishmael had loved Claudia. She had +loved him when he was a boy at school; when he was a young country +teacher; when he was a law-student; and she loved him now that he +was a successful barrister. This love, founded in esteem and honor, +had constantly deepened and strengthened. In loving Ishmael, she +found mental and spiritual development; and in being near him and +doing him good she found comfort and happiness. And being perfectly +satisfied with the present, Bee never gave a thought to the future. +That she tacitly left, where it belongs, to God. + +Or if at times, on perceiving Ishmael's utter obliviousness of her +own kindly presence and his perfect devotion to the thankless +Claudia, Bee felt a pang, she went and buried herself with domestic +duties, or played with the children in the nursery, or what was +better still, if it happened to be little Lu's "sleepy time" she +would take her baby-sister up to her own room, sit down and fold her +to her breast and rock and sing her to sleep. And certainly the +clasp of those baby-arms about her neck, and the nestling of that +baby-form to her bosom, drew out all the heart-ache and soothed all +the agitation. + +Except these little occasional pangs Bee had always been blessed in +loving. Her love, all unrequited, as it seemed, was still the +sweetest thing in the world to her; and it seemed thus, because in +fact it was so well approved by her mind and so entirely unselfish. +It seemed to be her life, or her soul, or one with both; Bee was not +metaphysical enough to decide which. She would not struggle with +this love, or try to conquer it, any more than she would have +striven against and tried to destroy her mental and spiritual life. +On the contrary she cherished it as she did her religion, of which +it was a part; she cherished it as she did her love of God, with +which it was united. + +And loving Ishmael in this way, if she should fail to marry him, Bee +resolved never to marry another; but to live and die a maiden; still +cherishing, still hiding this most precious love in her heart as a +miser hides his gold. Whether benign nature would have permitted the +motherly little maiden to have carried out this resolution, I do not +know; or what Bee would have done in the event of Ishmael's marrying +another, she did not know. When Claudia went away, Bee, in the midst +of her regret at parting with her cousin, felt a certain sense of +relief: but when she saw the effect of that departure upon Ishmael +she became alarmed for him; and after the terrible experiences of +that day and night Bee's one single thought in life was--Ishmael's +good. + +On the morning succeeding that dreadful day and night, Ishmael awoke +early, in full possession of his faculties. He remembered all the +incidents of that trying day and night; reflected upon their +effects; and prayed to God to deliver him from the burden and guilt +of inordinate and sinful affections. + +Then he arose, made his toilet, read a portion of the Scriptures, +offered up his morning prayers, and went below stairs. + +In the breakfast parlor he found Bee, the busy little house-keeper, +fluttering softly around the breakfast table, and adding a few +finishing touches to its simple elegance. + +Very fair, fresh, and blooming looked Bee in her pale golden +ringlets and her pretty morning dress of white muslin with blue +ribbons. There was no one else in the room; but Bee advanced and +held out her hand to him. + +He took her hand, and retaining it in his own for a moment, said: + +"Oh, Bee! yesterday, last night!" + +"'Upbraid not the past; it comes not back again.' Ishmael! bury it; +forget it; and press onward!" replied Bee sweetly and solemnly. + +He raised her hand with the impulse to carry it to his lips; but +refraining, bowed his forehead over it instead, and then gently +released it. For Ishmael's affection for Bee was reverential. To him +she appeared saintly, Madonna-like, almost angelic. + +"Let me make breakfast for you at once, Ishmael. It is not of the +least use to wait for the others. Mamma, I know, is not awake yet, +and none of the gentlemen have rung for their hot water." + +"And you, Bee; you will also breakfast now?" + +"Certainly." + +And she rang and gave her orders. And the coffee, muffins, fried +fresh perch, and broiled spring chickens speedily made their +appearance. + +"Jim," she said to the waiter who set the breakfast on the table, +"tell cook to keep some of the perch and pullets dressed to put over +the fire the moment she hears the judge's bell ring, so that his +breakfast may be ready for him when he comes down." + +"Very well, miss," answered Jim, who immediately left the room to +give the order; but soon returned to attend upon the table. + +So it was a tete-a-tete meal, but Bee made it very pleasant. After +breakfast Ishmael left Bee to her domestic duties and went up into +the office to look after the letters and papers that had been left +for him by the penny postman that morning. + +He glanced over the newspapers; read the letters; selected those he +would need during the day; put the others carefully away; tied up +his documents; took up his hat and gloves, and set out for his daily +business at the City Hall. + +In the ante-chamber of the Orphans' Court Room he met old Wiseman, +who clapped him on the shoulder, exclaiming: + +"How are you this morning, old fellow? All right, eh?" + +"Thank you, I am quite well again," replied Ishmael. + +"Ah ha! nothing like good brandy to get one up out of a fit of +exhaustion." + +"Ah!" exclaimed Ishmael, with a shudder. + +"Well, and have you thought over what we were talking of yesterday?" + +"It was--" Ishmael began, and then hesitated. + +"It was about your going into partnership with me." + +"Oh, yes! so it was! but I have not had time to think of it yet." + +"Well, think over it today, will you, and then after the court has +adjourned come to my chambers and talk the matter over with me. Will +you?" + +"Thank you, yes, certainly." + +"Ah, well! I will not keep you any longer, for I see that you are in +a hurry." + +"It is because I have an appointment at ten," said Ishmael +courteously. + +"Certainly; and appointments must be kept. Good morning." + +"Good morning, Mr. Wiseman." + +"Mind, you are to come to my chambers after the court has +adjourned." + +"I will remember and come," said Ishmael. + +And each went his way. + +Ishmael had not yet seriously thought of Lawyer Wiseman's proposal. +This forenoon, however, in the intervals of his professional +business, he reflected on it. + +The proposed partnership was unquestionably a highly advantageous +one, in a worldly point of view. Lawyer Wiseman was undoubtedly the +best lawyer and commanded the largest practice at the Washington +bar, with one single exception--that of the brilliant young +barrister whom he proposed to associate with himself. Together, they +would be invincible, carrying everything before them; and Ishmael's +fortune would be rapidly made. + +So far the offer was a very tempting one; yet the more Ishmael +reflected on it the more determined he became to refuse it; because, +in fact, his conscience would not permit him to enter into +partnership with Lawyer Wiseman, for the following reasons: Lawyer +Wiseman, a man of unimpeachable integrity in his private life, +declined to carry moral responsibility into his professional +business. He was indiscriminate in his acceptation of briefs. It +mattered not whether the case presented to him was a case of +injustice, cruelty, or oppression, so that it was a case for law, +with a wealthy client to back it. The only question with Lawyer +Wiseman being the amount of the retaining fee. If his client +liberally anointed Lawyer Wiseman's eyes with golden ointment, +Lawyer Wiseman would undertake to see and make the judge and jury +see anything and everything that his client wished! With such a man +as this, therefore, whatever the professional advantages of the +association might be, Ishmael could not enter into partnership. + +And so when the court had adjourned Ishmael walked over to the +chambers of Mr. Wiseman on Louisiana Avenue, and in an interview +with the old lawyer courteously declined his offer. + +This considerably astonished Mr. Wiseman, who pressed Ishmael for +the reasons of his strange refusal. + +And Ishmael, being urged, at length candidly confessed them. + +Instead of being angry, as might have been expected, the old lawyer +was simply amused. He laughed at his young friend's scruples, and +assured him that experience would cure them. And the interview +having been brought to a close, they shook hands and parted +amicably. + +Ishmael hurried home to dine and spend the evening with the family. + +On the Monday following, at the order of Judge Merlin, preparations +were commenced for shutting up the town house and leaving Washington +for Tanglewood; for the judge swore that, let anyone whatever get +married, or christened, stay in the city another week he could not, +without decomposing, for that his soul had already left his body and +preceded him to Tanglewood, whither he must immediately follow it. + +Oh, but Bee had plenty of work to look after that week--the packing +up of all the children's clothes, and of all the household effects-- +such as silver plate, cut-glass, fine china, cutlery, etc., that +were to be sent forward to Tanglewood. + +She would have had to overlook the packing of the books also, but +that Ishmael insisted on relieving her of that task, by doing it all +with his own hands, as indeed he preferred to do it, for his love of +books was almost--tender. It was curious to see him carefully +straighten the leaves and brush the cover and edges of an old book, +as conscientiously as he would have doctored a hurt child. They were +friends and he was fond of them. + +Ishmael continued steadily in the performance of all his duties, yet +that he was still suffering very much might be observed in the +abiding paleness and wasting thinness of his face, and in a certain +languor and weariness in all his movements. + +Bee in the midst of her multifarious cares did not forget his +interests; she took pains to have his favorite dishes appear on the +table in order to tempt him to take food. But, observing that he +still ate little or nothing, while he daily lost flesh, she took an +opportunity of saying to him in the library: + +"Ishmael, you know I am a right good little doctress; I have had so +much experience in nursing father and mother and the children; so I +know what I am talking about, when I tell you that you need a +tonic." + +"Oh, Bee! if you did but really know, little sister!" + +"I do know, Ishmael, I know it all!" she said gently. + +"'Out of the heart are the issues of life!' Bee, mine has received a +paralyzing blow." + +"I know it, dear Ishmael; I know it; but let your great mind sustain +that stricken heart until it recovers the blow. And in the meantime +try to get up your strength. You must have more food and more rest, +and in order to secure them you must take a tonic in the morning to +give you an appetite, and a sedative at night to give you sleep. +That was the way we saved mamma after little Mary died, or, indeed, +I think she would have followed her." + +Ishmael smiled a very wan smile as he answered: + +"Indeed, I am ashamed of this utter weakness, Bee." + +"Why should you be? Has Providence given you any immunity from the +common lot? We must take our human nature as it is given to us and +do the best we can with it, I think." + +"What a wise little woman you are, Bee." + +"That's because I have got a good memory. The wisdom was second- +handed, Ishmael, being just what I heard you yourself say when you +were defending Featherstonehaugh: + + "'There's nothing original in me + Excepting original sin.'" + +Ishmael smiled. + +"And, now, will you follow my advice?" + +"To the letter, dear Bee, whenever you are so good as to advise me. +Ah, Bee, you seem to comprise in yourself all that that I have +missed of family affection, and to compensate me for the unknown +love of her mother, sister, friend." + +"Do I, Ishmael? Oh, I wish that I really did!" said Bee, +impulsively; and then she blushed deeply at suddenly apprehending +the construction that might he put upon her words. + +But Ishmael answered those words in the spirit in which they were +uttered: + +"Believe me, dearest Bee, you do. If I never feel the want of home +affections it is because I have them all in you. My heart finds rest +in you, Bee. But oh, little sister, what can I ever render to you +for all the good you have done me from my childhood up?" + +"Render yourself good and wise and great, Ishmael, and I shall be +sufficiently happy in watching your upward progress," said Bee. + +And quietly putting down on the table a bunch of grapes that she had +brought, she withdrew from the office. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +HERMAN AND ISHMAEL. + + With a deep groan he cried--"Oh, gifted one, + I am thy father! Hate me not, my son!" + --_Anon_. + + Nor are my mother's wrongs forgot; + Her slighted love and ruined name, + Her offspring's heritage of shame, + Shall witness for thee from the dead + How trusty and how tender were + Thy youthful love--paternal care! + --_Byron_. + + + +Her exit was almost immediately followed by the entrance of Mr. +Brudenell. He also had noticed Ishmael's condition, and attributed +it to overwork, and to the want of rest, with change of air. He was +preparing to leave Washington for Brudenell Hall. He was going a few +days in advance of Judge Merlin and the Middletons, and he intended +to invite Ishmael to accompany him, or to come after him, and make a +visit to Brudenell. He earnestly desired to have Ishmael there to +himself for a week or two. It was with this desire that he now +entered the library. + +Ishmael arose from his packing, and, smiling a welcome, set a chair +for his visitor. + +"You are not looking well, Mr. Worth," said Herman Brudenell, as he +took the offered seat. + +"I am not well just at present, but I shall be so in a day or two," +returned Ishmael. + +"Not if you continue the course you are pursuing now, my young +friend. You require rest and change of air. I shall leave Washington +for Brudenell Hall on Thursday morning. It would give me great +pleasure if you would accompany me thither, and remain my guest for +a few weeks, to recruit your health. The place is noted for its +salubrity; and though the house has been dismantled, and has +remained vacant for some time, yet I hope we will find it fitted up +comfortably again; for I have written down to an upholsterer of +Baymouth to send in some furniture, and I have also written to a +certain genius of all trades, called the 'professor,' to go over and +see it all arranged, and do what else is needed to be done for our +reception." + +Ishmael smiled when he heard the name of the professor; but before +he could make any comment, Mr. Brudenell inquired: + +"What do you say, Mr. Worth? Will you accompany me thither, or will +you come after me?" + +"I thank you very much, Mr. Brudenell. I should like to visit +Brudenell Hall; but--" + +"Then you will come? I am very glad! I shall be alone there with my +servants, you know, and your society will be a god-send to me. Had +you not better go down at once when I do? I go by land, in a hired +carriage. The carriage is very comfortable; and we can make the +journey in two days, and lay by during the heat of both days. I +think the trip will be pleasant. We can reach Brudenell Hall on +Friday night, and have a good rest before Sunday, when we can go to +the old country church, where you will be likely to meet the faces +of some of your old friends. I think we shall be very comfortable, +keeping bachelor-hall together at Brudenell Hall this summer, Mr. +Worth," said Herman Brudenell, who longed more than tongue could +tell to have Nora's son at home with him, though it might be only +for a short time. + +"I feel your kindness very much indeed, Mr. Brudenell; and I should +be very, very happy to accept your hospitable invitation; but--I was +about to say, it really is quite impossible in the existing state of +my business for me to go anywhere at present," said Ishmael +courteously. + +"Indeed? I am very sorry for that. But the reasons you give are +unanswerable, I know. I am seriously disappointed. Yet I trust, +though you may not be able to come just at present, you will follow +me down there after a little while--say in the course of a few days +or weeks--for I shall remain at the hall all summer and shall be +always delighted to receive you. Will you promise to come?" + +"Indeed, I fear I cannot promise that either, for I have a very +great pressure of business; but if I can possibly manage to go, +without infringing upon my duties, I shall be grateful for the +privilege and very happy to avail myself of it; for--do you know, +sir?--I was born in that neighborhood and passed my childhood and +youth there. I love the old place, and almost long to see the old +hut where I lived, and the hall where I went to school, and the +wooded valley that lies between them, where I gathered wild-flowers +and fruits in summer and nuts in winter, and--my mother's grave," +said the unconscious son, speaking confidentially, and looking +straight into his father's eyes. + +"Ishmael," said Herman Brudenell, in a faltering voice, and +forgetting to be formal, "you must come to me: that grave should +draw you, if nothing else; it is a pious pilgrimage when a son goes +to visit his mother's grave." + +There was something in this new friend's words, look, and manner +that always drew out the young man's confidence, and he said, in a +voice trembling with emotion: + +"She died young, sir; and oh! so sorrowfully! She was only nineteen, +two years younger than I am now; and her son was motherless the hour +he was born." + +Violent emotion shook the frame of Herman Brudenell. He had not +entered the room with any intention of making a disclosure to +Ishmael; but he felt now that--come life, come death, come whatever +might of it--he must claim Nora's son. + +"Ishmael," he began, in a voice shaken with agitation, "I knew your +mother." + +"You, sir!" exclaimed the young man in surprise. + +"Yes, I knew her and her sister, naturally, for they were tenants of +mine." + +"I knew that they lived on the outskirts of the Brudenell estate; +but I did not know you were personally acquainted with them, sir; +for I thought that you had resided generally in Europe." + +"Not all the time; I was at Brudenell Hall when--you were born and +your mother went to heaven, Ishmael." + +Some of the elder man's agitation communicated itself to the +younger, who half arose from his seat and looked intently at the +speaker. + +"I knew your mother in those days, Ishmael. She was not only one of +the most beautiful women of her day, but one of the purest, noblest, +and best." + +Herman Brudenell hesitated. And Ishmael, who had dropped again into +his seat, bent eagerly forward, holding his breath while he +listened. + +Herman continued. + +"You resemble her in person and character, Ishmael. All that is best +and noblest and most attractive in you, Ishmael, is derived under +Divine Providence from your mother." + +"I know it! Oh, I know it!" + +"And, Ishmael, I loved your mother!" + +"Oh, Heaven!" breathed the young man, in sickening, deadly +apprehension; for well he remembered that this Mr. Herman Brudenell +was the husband of the Countess of Hurstmonceux at the very time of +which he now spoke. + +"Ishmael, do not look so cruelly distressed. I loved her, she loved +me in return, she crowned my days with joy, and--" + +A gasping sound of suddenly suspended breath from Ishmael. + +"I made her my wife," continued Herman Brudenell, in a grave and +earnest voice. + +"It was you then!" cried Ishmael, shaking with agitation. + +"It was I!" + +Silence like a pall fell between them. + +"Oh, Ishmael! my son! my son! speak to me! give me your hand!" +groaned Herman Brudenell. + +"She was your wife! Yet she died of want, exposure, and grief!" said +Nora's son, standing pale and stony before him. + +"And I--live with a breaking heart! a harder fate, Ishmael. Since +her death, I have been a wifeless, childless, homeless wanderer over +the wide world! Oh, Ishmael! my son! my son! give me your hand!" + +"I am your mother's son! She was your wife, you say; yet she never +bore your name! She was your wife; yet her son and yours bears her +maiden name! She was your wife; yet she perished miserably in her +early youth; and undeserved reproach is suffered to rest upon her +memory! Oh, sir! if indeed you were her husband and my father, as +you claim to be, explain these things before I give you my hand! for +when I give my hand, honor and respect must go with it," said +Ishmael in a grave, sweet, earnest tone. + +"Is it possible that Hannah has never told you? I thought she would +have told you everything, except the name of your father." + +"She told me everything that she could tell without violating the +oath of secrecy by which she was hound; but what she told me was not +satisfactory." + +"Sit down then, Ishmael, sit down; and though to recall this woeful +history will be to tear open old wounds afresh, I will do so; and +when you have heard it, you will know how blameless we both--your +mother and myself--really were, and how deep has been the tragedy of +my life as well as hers--the difference between us being that hers +is a dead trouble, from which she rests eternally, while mine is a +living and life-long sorrow!" + +Ishmael again dropped into his chair and gave undivided attention to +the speaker. + +And Mr. Brudenell, after a short pause, commenced and gave a +narrative of his own eventful life, beginning with his college days, +and detailing all the incidents of his youthful career until it +culminated in the dreadful household wreck that had killed Nora, +exiled his family and blasted his own happiness forever. + +Ishmael listened with the deepest sympathy. + +It was indeed the tearing open of old wounds in Herman Brudenell's +breast; and it was the inflicting of new ones in Ishmael's heart. It +was an hour of unspeakable distress to both. Herman did not spare +himself in the relation; yet in the end Ishmael exculpated his +father from all blame. We know indeed that in his relations with +Nora he was blameless, unless his fatal haste could be called a +fault. And so for his long neglect of Ishmael, which really was a +great sin, and the greatest he had ever committed, Ishmael never +gave a thought to that, it was only a sin against himself, and +Ishmael was not selfish enough to feel or resent it. + +Herman Brudenell ended his story very much as he had commenced it. + +"And since that day of doom, Ishmael, I have been a lonely, +homeless, miserable wanderer over the wide world! The fabled +Wandering Jew not more wretched than I!" And the bowed head, +blanched complexion, and quivering features bore testimony to his +words. + + + + +CHAPTER III + +FATHER AND SON. + + For though thou work'st my mother ill + I feel thou art my father still! + --_Byron._ + + Yet what no chance could then reveal, + And no one would be first to own, + Let fate and courage still conceal, + When truth could bring reproach alone. + --_Milnes._ + + + +Ishmael had been violently shaken. It was with much effort that he +controlled his own emotions in order to administer consolation to +one who was suffering even more than he himself was, because that +suffering was blended with a morbid remorse. + +"Father," he said, reaching forth his hand to the stricken man; but +his voice failed him. + +Herman Brudenell looked up; an expression of earnest love chasing +away the sorrow from his face, as he said: + +"Father? Ah, what a dear name! You call me thus, Ishmael? Me, who +worked your mother so much woe?" + +"Father, it was your great misfortune, not your fault; she said it +on her death-bed, and the words of the dying are sacred," said +Ishmael earnestly, and caressing the pale, thin hand that he held. + +"Oh, Nora! Oh, Nora!" exclaimed Herman, as all his bosom's wounds +bled afresh. + +"Father, do not grieve so bitterly; and after all these years so +morbidly! God has wiped away all tears from her eyes. She has been a +saint in glory these many years!" + +"You try to comfort me, Ishmael. You, Nora's son?" exclaimed Herman, +with increased emotion. + +"Who else of all the world should comfort you but Nora's son?" + +"You love me, then, a little, Ishmael?" + +"She loved you, my father, and why should not I?" + +"Ah, that means that you will love me in time; for love is not born +in an instant, my son." + +"My heart reaches out to you, my father: I love you even now, and +sympathize with you deeply; and I feel that I shall love you more +and more, and as I shall see you oftener and know you better," said +the simply truthful son. + +"Ishmael! this is the happiest hour I have known since Nora's death, +and Nora's son has given it to me." + +"None have a better right to serve you." + +"My son, I am a prematurely old and broken man, ruined and +impoverished, but Brudenell Hall is still mine, and the name of +Brudenell is one of the most ancient and honored in the Old and New +World! If you consent, Ishmael, I will gladly, proudly, and openly +acknowledge you as my son. I will get an act of the Legislature +passed authorizing you to take the name and arms of Brudenell. And I +will make you the heir of Brudenell Hall. What say you, Ishmael?" + +"Father," said the young man, promptly but respectfully, "no! In all +things I will be to you a true and loving son; but I cannot, cannot +consent to your proposal; because to do so would be to cast bitter, +heavy, unmerited reproach upon my sweet mother's memory! For, +listen, sir: you are known to have been the husband of the Countess +Hurstmonceux for more years than I have lived in this world; you are +known to have been so at the very time of my birth; you could not go +about explaining the circumstances to everyone who would become +acquainted with the facts, and the consequences would be what I +said! No, father, leave me as I am; for, besides the reasons I have +given, there is yet another reason why I may not take your name." + +"What is that, Ishmael?" asked Brudenell, in a broken voice. + +"It is, that in an hour of passionate grief, after hearing my +mother's woeful story from the lips of my aunt, I fell upon that +mother's grave and vowed to make her name--the only thing she had to +leave me, poor mother!--illustrious. It was a piece of boyish +vainglory, no doubt, but it was a vow, and I must try to keep it," +said Ishmael, faintly smiling. + +"You will keep it; you will make the name of Worth illustrious in +the annals of the country, Ishmael," said Mr. Brudenell. + +There was a pause for a little while, at the end of which the latter +said: + +"There is another way in which I may be able to accomplish my +purpose, Ishmael. Without proclaiming you as my son, and risking the +reproach you dread for your dear mother's memory, I might adopt you +as my son, and appoint you as my heir. Will you make me happy by +consenting to that measure, Ishmael?" inquired the father, in a +persuasive tone. + +"Dear sir, I cannot. Oh, do not think that I am insensible to all +your kindness, for indeed I am not! I thank you; I love you; and I +deeply sympathize with you in your disappointment; but--" + +"But what, my son? what is the reason you cannot agree to this last +proposal?" asked Mr. Brudenell, in a voice quivering with emotion. + +"A strong spirit of independence, the growth of years of lonely +struggle with the world, possesses and inspires me. I could not for +an hour endure patronage or dependence, come they from where or how +they might. It is the law of my life," said Ishmael firmly, but +affectionately. + +"It is a noble law, and yours has been a noble life, my son. But--is +there nothing, nothing I can do for you to prove my affection, and +to ease my heart, Ishmael?" + +"Yes!" said the young man, after a pause. "When you return to +England, you will see--Lady Vincent!" The name was uttered with a +gasp. "Tell her what you have told me--the history of your +acquaintance with my mother; your mutual love; your private +marriage, and the unforeseen misfortune that wrecked your happiness! +Tell her how pure and noble and lovely my young mother was! that her +ladyship may know once for all Nora Worth was not"--Ishmael covered +his face with his hands, and caught his breath, and continued--"not, +as she said, 'the shame of her own sex and the scorn of ours'; that +her son is not 'the child of sin,' nor 'his heritage dishonor!'" And +Ishmael dropped his stately head upon his desk, and sobbed aloud; +sobbed until all his athletic form shook with the storm of his great +agony. + +Herman Brudenell gazed at him--appalled. Then, rising, he laid his +hand on the young man's shoulder, saying: + +"Ishmael! Ishmael! don't do so! Calm yourself, my son; oh, my dear +son, calm yourself!" + +He might as well have spoken to a tempest. Sobs still shook +Ishmael's whole frame. + +"Oh, Heaven! oh, Heaven! Would to the Lord I had never been born!" +cried Herman Brudenell, in a voice of such utter woe that Ishmael +raised his head and struggled hard to subdue the storm of passion +that was raging in his bosom. "Or would that I had died the day I +met Nora, and before I had entailed all this anguish on you!" +continued Herman Brudenell, amid groans and sighs. + +"Don't say so, my father! don't say so! You were not in fault. You +were as blameless as she herself was; and you could not have been +more so," said Ishmael, wiping his fevered brow, and looking up. + +"My generous son! But did Claudia--did Lady Vincent use the cruel +words you have quoted, against your mother and yourself?" + +"She did, my father. Oh, but I have suffered!" exclaimed Ishmael, +with shaking voice and quivering features. + +"I know you have; I know it, Ishmael; but you have grandly, +gloriously conquered suffering," said Mr. Brudenell, with +enthusiasm. + +"Not quite conquered it yet; but I shall endeavor to do so," replied +the young man, who had now quite regained his self-possession. + +And another pause fell between them. + +Ishmael leaned his head upon his hand and reflected deeply for a few +moments. Then, raising his head, he said: + +"My father, for her sake, our relationship must remain a secret from +all the world, with the few exceptions of those intimate friends to +whom you can explain the circumstances, and even to them it must be +imparted in confidence. You will tell Lady Vincent, that her +ladyship may know how false were the calumnies she permitted herself +to repeat; and Judge Merlin and Mr. Middleton, whose kindness has +entitled them to the confidence, for their own satisfaction." + +"And no one else, Ishmael?" + +"No one else in the world, my father. I myself will tell Uncle +Reuben. And in public, my father, we must be discreet in our +intercourse with each other. Forgive me if I speak in too +dictatorial a manner; I speak for lips that are dumb in death. I +speak as my dead mother's advocate," said Ishmael, with a strange +blending of meekness and firmness in his tone and manner. + +"And her advocate shall be heard and heeded, hard as his mandate +seems. But, ah! I am an old and broken man, Ishmael. I had hoped, in +time, to claim you as my son, and solace my age in your bright +youth. I am grievously disappointed. Oh! would to Heaven I had taken +charge of you in your infancy, and then you would not disclaim me +now!" sighed Mr. Brudenell. + +"I do not disclaim you, father. I only deprecate the publicity that +might wound my mother's memory. And you are not old and broken, my +father. How can you be--at forty-three? You are in the sunny summer +noon of your life. But you are harassed and ill in mind and body; +and you are very morbid and sensitive. You shun society, form no new +ties with your fellow-creatures, and brood over that old sad tragedy +long passed. Think no more of it, father; its wounds are long since +healed in every heart but yours; my mother has been in heaven these +many years; as long as I have been on earth; my birthday here was +her birthday there! Therefore, brood no more over that sad time; it +is forever past and gone. Think of your young love as much as you +please; but think of her in heaven. It is not well to think forever +of the Crucifixion and never of the Ascension; forever of the +martyrdom that was but for a moment, and never of the glory that is +from everlasting to everlasting. Nora was martyred; her martyrdom +was as the grief of a moment; but she has ascended and her happiness +is eternal in the heavens. Think of her so. And rouse yourself. Wake +to the duties and pleasures of life. Look around upon and enjoy the +beauty of the earth, the wisdom of man, the loveliness of woman, and +the goodness of God. If you were a single man I should say 'marry +again'; but as you are already a married man, though estranged from +your wife, I say to you, seek a reconciliation with that lady. You +are both in the prime of life." + +"What! does Nora's son give me such advice?" inquired Brudenell, +with a faint, incredulous smile. + +"Yes, he does; as Nora herself in her wisdom and love would do, +could she speak to you from heaven," said Ishmael solemnly Brudenell +slowly and sorrowfully shook his head. + +"The Countess of Hurstmonceux can nevermore be anything to me," he +said. + +"My father! have you then no kindly memory of the sweet young lady +who placed her innocent affections upon you in your early manhood, +and turning away from all her wealthy and titled suitors, gave +herself and her fortune to you?" + +Slowly and bitterly Herman Brudenell shook his head. Ishmael, still +looking earnestly in his face continued: + +"Who left her native country and her troops of friends, and crossed +the sea alone, to follow you to a home that must have seemed like a +wilderness, and servants that were like savages to her; who devoted +her time and spent her money in embellishing your house and +improving your land, and in civilizing and Christianizing your +negroes; and who passed the flower of her youth in that obscure +neighborhood, doing good and waiting patiently long, weary years for +the return of the man she loved." + +Still the bitter, bitter gesture of negation from Herman. + +"Father," said Ishmael, fixing his beautiful eyes on Brudenell's +face and speaking earnestly, "it seems to me that if any young lady +had loved me with such devotion and constancy, I must have loved her +fondly in return. I could not have helped doing so!" + +"She wronged me, Ishmael!" + +"And even if she had offended me--deeply and justly offended me--I +must have forgiven her and taken her back to my bosom again." + +"It was worse than that, Ishmael! It was no common offense. She +deceived me! She was false to me!" + +"I cannot believe it!" exclaimed Ishmael earnestly. + +"Why, what ground have you for saying so? What can you know of it?" + +"Because I do not easily think evil of women. My life has been short +and my experience limited, I know; but as far as my observation +instructs me, they are very much better than we are; they do not +readily yield to evil; their tendencies are all good," said Ishmael +fervently. + +"Young man, you know a great deal of books, a great deal of law; but +little of men, and less of women. A man of the world would smile to +hear you say what you have just said, Ishmael." + +"If I am mistaken, it is a matter to weep over, not to smile at!" +said Ishmael gravely, and almost severely. + +"It is true." + +"But to return to your countess, my father. I am not mistaken in +that lady's face, I know. I have not seen it since I was eight years +old; but it is before me now! a sweet, sad, patient young face, full +of holy love. Among the earliest memories of my life is that of the +young Countess of Hurstmonceux, and the stories that were afloat +concerning herself and you. It was said that every day at sunset she +would go to the turnstile at the crossroads on the edge of the +estate, where she could see all up and down two roads for many +miles, and there stand watching to catch the first glimpse of you, +if perhaps you might be returning home. She did this for years and +years, until people began to say that she was crazed with hope +deferred. It was at that very stile I first saw her. And when I +looked at her lovely face and thought of her many charities--for +there was no suffering from poverty in that neighborhood while she +lived there--I felt that she was an angel!" + +"Aye! a fallen angel, Ishmael!" + +"No, father! no! my life and soul on her truth and love! Children +are good judges of character, you know! And I was but eight years +old on the occasion of which I speak! I was carrying a basket of +tools for the 'professor,' whose assistant I was; and who would have +carried them himself only that his back was bent beneath a load of +kitchen utensils, for we had been plastering a cistern all day and +in coming home took these things to mend in the evening. And as we +passed down the road we saw this lovely lady leaning on the stile. +And she called me to her and laid her hand on my head and looked in +my face very tenderly, and turning to the professor, said: 'This +child is too young for so heavy a burden.' And she took out her +purse and would have given me an eagle, only that Aunt Hannah had +taught me never to take money that I had not earned." + +"Grim Hannah! It is a marvel she had not starved you with her +scruples, Ishmael! But what else passed between you and the +countess?" + +"Not much! but if she was sorry for me, I was quite as sorry for +her." + +"There was a bond of sympathy between you which you felt without +understanding at the time!" + +"There was; though I mistook its precise character. Seeing that she +wore black, I said: 'Have you also lost your mother, my lady, and +are you in deep mourning for her?' And she answered, 'I am in deep +mourning for my dead happiness, child!'" + +"For her dead honor, she might have said!" + +"Father! the absent are like the dead; they cannot defend +themselves," said Ishmael. + +"That is true; and I stand rebuked! And henceforth, whatever I may +think, I will never speak evil of the Countess of Hurstmonceux." + +"Go farther yet, dear sir! seek an explanation with her, and my word +on it she will be able to confute the calumnies, or clear up the +suspicious circumstances or whatever it may have been that has +shaken your confidence in her, and kept you apart so long." + +"Ishmael it is a subject that I have never broached to the countess, +and one that I could not endure to discuss with her!" + +"What, my father? Would you forever condemn her unheard? We do not +treat our worst criminals so!" + +"Spare me, my son! for I have spared her!" + +"If by sparing her you mean that you have left her alone, you had +better not spared her; you had better sought divorce; then one of +two things would have happened--either she would have disproved the +charges brought against her, or she would have been set free! either +alternative much better than her present condition." + +"I could not drag my domestic troubles into a public courtroom, +Ishmael!" + +"Not when justice required it, father?--But you are going down into +the neighborhood of Brudenell Hall! You will hear of her from the +people among whom she lived for so many years, and who cherish her +memory as that of an angel of mercy, and--you will change your +opinion of her." + +Herman Brudenell smiled incredulously, and then said: + +"Apropos of my visit to Brudenell Hall! I hope, Ishmael, that you +will be able to join me there in the course of the summer?" + +"Father, yes! I promise you to do so. I will be at pains to put my +business in such train as will enable me to visit you for a week or +two." + +"Thanks, Ishmael! And now, do you know I think the first dinner bell +rang some time ago and it is time to dress?" + +And Herman Brudenell arose, and after pressing Ishmael's hand, left +the library. + +The interview furnished Ishmael with too much food for thought to +admit of his moving for some time. He sat by the table in a brown +study, reflecting upon all that he had heard, until he was suddenly +startled by the pealing out of the second bell. Then he sprang up, +hurried to his chamber, hastily arranged his toilet, and went down +into the dining room, where he found all the family already +assembled and waiting for him. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +BEE. + + And coldly from that noble heart, + In all its glowing youth, + His lore had turned and spurned apart + Its tenderness and truth-- + Let him alone to live, or die-- + Alone!--Yet, who is she? + Some guardian angel from the sky, + To bless and aid him?--Bee! + _--Anon._ + + + +Ishmael received many other invitations. One morning, while he was +seated at the table in his office, Walter Middleton entered, saying: + +"Ishmael, leave reading over those stupid documents and listen to +me. I am going to Saratoga for a month. Come with me; it will do you +good." + +"Thank you all the same, Walter; but I cannot leave the city now," +said Ishmael. + +"Nonsense! there is but little doing; and now, if ever, you should +take some recreation." + +"But I am busy with getting up some troublesome cases for the next +term." + +"And that's worse than nonsense! Leave the cases alone until the +court sits; take some rest and recreation and you will find it pay +well in renewed vigor of body and mind. I that tell you so am an M. +D., you know." + +"I thank you, Dr. Middleton, and when I find myself growing weak I +will follow your prescription," smiled Ishmael, rising and beginning +to tie up his documents. + +"And that's a signal for my dismissal, I suppose. Off to the City +Hall again this morning?" inquired Walter. + +"Yes; to keep an appointment," replied Ishmael. And the friends +separated. + +Later in the day, when the young attorney had returned and was +spending his leisure hour in going on with the book-packing, Judge +Merlin entered and threw himself into a chair and for some moments +watched the packer. + +"What is that you are doing now, Ishmael? Oh, I see; doctoring a +sick book!" + +"Well, I dislike to see a fine volume that has served us faithfully +and seen hard usage perish for the want of a moment's attention; it +is but that which is required when we have the mucilage at hand," he +said, smiling and pointing to the bottle and brush, and then +deposited the book in its packing-case. + +"But that is not what I come to talk to you about. Have you found a +proper room for an office yet?" + +"Yes; I have a suite of rooms on the first floor of a house on +Louisiana Avenue. The front room I shall use for a public office, +the middle one for a private office, and the back one, which opens +upon a pleasant porch and a garden, for a bedchamber; for I shall +lodge there and board with the family," replied Ishmael. + +"That seems to be a pleasant arrangement. But, Ishmael, take my +advice and engage a clerk immediately;--you will want one before +long, anyhow--and put him in your rooms to watch your business, and +do you take a holiday. Come down to Tanglewood for a month. You need +the change. After the wilderness of houses and men you want the +world of trees and birds. At least I do, and I judge you by myself." + +Ishmael smiled, thanked his kind friend cordially, and then, in +terms as courteous as he could devise, declined the invitation, +giving the same reasons for doing so that he had already given first +to Mr. Brudenell and next to Walter Middleton. + +"Well, Ishmael, I will not urge you, for I know by past experience +when you have once made up your mind to a course of conduct you deem +right, nothing on earth will turn you aside from it. But see here! +why do you go through all that drudgery? Why not order Powers to +pack those books?" + +"Powers is a pearl in his own way; but he cannot pack books; and +besides, he has no respect for them." + +"No feeling, you mean! he would not dress their wounds before +putting them to bed in those boxes!" + +"No." + +"Well, 'a wilfu' mon maun ha' his way,'" said the judge, taking up +the evening paper and burying himself in its perusal. That same +night, while Ishmael, having finished his day's work, was refreshing +himself by strolling through the garden, inhaling the fragrance of +flowers, listening to the gleeful chirp of the joyous little +insects, and watching the light of the stars, he heard an advancing +step behind him, and presently his arm was taken by Mr. Middleton, +who, walking on with him, said: + +"What are you going to do with yourself, Ishmael?" + +"Put myself to work like a beaver!" + +"Humph! that will be nothing new for you. But I came out here to +induce you to reconsider that resolution. I wish to persuade you to +join us at Beacon House. That high promontory stretching far out to +sea and exposed to all the sea breezes will be the very place to +recruit your health at. Come, what say you?" + +Ishmael's eyes grew moist as he grasped Mr. Middleton's hand and +said: + +"Three invitations of this sort I have already had--this is the +fourth. My friends are too kind. I know not how I have won such +friendship or deserved such kindness. But I cannot avail myself of +the pleasant quarters they offer me. I cannot, at present, leave +Washington, except at such a sacrifice of professional duties as +they would not wish me to make. Mr. Middleton, I thank you heartily +all the same." + +"Well, Ishmael, I am sorry to lose your company; but not sorry for +the cause of the loss. The pressure of business that confines you to +the city during the recess argues much for your popularity and +success. But, my dear boy, pray consider my invitation as a standing +one, and promise me to avail yourself of it the first day you can do +so." + +"Thank you; that I will gladly do, Mr. Middleton." + +"And when you come, remain with us as long as you can without +neglecting your duty." + +"Indeed I will." + +At that moment a light rustle through the bushes was heard and Bee +joined them, saying: + +"Papa, if I were to tell you the dew is falling heavily and the +grass is wet, and it is not good for you or Ishmael to be out here, +you might not heed me. But when I say that uncle has gone with +General Tourneysee to a political pow-wow, and mamma and myself are +quite alone and would like to amuse ourselves with a game of whist, +perhaps you will come in and be our partners." + +"Why, certainly, Busy Bee; for if anyone in this world deserves play +after work it is you," replied Mr. Middleton. + +"Right face! forward! march!" then said Bee; and she led her +captives out of the night air and into the house. + +Early the next morning Ishmael was surprised by a fifth invitation +to a country house. It was contained in a letter from Reuben Gray, +which was as follows: + + "Woodside,--Monday Morning. +"My Deer Ishmael:--Hannah and me, we hav bin a havin of a talk about +you. You see the judge he wrote to me a spell back, a orderin of me +to have the house got reddy for him comin home. And he menshunned, +permiskuously like, as you was not lookin that well as you orter. +But Hannah and me, we thort as how is was all along o that +botheration law business as you was upset on your helth. And as how +you'd get better when the Court riz. But now the Court is riz, and +pears like you aint no ways better from all accounts. And tell you +how we knowed. See Hannah and me, we got a letter from Mrs. Whaley +as keeps the 'Farmers.' Well she rote to Hannah and me to send her +up some chickins and duks and eggs and butter and other fresh frutes +and vegetubbles, which she sez as they doo ask sich onlawful prices +for em in the city markits as she cant conshuenshusly giv it. So she +wants Hannah and me to soopli her. And mabee we may and mabee we +maynt; but that's nyther here nur there. Wot Hannah and me wants to +say is this--as how Mrs. Whaley she met you in the street +incerdentul. And she sez as how she newer saw no wun look no wusser +than you do! Now, Ishmael, Hannah and me, we sees how it is. Youre +a-killin of yourself jest as fast as ever you can, which is no +better than Susanside, because it is agin natur and agin rillijun to +kill wunself for a livin. So Hannah and me, we wants you to drap +everythink rite outen your hands and kum home to us. Wot you want is +a plenty of good kuntre air and water, and nun o your stifeld up +streets and pizen pumps. And plenty o good kuntre eetin and drinkin +and nun o your sickly messes. So you kum. Hannah and me is got a +fine caff and fat lamm to kill soon as ever you git here. And lots o +young chickins and duks. And the gratest kwontity o frute, peeehes, +peers, plums, and kanterlopes and warter millions in plenty. And the +hamberg grapes is kummin on. And we hav got a noo cow, wun o the +sort cawld durrums, which she doo give the richest milk as ever you +drinked and if ennything will set you up it is that. And likewise we +hav got the noo fashund fowls as people are all runnin mad about. +They cawl em shank hyes pun count o there long leggs, which they is +about the longest as ever you saw. And the way them fowls doo stryde +and doo eet is a cawshun to housekeepers. They gobble up everything. +And wot doo you think. You know Sally's brestpin, as Jim bawt her +for a kristmus gift. Well she happened to drap it offen her buzzum, +inter the poultry yard, and soons ever she mist it she run rite out +after it; but the shank-hye rooster he run fastern she did with his +long legs and gobbled it rite down, afore his eyes. And the poor +gals bin a howlin and bawlin and brakin of her poor hart ebout it +ever since. She wanted us--Hannah and me to kill the shank-hye; to +git the brestpin; but as we had onlee a pare on em we tolde her how +it was too vallabel for that. But Hannah and me we give the shank +hye a dose of eepeekak, in hope it would make him throw up the +brestpin; but it dident; for the eepeekak set on his stomik like an +angel, as likewise did the brestpin; and Hannah and me thinks he +diggested em both. Well, they aint daintee in their wittels them +shank hyes. Now bee shure to kum, Ishmael. Hannah and me and the +young uns and Sally will awl be so glad to see you and you can role +in clover awl day if you like. And now I have ralely no more noose +to tell you; only that I rote this letter awl outen my own hed +without Hannah helpin of me. Dont you think as Ime improvin? Hannah +and the little uns and Sally jine me in luv to you mi deer Ishmael. +And Ime your effectshunit frend till deth do us part. + "Reuben Gray. + +"Post Cript. Ive jist redd this letter to Hannah. And she doo say as +every uther wurd is rote rong. I dont think they is; becawse Ive got +a sartain roole to spell rite; which is--I think how a word sownde +and then I spell it accordin. But law, Ishmael! ever sense Hannah +has been teechin them young uns o ourn to reede there primmers, shes +jest got to be the orfullest Bloo Stokkin as evver was. Dont tell +her I sed so tho, for she ralely is wun of the finest wimmin livin +and Ime prowd of her and her young uns. So no more at present onle +kum. + "R.G." + +Grateful for this kind invitation as he had been for any that had +been given him, Ishmael sat down immediately and answered the +letter, saying to Reuben, as he had said to others, that he would +thankfully accept his offered hospitality as soon as his duties +would permit him to do so. + +The last day of the family's sojourn in town came. On the morning of +that day Mr. Brudenell took leave of his friends and departed, +exacting from Ishmael a renewal of his promise to visit Brudenell +Hall in the course of the summer. On that last day Ishmael completed +the packing of the books and sent them off to the boat that was to +convey them to the Tanglewood landing. And then he had all his own +personal effects conveyed to his new lodgings. And finally he sought +an interview with Bee. That was not so easily obtained, however. Bee +was excessively busy on this last day. But Ishmael, with the +privilege of an inmate, went through the house, looking for her, +until he found her in the family storeroom, busy among the jars and +cans, and attended by her maids. + +"Come in, Ishmael, for this concerns you," she said pleasantly. + +And Ishmael entered, wondering what he could be supposed to have to +do with preserved fruits and potted meats. + +Bee pointed to a box that was neatly packed with small jars, saying: + +"There, Ishmael--there are some sealed fruits and vegetables, and +some spiced meats and fish, and a bachelor's lamp and kettle, in +that case which Ann is closing down. They are yours. Direct Jim +where to find your lodgings, and he will take them there in the +wheelbarrow. And there is a keg of crackers and biscuits to go with +them." + +"Dearest Bee, I am very grateful; but why should you give me all +these things?" inquired Ishmael, in surprise. + +"Because you are going away from home, and you will want them. Yes, +you will, Ishmael, though you don't think so now. Often business +will detain you out in the evening until after your boarding-house +supper is over. Then how nice to have the means at hand to get a +comfortable little meal for yourself in your own room without much +trouble. Why, Ishmael, we always put up such a box as this for +Walter when he leaves us. And do you think that mamma or I would +make any difference between you?" + +"You have always been a dear--yes, the dearest of sisters to me! and +some day, Bee--" He stopped, and looked around. The maids were at +some distance, but still he felt that the family storeroom was not +exactly the place to say what was on his heart for her, so he +whispered the question: + +"How long will you be engaged here, dear Bee?" + +"Until tea time. It will take me quite as long as that to get +through what I have to do." + +"And then, Bee?" + +"Then I shall be at leisure to pass this last evening with you, +Ishmael," answered Bee, meeting his wish with the frankness of pure +affection. + +"And will you walk with me in the garden after tea? It will be our +last stroll together there," he said rather sadly. + +"Yes; I will walk with you, Ishmael. The garden is lovely just at +sunset." + +"Thank you, dearest Bee. Ah! how many times a day I have occasion to +speak these words!" + +"I wish you would leave them off altogether, then, Ishmael. I always +understand that you thank me far more than I deserve." + +"Never! How could I? 'Thank you!' they are but two words. How could +they repay you, Bee? Dearest, this evening you shall know how much I +thank you. Until then, farewell." He pressed her hand and left her. + +Now Ishmael was far too clear-sighted not to have seen that Bee had +fixed her pure maidenly affections upon him, and to see also that +Bee's choice was well approved by her parents, who had long loved +him as a son. While Ishmael's hands had been busy with the book- +packing his thoughts had been busy with Bee and with the problem +that her love presented him. He had loved Claudia with an all- +absorbing passion. But she had left him and married another, and so +stricken a deathblow to his love. But this love was dying very hard, +and in its death-struggles was rending and tearing the heart which +was its death-bed. + +And in the meantime Bee's love was alive and healthy, and it was +fixed on him. He was not insensible, indifferent, ungrateful for +this dear love. Indeed, it was the sweetest solace that he had in +this world. He felt in the profoundest depths of his heart all the +loveliness of Bee's nature. And most tenderly he loved her--as a +younger sister. What then should he do? Offer to Bee the poor, +bleeding heart that Claudia had played with, broken, and cast aside +as worthless? All that was true, noble, and manly in Ishmael's +nature responded: + +"God forbid!" + +But what then should he do? Leave her to believe him insensible, +indifferent, ungrateful? Strike such a deathblow to her loving heart +as Claudia had stricken to his? All that was generous, affectionate +and devoted in Ishmael's nature cried out: "No! forbid it, angels in +heaven!" + +But what then could he do? The magnanimity of his nature answered: + +"Open your heart to her; that she may know all that is in it; then +lay that heart at her feet, for accepting or rejecting." + +And this he resolved to do. And this resolution sent him to beg this +interview with Bee. Yet before going to keep it he determined to +speak to Mr. Middleton. He felt certain that Mr. Middleton would +indorse his addresses to his daughter; yet still his fine sense of +honor constrained him to seek the consent of the father before +proposing to the daughter. And with this view in mind immediately +upon leaving Bee he sought Mr. Middleton. + +He found that gentleman walking about in the garden, enjoying his +afternoon cigar. In these afternoon promenades Mr. Middleton, who +was the shorter and slighter as well as the older man, often did +Ishmael the honor of leaning upon his arm. And now Ishmael went up +to his side and with a smile silently offered the usual support. + +"Thank you, my boy! I was just feeling the want of your friendly +arm. My limbs are apt to grow tired of walking before my eyes are +satiated with gazing or my mind with reflecting on the beauty of the +summer evening," said Mr. Middleton, slipping his arm within that of +Ishmael. + +"Sir," said the young man, blushing slightly, "a selfish motive has +brought me to your side this afternoon." + +"A selfish motive, Ishmael! I do not believe that you are capable of +entertaining one," smiled Mr. Middleton. + +"Indeed, yes, sir; you will say so when you hear of it." + +"Let me hear of it, then, Ishmael, for the novelty of the thing." + +The young man hesitated for a few moments and then said: + +"Mr. Middleton--Mr. Brudenell has, I believe, put you in possession +of the facts relative to my birth?" + +"Yes, my dear Ishmael; but let me assure you that I did not need to +be told of them. Do you remember the conversation we had upon the +subject years ago? It was the morning after the school party when +that miserable craven, Alfred Burghe, disgraced himself by insulting +you. You said, Ishmael, 'My mother was a pure and honorable woman! +Oh, believe it!' I did believe it then, Ishmael; for your words and +tones and manner carried irresistible conviction to my mind. And +every year since I have been confirmed in my belief. You, Ishmael, +are the pledge of your parents' honor as well as of their love. 'Men +do not gather grapes of thorns, nor figs of thistles,'" said Mr. +Middleton earnestly. + +"And yet, sir, I have suffered and may again suffer reproach that +neither myself nor my parents deserved," said Ishmael gravely. + +"You never will again, Ishmael. You have overcome the world." + +"Thank you! thank you, sir! I purposely reminded you of this old +injustice. You do not regard me the less for having suffered it?" + +"The less! No, my boy; but the more, for having overcome it!" + +"Again I thank you from the depths of my heart. You have known me +from boyhood, Mr. Middleton; and you may be said to know my +character and my prospects better than anyone else in the world +does; better, even, than I know them myself." + +"I think that quite likely to be true." + +"Well, sir, I hope in a few years to gain an established reputation +and a moderate competency by my practice at the bar." + +"You will gain fame and wealth, Ishmael." + +"Well, sir, if ever by the blessing of Heaven I do attain these +distinctions, taking everything else into consideration, would you, +sir, would you then--" + +"What, Ishmael? Speak out, my boy?" + +"Accept me as a son?" + +"Do you want me to give you Bee?" gravely inquired Mr. Middleton. + +"When I shall be more worthy of her, I do." + +"Have you Bee's consent to speak to me on this subject?" + +"No, sir; I have not yet addressed Miss Middleton. I could not +venture to do so without your sanction. It is to obtain it that I +have come to you this evening. I would like very much to have an +understanding with Miss Middleton before we part for an indefinite +time." + +Mr. Middleton fell into deep thought. It was some minutes before he +spoke. When he did, it was to say: + +"Ishmael, Bee is my eldest daughter and favorite child." + +"I know it, sir," answered the young man. + +"Parents ought not to have favorites among their children; but how +can I help it? Bee is almost an angel." + +"I know it, sir," said Ishmael. + +"Oh, yes; you know it! you know it!" exclaimed Mr. Middleton, half +laughing and not far from crying; "but do you know what you do when +you ask a father to give up his best beloved daughter?" + +"Indeed I think I do, sir; but--daughters must some time or other +become wives," said Ishmael, with a deprecating smile. + +"Yes, it is true!" sighed Mr. Middleton. "Well, Ishmael, since in +the course of nature I must some day give my dear daughter up, I +would rather give her to you than to any man on earth, for I have a +great esteem and affection for you, Ishmael." + +"Indeed, sir, it is mutual!" replied the young man, grasping the +hand of his friend. + +"It is just the state of feeling that should exist between father- +and son-in-law," said Mr. Middleton. + +"I have your sanction, then, to speak to Bee?" + +"Yes, Ishmael, yes; I will give her to you! But not yet, my dear +boy; for several reasons not just yet! You are both very young yet; +you are but little over twenty-one; she scarcely nineteen; and +besides her mother still needs her assistance in taking care of the +children; and I--must get used to the idea of parting with her; so +you must wait a year or two longer, Ishmael! She is well worth +waiting for." + +"I know it! Oh, I know it well, sir! I have seen women as beautiful, +as amiable, and as accomplished; but I never, no, never met with one +so 'altogether lovely' as Bee! And I thank you, sir! Oh, I thank you +more than tongue can tell for the boon you have granted me. You will +not lose your daughter, sir; but you will gain a son; and I will be +a true son to you. sir, as Heaven hears me! And to her I will be a +true lover and husband. Her happiness shall be the very first object +in my life, sir; nothing in this world over which I have the +slightest control shall be suffered to come into competition with +it." + +"I am--I am sure of that, my boy!" replied Mr. Middleton, in a +broken voice. + +"And I do not presume to wish to hurry either you or her, sir; I am +willing to wait your leisure and hers; all I want now is to have an +understanding with Bee, and to be admitted to the privileges of an +accepted lover. You could trust me so far, sir?" + +"Trust you so far! Why, Ishmael, there is no limit to my trust in +you!" + +"And Mrs. Middleton, sir?" + +"Why, Ishmael, she loves you as one of her own children; and I do +think you would disappoint and grieve her if you were to marry out +of the family. I will break the matter to Mrs. Middleton. Go find +Bee, and speak to her of this matter, and when you have won her +consent, bring her to me that I may join your hands and bless your +betrothal." + +Ishmael fervently pressed the hand of his kind friend and left him. + +Of course Bee, who was still busy with her maids in the store-room, +was not to be spoken to on that subject at that hour. But Ishmael +went up to his own room to reflect. + +Perhaps the whole key to Ishmael's conduct in this affair might have +been found in the words he used when pleading with his father the +cause of the Countess of Hurstmonceux; he said: + +"It seems to me, if any young lady had loved me so, I must have +loved her fondly in return; I could not have helped doing so." + +And he could not. There was something too warm, generous, and noble +in Nora's son to be so insensible as all that. + +His inspiration also instructed him that not the beautiful and +imperious Claudia, but the lovely and loving Bee was his Heaven- +appointed wife. + +He was inspired when in his agony that dreadful night he had cried +out: "By a woman came sin and death into the world, and by a woman +came redemption and salvation! Oh! Claudia, my Eve, farewell! And +Bee, my Mary, hail!" + +And now that he was about to betroth himself to Bee, and make her +happy, he himself felt happier than he had been for many days. He +felt sure, too, that when his heart should recover from its wounds +he should love Bee with a deeper, higher, purer, and more lasting +affection than ever his fierce passion for Claudia could have +become. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +SECOND LOVE. + + The maiden loved the young man well, + And pined for many a day, + Because that star-eyed, queenly belle + Had won his heart away. + But now the young man chooses well + Between the beauteous pair, + The proud and brilliant dark-haired belle, + And gentle maiden fair. + --_M. F. Tupper_ + + + +After tea Ishmael, having missed Bee from the drawing room, went out +into the garden, expecting to find her there. Not seeing her, he +walked up and down the gravel walk, waiting for her appearance. + +Presently she came up, softly and silently, and joined him. + +"Thanks, dearest Bee," he said, as he drew her arm within his own. + +"It is a beautiful evening, Ishmael; I have never seen the garden +look more lovely," said Bee. + +And it was indeed a beautiful evening and a lovely scene. The sun +had just set; but all the western horizon and the waters of the +distant river were aflame with crimson fire of his reflected rays; +while over the eastern hills the moon and stars were shining from +the dark gray heavens. In the garden, the shrubs and flowers, not +yet damp with dew, were sending forth their richest fragrance; the +latest birds were twittering softly before settling themselves to +sleep in their leafy nests; and the earliest insects were tuning up +their tiny, gleeful pipes before commencing their evening concert. + +"This garden is a very pleasant place, quite as pleasant as +Tanglewood, if uncle would only think so," said Bee. + +"Yes, it is very pleasant. You do not like the plan of returning to +the country, Bee?" said Ishmael. + +"No, indeed, I do not; breaking up and parting is always a painful +process." And Bee's lips quivered and the tears came into her eyes. + +Ishmael pressed the little hand that lay light as a snowflake on his +arm, drew it closer within his embrace, and turned down the narrow +path that led to the remote arbor situated far down in the angle of +the wall in the bottom of the garden. + +He led her to a seat, placed himself beside her, took her hand, and +said: + +"It is here, dearest Bee--here in the scene of my humiliation and of +my redemption--that I would say to you all I have to say; that I +would lay my heart open before you, and place it at your feet, for +spurning, or for blessing." + +She looked up at him with surprise, but also with infinite affection +in her innocent and beautiful eyes. Then, as she read the truth in +his earnest gaze, her eyes fell, and her color rose. + +"And dearest Bee, I have your father's sanction for what I do, for +without it I would not act." + +Her eyes were still fixed upon the ground, but her hand that he +clasped in his throbbed like a heart. And oh! he felt how entirely +she loved him; and he felt that he could devote his whole life to +her. + +"Dearest of all dear ones, Bee, listen to me. Not many days have +passed, since, one evening, you came to this arbor, seeking one that +was lost and found--me!" + +She began to tremble. + +"You know how you found me, Bee," he said sadly and solemnly. + +"Oh, Ishmael, dear!" she cried, with an accent of sharp pain, "do +not speak of that evening! forget it and let me forget it! it is +past!" + +"Dearest girl, only this once will I pain you by alluding to that +sorrowful and degrading hour. You found me--I will not shrink from +uttering the word, though it will scorch my lips to speak it and +burn your ears to hear it--you found me--intoxicated." + +"Oh, Ishmael, dear, you were not to blame! it was not your fault! it +was an accident--a misfortune!" she exclaimed, as blushes burned +upon her cheeks and tears suffused her eyes. + +"How much I blamed, how much I loathed myself, dearest Bee, you can +never know! Let that pass. You found me as I said. Actually and +bodily I was lying on this bench, sleeping the stupid sleep of +intoxication; but morally and spiritually I was slipping over the +brink of an awful chasm. Bee, dearest Bee! dearest saving angel! it +was this little hand of yours that drew me back, so softly that I +scarcely knew I had been in danger of ruin until that danger was +past. And, Bee, since that day many days of storm have passed, but +the face of my saving angel has ever looked out from among the +darkest clouds a bright rainbow of promise. I did not perish in the +storm, because her sweet face ever looked down upon me!" + +Bee did not attempt to reply; she could not; she sat with her +flushed and tearful eyes bent upon the ground. + +"Love, do you know this token?" he inquired, in a voice shaking with +agitation, as he drew from his bosom a little wisp of white cambric +and laid it in her lap. + +"It is my--my--" she essayed to answer, but her voice failed. + +"It is your dear handkerchief," he said, as he took it, pressed it +to his lips, and replaced it in his bosom. "It is your dear +handkerchief! When you found me as you did, in your loving kindness +you laid it over my face--mine! so utterly unworthy to be so +delicately veiled! Oh, Bee, if I could express to you all I felt! +all I thought! when I recognized this dear token and so discovered +who it was that had sought me when I was lost, and dropped tears of +sorrow over me! and then covered my face from the blistering sun and +the stinging flies--if I could tell you all that I suffered and +resolved, then you would feel and know how earnest and sincere is +the heart that at last--at last, my darling, I lay at your beloved +feet." + +She looked up at him for a moment and breathed a single word--a name +that seemed to escape her lips quite involuntarily--"Claudia!" + +"Yes, my darling," he said, in tones vibrating with emotion, "it is +as you suppose, or rather it was so! You have divined my secret, +which indeed I never intended to keep as a secret from you. Yes, +Bee; I loved another before loving you. I loved her whom you have +just named. I love her no longer. When by her marriage with another +my love would have become sinful, it was sentenced to death and +executed. But, Bee, it died hard, very hard; and in its violent +death-throes it rent and tore my heart, as the evil spirit did the +possessed man, when it was driven out of him. Bee, my darling," said +Ishmael, smiling for the first time since commencing the interview, +"this may seem to you a very fanciful way of putting the case; but +is a good one, for in no other manner could I give you to understand +how terrible my sufferings have been for the last few weeks, how +completely my evil passion has perished; and yet how sore and weak +it has left my heart. Bee, it is this heart, wounded and bleeding +from a dead love, yet true and single in its affection for you, that +I open before you and lay at your feet. Spurn it away from you, Bee, +and I cannot blame you. Raise it to your own and I shall love and +bless you." + +Bee burst into tears. + +He put his arm around her and drew her to his side and she dropped +her head upon his shoulder and wept passionately. Many times she +tried to speak, but failed. At last, when she had exhausted all her +passion, she raised her head from its resting-place. He wiped the +tears from her eyes and stooping, whispered: + +"You will not reject me, Bee, because I loved another woman once?" + +"No," she answered softly, "for if you loved another woman before +me, you could not help it, Ishmael. It is not that I am concerned +about." + +"What then, dearest love? Speak out," he whispered. + +"Oh, Ishmael, tell me truly one thing;" and she hid her face on his +shoulder while she breathed the question: "Isn't it only for my +sake, to please me and make me happy, that you offer me your love, +Ishmael?" She spoke so low, with her face so muffled on his +shoulder, that he scarcely understood her; so he bent his head and +inquired: + +"What is it that you say, dear Bee?" + +She tried to speak more clearly, for it seemed with her a point of +principle to put this question; but her voice was, if possible, +lower and more agitated than before, so that he had to stoop closely +and listen intently to catch her words as she answered: + +"Do you not offer me your love, only because--because you have found +out--found out somehow or other that I--that I loved you first?" + +He clasped her suddenly close to his heart, and whispered eagerly: + +"I offer you my love because I love you, best and dearest of all +dear ones!" And he felt at that moment that he did love her +entirely. + +She was sobbing softly on his shoulder; but presently through her +tears she said: + +"And will my love do you any good, make you any happier, compensate +you a little for all that you have missed in losing that brilliant +one?" + +He held her closely to his heart while he stooped and answered: + +"Dearest, your love has always been the greatest earthly blessing +Heaven ever bestowed upon my life! I thank Heaven that the blindness +and madness of my heart is past and gone, and I am enabled to see +and understand this! Your love, Bee, is the only earthly thing that +can comfort all the sorrows that may come into my life, or crown all +its joys. You will believe this, dearest Bee, when you remember that +I never in my life varied from the truth to anyone, and least of all +would I prevaricate with you. I love you. Bee, let those three words +answer all your doubts!" + +Brightly and beautifully she smiled up at him through her tears. + +"All is well, then, Ishmael! For all that I desire in this world is +the privilege of making you happy!" + +"Then you are my own!" he said, stooping and kissing the sparkling +tears that hung like dew-drops on the red roses of her cheeks; and +holding her to his heart, in profound religious joy and gratitude, +he bowed his head and said: + +"Oh, Father in Heaven! how I thank thee for this dear girl! Oh, make +me every day more worthy of her love, and of thy many blessings!" + +And soon after this Ishmael, happier than he ever thought it +possible to be in this world, led forth from the arbor his betrothed +bride. + +He led her at once to the house and to the presence of her parents, +whom he found in their private sitting room. + +Standing before them and holding her hand, he said: + +"She has promised to be my wife, and we are here for your blessing." + +"You have it, my children! You have it with all my heart! May the +Lord in heaven bless with his choicest blessings Ishmael and +Beatrice!" said Mr. Middleton earnestly. + +"Amen," said Mrs. Middleton. + +Later in the evening Judge Merlin was informed of the engagement. +And after congratulating the betrothed pair he turned to Mr. and +Mrs. Middleton and said: + +"Heaven knows how I envy you your son-in-law." + +The gratified parents smiled, for they were proud of Ishmael, and +what he would become. But Walter Middleton grinned and said: + +"Heaven may know that, Uncle Merlin; but I know one thing!" + +"What is that, Jackanapes?" + +"I know they may thank Bee for their son-in-law, for she did all the +courting!" + +The panic-stricken party remained silent for a moment, and then +Judge Merlin said: + +"Well, sir! I know another thing!" + +"And what is that, uncle?" + +"That it will be a long time before you find a young lady to do you +such an honor!" + +Everybody laughed, not at the brilliancy of the joke, for the joke +was not brilliant, but because they were happy; and when people are +happy they do honor to very indifferent jests. + +But Bee turned a ludicrously appalled look upon her lover and +whispered: + +"Oh, Ishmael! suppose he had known about that little bit of white +cambric. He would have said that I had 'thrown the handkerchief' to +you! And so I did! it is a dreadful reflection!" + +"That handkerchief was a plank thrown to the drowning, Bee. It saved +me from being whelmed in the waves of ruin. Oh, dearest, under +heaven, you were my salvation!" said Ishmael, with emotion. + +"Your comfort, Ishmael--only your comfort. Your own right- +mindedness, 'under heaven,' would have saved you." + +This was the last and the happiest evening they all spent at the +city home together. Early in the morning they separated. + +Judge Merlin and his servants started for Tanglewood, and Mr. and +Mrs. Middleton and their family for The Beacon, where Ishmael +promised as soon as possible to join them. Walter Middleton left for +Saratoga. And, last of all, Ishmael locked up the empty house, took +charge of the key, and departed to take possession of his new +lodgings--alone, but blessed and happy. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +AT WOODSIDE. + + Who can describe the sweets of country life + But those blest men that do enjoy and taste them? + Plain husbandmen, though far below our pitch + Of fortune placed, enjoy a wealth above us: + They breathe a fresh and uncorrupted air, + And in sweet homes enjoy untroubled sleep. + Their state is fearless and secure, enriched + With several blessings such as greatest kings + Might in true justice envy, and themselves + Would count too happy if they truly knew them. + --_May._ + + + +Ishmael was settled in his new apartments on the first floor of a +comfortable house on Louisiana Avenue. The front room opening upon +the street, and having his name and profession engraved upon a +silver plate attached to the door, was his public office; the middle +room was his private office; and the back room, which opened upon a +pleasant porch leading into the garden, was his bed-chamber. + +The house was kept by two sisters, maiden ladies of venerable age, +who took no other boarders or lodgers. + +So, upon the whole, Ishmael's quarters were very comfortable. + +The rapid increase of his business justified him in taking a clerk; +and then in a week or two, as he saw this clerk over-tasked, he took +a second; both young men who had not been very successful +barristers, but who were very good office lawyers. + +And Ishmael's affairs went on "swimmingly." + +Of course there were hours when he sadly missed the companionship of +the congenial family circle with whom he had been so long connected; +but Ishmael was not one to murmur over the ordinary troubles of +life. He rather made the best of his position and steadily looked on +the bright side. + +Besides, he maintained a regular correspondence with his friends. +That correspondence was the only recreation and solace he allowed +himself. + +Almost every day he wrote to Bee, and he received answers to every +one of his letters--answers full of affection, encouragement, and +cheerfulness. + +And at least once a week he got letters from Judge Merlin, Mr. +Middleton, and Mr. Brudenell, all of whom continued to urge him to +pay them visits as soon as his business would permit. Only one more +letter he got from Reuben Gray; for letter writing was to poor +Reuben a most difficult and dreaded task; and this one was merely to +say that they should expect Ishmael down soon. + +From Judge Merlin's letters it appeared that Lord and Lady Vincent +had extended their tour into Canada East, and were now in the +neighborhood of the "Thousand Isles," but that they expected to +visit the judge at Tanglewood some time during the autumn; after +which they intended to sail for Europe. + +Ishmael continued to push his business for six or seven weeks, so +that it was near the first of September before he found leisure to +take a holiday and pay his promised visits. + +Two weeks was the utmost length of time he could allow himself. And +there were four places that seemed to have equal claims upon his +society. Where should he go first? Truly Ishmael was embarrassed +with the riches of his friendships. + +At Woodside were Hannah and Reuben, who had cared for him in his +orphaned infancy, and who really seemed to have the first right to +him. + +And at Tanglewood Judge Merlin was alone, moping for the want of his +lost daughter and needing the consolation of a visit from Ishmael. + +At the Beacon was his betrothed bride, who was also anxious to see +him. + +And finally, at Brudenell Hall was Herman Brudenell; and Herman +Brudenell was--his father! + +After a little reflection Ishmael's right-mindedness decided in +favor of Woodside. Hannah had stood in his mother's place towards +him, and to Hannah he would go first. + +So, to get there by the shortest route, Ishmael took passage in the +little steamer "Errand Boy," that left Georgetown every week for the +mouth of the river, stopping at all the intervening landing-places. + +Ishmael started on Friday morning and on Saturday afternoon was set +ashore at Shelton, whence a pleasant walk of three miles through the +forest that bordered the river brought him to Woodside. + +Clean and cheerful was the cottage, gleaming whitely forth here and +there from its shadowy green foliage and clustering red roses. The +cottage and the fence had been repainted, and the gravel walk that +led from the wicket-gate to the front door had been trimmed and +rolled. And very dainty looked the white, fringed curtains and the +green paper blinds at the front windows. + +Evidently everything had been brightened up and put into holiday +attire to welcome Ishmael. + +While his hand was on the latch of the gate he was perceived from +within, and the front door flew open and all the family rushed out +to receive him--Reuben and Hannah, and the two children and Sally +and the dog--the latter was as noisy and sincere in his welcome as +any of the human friends, barking round and round the group to +express his sympathy and joy and congratulations. + +"I telled Hannah how you'd come to us fust; I did! Didn't I, Hannah, +my dear?" said Reuben triumphantly, as he shook both Ishmael's hands +with an energy worthy of a blacksmith. + +"Well, I knew he would too! It didn't need a prophet nor one to rise +from the dead to tell us that Ishmael would be true to his old +friends," said Hannah, pushing Reuben away and embracing Ishmael +with a-- + +"How do you do, my boy? You look better than I expected to see you +after your hard year's work." + +"Oh, I am all right, thank you, Aunt Hannah. Coming to see you has +set me up!" laughed Ishmael, cordially returning her embrace. + +"You, Sally! what are you doing there? grinning like a monkey? Go +directly and make the kettle boil, and set the table. And tell that +Jim, that's always loafing around you, to make himself useful as +well as ornamental, and open them oysters that were brought from +Cove Banks to-day. Why don't you go? what are you waiting for?" + +"Please 'm, I hav'n't shook hands long o' Marse Ishmael yet," said +Sally, showing all her fine ivories. + +Ishmael stepped forward and held out his hand, saying, as he kindly +shook the girl's fat paw: + +"How do you do, Sally? You grow better looking every day! And I have +got a pretty coral breastpin in my trunk for you, to make up for +that one the shanghai swallowed." + +"Oh, Marse Ishmael, you needn't have taken no trouble, not on my +account, sir, I am sure; dough I'm thousand times obleege to you, +and shall be proud o' de breas'pin, 'cause I does love breas'pins, +'specially coral," said Sally, courtesying and smiling all over her +face. + +"Well, well," said Hannah impatiently, "now be off with you +directly, and show your thankfulness by getting supper for your +Marse Ishmael as quick as ever you can. Never mind the table--I'll +set that." + +Sally dropped another courtesy and vanished. + +"Where did you say your trunk was, Ishmael?" inquired Gray, as they +walked into the house. + +"He never said it was anywhere; he only said he had a coral +breastpin in it for Sally," put in the literal Hannah. + +"My trunk is at the Steamboat Hotel in Shelton, Uncle Reuben. I +could not at once find a cart to bring it over, for I was too +anxious to see you all to spend time looking for one. So I left it +with the landlord, with orders to forward it on Monday." + +"Oh, sho! And what are you to do in the meantime? And Sally'll go +crazy for a sight of her breastpin! So I'll just go out and make Sam +put the horse to the light wagon, and go right after it; he'll jest +have time to go and get it and come back afore it's dark," said +Reuben; and without waiting to hear any of Ishmael's remonstrances, +he went out immediately to give his orders to Sam. + +Hannah followed Ishmael up to his own old room in the garret, to see +that he had fresh water, fine soap, clean towels, and all that was +requisite for his comfort. + +And then leaving him to refresh himself with a wash, she returned +downstairs to set the table for tea. + +By the time she had laid her best damask table-cloth, and set out +her best japan waiter and china tea-set, and put her nicest +preserves in cut glass saucers, and set the iced plumcake in the +middle of the table, Ishmael, looking fresh from his renewed toilet, +came down into the parlor. + +She immediately drew forward the easiest arm-chair for his +accommodation. + +He sat down in it and called the two children and the dog, who all +gathered around him for their share of his caresses. + +And at the same moment Reuben, having dispatched Sam on his errand +to Shelton, came in and sat down, with his big hands on his knees, +and his head bent forward, contemplating the group around Ishmael +with immense satisfaction. + +Hannah was going in and out between the parlor and the pantry +bringing cream, butter, butter-milk, and so forth. + +Ishmael lifted John upon his knees, and while smoothing back the +flaxen curls from the child's well-shaped forehead, said: + +"This little fellow has got a great deal in this head of his! What +do you intend to make of him, Uncle Reuben?" + +"Law, Ishmael, how can I tell!" grinned Reuben. + +"You should give him an education and fit him for one of the learned +professions; or, no; I will do that, if Heaven spares us both!" said +Ishmael benevolently; then smiling down upon the child, he said: + +"What would you like to be when you grow up, Johnny?" + +"I don't know," answered inexperience. + +"Would you like to be a lawyer?" + +"No." + +"Why not?" + +"'Cause I wouldn't." + +"Satisfactory! Would you like to be a doctor?" + +"'No." + +"Why?" + +"'Cause I wouldn't." + +"'As before.' Would you like to be a parson?" + +"No." + +"Why?" + +"'Cause I wouldn't." + +"Sharp little fellow, isn't he, Ishmael? Got his answer always +ready!" said the father, rubbing his knees in delight. + +Ishmael smiled at Reuben Gray and then turned to the child and said: + +"What would you like to be, Johnny?" + +"Well, I'd like to be a cart-driver like Sam, and drive the ox +team!" + +"Aspiring young gentleman!" said Ishmael, smiling. + +"There now," said Hannah, who had heard the latter part of this +conversation, "that's what I tell Reuben. He needn't think he is +going to make ladies and gentlemen out of our children. They are +just good honest workman's children, and will always be so; for +'what's bred in the bone will never come out in the flesh'; and +'trot mammy, trot daddy, the colt will never pace.' Cart-driver!" +mocked Hannah, in intense disgust. + +"Nonsense, Aunt Hannah! Why, don't you know that when I was Johnny's +age my highest earthly ambition was to become a professor of odd +jobs, like the renowned Jim Morris, who was certainly the greatest +man of my acquaintance!" + +While they were chatting away in this manner Sally brought in the +coffee and tea, which was soon followed by dishes of fried oysters, +stewed oysters, fried ham, and broiled chicken, and plates of +waffles, rolls, and biscuits, and in fact by all the luxuries of a +Maryland supper. + +Hannah took her place at the head of the table and called her family +around her. + +And all sat down at the board. Even the dog squatted himself down by +the side of Ishmael, where he knew he was sure of good treatment. +Sally, neatly dressed, waited on the table. And presently Jim, who +had a holiday this Saturday evening and was spending it with Sally, +came in, and after shaking hands with "Mr. Ishmael" and welcoming +him to the neighborhood, stood behind his chair and anticipated his +wants as if he, Jim, had been lord-in-waiting upon a prince. + +When supper was over and the service cleared away, Ishmael, Reuben, +Hannah, and the children, who had been allowed to sit up a little +longer in honor of Ishmael's visit, gathered together on the front +porch to enjoy the delicious coolness of the clear, starlit, summer +evening. + +While they were still sitting there, chatting over the old times and +the new days, the sound of wheels were heard approaching, and Sam +drove up in the wagon, in which was Ishmael's trunk and a large box. + +Jim was called in from the kitchen, where he had been engaged in +making love to Sally, to assist in lifting the luggage in. + +The trunk and the box were deposited in the middle of the parlor +floor to be opened,--because, forsooth, all that simple family +wished to be present and look on at the opening. + +Ishmael's personal effects were in the trunk they guessed; but what +was in the box? that was the riddle and they could not solve it. +Both the children pressed forward to see. Even the dog stood with +his ears pricked, his nose straight and his eyes fixed on the +interesting box as though he expected a fox to break cover from it +as soon as it was opened. + +Ishmael had mercy on their curiosity and ended their suspense by +ripping off the cover. + +And lo! a handsome hobby-horse which he took out and set up before +the delighted eyes of Johnny. + +He lifted the tiny man into the saddle, fixed his feet in the +stirrups, gave him the bridle, and showed him how to manage his +steed. + +"There, Johnny," said Ishmael, "I cannot realize your aspirations in +respect to the driver's seat on the ox-cart, but I think this will +do for the present." + +"Ah, yes!" cried the ecstatic Johnny, "put Molly up behind! put +Molly up behind and let her sit and hold on to me! My horse can +carry double." + +"Never mind! I've got something for Molly that she will like better +than that," said Ishmael, smiling kindly on the little girl, who +stood with her finger in her mouth looking as if she thought herself +rather neglected. + +And he unlocked his trunk and took from the top of it a large, +finely painted, substantially dressed wooden doll, that looked as if +it could bear a great deal of knocking about without injury. + +Molly made an impulsive spring towards this treasure, and was +immediately rendered happy by its possession. + +Then Sally was elevated to the seventh heaven by the gift of the +coral breastpin. + +Hannah received a handsome brown silk dress and Reuben a new +writing-desk, and Sam a silver watch, and Jim a showy vest-pattern. + +And Ishmael, having distributed his presents, ordered his trunk to +be carried upstairs, and the box into the outhouse. + +When the children were tired of their play Hannah took them off to +hear them say their prayers and put them to bed. + +And then Ishmael and Reuben were left alone. + +And the opportunity that Ishmael wanted had come. + +He could have spoken of his parents to either Hannah or Reuben +separately; but he felt that he could not enter upon the subject in +the presence of both together. + +Now he drew his chair to the side of Gray and said: + +"Uncle Reuben, I have something serious to say to you." + +"Eh! Ishmael! what have I been doing of? I dessay something wrong in +the bringing up of the young uns!" said Reuben, in dismay, expecting +to be court-martialed upon some grave charge. + +"It is of my parents that I wish to speak, Uncle Reuben." + +"Oh!" said the latter, with an air of relief. + +"You knew my mother, Uncle Reuben; but did you know who my father +was?" + +"No," said Reuben thoughtfully. "All I knowed was as he married of +your mother in a private manner, and from sarcumstances never owned +up to it; but left her name and yourn to suffer for it--the cowardly +rascal, whoever he was!" + +"Hush, Uncle Reuben, hush! You are speaking of my father!" + +"And a nice father he wur to let your good mother's fair name come +to grief and leave you to perish a'most!" + +"Uncle Reuben, you know too little of the circumstances to be able +to judge!" + +"Law, Ishmael, it takes but little knowledge and less judgment to +understand, as when a feller fersakes his wife and child for +nothink, and leaves 'em to suffer undesarved scandal and cruel want, +he must be an unnatural monster and a parjured vilyun!" + +"Uncle Reuben, you are unjust to my father! You must listen to his +vindication from my lips, and then you will acquit him of all blame. +But first I must tell you in confidence his name--it is Herman +Brudenell!" + +"There now!" exclaimed Reuben, dropping his pipe in his +astonishment; "to think that I had that fact right afore my eyes all +my life and never could see it! Well, of all the blind moles and +owls, I must a been the blindest! And to think as I was the very +first as warned the poor girl agin him at that birthday feast! But, +law, arter that I never saw them together agin, no, not once! So I +had no cause to s'picion him, no more nor others! Well and now, +Ishmael, tell me all how and about it! Long as it was him, Mr. +Herman, there must a been something uncommon about it, for I don't +believe he'd do anythink dishonorable, not if he knowed it!" + +"Not if he knew it! You are right there, Uncle Reuben," said +Ishmael, who immediately related the tragic story of his parents' +marriage, ending with the family wreck that had ruined all their +happiness. + +"Dear me! dear, dear me! what a sorrowful story for all hands, to be +sure! Well, Ishmael, whoever was most to be pitied in former times, +your father is most to be pitied now. Be good to him," said Reuben. + +"You may be sure that I will do all that I can to comfort my father, +Uncle Reuben. And now a word to you! Speak of this matter to me +alone whenever you like; or to Aunt Hannah alone whenever you like; +but to no others; and not even to us when we are together! for I +cannot bear that this old tragic history should become the subject +of general conversation." + +"I know, Ishmael, my boy, I know! Mum's the word!" said Reuben. + +And the entrance of Hannah at that moment put an end to the +conversation. + +There was one subject upon which Ishmael felt a little uneasiness-- +the dread of meeting Claudia. + +He knew that she was not expected at Tanglewood until the first of +October; for so the judge had informed him in a letter that he had +received the very night before he left Washington. And this was only +the first of September; and he intended to give himself but two +weeks' holiday and to be back at his office by the fourteenth at +farthest, full sixteen days before the expected arrival of Lord and +Lady Vincent at Tanglewood. + +Yet this dread of meeting Claudia haunted him. His love was dead; +but as he had told Bee, it had died hard and rent his heart in its +death-struggles, and that heart was sore to the touch of her +presence. + +The judge's letter wherein he had spoken of the date of his daughter +and son-in-law's visit had been written several days previous to +this evening, and since that, news might have come from them, +speaking of some change of plan, involving an earlier visit. + +These Ishmael felt were the mere chimeras of imagination. Still he +thought he would inquire concerning the family at Tanglewood. + +"They are all well up at the house, I hope, Uncle Reuben?" he asked. + +"Famous! And having everything shined up bright as a new shilling, +in honor of the arrival of my lord and my lady, who are expected, +come first o' next mont'." + +"On the first of October? Are you sure?" + +"On the first of October, sharp! Not a day earlier or later! I was +up to the house yes'day afternoon, just afore you come; and sure +enough the judge, he had just got a letter from the young madam,--my +lady, I mean,--in which she promised not to disappoint him, but to +be at Tanglewood punctually on the first of October to a day!" + +Reuben, a hard-working man, who was "early to bed and early to +rise," concluded this speech with such an awful, uncompromising yawn +that Ishmael immediately took up and lighted his bedroom candle, bid +them all good-night, and retired. + +He was once more in the humble little attic room where he had first +chanced upon a set of old law books and imbibed a taste for the +legal profession. + +There was the old "screwtaw," as Reuben called it, and there was the +old well-thumbed volumes that had constituted his sole wealth of +books before he had the range of the well-filled library at +Tanglewood. + +And there was the plain deal table standing within the dormer +window, where he had been accustomed to sit and read and write; or, +whenever he raised his head, to gaze out upon the ocean-like expanse +of water near the mouth of the Potomac. + +After all, this humble attic chamber had many points of resemblance +with that more pretentious one he had occupied in Judge Merlin's +elegant mansion in Washington. Both were on the north side of the +Potomac. Each had a large dormer window looking southwest and +commanding an extensive view of the river; within the recess of each +window he had been accustomed to sit and read or write. + +The only difference was that the window in the Washington attic +looked down upon the great city and the winding of the river among +wooded and rolling hills; while the window of the cottage here +looked down upon broad fields sloping to the shore, and upon the +vast sea-like expanse of water stretching out of sight under the +distant horizon. + +The comparison between his two study-windows was in Ishmael's mind +as he stood gazing upon the shadowy green fields and the starlit sky +and water. + +Not long he stood there; he was weary with his journey; so he +offered up his evening prayers and went to bed and to sleep. + +Early in the morning he awoke, and arose to enjoy the beauty of a +summer Sunday in the quiet country. It was a deliciously cool, +bright, beautiful autumnal morning. + +Ishmael looked out over land and water for a little while, and then +quickly dressed himself, offered up his morning prayers and went +below. + +The family were already assembled in the parlor, and all greeted him +cordially. + +The table was set, and Sally, neat in her Sunday clothes and +splendid in her coral brooch, was waiting ready to bring in the +breakfast. + +And a fine breakfast it was, of fragrant coffee, rich cream, fresh +butter, Indian corn bread, Maryland biscuits, broiled birds, boiled +crabs, etc. + +And Ishmael, upon whom the salt sea air of the coast was already +producing a healthful change, did ample justice to the luxuries +spread before him. + +"For church this morning, Ishmael?" inquired Reuben. + +"Yes; but I must walk over to Tanglewood and go with the judge. He +would scarcely ever forgive me if I were to go anywhere, even to +church, before visiting him." + +"No more he wouldn't, that's a fact," admitted Reuben. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +AT TANGLEWOOD. + + Are not the forests, waves and skies, a part + Of me and of my soul as I of them? + Is not the love of these deep in my heart + With a pure passion? Should I not contemn + All objects if compared with these? and stem + A tide of sufferings, rather than forego + Such feelings for the hard and worldly phlegm + Of those whose eyes are only turned below, + Gazing upon the ground, with thoughts that dare not glow? + --_Byron_. + + + +After breakfast Ishmael took his hat, and, promising to return in +the evening, set out for Tanglewood to spend the day and go to +church with the judge. + +How he enjoyed that Sunday morning walk through the depths of the +forest that lay between Woodside and Tanglewood. + +He reached the house just as the judge had finished breakfast. He +was shown into the room while the old man still lingered in sheer +listlessness over his empty cup and plate. + +"Eh, Ishmael! is that you, my boy? Lord bless my soul, how glad I am +to see you! Old Jacob was never so glad to see Joseph as I am to see +you!" was the greeting of the judge, as he started up, overturning +his chair and seizing both his visitor's hands and shaking them +vigorously. + +"And I am very glad indeed to see you again, sir! I hope you have +been well?" said Ishmael warmly, returning his greeting. + +"Well? Hum, ha, how can I be well? What is that the poet says? + + "'What stamps the wrinkle deepest on the brow, + It is to be alone as I am now!' + +I miss Claudia, Ishmael. I miss her sadly." + +"Lady Vincent will be with you soon, sir," observed Ishmael, in as +steady a voice as he could command. + +"Yes, she will come on the first of October and stop with me for a +month. So her letter of Wednesday received yesterday says. And then +I shall lose her forever!" complained the judge, with a deep sigh. + +"Ah, but you must look on the bright side, sir! You are independent. +You have time and money at your own disposal; and no very strong +ties here. You can visit Lady Vincent as often and stay with her as +long as you please," smiled Ishmael cheerfully. + +"Why, so I can! I never thought of that before! I may certainly pass +at least half my time with my daughter if I please!" exclaimed the +old man, brightening up. + +"Are you going to church this morning, sir?" inquired Ishmael. + +"You are, of course!" said the judge; "for you take care never to +miss morning service! So I must go!" + +"Not on my account. I know the road," smiled Ishmael. + +"Oh, in any case I should go. I promised to go and dine at the +parsonage, so as to attend afternoon service also. And when I +mentioned to Mr. Wynne that I was expecting you down he requested +me, if you arrived in time, to bring you with me, as he was desirous +of forming your acquaintance. So you see, Ishmael, your fame is +spreading." + +"I am very grateful to you and to Mr. Wynne," said Ishmael, as his +heart suddenly thrilled to the memory that Wynne was the name of the +minister who had united his parents in their secret marriage. + +"Has Mr. Wynne been long in this parish?" he inquired. + +"Some three or four months, I believe. This is his native State, +however. He used to be stationed at the Baymouth church, but left it +some years ago to go as a missionary to Farther India; but as of +late his health failed, he returned home and accepted the call to +take charge of this parish." + +Ishmael looked wistfully in the face of the judge and said: + +"It was very kind in Mr. Wynne to think of inviting me. Why do you +suppose he did it?" + +"Why, I really do suppose that the report of your splendid successes +in Washington has reached him, and he feels some curiosity to see a +young man who in so short a time has attained so high a position." + +"No, it is not that," said Ishmael, with a genuine blush at this +great praise; "but do you really not know what it is?" + +"I do not, unless it is what I said," replied the judge, raising his +eyebrows. + +"He married my parents, and baptized me; he knows that I bear my +mother's maiden name; and he was familiar with my early poverty and +struggles for life; he left the neighborhood when I was about eight +years old," said Ishmael, in a low voice. + +The judge opened his eyes and drooped his head for a few moments, +and then said: + +"Indeed! Your father, when he told me of his marriage with your +mother, did not mention the minister's name. Everything else, I +believe, he candidly revealed to me, under the seal of confidence; +this omission was accidental, and really unimportant. But how +surprised Brudenell will be to learn that his old friend and +confidant is stationed here." + +"Yes." + +"And now I can thoroughly understand the great interest Mr. Wynne +feels in you. It is not every minister who is the confidant in such +a domestic tragedy as that of your poor mother was, Ishmael. It is +not only the circumstances of your birth that interest him in you so +much, but those taken in connection with your recent successes. I +should advise you to meet Mr. Wynne's advances." + +"I shall gratefully do so, sir." + +"And now I really do suppose it is time to order the carriage, if we +mean to go to church to-day," said the judge, rising and touching +the bell. + +Jim answered it. + +"Have the gray horses put to the barouche and brought around. And +put a case of that old port wine in the box; I intend to take it as +a present to the parson. I always considered port a parsonic wine, +and it really is in this case just the thing for an invalid," said +the judge, turning to Ishmael as Jim left the room. + +In twenty minutes the carriage was ready, and they started for the +church, which was some five miles distant. An hour's drive brought +them to it. + +A picturesque scene that old St. Mary's church presented. It was +situated in a clearing of the forest beside the turnpike road. It +was built of red brick, and boasted twelve gothic windows and a tall +steeple. The church-yard was fenced in with a low brick wall, and +had some interesting old tombstones, whose dates were coeval with +the first settlement of the State. + +Many carriages of every description, from the barouche of the +gentleman to the cart of the laborer, were scattered about, drawn up +under the shade of the trees. And saddle-horses and donkeys were +tied here and there. And groups of negroes, in their gay Sunday +attire, stood gossiping among the trees. Some young men, as usual, +were loitering at the church door. + +The judge's carriage drew up under the shade of a forest tree, and +the judge and Ishmael then alighted, and leaving the horses in the +care of the coachman went into the church. + +The congregation were already assembled, and soon after Judge Merlin +and his guest took their seats the minister entered and took his +place at the reading-desk and the services commenced. + +There was little in this Sunday morning's service to distinguish it +from others of the same sort. The minister was a good man and a +plodding country parson. He read the morning prayers in a creditable +but by no means distinguished manner. And he preached a sermon, more +remarkable for its practical bearing than for its eloquence or +originality, his text being in these words: "Faith without works is +dead." + +At the conclusion of the services, while the congregation were +leaving the church, the minister descended from his pulpit and +advanced towards Judge Merlin, who was also hastening to meet his +pastor. + +There was a shaking of hands. + +Judge Merlin, who was an eminently practical man in all matters but +one, complimented the preacher on his practical sermon. + +And then without waiting to hear Mr. Wynne's disclaimer, he beckoned +Ishmael to step forward, and the usual formula of introduction was +performed. + +"Mr. Wynne, permit me--Mr. Worth, Mr. Wynne!" + +And then were two simultaneous bows and more handshaking. + +But both the judge and Ishmael noticed the wistful look with which +the latter was regarded by the minister. + +"He is comparing likenesses," thought the judge. + +"He is thinking of the past and present," thought Ishmael. + +And both were right. + +Mr. Wynne saw in Ishmael the likeness to both his parents, and noted +how happily nature had distinguished him with the best points of +each. And he was wondering at the miracle of seeing that the all- +forsaken child, born to poverty, shame, and obscurity, was by the +Lord's blessing on his own persevering efforts certainly rising to +wealth, honor, and fame. + +Mr. Wynne renewed his pressing invitation to Judge Merlin and Mr. +Worth to accompany him home to dinner. + +And as they accepted the minister's hospitality the whole party +moved off towards the parsonage, which was situated in another +clearing of the forest about a quarter of a mile behind the church. + +The parson was blessed with the parson's luck of a large family, +consisting of a wife, several sisters and sisters-in-law, and +nieces, and so many sons and daughters of all ages, from one month +old to twenty years, that the judge, after counting thirteen before +he came to the end of the list, gave up the job in despair. + +Notwithstanding, or perhaps because of, this, for "the more, the +merrier," you know, the family dinner passed off pleasantly. And +after dinner they all returned to church to attend the afternoon +service. + +And when that was ended Judge Merlin and Ishmael took leave of the +parson and his family and returned home. + +When they reached Tanglewood and alighted, the judge, who was first +out, was accosted by his servant Jim, who spoke a few words in a low +tone, which had the effect of hurrying the judge into the house. + +Ishmael followed at his leisure. + +He entered the drawing room and was walking slowly and thoughtfully +up and down the room, when the sound of voices in the adjoining +library caught his ear and transfixed him to the spot. + +"Yes, papa, I am here, and alone--strange as this may seem!" + +It was the voice of Claudia that spoke these words. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +WHY CLAUDIA WAS ALONE. + + Be not amazed at life. 'Tis still + The mode of God with his elect: + Their hopes exactly to fulfill, + In times and ways they least expect. + + Who marry as they choose, and choose, + Not as they ought, they mock the priest, + And leaving out obedience, lose + The finest flavor of the feast. + --_Coventry Patmore_. + + + +Ishmael stood transfixed to the spot--for a moment, and then, +breaking the spell with which the sound of Claudia's voice had bound +him, he passed into the hall, took his hat from the rack, and said +to Jim, who was still in attendance there: + +"Give my respects to your master, and say that I have an engagement +this evening that obliges me to withdraw. And give him my adieus." + +"But, Mr. Ishmael, sir, you will wait for tea. Lady Vincent is here, +sir, just arrived--" began Jim, with the affectionate freedom of a +petted servant. + +But Ishmael had left the hall, to keep his promise of spending the +evening with Reuben and Hannah. + +Claudia, standing by her father's side in the library, had also +heard the sound of Ishmael's voice, as he spoke to the servant in +the hall; and she suddenly ceased talking and looked as if turned to +stone. + +"Why, what is the matter, my dear?" inquired the judge, surprised at +the panic into which she had been cast. + +"Papa, he here!" she said. + +"Who?" + +"Ishmael!" + +"Yes. Why?" + +"Papa, make some excuse and get rid of him. I must not, cannot, will +not, meet him now!" she exclaimed, in a half breathless voice of +ill-suppressed excitement. + +The judge looked at his daughter wistfully, painfully, for a moment, +and then, as something like the truth in regard to Claudia's +feelings broke upon him, he replied very gravely: + +"My dear, you need not meet him; and he has saved me the +embarrassment of sending him away. He has gone, if I mistake not." + +"If you 'mistake' not. There must be no question of this, sir! See! +and if he has not gone, tell him to go directly!" + +"Claudia!" + +"Oh, papa, I am nearly crazy! Go!" + +The judge stepped out into the hall and made the necessary +inquiries. + +And Jim gave Ishmael's message. + +With this the judge returned to Claudia. + +"He is gone. And now, my dear, I wish to know why it is that you are +here alone? I never in my life heard of such a thing. Where is +Vincent?" + +"Papa, I am nearly fainting with fatigue. Will you ring for one of +the women to show Ruth my room? I suppose I have my old one?" she +said, throwing herself back in her chair. + +"Why--no, my dear; I fancy I saw Katie and the maids decorating the +suite of rooms on the opposite side of the hall on this floor for +you. I'll see." + +"Anywhere, anywhere--'out of the world,'" sighed Claudia, as the +judge sharply rang the bell. + +Jim answered it. + +"Tell Katie to show Lady Vincent's maid to her ladyship's chamber, +and do you see the luggage taken there." + +Jim bowed and turned to go. + +"Stop," said the judge. "Claudia, my dear, what refreshment will you +take before going up? A glass of wine? a cup of tea?" he inquired, +looking anxiously upon the harassed countenance and languid figure +of his daughter. + +"A cup of coffee, papa, if they have any ready; if not, anything +they can bring quickest." + +"A cup of coffee for Lady Vincent in one minute, ready or not +ready!" was the somewhat unreasonable command of the judge. + +Jim disappeared to deliver all his master's orders. + +And it seemed that the coffee was ready, for he almost immediately +reappeared bearing a tray with the service arranged upon it. + +"Is it strong, Jim?" inquired Claudia, as she raised the cup to her +lips. + +"Yes, miss--ma'am--my ladyship, I mean!" said poor Jim, who was +excessively bothered by Claudia's new title and the changes that +were rung upon it. + +The coffee must have been strong, to judge by its effects upon +Claudia. + +"Take it away," she said, after having drunk two cupfuls. "Papa, I +feel better; and while Ruth is unpacking my clothes I may just as +well sit here and tell you why, if indeed I really know why, I am +here alone. We were at Niagara, where we had intended to remain +throughout this month of September. All the world seemed to know +where we were and how long we intended to stay; for you are aware +how absurdly we democratic and republican Americans worship rank and +title; and how certain our reporters would be to chronicle the +movements of Lord and Lady Vincent," said Claudia, with that air of +world-scorn and self-scorn in which she often indulged. + +"Well, Lady Vincent cannot consistently find fault with that," said +the judge, with a covert smile. + +"Because Lady Vincent shares the folly or has shared it," said +Claudia; "but Lord Vincent did find fault with it; great fault--much +greater fault than was necessary, I thought, and grumbled +incessantly at our custom of registering names at the hotels, and at +'American snobbery and impertinence' generally." + +"Bless his impudence! Who sent for him?" + +"Papa, we should have quarreled upon this subject in our honeymoon, +if I had had respect enough for him to hold any controversy with +him." + +"Claudia!" + +"Well, I cannot help it, papa! I must speak out somewhere and to +someone! Where so well as here in the woods; and to whom so well as +to you?" + +"You have not yet told me why you are here alone. And I assure you, +Claudia, that the fact gives me uneasiness; it is unusual-- +unprecedented!" + +"I am telling you, papa. One morning while we were still at Niagara +I was sitting alone in our private parlor, when our mail was brought +in--your letter for me, and three letters for 'my lord.' Of the +latter, the first bore the postmark of Banff, the second that of +Liverpool, and the third that of New York. They were all +superscribed by the same hand; all were evidently from the same +person. After turning them over and over in my hand, and in my mind, +I came to the conclusion that the first dated was written to +announce the writer as starting upon a journey; the second to +announce the embarkment at Liverpool; and the third the arrival at +New York; and that these letters, though posted at different times +and places, had by the irregularities of the ocean mails happened to +arrive at their final destination the same day. Lord Vincent has a +mother and several sisters; yet I felt very sure that the letters +never came from either of them, because in fact I had seen the +handwriting of each in their letters to him. While I was still +wondering over these rather mysterious letters my lord lounged into +the room. + +"I handed him the letters, the Banff one being on the top. As soon +as he saw the handwriting he gave vent to various exclamations of +annoyance, such as I had never heard from a gentleman, and scarcely +ever expected to hear from a lord. 'Bosh!' 'Bother!' 'Here's a go!' +'Set fire to her,' etc., being among the most harmless and refined. +But presently he saw the postmarks of Liverpool and New York on the +other letters, and, after tearing them open and devouring their +contents, he gave way to a fury of passion that positively appalled +me. Papa, he swore and cursed like a pirate in a storm!" + +"At you?" + +"At me? I think not," answered Claudia haughtily; "but at some +person or persons unknown. However, as he forgot himself so far as +to give vent to his passion in my presence, I got up and retired to +my chamber. Presently he came in, gracefully apologized for his +violence,--did not explain the cause of it, however,--but requested +me to give orders for the packing of our trunks and be ready to +leave for New York in one hour." + +"Did he give you no reason for his sudden movement?" + +"Not until I inquired; then he gave me the general, convenient, +unsatisfactory reason 'business.' In an hour we were off to New +York. But now, papa, comes the singular part of the affair. When we +reached the city, instead of driving to one of the best hotels, as +had always been his custom, he drove to quite an inferior place, and +registered our names--'Captain and Mrs. Jenkins.'" + +"What on earth did he do that for?" + +"How can I tell? When I made the same inquiry of him he merely +answered that he was tired of being trumpeted to the world by these +'impertinent Yankee reporters!' The next day he left me alone in +that stupid place and went out on his 'business,' whatever that was. +And when he returned in the evening he told me that the 'business' +was happily concluded, and that we might as well go on to Washington +and Tanglewood to pay our promised visit to you. I very readily +acceded to that proposition, for, papa, I was pining to see you." + +"My dear child!" said the judge, with emotion. + +"So next morning we started for the Philadelphia, Baltimore, and +Washington station. We were in good time, and were just comfortably +seated in one of the best cars when Lord Vincent caught sight of +someone on the platform. And papa, with a muttered curse he started +up and hurried from the car, throwing behind to me the hasty words, +'I'll be back soon.' Five, ten, fifteen minutes passed, and he did +not come. And while I was still anxiously looking for him the train +started. It was the express, and came all the way through. And that +is why myself and attendants are here alone." + +"All this seems very strange, Claudia," said the judge, with a +troubled countenance. + +"Yes, very." + +"What do you make of it? Of course you, knowing more of the +circumstances, are better able to judge than I am." + +"Papa, I do not know." + +"Who was it that he caught sight of on the platform?" + +"A tall, handsome, imperious-looking woman between thirty and forty +years of age, I should say; a sort of Cleopatra; very dark, very +richly dressed. She was looking at him intently when he caught sight +of her and rushed out as I said." + +"And you can make nothing of it?" + +"Nothing. I do not know whether he missed the train by design or +accident; or whether he is at this moment on board the cars steaming +to Washington or on board one of the ocean packets steaming to +Liverpool." + +"A bad, bad business, Claudia; all this grieves me much. You have +been but two months married, and you return to me alone and your +husband is among the missing; a bad, bad business, Claudia," said +the judge very gravely. + +"Not so bad as your words would seem to imply, papa. At least I hope +not. I am inclined to think the detention was accidental; and that +Lord Vincent will arrive by the next boat," said Claudia. + +"But how coolly and dispassionately you speak of an uncertainty that +would drive any other woman almost mad. At this moment you do not +know whether you are abandoned or not, and to be candid with you, +you do not seem to care," said the judge austerely. + +"Papa, what I paid down my liberty for,--this rank, I mean--is safe! +And so whether he goes or stays I am Lady Vincent; and nothing but +death can prevent my becoming Countess of Hurstmonceux and a peeress +of England," said Claudia defiantly, as she arose and drew her shawl +around her shoulders and looked about herself. + +"What is it that you want, my dear?" inquired the judge. + +"Nothing. I was taking a view of the old familiar objects. How much +has happened since I saw them last. It seems to me as if many years +had passed since that time. Well, papa, I suppose Ruth has unpacked +and put away my clothes by this time, and so I will leave you for +the present." + +And with a weary, listless air Claudia left the room and turned to +go upstairs. + +"Not there, not there, my dear, I told you. The rooms on this floor +have been prepared for you," said the judge, who had followed her to +the door. + +With a sigh Claudia turned and crossed the hall and entered the +"parlor-chamber," as the large bedroom adjoining the morning room +was called. + +Ruth was hanging the last dresses in the wardrobe, and Jim was +shouldering the last empty trunk to take it away. + +"I have left out the silver gray glace, for you to wear this +evening, if you please, my lady," said Ruth, indicating the dress +that lay upon the bed. + +"That will do, Ruth," answered her mistress, whose thoughts were now +not on dresses, but on that time when Ishmael, for her sake, lay +wounded, bleeding, and almost dying on that very bed. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +HOLIDAY. + + Ha! like a kind hand on my brow + Comes this fresh breeze. + Cooling its dull and feverish glow, + While through my being seems to flow + She breath of a new life--the healing of the seas. + + Good-by to pain and care! I take + Mine ease to-day; + Here where these sunny waters break, + And ripples this keen breeze. I shake + All burdens from the heart, all weary thoughts away. + + + +With every nerve, vein, and artery throbbing with excitement Ishmael +hurried away from the house that contained Claudia. + +The solitary walk through the thick woods calmed his emotion before +he reached Woodside. + +He found a tidy room, a tempting tea-table, and smiling faces +waiting to welcome him. + +"That's my boy!" exclaimed Reuben, coming forward and grasping his +hand; "I telled Hannah to keep the tea back a spell, 'cause I knowed +you wouldn't disappoint us." + +"As if I ever thought you would, Ishmael! Reuben is always +prophesying things that can't fail to come true, like the rising of +the sun in the east every day, and so forth. And he expects to get +credit for his foresight," said Hannah, taking her seat before the +steaming tea-pot and calling upon the others to sit down. + +"Well, that was rayther a surprise, as met you and the judge, when +you comed home from church, wasn't it?" inquired Reuben, as he began +to cut slices from the cold ham. + +"You knew of the arrival, then?" questioned Ishmael. + +"Why, bless you, yes! Why, laws, you know the carriage passed right +by here, and stopped to water the horses afore going on to +Tanglewood. But look here! There was nobody in it but Mrs. Vincent-- +blame my head--I mean Mrs. Lord Vincent--and her city maid." + +"Lady Vincent, Reuben. How many times will I have to tell you that?" +said Hannah impatiently. + +"All right, Hannah, my dear; I'll remember next time. Ishmael, my +boy, I think you got all your interlects from Hannah. You sartainly +didn't get 'em from me. Well as I was a-saying of, there was no one +inside except Mrs. Lord--I mean Mrs. Lady Vincent and her city +waiting-maid. And on the outside, a-sitting alongside o' the driver, +was a gentleman, as Jim as happened to be here introduced to me as +Mr. Frisbie, Lord Vincent's vallysham, whatever that may be." + +"Body-servant, Reuben," said his monitress. + +"Servant! Well, if he was a servant, I don't know nothink! Why, +there ain't a gentleman in S'Mary's county as dresses as fine and +puts on as many airs!" + +"That is quite likely, Uncle Reuben; but for all that, Frisbie is +Lord Vincent's servant," said Ishmael. + +"Well, hows'ever that may be, there he was alongside o' the driver. +But what staggers of me is, that there wa'n't no Lord Vincent +nowhere to be seen! He was 'mong the missin'. And that was the +rummest go as ever was. A new bride a-comin' home to her 'pa without +no bridegroom. And so I jest axed Mr. Frisbie, Esquire, and he +telled me how his lordship missed the trail. What trail! And what +business had he to be offen the trail, when his wife was on it? +That's what I want to know. And, anyways, it's the rummest go as +ever was. Did you hear anythink about it, Ishmael?" + +"I chanced to overhear Lady Vincent say to her father--that she was +alone. That was all. I did not even see her ladyship." + +"Well, now, that's another rum go. Didn't wait to see her. And you +sich friends? Owtch! Oh! Ah! What's that for, Hannah? You've trod on +my toe and ground it a'most to powder! Ah!" + +"If your foot is as soft as your head, no wonder every touch hurts +it!" snapped Mrs. Gray. + +"Law, what a temper she have got, Ishmael!" said poor Reuben, +carressing his afflicted foot. + +Hannah had effected the diversion she intended, and soon after gave +the signal for rising from the table. And she took good care during +the rest of the evening that the subject of Lord and Lady Vincent +should not be brought upon the tapis. + +The next morning being Monday, Ishmael accompanied Reuben in his +rounds over his own little farm and the great Tanglewood estate, to +see the improvements. The "durrum" cow and calf and the "shank-bye" +fowls received due notice. And the first ripe bunches of the +"hamburg" grapes were plucked in the visitor's honor. + +In the afternoon they went down to the oyster banks and amused +themselves with watching Sam rake the oysters and load the cart. + +They returned to a late tea. + +It was while they were sitting out on the vine-shaded porch, +enjoying their usual evening chat under the star-lit sky, that they +heard the sound of approaching wheels. + +And a few moments afterwards a carriage drew up at the gate. + +Reuben walked up to see who was within it. And Ishmael heard the +voice of Lord Vincent inquiring: + +"Is this the best road to Tanglewood?" + +"Well, yes, sir; I do s'pose it's the best, if any can be called the +best where none on 'em is good, but every one on 'em as bad as bad +can be!" was the encouraging answer. + +"Drive on!" said Lord Vincent. And the carriage rolled out of sight +into the forest road. + +After all, then, the viscount had not absconded. He probably had +missed the train. But why had he missed it? That was still the +question. + +On Tuesday morning Ishmael took leave of Hannah and Reuben, +promising to stop and spend another day and night with them on his +return to Washington; and mounted on a fine horse, borrowed from +Reuben, with his knapsack behind him, he started for the Beacon. + +It was yet early in the forenoon when he arrived at that cool +promontory where the refreshing sea breezes met him. + +As he rode up to the house, that you know fronted the water, he saw +Bee, blooming and radiant with youth and beauty, out on the front +lawn with her younger sisters and brothers. + +Their restless glances caught sight of him first; and they all +exclaimed at once: + +"Here's Ishmael, Bee! here's Ishmael, Bee!" and ran off to meet him. + +Bee impulsively started to run too, but checked herself, and stood, +blushing but eager, waiting until Ishmael dismounted and came to +greet her. + +She met him with a warm, silent welcome, and then, looking at him +suddenly, said: + +"You are so much better; you are quite well. I am so glad, Ishmael!" + +"Yes, I am well and happy, dearest Bee--thanks to you and to +Heaven!" said Ishmael, warmly pressing her hands again to his lips, +before turning to embrace the children who were jumping around him. + +Then they all went into the house, where Mr. and Mrs. Middleton met +him with an equally cordial welcome. + +"And how did you leave the family at Tanglewood? Family, said I? Ah! +there is no family there now; no one left but the old judge. How is +he? And when is Claudia and her lordling expected back?" inquired +Mr. Middleton, when they were all seated near one of the sea-view +windows. + +"The judge is well. Lord and Lady Vincent are with him," replied +Ishmael. + +And then in answer to their exclamations of surprise he told all he +knew of the unexpected arrival. + +A luncheon of fruit, cream, cake, and wine was served, and the +welcome guest was pressed to partake of it. + +Ishmael tasted and enjoyed all except the wine--that, faithful to +his vow, he avoided, and was rewarded by a sympathetic look from +Bee. + +This was one of the bright days of Ishmael's life. Nowhere did he +feel so much at home or so happy as with these kind friends. They +had an early seaside dinner--fish, crabs, oysters, and water-fowl, +forming a large portion of the bill of fare. Luscious, freshly +gathered fruits composed the dessert. After dinner, as the evening +was clear and bright, the wind fresh and the waters calm, they went +for a sail down to Silver Sands, and returned by starlight. + +Ishmael remained all the week at the Beacon. And it was a week of +rare enjoyment to him. He passed nearly all the time with Bee and +her inseparable companions, the children. He helped them with the +lessons in the schoolroom in the morning; he went nutting with them +in the woods, or strolled with them on the beach; and he gave +himself up to the task of amusing them during the hour after the +lamp was lighted that they were permitted to sit up. + +All this was due partly to his desire to be with his betrothed, and +partly to his genial love to children. + +About the middle of the week, as they were all seated at breakfast +one morning, missives came from Tanglewood to the Beacon-- +invitations to dine there the following Wednesday evening. These +invitations included Mr. and Mrs. Middleton, Beatrice, and Ishmael. + +"You will go, of course, Worth?" said Mr. Middleton. + +"I am due at Brudenell Hall on Tuesday evening, and I must keep my +appointment," said Ishmael. + +"Well, I suppose that settles it, for I never knew you to break an +appointment, under any sort of temptation," said Mr. Middleton. + +And Bee, who well understood why, even had Ishmael's time been at +his own disposal, he should not have gone to Tanglewood, silently +acquiesced. On this day Ishmael sought an interview with Mr. and +Mrs. Middleton, and besought them, as his present income and future +prospects equally justified him in taking a wife, to fix some day, +not very distant, for his marriage with Bee. + +But the father and mother assured him, in the firmest though the +most affectionate manner, that at least one year, if not two, must +elapse before they could consent to part with their daughter. + +Ishmael most earnestly deprecated the two years of probation, and +finally compromised for one year, during which he should be +permitted to correspond freely with his betrothed, and visit her at +will. + +With this Ishmael rested satisfied. + +The remainder of the week passed delightfully to him. + +Mrs. Middleton took the children off Bee's hands for a few days, to +leave her to some enjoyment of her lover's visit. + +And every morning and afternoon Ishmael and Bee rode or walked +together, through the old forest or along the pebbly beach. +Sometimes they had a sail to some fine point on the shore. Their +evenings were passed in the drawing room, with Mr. and Mrs. +Middleton, and were employed in music, books, and conversation. + +And so the pleasant days slipped by and brought the Sabbath, when +all the family went together to the old Shelton church. + +Monday was the last day of his visit, and he passed it almost +exclusively in the society of Bee. In the evening Mr. and Mrs. +Middleton left them alone in the drawing room, that they might say +their last kind words to each other unembarrassed by the presence of +others. + +And on Tuesday morning Ishmael mounted his horse and started for +Brudenell. + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +ISHMAEL AT BRUDENELL + + God loves no heart to others iced, + Nor erring flatteries which bedim + Our glorious membership in Christ, + Wherein all loving His, love Him. + --_M. F. Tupper_. + + + +It was a long day's ride from the Beacon to Brudenell Hall. The +greater length of the road lay through the forest. It was, in fact, +the very same route traversed, five years before, by Reuben Gray, +when he brought Hannah and Ishmael from the Hill Hut to Woodside. + +Ishmael thought of that time, as he ambled on through the leafy +wilderness. + +At noon he stopped at a rural inn to feed and rest his horse, and +refresh himself, and an hour afterwards he mounted and resumed his +journey. + +It was near sunset when he came in sight of the bay and the village +to which it gave the name of Baymouth. How well he remembered the +last time he had been at that village--when he had run that frantic +race to catch the sleigh which was carrying Claudia away from him, +and had fallen in a swoon at the sight of the steamer that was +bearing her off. + +How many changes had taken place since then! Claudia was a +viscountess; he was a successful barrister; their love a troubled +dream of the past. + +He rode through Baymouth, looking left and right at the old familiar +shops and signs that had been the wonder and amusement of his +childhood; and at many new shops and signs that the march of +progress had brought down even to Baymouth. + +He paused a moment to gaze at Hamlin's book store, that had been the +paradise of his boyhood; and he recalled that noteworthy day in +August, when, while standing before Hamlin's window, staring at the +books, he had first been accosted by Mr. Middleton, afterwards +assaulted by Alfred Burghe, and finally defended by Claudia Merlin. +Claudia was noble then--but, ah, how ignoble now! + +He passed on, unrecognized by anyone, first because the years +between the ages of seventeen, when he was last there, and twenty- +one, when he was now there, really had wrought serious changes in +his personal appearance, and secondly because no one was just then +expecting to see Ishmael Worth at all, and least of all in the +person of the tall, distinguished-looking, and well-mounted +stranger, who came riding through their town and taking the road to +Brudenell. + +Every foot of that road was rich in memories to Ishmael. Over it he +had ridden, in Mr. Middleton's carriage, on that fateful day of his +first meeting with Claudia. + +Over it he had traveled, weary and footsore, through the snow, to +sell his precious book to buy tea for Hannah. + +And over it he had again flashed in Mr. Middleton's sleigh, happy in +the possession of his recovered treasure. + +Twilight was deepening into dark when he reached that point in the +road where the little footpath diverged from it and led up to the +Hill Hut. + +No! he could not pass this by. The path was wide enough to admit the +passage of a horse. He turned up it, and rode on until he came in +sight of the hut. + +It was but little changed. It is astonishing how long these little +lonely dilapidated houses hold on if let alone. + +He alighted, tied his horse to a tree, and walked up behind the +house, where, under the old elm, he saw the low headstone gleaming +dimly in the starlight. + +He knelt and bowed his head over it for a little while. Then he +arose and stood with folded arms, gazing thoughtfully down upon it. +Finally he murmured to himself: "Not here, but risen;" and turned +and left the spot. + +He went to the tree where he had tied his horse, remounted, and rode +on his way. + +Again he passed down the narrow path leading back to the broad +turnpike road that wound around the brow of the hills to Brudenell +Hall. + +Here also every yard of the road was redolent of past associations. + +How often, while self-apprenticed to the Professor of Odd Jobs, he +had passed up and down this road, carrying a basket of tools behind +his master. + +At length he came to the cross-roads, and to the turnstile, where he +had once seen and been accosted by the beautiful Countess of +Hurstmonceux. + +He rode past this spot, and taking the lower arm of the road entered +upon the Brudenell grounds. + +A very short ride brought him to the semi-circular avenue leading to +the house. + +It was now quite dark; but the front of the house was lighted up, +holding forth, as it were, its hands in welcome. + +As he rode up and dismounted a servant took his horse. + +And as he walked up the front steps Mr. Brudenell came out of the +front door and, holding out his hand, said cordially: + +"You are welcome, my dear Ishmael! I received your letter this +morning, and have been looking for you all afternoon!" + +"And I am very glad to get here at last, sir," said Ishmael, +returning the fervent pressure of his father's hands. + +"Come up, my boy! Felix, go before us with the light to the room +prepared for Mr. Worth," he said to a mulatto boy who was waiting in +the hall. + +Felix immediately led the way upstairs to a large back room, whose +windows overlooked the star-lit, dew-spangled garden, and which +Ishmael at once recognized as the happy schoolroom of his boyhood, +now transformed into his bedroom. He welcomed the old familiar walls +with all his heart; he was glad to be in them. + +Mr. Brudenell himself took care that Ishmael had everything he was +likely to want, and then he left him. + +When Ishmael had changed his dress he went below to the drawing +room, where he found his father waiting. The late dinner was +immediately served. + +Old Jovial, who on account of his age and infirmity had been left to +vegetate on the estate, waited on the table. + +He stole wistful glances at the strange young man who was his +master's guest, and who somehow or other reminded him of somebody +whom he felt he ought to remember, but knew he could not. + +At length Ishmael, attracted by his covert regards, looked at him in +return, and in spite of his bowed and shrunken form and thinned and +whitened hair, recognized the old friend of his boyhood, and +exclaimed, as he offered his hand: + +"Why, Jovial, it is never you!" + +"Mr. Ishmael, sir, it's never you!" returned the old man with a grin +of joyful recognition. + +They shook hands then and there. + +And old Jovial showed his increased regard for the guest by +continually proffering bread, vegetables, meat, poultry, pepper, +salt, in short, everything in succession over and over again, +thereby effectually preventing Ishmael from eating his dinner, by +compelling his constant attention to these offerings; until at +length Mr. Brudenell interfered and brought him to reason. + +The next morning Mr. Brudenell proposed to Ishmael to go out for a +day's shooting. And accordingly they took their fowling-pieces, +called the dogs and started for the wooded valley where game most +abounded. + +They spent the day pleasantly, bagged many birds and returned home +to a late dinner; and the evening closed as before. + +"What would you like to do with yourself this morning, Ishmael?" +inquired Mr. Brudenell, as they were seated at breakfast on +Thursday. + +"I wish to go in search of a valued old friend of mine, known in +this neighborhood as the Professor of Odd Jobs," was the reply. + +"Oh, Morris. Yes. You will find him, I fancy, in the old place, just +on the edge of the estate," replied Mr. Brudenell. + +And when they arose from the table the latter went out and mounted +his horse to ride to the post office, for Herman Brudenell's +establishment was now reduced to so small a number of servants that +he was compelled to be his own postman. To be plain with you, there +were but two servants--old Jovial, who was gardener, coachman, and +waiter; and old Dinah, his wife, who was cook, laundress, and +chambermaid. + +Felix, the lad mentioned in the beginning of this chapter, was +scarcely to be called one, upon account of the mental imbecility +that confined his usefulness to such simple duties as running little +errands from room to room about the house. + +So Mr. Brudenell rode off to the post office, and Ishmael walked off +to the cottage occupied by Jim Morris. + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +THE PROFESSOR OF ODD JOBS. + + An ancient man, hoary gray with eld. + --_Dante_. + + + +The little house was situated right at the foot of the hill south of +Brudenell Hall. + +Ishmael approached it from behind and walked around to the front. He +opened the little wooden gate of the front yard and saw seated in +the front door, enjoying that early autumn morning, a stalwart old +man, whose well-marked features and high forehead were set in a rim +of hair and beard as white as snow. A most respectable and +venerable-looking form, indeed, though the raiment that clothed it +was old and patched. But Ishmael had to look again before he could +recognize in this reverend personage the Professor of Odd Jobs. + +A curiosity to know whether the professor would recognize him +induced Ishmael to approach him as a stranger. As he came into the +yard, however, Morris arose slowly, and, lifting his old felt hat, +bowed courteously to the supposed stranger. + +"Your name is Morris, I believe," said Ishmael, by way of opening a +conversation. + +But at the first word the professor started and gazed at his +visitor, and exclaiming: "Young Ishmael! Oh, my dear boy, how glad I +am to see you once more before I die!" burst into tears. + +Ishmael went straight into his embrace, and the old odd-job man +pressed the young gentleman to his honest, affectionate heart. + +"You knew me at once, professor," said Ishmael affectionately. + +"Knew you, my boy!" burst out the old man, with enthusiasm. "Why, I +knew you as soon as ever you looked at me and spoke to me. I knew +you by your steady, smiling eyes and by your rich, sweet voice, +young Ishmael. No one has a look and a tone like yours." + +"You think so because you like me, professor." + +"And how you have grown! And they tell me that you have risen to be +a great lawyer? I knew it was in you to do it!" said the professor, +holding the young man off and gazing at him with all a father's +pride. + +"By the blessing of Heaven, I have been successful, dear old +friend," said Ishmael affectionately; "but how has it been with you, +all these years?" he asked. + +"How has it been with me? Ah, young Ishmael--I should say 'Mr. +Worth.'" + +"Young Ishmael, professor." + +"No, no; 'Mr. Worth.' I shall love you none the less by honoring you +more. And with me you are henceforth 'Mr. Worth.'" + +"As you please, professor. But I hope it has been well with you all +these years?" + +"Come in, Mr. Worth, and sit down and I will tell you." + +The professor led the way into the humble dwelling. It was as neat +as ever, with its sanded floor, flag-bottom chairs, and pine +tables,--all of the professor's manufacture,--and its bright tinware +and clean crockery ranged in order on its well scrubbed shelves. + +But its look of solitude struck a chill upon Ishmael's spirits. + +"Where are they all, professor?" he inquired. + +"Gone, Mr. Worth," answered Morris solemnly, as he placed a chair +for his guest. + +"Gone! not dead!" exclaimed Ishmael, dropping into the offered seat. + +"Not all dead, but all gone," answered the professor sadly, letting +himself sink into a seat near Ishmael. + +"Your wife?" inquired the young man. + +"There--and there," answered the professor, pointing first down and +then up; "her body is in the earth; her soul in heaven, I hope." + +"And your daughters, professor?" inquired Ishmael, in a voice of +sympathy. + +"Both married, Mr. Worth. Ann Maria married Lewis Digges, old +Commodore Burghe's boy that he set free before he died, and they +have moved up to Washington to better themselves, and they're doing +right well, as I hear. He drives a hack and she clear starches. They +have three children, two girls and a boy. I have never seen one of +them yet." + +"And your other daughter?" + +"Mary Ellen? She married Henry Parsons, a free man, by trade a +blacksmith, and they live in St. Inigoes. They have one child, a +boy. I haven't seen them either since they have been married." + +"And you are quite alone?" said Ishmael, in a tender voice + +"Quite alone, young Ishmael," answered the professor, who forgot on +this occasion to call his sometime pupil Mr. Worth. + +"And how is business, professor?" + +"Business has fallen off considerably; indeed I may say it has +fallen off altogether." + +"I am very sorry to hear it. How is that, professor?" + +"Why, you see, Mr. Worth, its falling off is the natural result of +time and progress, of which I cannot complain, and at which I ought +to rejoice. It was all very well for the neighborhood to patronize a +Jack of all trades like me when there was nothing better to be had; +but now you see there are lots of regular mechanics been gradually +coming down and settling here--carpenters and stone-masons and +painters and glaziers and plumbers and tinners and saddlers and +shoemakers, and what not. Law, why you might have seen their signs +as you rode through Baymouth." + +"I did." + +"Well, you see these mechanics, they have journeymen and apprentices +with their trades at their fingers' ends, and they can do their work +not only easier and quicker and better than I can, but even cheaper. +So I cannot complain that they have taken the custom of the +neighborhood from me." + +"Professor, I really do admire the justice and forbearance of your +nature." + +"Well, young Ishmael, there was another thing. I was getting too old +to tramp miles and miles through the country with a heavy pack on my +back, as I used to do." + +"Well, then, I hope you have saved a little money, at least, old +friend, to make you comfortable in your old age," said Ishmael +feelingly. + +The poor, old odd-job man looked up with a humorous twinkle in his +eye, as he replied: + +"Why, law, young Ishmael, the idea of my saving money! When had I +ever a chance to do it in the best o' days? Why, Ishmael, they say +how ministers of the gospel and teachers of youth are the worst paid +men in the community; but I think, judging by my own case, that +professors are quite as poorly remunerated. It used to take +everything I could rake and scrape to keep my family together; and +so, young Ishmael, I haven't saved a dollar." + +"Is that so?" asked Ishmael, in a voice of pain. + +"True as gospel, young Ishmael--Mr. Worth." + +"How then do you manage to live, Morris? I ask this from the kindest +of feelings." + +"Don't I know it, young--Mr. Worth. Well, sir, I do an odd job once +in a while yet, for the colored people, and that keeps me from +starving," said the professor, with a smile. + +Ishmael fell into a deep thought for a while, and then lifting his +head, said: + +"Well, professor, you have been in your day and generation as useful +a man to your fellow-creatures as any other in this world. You have +contributed as much to the comfort and well-being of the community +in which you live as any other member of it! And you should not and +you shall not be left in your old age, either to suffer from want or +to live on charity--" + +"I may suffer for want, Mr. Worth, but I never will consent to live +on charity!" said the odd-job man with dignity. + +"That I am sure you never will, professor; though mind! I do not +believe it to be any degradation to live by charity when one cannot +live in any other way. For if all men are brethren should not the +able brother help the disabled brother, and that without humbling +him?" + +"Yes; but I am not disabled, young--Mr. Worth. I am only disused." + +"That is very true. And therefore I spoke as I did when I said just +now that you should not suffer from want nor live by charity. Listen +to me, professor. I have a proposition to make to you. Your +daughters are all married and your work is done; you are alone and +idle here. But you are not a mere animal to be tied down to one spot +of earth by local attachment. You are a very intelligent man with a +progressive mind. You will never stop improving, professor. You have +improved very much in the last few years. I notice it in your +conversation--" + +"I am glad you think so, young--Mr. Worth! but I'm getting aged." + +"What of that? You are 'traveling towards the light,' and after +improving all your life here you will go on progressing through all +eternity." + +"Well, sir, that thought ought to be a great comfort to an old man." + +"Yes. Now what I want to propose to you is this--I think you love +me, professor?" + +"Love you, young--Mr. Worth! Why the Lord in heaven bless your dear +heart, I love you better than I do anything on the face of the +earth, and that's a fact," said the professor, with his face all in +a glow of feeling. + +And all who knew him might have known that he spoke truth; for +though he was not in the least degree deficient in affection for his +daughters, yet his love of Ishmael amounted almost to idolatry. + +"Dear old friend, I will prove to you some day how high a value I +set upon your love. I think, professor, that loving me, as you do, +you could live happily with me?" + +"What did you say, young--Mr. Worth? I did not quite understand." + +"I will be plain, professor. You have lived out your present life +here; it is gone. Now, instead of vegetating on here any longer, +come into another sphere, a more enlarged and active sphere, where +your thoughts as well as your hands will find employment and your +mind as well as your body have food." + +"How is that to be done, young--Mr. Worth?" + +"Come with me to Washington. I have a suite of three very pleasant +rooms in the house where I board. Now suppose you come and live with +me and take care of my rooms? Your services would be worth a good, +liberal salary, from which you would be enabled to live very +comfortably and save money." + +"What, young Ishmael! Me! I go to Washington and live with you all +the time, day and night, under one roof! and live where I can get +books and newspapers and hear lectures and debates and see pictures +and models, and, in short, come at everything I have been longing to +reach all my life?" + +"Yes, professor, that is what I propose to you." + +"There! I used to say that you'd live to be a blessing to my +declining years, young--Mr. Worth (I declare I'll not forget myself +again), Mr. Worth! there! Do you really mean it, sir?" + +"Really and truly." + +"There, then, I am not going to be a hypocrite and pretend to +higgle-haggle about it. I'll go, sir; and be proud to do it; it will +be taking a new lease of life for me to go. Do you know, I never was +in a large city in all my life, though I have always longed to go? +Well, sir, I'll go with you. And I will serve you faithfully, sir; +for mine will be a service for love more than for money. And I will +never forget the proprieties so far as to call you anything else but +'Mr. Worth,' or 'sir,' in the presence of others, sir, though my +heart does betray me into calling you young Ishmael sometimes here." + +"I shall leave here on Saturday morning. Can you be ready to go with +me as soon as that?" + +"Of course I can, Mr. Worth. There's nothing for me to do in the way +of preparation but to pack my knapsack and lock my door," answered +this "Rough and Ready." + +"Very well, then, professor, I like your promptitude. Meet me at +Brudenell Hall on Saturday morning at seven o'clock, and in the +meantime I will find a conveyance for you." + +"All right; thank you, sir; I will be ready." + +And Ishmael shook hands with the professor and departed, leaving him +hopeful and happy. + +At the dinner-table that day, being questioned by his father, +Ishmael told him of the retainer he had engaged. + +"Ah, my dear boy, it is just like you to burden yourself with the +presence and support of that poor old man, and persuade him--and +yourself, too, perhaps--that you are securing the services of an +invaluable assistant. And all with no other motive than his +welfare," said Mr. Brudenell. + +"Indeed, sir, I think it will add to my happiness to have Morris +with me. I like and esteem the old man, and I believe that he really +will be of much use to me," replied the son. + +"Well, I hope so, Ishmael; I hope so." + +There was through all his talk a preoccupied air about Mr. Brudenell +that troubled his son, who at last said: + +"I hope, sir, that you have received no unpleasant news by this +mail?" + +"Oh, no; no, Ishmael! but I have had on my mind for several days +something of which I wish to speak to you--" + +"Yes, sir?" + +"Ishmael, since I have been down here I have followed your counsel. +I have gone about among my tenants and dependents, and--without +making inquiries--I have led them to speak of the long period of my +absence from my little kingdom, and of the manner in which Lady +Hurstmonceux administered its affairs. And, Ishmael, I have heard +but one account of her. With one voice the community here accord her +the highest praise." + +"I told you so, sir." + +"As a wife, though an abandoned one, as mistress of the house, and +as lady of the manor, she seems to have performed all her duties in +the most unexceptionable manner." + +"Everyone knows that, sir." + +"But still remains the charge not yet refuted." + +"Because you have given her no chance to refute it, sir. Be just! +Put her on her defense, and my word for it, she will exonerate +herself," said Ishmael earnestly. + +Mr. Brudenell shook his head. + +"There are some things, Ishmael, that on the very face of them admit +of no defense," said Mr. Brudenell, with an emphasis that put an end +to the conversation. + +Punctually at seven o'clock Saturday the professor, accoutered for a +journey, with knapsack on his back, presented himself at the +servant's door at Brudenell Hall. + +His arrival being announced, Ishmael came out to meet him. + +"Well, here I am, Mr. Worth; though how I am to travel I don't know. +I have walked, by faith, so far!" he said. + +"All right, professor. Mr. Brudenell will lend me an extra horse." + +And father and son took leave of each other with earnest wishes for +their mutual good. + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +THE JOURNEY. + + Ever charming, ever new, + When will the landscape tire the view? + The fountains fall, the rivers flow, + The woody valleys, warm and low, + The windy summit, wild and high, + Roughly rushing on the sky! + The pleasant seat, the chapel tower, + The naked rock, the shady bower, + The town and village, dome and farm, + Each gave each a double charm, + As pearls upon a woman's arm. + --_Dyer._ + + + +Ishmael and his aged retainer rode on, down the elm-shaded avenue +and out upon the turnpike road. There seemed to be a special fitness +in the relations between these two. Ishmael, you are aware, was a +very handsome, stately, and gracious young man. And the professor +was the tallest, gravest, and most respectable of servants. Ah, +their relative positions were changed since twelve years before, +when they used to travel that same road on foot, as "boss" and +"boy." + +Many men in Ishmael's position would have shrunk from all that would +have reminded them of the poverty from which they had sprung; and +would have avoided as much as possible all persons who were familiar +with their early struggles. + +But Ishmael did not so. While pressing forward to the duties and +distinctions of the future, with burning aspiration and untiring +energy, he held the places and persons of the past in most +affectionate remembrance. + +To a vain or haughty man in Ishmael's situation there could scarcely +have occurred a more humiliating circumstance than the constant +presence of the poor, old odd-jobber, whose "boy" he had once been. + +But Ishmael was neither the one nor the other; he was intellectual +and affectionate. His breadth of mind took in his past memories, his +present position, and his future prospects, and saw them all in +perfect harmony. And his depth of heart found room for the humblest +friends of his wretched infancy, as well as for the higher loves of +his manhood's prime. + +Ishmael was at ease with the old odd-job man, and he would have been +at ease with his imperial majesty, had circumstances brought him +into the immediate circle of the Czar; because from the depths of +his soul he was intensely conscious of the innate majesty of man. + +Ishmael had no more need of a servant than a coach has of a fifth +wheel. He took the professor into his service for no other purpose +than to take care of the poor old man and make him happy, never +foreseeing how really useful and important this gray-haired retainer +would eventually become to him. He was planning only the professor's +happiness, not his own convenience. But he found both. + +As they rode along that pleasant September morning he was pleasing +himself with thinking how that intelligent old man, starved all his +life for mental food, would delight himself amid the intellectual +wealth of his new life. + +They were approaching the turn-stile at the cross-roads, memorable +for the weary watchings of Lady Hurstmonceux. + +As they reached the spot and took the road leading to Baymouth +Ishmael looked back to the professor, who, as he felt in duty bound +to do, rode in the rear of his master, and, as was natural, looked a +little serious. + +"Do you remember, professor, how often you and I have traveled afoot +up and down this road in the exercise of our useful calling of odd- +jobbing? Your great shoulders bowed under an enormous load of pots, +pans, kettles, umbrellas, and everything that required your surgical +skill; and my little back bent beneath the basket of tools?" +inquired Ishmael, by way of diverting him. + +"Ah, do I not, sir! But why recall those days? You have left them +far behind, sir," said the professor, in grave consideration of his +master's dignity. + +"Because I like to recall them, professor. It quickens my gratitude +to the Lord for all his marvelous mercies, and it deepens my love +for my friends for their goodness to me then," said Ishmael +fervently. + +"The Lord knows I don't know who was good to you then! Of course, +now, sir, there are multitudes of people who would be proud to be +numbered among your friends. But then, of all the abandoned children +that ever I saw, you were about the most friendless," said the +professor, with much feeling. + +"You, for one, were good to me, professor; and I do not forget it." + +"Ah, the Lord knows it was but little I could do." + +"What you did do was vital to me, professor. My life was but a +little flame, in danger of dying out. You fed it with little chips, +and kept it alive." + +"And it burns great hickory logs now, and warms the world," said the +professor, looking proudly and fondly upon the fine young man before +him. + +"It shall at least warm and shelter your age, professor. And +whatever of prosperity the Lord accords me, you shall share." + +As he said these words he turned an affectionate look on his +retainer, and saw the tears rolling down the old man's cheeks. + +"It was but a few, poor crumbs I cast upon the waters, that all this +bread should come back to me after many days," he muttered in a +broken voice. + +"We were really very happy, professor, when we used to trudge the +road together, plying our profession; but we are going to be much +happier now, because our lives will be enlarged." + +The professor smiled assent and they rode on. + +They passed through Baymouth, where the professor directed his +master's attention to the new signs of the mechanics who had taken +his custom from him, + +"But it is a true saying, sir, that there never was one door closed +but what there was another opened. Many doors were closed against me +at once; but just see what a broad, beautiful door you have opened +to me, letting me into a glorious new life!" + +"Life is what we make of it, professor. To you, who will appreciate +and enjoy every good thing in it, no doubt your new life will be +very happy," replied Ishmael. + +And so conversing they passed through the town and entered the deep +forest that lay along the shores of the river between Baymouth and +Shelton. + +They rode all the morning through the pleasant woods and stopped an +hour at noon to rest and refresh themselves and their horses; and +then resumed their journey and rode all the afternoon and arrived at +Woodside just as the sun was setting. + +As before, Reuben, Hannah, Sam, Sally, the children, and the dog, +all rushed out to welcome Ishmael. + +Much astonished was Hannah to see her old friend, the professor, and +much delighted to hear that he was going up to Washington to fill +the place of major-domo to Ishmael. For Hannah shared the old +woman's superstition, that the young man is never able to take care +of himself; and notwithstanding all that had come and gone-- +notwithstanding that Ishmael had taken care of himself and her too, +from the time he was eight years old, for years more, still she +thought that he would be all the safer for having "an old head to +look after him." + +There was plenty of news to tell, too. + +As soon as the bounteous supper that Reuben and Hannah always +provided for favored guests was over, and they were all gathered +around the bright little wood fire that the capricious autumn +weather rendered desirable, the budget was opened. + +Lord and Lady Vincent were to have an evening reception, at +Tanglewood. + +And on the first of October they were to sail for Europe. + +Lady Vincent was going to take three of the servants with her--old +Aunt Katie, Jim, and Sally. + +Jim was to go as lady's footman; Sally as lady's maid; and old Aunt +Katie in no particular capacity, but because she refused to be +separated from the two beings she loved the most of all in the +world. + +She had nursed Miss Claudia, and she was bound to nurse Miss +Claudia's children, she said. + +Lady Vincent had decided to take her, and was rather glad to do it. + +Lord Vincent, it was supposed, did not like the arrangement, and +stigmatized the black servants as "gorillas," but Lady Vincent, it +was confidently asserted, never deigned to consult his lordship, or +pay the slightest attention to his prejudices. And so matters stood +for the present. + +All this was communicated to Ishmael by Reuben and Hannah. And in +the midst of their talk, in walked one of the subjects of their +conversation--Aunt Katie. + +She was immediately welcomed and provided with a seat in the +chimney-corner. She was inflated with the subject of her expected +voyage and glowing with the importance of her anticipated office. +She expatiated on the preparations in progress. + +"But don't you feel sorry to leave your native home, Aunt Katie?" +inquired Hannah. + +"Who, me? No, 'deed! I takes my native home along with me when I +takes Miss Claudia and Jim and Sally! For what says the catechism?-- +'tis home where'er de heart is!' And my heart is 'long o' de +chillun. 'Sides which I don't want to be allus stuck down in one +place like an old tree as can't be moved without killing of it. I'm +a living soul, I am, and I wants to go and see somethin' of this +here world afore I goes hence and bees no more," said Katie briskly. + +Evidently Katie was a progressive spirit, and would not have +hesitated to emigrate to Liberia or any other new colony where she +could better herself or her children, and begin life afresh at +fifty. + +At last Katie got up to go, and bade them all a patronizing +farewell. + +Sally, and Jim, who as usual was spending his evening with her, +arose to accompany Katie. + +And Ishmael took his hat and walked out after them. + +Very much embarrassed they were at this unusual honor, which they +could in no wise understand, until at length when they had gone some +little way into the woods Ishmael said: + +"I have something to say to you three." + +"Yes, sir," said Katie, speaking for the rest. + +"Katie, you are acquainted with that psychological mystery called +presentiment, for I have heard you speak of it," said Ishmael, +smiling half in doubt, half in derision of his present feelings. + +"Ye-es, sir," answered Katie hesitatingly, "I believe in +persentiments; though what you mean by sigh-what's-its-name, I don't +know." + +"Never mind, Katie, you believe in presentiments?" + +"Indeed do I! and got reason to, too! Why, law! the month before +Mrs. Merlin, as was Miss Claudia's mother, died. I sperienced the +most 'stonishing--" + +"Yes, I know. You told me all about that before, Katie." + +"Why, so I did, to be sure, sir, when you were lying wounded at the +house!" + +"Yes. Well, Katie, some such feeling as that of which you speak, +vague, but very strong, impels me to say what I am about to say to +you all." + +"Yes, sir. Listen, chillun!" said Katie, in a voice of such awful +solemnity that Ishmael again smiled at what he was inclined to +characterize as the absurdity of believing in presentiments. + +"You three are going to Europe in attendance upon Lady Vincent." + +"Yes, sir. Listen, chillun!" again said Katie, keeping her eyes +fixed upon Ishmael and nudging her companions right and left with +her elbows. + +"You will be all of her friends, all of her native country, all of +her past life that she will take with her." + +"Yes, sir. Listen, chillun!" and another elbow dig, right and left. + +"She is going among strangers, foreigners, possibly rivals and +enemies." + +"Yes, sir. Listen, chillun--now it's a-comin'!" + +"She may need all your devotion. Be vigilant, therefore. Watch over +her, care for her, think for her, pray for her; let her honor and +happiness be the one charge and object of your lives." + +"Yes, sir. Listen, chillun! you hears, don't you?" + +A sharp reminder right and left brought out the responses "yes" and +"yes" from Jim and Sally. + +"And when you are far away you will remember all this that I have +said to you; for, as I told you before, I feel, deep in my spirit, +that your lady will need your utmost devotion," said Ishmael +earnestly. + +"You may count on me, for one, Mr. Ishmael, sir; not only to devote +myself to my lady's sarvice, but to keep the ole 'oman and Sally in +mind to go and do likewise," said Jim, with an air of earnest good +faith that could not be doubted. + +"That is right. I will take leave of you now. Good-by! God bless +you!" + +And Ishmael shook hands with them all around, and left them and +walked back to the cottage. + +The next day, being the Sabbath, he went with Hannah and Reuben and +the professor to church. He had almost shrunk from this duty, in his +dread of meeting Claudia there; but she was not present. Judge +Merlin's pew was empty when they entered, and remained empty during +the whole of the morning service. + +When the benediction had been pronounced, and the congregation were +going out, Ishmael was about to leave his pew when he saw that the +minister had come down from the pulpit and was advancing straight +towards him to speak to him. He therefore stopped and waited for Mr. +Wynne's approach. + +There was a shaking of hands and mutual inquiries as to each other's +health, and then Mr. Wynne invited Ishmael to accompany him home and +dine with him. + +Ishmael thanked him and declined the invitation, saying that he was +with friends. + +Mr. Wynne then smilingly shook hands with Hannah and Reuben and the +professor, claiming them all as old friends and parishioners, and +extending the invitation to them. + +But Hannah pleaded the children left at home, and, with many thanks, +declined the honor. + +And the friends shook hands and separated. + +Very early on Monday morning Ishmael and his gray-haired retainer +prepared for their departure for Washington. + +Ishmael left two commissions for Reuben. The first was to make his +apologies and adieus to Judge Merlin. And the second was to send +back the horse, borrowed for the use of the professor, to Mr. +Brudenell at Brudenell Hall. Both of which Reuben promised to +execute. + +After an early breakfast Ishmael and his venerable dependent took +leave of Hannah, the children and the dog, and seated themselves in +the light wagon that had been geared up for their accommodation, and +were driven by Reuben to Shelton, where they arrived in time to +catch the "Errand Boy" on its up trip. Reuben took leave of them +only half a minute before the boat started. + +They had a pleasant run up the river, and reached the Washington +wharf early on Wednesday morning, where Ishmael took a carriage to +convey himself, servant, and his luggage to his lodgings. + +As they drove through the streets the professor, seated on the front +seat, bobbed about from right to left, looking out at the windows +and gazing at the houses, the shops, and the crowds of people. +Nothing could exceed the surprise and delight of the intellectual +but childlike old man, who now for the first time in his life looked +upon a large city. His enthusiasm at the sight of the Capitol was +delicious. + +"You shall go all through it some day, as soon as we get settled," +said Ishmael. + +"There is only one thing that I am doubtful about," said the +professor. + +"And what is that?" + +"That I have not years enough left to live to see all the wonders of +the world." + +"None of us--not the youngest of us have, professor. But you will +live to see a great many. And by the time that you have seen +everything that is to be found in Washington, I shall be ready to go +to Europe; for I expect to see Europe some time or other, professor, +and you shall see it with me." + +"Oh!" ejaculated the odd-job man, who seemed to think that the +millennium was not far off. + +And at that moment the carriage drew up before Ishmael's lodgings. +And the driver and the professor carried the luggage into the front +hall. And when the carriage was paid and dismissed Ishmael conducted +the professor to the inner office where the two clerks that were in +charge of it arose to welcome their principal. + +When he had shaken hands with them, he led his retainer into the +bedroom, and showed him a small vacant chamber adjoining that, and +told him that the latter should be his--the professor's own +sanctuary. Then he showed the old man the pleasant garden, all +blooming now with late roses, chrysanthemums, dahlias, and other +gorgeous autumn flowers, and told him that there he might walk or +sit, and smoke his pipe in pleasant weather. And finally he brought +the professor back to the front office, where he found his +hostesses, Miss Jenny and Miss Nelly Downey, waiting to welcome him. +Nice, delicate, refined-looking old maiden ladies they were--tall, +thin, and fair complexioned, with fine, gray hair, and cobweb lace +caps and pale gray dresses, and having pleasant smiles and soft +voices. + +After they had shaken hands with their lodger they turned looks of +inquiry upon the tall, gray-haired old man that stood behind him. + +"This is a very old friend of mine; I have engaged him to take care +of my rooms, his name is Morris, but upon account of his skill in +many arts he has received from the public the title of professor," +said Ishmael, turning an affectionate look upon the old odd-job man. + +"How do you do, Professor Morris? We are very glad to see you, I am +sure; and we hope you will find yourself comfortable, and also that +you will be a comfort to Mr. Worth, who is a very estimable young +gentleman indeed," said Miss Jenny, speaking for herself and sister. + +"I cannot fail to be both comfortable and happy under this honored +roof, my ladies!" said the professor, in a most reverential tone, +laying his hand upon his heart and making a profound bow that would +have done credit to the most accomplished courtier of the grave and +stately old school. + +"A nice, gentlemanly old person," said Miss Jenny, nodding her head +to her sister. And Miss Nelly said "Yes," and nodded her head also. + +"If you can fit up the little chamber adjoining my bedroom for the +professor, I will arrange with you for his board," said Ishmael, +aside to Miss Jenny. + +"Oh, certainly; it shall be done immediately," replied the old lady. +And she left the room, followed by her sister, to give orders to +that effect. + +And before night the professor was comfortably installed in his +neatly furnished and well-warmed little room, and Ishmael's +apartments were restored to order, and he himself in full career +going over the office business of the last two weeks with his +clerks. + +He found a plenty of work cut out for him to do, and he resolved to +be very busy to make up for his idleness during his holiday. + +Ishmael did not really wish to tax his old servant with any labor at +all. He wished his office to be as much of a sinecure as possible. +And he continually urged the professor to go abroad and see the city +sights, or to walk in the garden and enjoy his pipe, or rest himself +in his own room, or visit his daughter, the hackman's wife. + +The professor obediently did all this for a time; but as the days +passed Ishmael saw that the old man's greatest happiness consisted +in staying with and serving his master; and so he at length +permitted the professor to relieve the chamber-maid of her duties in +his rooms, and take quiet possession and complete charge of them. + +And never were rooms kept in more perfect order. And, best of all, +love taught the professor the mystic art of dusting without +deranging papers and dementing their owner. + +Ishmael's present position was certainly a very pleasant one. He not +only found a real home in his boarding-house, and a faithful friend +in his servant, but a pair of aunties in his landladies. Every good +heart brought in contact with Ishmael Worth was sure to love him. +And these old ladies were no exception to the rule. They had no +relatives to bestow their affections upon, and so, seeing every day +more of their young lodger's worth, they grew to love him with +maternal ardor. It is not too much to say that they doted on him. +And in private they nodded their heads at each other and talked of +its being time to make their wills, and spoke of young Mr. Worth as +their heir and executor. + +Ishmael for his part treated the old ladies with all the reverential +tenderness that their age and womanhood had a right to expect from +his youth and manhood. He never dreamed that the "sweet, small +courtesies," which it was his happiness to bestow alike on rich and +poor, had won for him such signal favor in the eyes of the old +ladies. He knew and was happy to know that they loved him. That was +all. He never dreamed of being their heir; he never even imagined +that they had any property to bequeath. He devoted himself with +conscientious zeal to his profession, and went on, as he deserved to +go on, from success to success. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +LADY VINCENT'S RECEPTION. + + The folds of her wine-dark violet dress + Glow over the sofa fall on fall. + As she sits in the light of her loveliness, + With a smile for each and for all. + + Could we find out her heart through that velvet and lace, + Can it beat without rumpling her sumptuous dress? + She will show us her shoulder, her bosom, her face, + But what her heart's like, we must guess. + --_O. M._ + + + +The evening of Lady Vincent's reception arrived. At an unfashionably +early hour Judge Merlin's country house was filled. + +All the county families of any importance were represented there. +The rustic guests, drawn, no doubt, not more by their regard for +Judge Merlin and his daughter than by their curiosity to behold a +titled foreigner. + +Mr. and Mrs. Middleton and Beatrice came very early, encumbered with +several bandboxes; for their long ride made it necessary for them to +defer their evening toilet until after their arrival. + +They were received and conducted to their rooms by old Aunt Katie. +"Lady Vincent," she said, "has not yet left her dressing room." + +When their toilets were made, Mr. and Mrs. Middleton came to Bee's +door to take her down to the drawing room. + +Very beautiful indeed looked Bee, in her floating, cloud-like dress +of snow-white tulle, with white moss-roses resting on her rounded +bosom and wreathing her golden ringlets; and all her beauty +irradiated with the light of a happy love. + +Her father smiled proudly and her mother fondly on her as she came +out and joined them. + +The found the drawing rooms already well filled with guests. + +Lord and Lady Vincent stood near the door to receive all comers. To +them the Middletons first went. + +Very handsome and majestic looked Claudia in her rich robe of royal +purple velvet, with her raven black hair crowned with a diadem of +diamonds, and diamonds blazing on her neck and arms and at her +waist. Strangers looked upon her loveliness with unqualified +delight. Her "beauty made them glad." But friends who saw the +glittering surface and the alloy beneath it, admired and sighed. Her +dark eyes were beaming with light; her oval cheeks were burning with +crimson fire. Mrs. Middleton thought this was fever; but Bee knew it +was French rouge. + +Claudia received her friends with bright smiles and gay words. She +complimented them on their good looks and rallied them on their +gravity. And then she let them lightly pass away to make room for +new arrivals, who were approaching to pay their respects. + +They passed through the crowd until they found Judge Merlin, to +whose care Mr. Middleton consigned Bee, while he himself, with his +wife on his arm, made a tour of all the rooms, including the supper +room. + +The party, they saw, was going to be a successful one, +notwithstanding the fact that the three great metropolitan ministers +of fashion had nothing whatever to do with it. + +Sam and Jim, with perfect liberty to do their worst in the matters +of garden flowers and wax lights, had decorated and illuminated the +rooms with the rich profusion for which the negro servants are +notorious. The guests might have been in fairy groves and bowers, +instead of drawing rooms, for any glimpse of walls or ceilings they +could get through green boughs and blooming flowers. + +In the supper room old Aunt Katie with her attendant nymphs had laid +a feast that might vie in "toothsomeness" if not in elegance with +the best ever elaborated by the celebrated caterer. + +And in the dancing room the local band of negro musicians drew from +their big fiddle, little fiddle, banjo, and bones notes as ear- +piercing and limb-lifting, if not as scientific and artistic, as +anything ever executed by Dureezie's renowned troupe. + +The Englishman, secretly cynical, sneered at all this; but openly +courteous, made himself agreeable to all the prettiest of the +country belles, who ever after had the proud boast of having +quadrilled or waltzed with Lord Vincent. + +The party did not break up until morning. The reason of this was +obvious--the company could not venture to return home in their +carriages over those dangerous country roads until daylight. + +It was, in fact, sunrise before the last guests departed and the +weary family were at liberty to go to bed and sleep. They had turned +the night into day, and now it was absolutely necessary to turn the +day into night. + +They did not any of them awake until three or four o'clock in the +afternoon, when they took coffee in their chambers. And they did not +reassemble until the late dinner hour at six o'clock, by which time +the servants had removed the litter of the party and restored the +rooms to neatness, order, and comfort. + +The Middletons had not departed with the other guests. They joined +the family at dinner. And after dinner, at the pressing invitation +of Judge Merlin, they agreed to remain at Tanglewood for the few +days that would intervene before the departure of Lord and Lady +Vincent for Europe. Only Bee, the next morning, drove over to the +Beacon to give the servants there strict charges in regard to the +girls and boys, and to bring little Lu back with her to Tanglewood. + +The next week was passed in making the final preparations for the +voyage. + +And when all was ready on a bright Monday morning, the first of +October, Lord and Lady Vincent, with their servants and baggage, +departed from Tanglewood. + +Judge Merlin, leaving his house to be shut up by the Middletons, +accompanied them to see them off in the steamer. + +It was quite an imposing procession that left Tanglewood that +morning. There were two carriages and a van. In the first carriage +rode Lord and Lady Vincent and Judge Merlin. In the second my lord's +valet and my lady's three servants. And in the van was piled an +inconceivable amount of luggage. + +This procession made a sensation, I assure you, as it lumbered along +the rough country roads. Every little isolated cabin along the way +turned out its ragged rout of girls and boys who threw up their arms +with a prolonged "Hooray!" as it passed--to the great disgust of the +Englishman and the transient amusement of the judge. As for Claudia, +she sat back with her eyes closed and cared for nothing. + +The negroes came in for their share of notice. + +"Hooray, Aunt Katie, is that you a-ridin' in a coach as bold as +brass?" some wayside laborer would shout. + +"As bold as brass yourself!" would be the irate retort of the old +woman, nodding her head that was adorned with a red and yellow +bonnet, from the window. + +"Hillo, Jim! that's never you, going to forring parts as large as +life?" would sing out another. + +"Yes! Good-by! God bless you all as is left behind!" would be Jim's +compassionate reply. + +"Lord bless my soul and body, what a barbarous country!" would be +Lord Vincent's muttered comment. And the judge would smile and +Claudia slumber, or seem to do so. + +And this happened over and over again all along the turnpike road, +until they got to Shelton, where they embarked on the steamer +"Arrow" for Baltimore, where they arrived the next day at noon. + +They made no stay in the Monumental City. Old Katie's dilated eyes +had not time to relieve themselves by one wink over the wonders of +the new world into which she was introduced, before, to her +"surprise and 'stonishment," as she afterwards expressed it, she +found herself "on board the cars, being whisked off somewhere else. +And if you would believe her racket, she had to hold the h'ar on her +head to keep it from being streamed off in the flight. And she was +no sooner set down comfortable in the cars at Baltimore than she had +to get up and get outen them at New York. And you better had believe +it, chillun, that's all." + +Old Aunt Katie must have slept all the way through that night's +journey; for it is certain that the cars in which she traveled left +Baltimore at eight o'clock in the evening and arrived at New York at +six o'clock the next morning. + +After their dusty, smoky, cindery ride of ten hours our party had +barely time to find their hotel, cleanse and refresh themselves with +warm baths and changes of raiment and get their breakfasts +comfortably, before the hour of embarkation arrived. For they were +required to be on board their steamer at ten o'clock, as she was +announced to sail at twelve, meridian. + +At ten, therefore, the carriages that had been ordered for the +purpose of conveying them to the pier were announced. + +Lower and lower sank the heart of the widowed father as the moment +approached that was to separate him from his only child. There were +times when he so dreaded that moment as to wish for death instead. +There were times when he felt that the wrench which should finally +tear his daughter from him must certainly prove his death-blow. Yet, +for her sake, he bore himself with composure and dignity. He would +not let her see the anguish that was oppressing his heart. + +He entered the carriage with her and drove to the pier. He drew her +arm within his own, keeping her hand pressed against his aching +heart, and so he led her up the gang-plank on board the steamer, +Lord Vincent and their retinue following. He would not trust himself +to utter any serious words; but he led her to find her stateroom, +that he might see for himself she would be comfortable on her +voyage, and that he might carry away with him a picture of her and +her surroundings in his memory. And then he brought her up on deck +and found a pleasant seat for her, and sat down beside her, keeping +her arm within his and her hand pressed as a balm to his covered +bleeding heart. + +There he sat, speaking but little, while active preparations were +made for sailing. It looked to him like preparations for an +execution. + +Lord Vincent walked up and down the deck, occasionally stopping to +exchange a word with Claudia, or the judge. + +At length the signal-bell rang out, every peal striking like a +death-toll on the heart of the old man. + +And the order was shouted forth: + +"All hands ashore!" + +The moment of life and death had come. He started up; he strained +his daughter to his breast. He gasped: + +"God bless you, my dear! Write as soon as you land!" + +He wrung the hand of Lord Vincent. "Be good to--" He choked, and +hurried from the steamer. + +He stood alone on the pier gazing at the receding ship, and at his +daughter, who was leaning over the bulwarks, waving her +handkerchief. Swiftly, swiftly, receded the ship from his strained +sight. First his daughter's face faded from his aching vision; but +still he could see the outline of her form. A minute or two and even +that grew indistinct and was lost among the rigging. And while he +was still straining his eyes to the cracking, in the effort to see +her, the signal gun from the steamer was fired. The farewell gun! +The ball seemed to strike his own heart. All his strength forsook +him; his well-strung nerves suddenly relaxed; his limbs gave way +beneath him, and he must have fallen but for the strong arms that +suddenly clasped him and the warm bosom that firmly supported him. + +Turning up his languid, fainting eyes, he saw-- + +"Ishmael!" + +Yes, it was Ishmael, who with a son's devotion was standing there +and sustaining Claudia's forsaken father in the hour of his utter +weakness and utmost need. + +At first the judge looked at him in surprise and incredulity, which +soon, however, gave way before recognition and affection, as he +rested on that true breast and met those beautiful eyes bent on him +in deepest sympathy. + +"Oh, Ishmael, Ishmael, is it you? is it indeed you? You here at +need? Oh, my son, my son, would to the Lord that you were indeed my +son! It is a grief and folly that you are not!" he exclaimed with +emotion. + +What could Ishmael reply to these words? Nothing. He could only +tenderly support the old man and turn to a gray-haired servant that +waited behind him and say: + +"Professor, go call a carriage here quickly!" + +And Jim Morris started on his errand, with all the crippled alacrity +of age and zeal. + +"Oh, Ishmael, she has gone! she has gone! My daughter has left me!" +he groaned, grasping the hand of his young supporter. + +"I know it, sir, I know it. But this hour of parting is the +bitterest of all. The heart feels the wrench of separation keenly +now." + +"Oh, yes, yes!" + +"But every coming hour will bring relief. You will cease to look +back to the bitter parting, and you will look forward to the happy +meeting. And that meeting may be as soon as you please, sir, you +know. There is nothing on earth to prevent or even delay your visit +to Lady Vincent as soon after she gets settled at home, as you like. +This is October. You may spend Christmas with her, you know." + +"That is true; that is very true, and Christmas is not so very far +off. Ah! I ought not to have given way so, and I should not have +done it, only I was quite alone when they sailed. There was no one +with me to suggest these comforting thoughts, and I was too much +prostrated by the wrench of parting to remember them of myself. Oh, +Ishmael! what Providence was it that sent you to my side in this +extremity?" inquired the judge, curiosity mingling with his interest +in the question. + +"I came here," said Ishmael frankly, "with no other purpose than to +be with you in your hour of trial. I knew that you would require the +presence of some friend." + +"Ah, Ishmael! it was just like you to drop all your business and +come uncalled, traveling from Washington to New York, with the sole +object of sustaining an old friend in the hour of his weakness. So +that does not surprise me. But how did you hit the time so well?" + +"I knew from Bee's last letter, dated from Tanglewood, the day that +Lord Vincent had positively determined to sail. I knew also the name +of the only steamer that sailed for Europe on that day. And so, as +Bee expressed great regret that her father could not accompany you +to New York, and great anxiety because you would be left quite alone +after the trial of parting with Claudia, I suddenly resolved to come +on. I came on by the same train that brought your party, although +not in the same car. I reached the city this morning, and finding +that the steamer was to sail at twelve, noon, I walked down to the +pier at half-past eleven so as to be ready to meet you when you +should come ashore." + +"And you took all this thought and trouble for me? Oh, Ishmael, +Ishmael, what a sorrow and shame it is that you are not my son!" + +"I am your son in reverence, and love, and service, sir; and if I am +not in any other way it is because the Lord has willed otherwise," +said Ishmael very gravely. + +"Did you see Claudia off?" inquired the judge. + +"I saw the steamer; I did not see Lady Vincent. I was in the rear of +the crowd on the pier and looking out among them that I might not +miss you," replied Ishmael. But he did not add that he had +sedulously avoided looking at Claudia as she stood beside her +husband on the deck waving her handkerchief in adieus to her father. + +In a few minutes Jim Morris came up with a comfortable carriage, and +the judge, somewhat recovered now, was assisted into it. + +"You are coming too, Ishmael, are you not?" said the old man, +looking anxiously out of the window. + +"Of course I am, sir; for with your permission I will not leave you +until we get back to Washington," replied the young man, preparing +to spring into the carriage. But suddenly pausing with his hand on +the door he inquired: + +"Where shall I order the hackman to drive?" + +The judge named his hotel, which happened to be the very one at +which Ishmael was stopping; and so the young man gave the order and +entered the carriage. + +The professor climbed up to a seat beside the hackman, and the hack +moved on. + +As the carriage turned into Broadway and rolled along that +magnificent street, the professor, from his elevated seat, gazed +with ever-increasing delight and admiration on the wonders of the +great city spread before him. + +There were moments when honest Jim Morris was inclined to suspect +that, some time within the past few weeks, he must have died, been +buried, and risen again to some new stage of existence; so wonderful +to him seemed the change in his life. He had not had his +satisfaction with gazing when the carriage stopped at the hotel. + +Ishmael paid off the hack and gave his arm to the judge, and +assisted him into the house. + +"Ishmael," he said, as soon as they had reached a sitting room, +"have you no other business in New York than to look after me?" + +"None whatever. I am entirely at your service." + +"Then we--But stop. Are you quite ready to return to Washington at +any time?" + +"Quite ready to go at a moment's warning, if required." + +"Then I think we had better take the early train to-morrow morning, +for you ought not to be absent from your office, especially during +court term, and even I shall be better at home. We shall need to-day +and to-night for rest, but we will start to-morrow. What do you +think?" + +"I think that is altogether the best plan." + +As it was now about one o'clock the judge ordered luncheon. And when +they had partaken of it, and the judge had drunk several glasses of +rich old port, he said: + +"Ishmael, I did not get a wink of sleep last night, and this wine +has made me drowsy. I think I will go to my chamber and lie down." + +Ishmael gave the judge his arm and assisted him to his bed-room, and +saw him lie down, and waited until he knew him to be in a deep, +refreshing sleep; and then he closed the blinds, and darkened the +room, and left him to repose. + +In the hall he spoke to one of the waiters, and placing a quarter of +an eagle in his hand, requested him to go up and remain near the +judge's chamber door until he should awake. + +Then Ishmael sought the professor out and said to him: + +"Professor, this is your first visit to New York, as it is also +mine. Let us make use of the little time we have to see as much as +we can." + +Jim Morris eagerly jumped at the proposition. + +Ishmael sent for a carriage, and they started; the professor this +time riding inside with Ishmael, as he always did when they were +alone. + +They spent the whole afternoon in sight-seeing, and returned at +sunset. + +The judge had not awakened, nor did he awake until roused by the +ear-stunning gong that warned all the guests to prepare for dinner. + +He opened his eyes and stared around in bewilderment for a few +seconds, and then seeing Ishmael, remembered everything. + +"Ah, my boy, now it is all come back to me afresh, and I have got to +meet it all over again. I had been dreaming that I was at Tanglewood +with my child, and she was neither married nor going to be. Now I +have lost her anew," he said, with a deep sigh. + +"I know it, sir; but with every sleep and every awakening this +impression will be fainter and fainter. You will soon be cheerful +and happy again, in the anticipation of going to see her." + +"Plague take that gong! how it does belabor and thrash one's +tympanum!" said the judge irritably, as he slowly arose to dress for +dinner. + +After dinner Ishmael persuaded him not to stay in and mope, but to +go with him to hear a celebrated traveler and eloquent lecturer, who +was to hold forth in one of the churches on the manners and customs +of the Laplanders. The professor also had leave to go. And the judge +and Ishmael were well entertained and interested, and the professor +was instructed and delighted. Evidently the old odd-job man, judging +from his past and present experience, thought + + "That now the kingdom must be coming, + And the years of jubilo." + +They returned to a late supper, and then retired to bed. + +Next morning they took the early train for Washington, where they +arrived at seven o'clock. + +The judge went home with Ishmael and remained his guest for two or +three days, while he wrote to Reuben Gray to send up Sam and the +carriage for him; and waited for it to come. + +Ishmael at the same time took the responsibility of writing to Mr. +Middleton, advising him to come up with the carriage in order to +bear the judge company in his journey home. + +The last day of the week the carriage arrived with Mr. Middleton +inside and Sam on the box. And on Monday morning the judge, in +better spirits than anyone could have expected him to be, took an +affectionate leave of Ishmael, and with Mr. Middleton for company, +set out for Tanglewood, where in due time they arrived safely. + +We also must bid adieu to Ishmael for a short time and leave him to +the successful prosecution of his business, and to the winning of +new laurels. For it is necessary to the progress of this story that +we follow the fortunes of Claudia, Viscountess Vincent. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +ROMANCE AND REALITY. + + If we had heard that she was dead + We hastily had cried, + "She was so richly favored + God will forgive her pride!" + But now to see her living death-- + Power, glory, arts, all gone-- + Her empire lost and her poor breath + Still vainly struggling on! + --_Milnes._ + + + +The "Ocean Empress" steamed her way eastward. The month was +favorable; the weather bright; the wind fair and the sea calm. Every +circumstance promised a pleasant voyage. None but a few unreasonable +people grew seasick; and even they could not keep it up long. + +There was a very select and agreeable set of passengers in the first +cabin. + +But Lord and Lady Vincent were the only titled persons present; and +from both European and American voyagers received a ridiculous +amount of homage. + +Claudia enjoyed the worship, though she despised the worshipers. Her +spirits had rebounded from their depression. She was Lady Vincent, +and in the present enjoyment and future anticipation of all the +honors of her rank. She gloried in the adulation her youth, beauty, +wealth, and title commanded from her companions on the steamer; hut +she gloried more in the anticipation of future successes and +triumphs on a larger scale and more extensive field. + +She rehearsed in imagination her arrival in London, her introduction +to the family of the viscount; her presentation to the queen; and +the sensation she would produce at her majesty's drawing room, where +she was resolved, even if it should cost her her whole fortune, to +eclipse every woman present, not only in the perfection of her +beauty, but also in the magnificence of her dresses and the splendor +of her jewels. And after that what a season she would pass in +London! Whoever was queen of England, she would he queen of beauty +and fashion. + +And then she would visit with Lord Vincent all the different seats +of his family; and every seat would be the scene of a new ovation! +As the bride of the heir she would be idolized by the tenants and +retainers of his noble family! + +She would, with Lord Vincent, make a tour of the Continent; she +would see everything worth seeing in nature and in art, modern and +antique; she would be presented in succession at every foreign +court, and everywhere by her beauty and splendor achieve new +successes and triumphs! She would frequent the circles of American +ministers, for the express purpose of meeting there her +countrywomen, and overwhelming by her magnificence those who had +once, dared to sneer at that high flavor of Indian blood which had +given luster to her raven hair and fire to her dark eyes! Returning +to England after this royal progress on the Continent she would pass +her days in cherishing her beauty and keeping up her state. + +And the course of her life should be like that of the sun, +beautiful, glorious, regnant! each splendid phase more dazzling than +any that had preceded it. Was not this worth the price she paid for +it? + +Such were Claudia's dreams and visions. Such the scenes that she +daily in imagination rehearsed. Such the future life she delighted +to contemplate. And nothing--neither the attentions of her husband, +the conversation of her companions, nor the beauty and glory of sea +and sky--could win her from the contemplation of the delightful +subject. + +Meanwhile in that lovely October weather the "Empress" steamed her +way over the sapphire blue sea and neared the cliffs of England. + +At length on a fine afternoon in October they entered the mouth of +the Mersey River, and two hours later landed at Liverpool. + +Soon all was bustle with the custom house officers. + +Leaving their luggage in charge of his valet, to be got through the +custom house, Lord Vincent hurried Claudia into a cab, followed her, +and gave the direction: + +"To the Crown and Miter." + +"Why not go to the Adelphi? All Americans go there, and I think it +the best hotel in the city," said Claudia. + +"The Crown and Miter will serve our turn," was the curt reply of the +viscount. + +Claudia looked up in surprise at the brusqueness of his answer, and +then ventured the opinion: + +"It is a first-class hotel, of course?" + +"Humph!" answered his lordship. + +They left the respectable-looking street through which they were +driving and turned into a narrow by-street and drove through a +perfect labyrinth of narrow lanes and alleys, made hideous by +dilapidated and dirty buildings and ragged and filthy people, until +at last they reached a dark, dingy-looking inn, whose creaking sign +bore in faded letters: "The Crown and Miter." + +"It is not here that you are taking me, Lord Vincent?" exclaimed +Claudia in surprise and displeasure, as her eyes fell upon this +house and sign. + +"It certainly is, Lady Vincent," replied his lordship, with cool +civility, as he handed her out of the cab. + +"Why this--this is worse than the tavern you took me to in New York. +I never was in such a house before in all my life." + +"It will have all the attractions of novelty, then." + +"Lord Vincent, I do beg that you will not take me into this squalid +place," she said shrinking back. + +"You might find less attractive places than this in the length and +breadth of the island," he replied, as he drew her hand within his +arm and led her into the house. + +They found themselves in a narrow passage, with stained walls, worn +oil-cloth, and a smell of meat, onions, and smoke. + +"Oh!" exclaimed Claudia, in irrepressible disgust. + +"You will get used to these little inconveniences after a while, my +dear," said his lordship. + +A man with a greasy white apron and a soiled napkin approached them +and bowed. + +"A bedroom and parlor, and supper immediately," was Lord Vincent's +order to this functionary. + +"Yes, sir. We can be happy to accommodate you, sir, with a bedroom; +the parlor, sir, is out of our power; we having none vacant at the +present time; but to-morrow, sir--" began the polite waiter, when +Lord Vincent cut him short with: + +"Show us into the bedroom, then." + +"Yes, sir." And bowing, the waiter went before them up the narrow +stairs and led them into a dusky, fady, gloomy-looking chamber, +whose carpet, curtains, and chair coverings seemed all of mingled +hues of browns and grays, and from their fadiness and dinginess +almost indescribable in color. + +The waiter set the candle on the tall wooden mantelpiece and +inquired: + +"What would you please to order for supper?" + +"What will you have, madam?" inquired Lord Vincent, referring to +Claudia. + +"Nothing on earth, in this horrid place! I am heart-sick," she +added, in a low, sad tone. + +"The lady will take nothing. You may send me a beefsteak and a +bottle of Bass' pale ale," said his lordship, seemingly perfectly +careless as to Claudia's want of appetite. + +"Yes, sir; shall I order it served in the coffee room?" + +"No, send it up here, and don't be long over it." + +The waiter left the room. And Lord Vincent walked up and down the +floor in the most perfect state of indifference to Claudia's +distress. + +She threw herself into a chair and burst into tears, exclaiming: + +"You do not care for me at all! What a disgusting place to bring a +woman--not to say a lady--into! If you possessed the least respect +or affection for me you would never treat me so!" + +"I fancy that I possess quite as much respect and affection for you, +Lady Vincent, as you do, or ever did for me," he answered. + +And Claudia knew that he spoke the truth, and she could not +contradict him; but she said: + +"Suppose there is little love lost between us, still we might treat +each other decently. It is infamous to bring me here." + +"You will not be required to stay here long." + +"I hope not, indeed!" + +At this moment the waiter entered to lay the cloth for the +viscount's supper. + +"What time does the first train for Aberdeen leave?" inquired the +viscount. + +"The first train, sir, leaves at four o'clock in the morning, sir; +an uncomfortable hour, sir; and it is besides the parliamentary, +sir." + +"That will do. See if my people have come up from the custom house." + +"Yes, sir; I beg your pardon, sir, what name?" inquired the +perplexed waiter. + +"No matter. Go look for a fellow who has in charge a large number of +boxes and a party of male and female gorillas." + +The man left the room to do his errand and to report below that the +person in "Number 13" was a showman with a lot of man-monkeys from +the interior of Africa. + +But Claudia turned to her husband in astonishment. + +"Did I understand you to inquire about the train to Aberdeen?" + +"Yes," was the short reply. + +"But--I thought we were going to London--to Hurstmonceux House--" + +"Belgravia? No, my dear, we are going to Scotland." + +"But--why this change of plan? My father and myself certainly +understood that I was to be taken to London and introduced to your +family and afterwards presented to her majesty." + +"My dear, the London season is over ages ago. Nobody that is anybody +will be found in town until February. The court is at Balmoral, and +the world is in Scotland. We go to Castle Cragg." + +"But why could you not have told me that before?" + +"My dear, I like to be agreeable. And people who are always setting +others right are not so." + +"Is Lord Hurstmonceux at Castle Cragg?" + +"The earl is at Balmoral, in attendance upon her majesty." + +"Then why do we not go to Balmoral?" + +"The queen holds no drawing rooms there." + +Claudia suspected that he was deceiving her; but she felt that it +would do no good to accuse him of deception. + +The waiter returned to the room, bringing Lord Vincent's substantial +supper, arranged on a tray. + +"I have inquired below, sir; and there is no one arrived having in +charge your gorillas. But there is a person with a panorama, sir; +and there is a person with three negro persons, sir," said the +waiter. + +"He will do. Send up the 'person with three negro persons,'" said +the viscount. + +And once more the waiter left the room. + +In a few moments Lord Vincent's valet entered. + +"Frisbie, we leave for Scotland by the four o'clock train, to-morrow +morning. See to it." + +"Yes, my lord. I beg your lordship's pardon, but is your lordship +aware that it is the parliamentary?" + +"Certainly; but it is also the first. See to it that your gorillas +are ready. And--Frisbie." + +"Yes, my lord." + +"Go and engage a first-class carriage for our own exclusive use." + +"Yes, my lord," said the man, with his hand still on the door, as if +waiting further orders. + +"Lord Vincent, I would be obliged if you would tell him to send one +of my women to me," said Claudia coldly. + +"Women? Oh! Here, Frisbie! send the female gorillas up." + +"I said one of my women, the elder one, he may send." + +"Frisbie, send the old female gorilla up, then." + +The man went out of the room. And Claudia turned upon her husband: + +"Lord Vincent, I do not know in what light you consider it; but I +think your conduct shows bad wit and worse manners." + +"Lady Vincent, I am sorry you should disapprove of it," said his +lordship, falling to upon his beefsteak and ale, the fumes of which +soon filled the room. + +But that was nothing to what was coming. When he had finished his +supper he coolly took a pipe from his pocket, filled it with "negro- +head," and prepared to light it. Then stopping in the midst of his +operations, he looked at Claudia and inquired: + +"Do you dislike tobacco smoke?" + +"I do not know, my lord. No gentleman ever smoked in my presence," +replied Claudia haughtily. + +"Oh, then, of course, you don't know, and never will until you try. +There is nothing like experiment." + +And Lord Vincent put the pipe between his lips and puffed away +vigorously. The room was soon filled with smoke. That, combined with +the smell of the beefsteak and the ale, really sickened Claudia. She +went to the window, raised it and looked out. + +"You will take cold," said his lordship. + +"I would rather take cold than breathe this air," was her reply. + +"Just as you please; but I hadn't," he said. And he went and shut +down the window. + +Amazement held Claudia still for a moment; she could scarcely +believe in such utter disregard of her feelings. At last, in a voice +vibrating with ill-suppressed indignation, she said: + +"My lord, the air of this room makes me ill. If you must smoke, can +you not do so somewhere else?" + +"Where?" questioned his lordship, taking the pipe from his mouth for +an instant. + +"Is there not a smoking room, reading room, or something of the +sort, for gentlemen's accommodation?" + +"In this place? Ha, ha, ha! Well, there is the taproom!" + +"Then why not go there?" inquired Claudia, who had no very clear +idea of what the taproom really was. + +Lord Vincent's face flushed at what he seemed to think an +intentional affront. + +"I can go into the street," he said. + +And he arose and put on his greatcoat and his cap, and turned up the +collar of his coat and turned down the fall of his cap, so that but +little of his face would be seen, and so walked out. Then Claudia +raised the window to ventilate the room, and rang the bell to summon +the waiter. + +"Take this service away and send the chambermaid to me," she said to +him when he came. + +And a few minutes after he had cleared the table and left the room +the chambermaid, accompanied by old Katie, entered. + +"Is there a dressing room connected with this chamber?" Lady Vincent +inquired. + +"Law, no, mum! there isn't sich a place in the house," said the +chambermaid. + +"This is intolerable! You may go; my own servants will wait on me." + +The girl went out. + +"Unpack my traveling bag and lay out my things, Katie," said Lady +Vincent, when she was left alone with her nurse. + +But the old woman raised her hands, and rolled up her eyes, +exclaiming: + +"Well, Miss Claudia, child!--I mean my ladyship, ma'am!--if this is +Ingland, I never want to see it again the longest day as ever I +live!" + +"Liverpool is not England, Katie." + +"Live-a-pool, is it? More like Die-a-pool!" grumbled old Katie, as +she assisted her lady to change her traveling dress for a loose +wrapper. + +"Now, what have you had to eat, my ladyship?" + +"Nothing, Katie. I felt as if I could not eat anything cooked in +this ill-looking house." + +"Nothing to eat! I'll go right straight downstairs and make you some +tea and toast myself," said Katie. + +And she made good her words by bringing a delicate little repast, of +which Claudia gratefully partook. + +And then Katie, with an old nurse's tenderness, saw her mistress +comfortably to bed, and cleared and darkened the room and left her +to repose. + +But Claudia did not sleep. Her thoughts were too busy with the +subject of Lord Vincent's strange conduct from the time that he had +at Niagara received those three suspicious letters up to this time, +when with his face hid he was walking up and down the streets of +Liverpool. + +That he sought concealment she felt assured by many circumstances: +his coming to this obscure tavern; his choosing to take his meals +and smoke his pipe in his bedroom; and his walking out with his face +muffled--all of which was in direct antagonism to Lord Vincent's +fastidious habits; and, finally, his taking a whole carriage in the +railway train, for no other purpose than to have himself and his +party entirely isolated from their fellow-passengers. + +Lord Vincent came in early, and, thanks to the narcotic qualities of +the ale, he soon fell asleep. + +Claudia had scarcely dropped into a doze before, at the dismal hour +of three o'clock in the morning, they were roused up to get ready +for the train. They made a hurried toilet and ate a hasty breakfast, +and then set out for the station. + +It was a raw, damp, foggy morning. The atmosphere seemed as dense +and as white as milk. No one could see a foot in advance. And +Claudia wondered how the cabmen managed to get along at all. + +They reached the station just as the train was about to start, and +had barely time to hurry into the carriage that had been engaged for +them before the whistle shrieked and they were off. Fortunately +Frisbie had sent the luggage on in advance, and got it ticketed. + +The carriage had four back and four front seats. Lord and Lady +Vincent occupied two of the back seats, and their four servants the +front ones. As they went on the fog really seemed to thicken. They +traveled slowly and stopped often. And Claudia, in surprise, +remarked upon these facts. + +"One might as well be in a stage--for speed," she complained. + +"It is the parliamentary train," he replied. + +"I have heard you say that before; but I do not know what you mean +by 'parliamentary' as applied to railway trains." + +"It is the cheap train, the slow train, the people's train; in fact, +one that, in addition to first- and second-class carriages, drags +behind it an interminable length of rough cars, in which the lower +orders travel," said his lordship. + +"But why is it called the 'parliamentary'?" + +"Because it was instituted by act of parliament for the +accommodation of the people, or perhaps because it is so heavy and +slow." + +On they went, hour after hour, stopping every three or four miles, +while the fog seemed still to condense and whiten. + +At noon the train reached York, and stopped twenty minutes for +refreshment. Lord Vincent did not leave the carriage, but sent his +valet out to the station restaurant to procure what was needful for +his party. And while the passengers were all hurrying to and fro, +and looking in at the carriage, he drew the curtains of his windows, +and sat back far in his seat. + +Claudia would gladly have left the train and spent the interval in +contemplating, even if it were only the outside of the ancient +cathedral of which she had read and heard so much. + +Lord Vincent assured her there was no time to lose in sight-seeing +then, but promised that she should visit York at some future period. + +And the train started again. They began to leave the fog behind them +as they approached the seacoast. They soon came in sight of the +North Sea, beside which the railway ran for some hundred miles. Here +all was bright and clear. And Claudia for a time forgot all the +suspicions and anxieties that disturbed her mind, and with all a +stranger's interest gazed on the grandeur of the scenery and dreamed +over the associations it awakened. + +Here "lofty Seaton-Delaval" was pointed out to her. And Tinemouth, +famed in song for its "haughty prioress," and "Holy Isle," memorable +for the inhumation of Constance de Beverly. + +At sunset they crossed Berwick bridge and entered Scotland. + +Claudia was entirely lost in gazing on the present landscape, and +dreaming of its past history. Here the association between scenery +and poetry was perfect. Nature is ever young--and this was the very +scene and the very hour described in Scott's immortal poem, and as +Claudia gazed she murmured the lines: + + "Day set on Norham's castled steep, + And Tweed's fair river, broad and deep, + And Cheviot's mountains lone; + The battled towers, the donjon keep, + The flanking walls that round it sweep, + In yellow luster shone," + +Yes! it was the very scene, viewed at the very hour, just as the +poet described it to have been two hundred years before, when + + "Marmion, Lord of Fontenaye, + Of Lutterward and Scrivelbaye, + Of Tamworth tower and town," + +crossed with his knightly train into Scotland. There was the setting +sun burnishing the brown tops of the Cheviot hills; gilding the +distant ruined towers of Norham Castle, and lighting up the waters +of the Tweed. + +But there is little time for either observation or dreaming in a +railway train. + +They stopped but a few minutes at Berwick, and then shot off +northward, still keeping near the coast. + +Claudia looked out upon the gray North Sea, and enjoyed the +magnificence of the coast scenery as long as the daylight lasted. + +When it was growing dark Lord Vincent said: + +"You had just as well close that window, Claudia. It will give us +all cold; and besides, you can see but little now." + +"I can see Night drawing her curtain of darkness around the bed of +the troubled waters. It is worth watching," murmured Claudia +dreamily. + +"Bosh!" was the elegant response of the viscount; "you will see +enough of the North Sea before you have done with it, I fancy." And +with an emphatic clap he let down the window. + +Claudia shrugged her shoulders and turned away, too proud to dispute +a point that she was powerless to decide. + +They sped on towards Edinboro', through the darkness of one of the +darkest nights that ever fell. Even had the window been open Claudia +could not have caught a glimpse of the scenery. She had no idea that +they were near the capital of Scotland until the train ran into the +station. Then all was bustle among those who intended to get out +there. + +But through all the bustle Lord Vincent and his party kept their +seats, + +"I am very weary of this train. I have not left my seat for many +hours. Can we not stop over night here? I should like to see +Edinboro' by daylight," Claudia inquired. + +"What did you say?" asked Lord Vincent, with nonchalance. + +Claudia repeated her question, adding: + +"I should like to remain a day or two in Edinboro'. I wish to see +the Castle, and Holyrood Palace and Abbey, and Roslyn and +Craigmiller, and----" + +"Everything else, of course. Bother! We have no time for that. I +have taken our tickets for Aberdeen, and mean to sleep at Castle +Cragg to-night," replied the viscount. + +Claudia turned away her head to conceal the indignant tears that +arose to her eyes. She was beginning to discover that her comfort, +convenience, and inclination were just about the last circumstances +that her husband was disposed to take into consideration. What a +dire reverse for her, whose will from her earliest recollection had +been the law to all around her! + +The train started again and sped on its way through the darkness of +the night towards Aberdeen, where they arrived about eight o'clock. + +"Here at last the railway journey ends, thank Heaven," sighed +Claudia, as the train slackened its speed and crawled into the +station. And the usual bustle attending its arrival ensued. + +Fortunately for Claudia, the viscount found himself too much +fatigued after about sixteen hours' ride to go farther that night. +So he directed Mr. Frisbie to engage two cabs to take himself and +his party to a hotel. + +And when they were brought up he handed Claudia, who was scarcely +able to stand, into the first one, and ordered Frisbie to put the +"gorillas" into the other. And they drove to a fourth- or fifth-rate +inn, a degree or two dirtier, dingier, and darker than the one they +had left at Liverpool. + +But Claudia was too utterly worn out in body, mind, and spirit to +find fault with any shelter that promised to afford her the common +necessaries of life, of which she had been deprived for so many +hours. + +She drank the tea that was brought her, without questioning its +quality. And as soon as she laid her head on her pillow she sank +into the dreamless sleep of utter exhaustion. + +She awoke late the next morning to take her first look at the old +town through a driving rain that lashed the narrow windows of her +little bedroom. Lord Vincent had already risen and gone out. + +She rang for her servants. Old Katie answered the bell, entering +with uplifted hands and eyes, exclaiming: + +"Well, my ladyship! if this ain't the outlandishest country as ever +was! Coming over from t'other side we had the ocean unnerneaf of us, +and now 'pears to me like we has got it overhead of us, by the fog +and mist and rain perpetual! And if this is being of lords and +ladyships, I'd a heap leifer be misters and mist'esses, myself." + +"I quite agree with you, Katie," sighed Lady Vincent, as, with the +old woman's assistance, she dressed herself. + +"It seems to me like as if we was regerlerly sold, my ladyship," +said old Katie mysteriously. + +"Hush! Where are we to have breakfast--not in this disordered room, +I hope?" + +"No, my ladyship. They let us have a little squeezed-up parlor that +smells for all the world as if a lot of men had been smoking and +drinking in it all night long. My lordship's down there, waiting for +his breakfast now. Pretty place to fetch a 'spectable cullored +pusson to, let alone a lady! Well, one comfort, we won't stay here +long, cause I heard my lordship order Mr. Frisbie to go and take two +inside places and four outside places in the stage-coach as leaves +this mornin' for Ban. 'Ban,' 'Ban'; 'pears like it's been all ban +and no blessin' ever since we done lef' Tanglewood." + +Lady Vincent did not think it worth while to correct Katie. She knew +by experience that all attempts to set her right would be lost +labor. + +She went downstairs and joined Lord Vincent in the little parlor, +where a breakfast was laid of which it might be said that if the +coffee was bad and the bannocks worse, the kippered herrings were +delicious. + +After breakfast they took their places in or on the Banff mail +coach; Lord and Lady Vincent being the sole passengers inside; and +all their servants occupying the outside. And so they set out +through the drizzling rain and by the old turnpike road to Banff. + +This road ran along the edge of the cliffs overhanging the sea--the +sea, ever sublime and beautiful, even when dimly seen through the +dull veil of a Scotch mist. + +Claudia was not permitted to open the window; but she kept the glass +polished that she might look out upon the wild scenery. + +Late in the afternoon they reached the town of Banff, where they +stopped only long enough to order a plain dinner and engage flies to +take them on to their final destination, Castle Cragg, which in +truth Claudia was growing very anxious to behold. + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + +CASTLE CRAGG. + + The wildest scene, but this, can show + Some touch of nature's genial glow; + But here, above, around, below, + On mountain or in glen, + Nor tree, nor shrub, nor plant, nor flower. + Nor aught of vegetative power + The weary eye may ken. + For all is rocks at random thrown, + Black waves, bare crags, and banks of stone. + --_Scott._ + + + +Immediately after dinner they set out again on this last stage of +their journey, Claudia and Vincent riding in the first fly and +Frisbie and the "gorillas" in the second one. The road still lay +along the cliffs above the sea. And Claudia still sat and gazed +through the window of the fly as she had gazed through the window of +the coach, at the wild, grand, awful scenery of the coast. Hour +after hour they rode on until the afternoon darkened into evening. + +The last object of interest that caught Claudia's attention, before +night closed the scene, was far in advance of them up the coast. It +was a great promontory stretching far out into the sea and lifting +its lofty head high into the heavens. Upon its extreme point stood +an ancient castle, which at that height seemed but a crow's nest in +size. + +Claudia called Lord Vincent's attention to it. + +"What castle is that, my lord, perched upon that high promontory? I +should think it an interesting place, an historical place, built +perhaps in ancient times as a stronghold against Danish invasion," +she said. + +"That? Oh, ah, yes! That is a trifle historical, in the record of a +score of sieges, storms, assaults, and so on; and a bit traditional, +in legends of some hundred capital crimes and mortal sins; and in +fact altogether, as you say, rather interesting, especially to you, +Claudia. It is Castle Cragg, and it will have the honor to be your +future residence." + +"Heaven forbid!" exclaimed Claudia, gazing now in consternation upon +that drear, desolate, awful rock. "Dread point of Dis" it seemed +indeed to her. + +"For a season only, my dear, of course," said the viscount, with the +queerest of smiles, of which Claudia could make nothing +satisfactory. + +She continued to look out, but the longer she gazed upon that awful +cliff and the nearer she approached it, the more appalled she +became. She now saw, in turning a winding of the coast, that the +point of the cliff stretched much farther out to sea than had at +first appeared, and that only a low neck of land connected it with +the main; and she knew that when the tide was high this promontory +must be entirely cut off from the coast and become, to all intents +and purposes, an island. Approaching nearer still, she saw that the +cliff was but a huge, bare, barren rock, of which the castle, built +and walled in of the same rock, seemed but an outgrowth and a +portion. + +If this rock-bound, sea-walled dwelling-place, which had evidently +been built rather for a fortification than for a family residence, +struck terror to the heart of Claudia, what effect must it have had +upon the superstitious mind of poor old Katie, riding in the fly +behind, when Mr. Frisbie was so good as to point it out to her with +the agreeable information that it was to be her future home. + +"What, dat!" exclaimed the old woman in consternation. "You don't +mean dat! Well, lord! I'se offen hearn tell of de 'Debbil's Icy +Peak,' but I nebber expected to cotch my eyes on it, much less lib +on it, I tell you all good!" + +"That's it, hows'ever, Mrs. Gorilla," said Mr. Frisbie. + +"I keep a-telling you as my family name aint Gorilla, it's Mortimer; +dough Gorilla is a perty name, too; it ralely is, on'y you see, +chile, it aint mine," said unconscious Katie. + +But the darkening night shut out from their view the awful cliff to +which, however, they were every moment approaching nearer. + +Fortunately as the carriages reached the base of this cliff the tide +was low, and they were enabled to pass the neck of land that united +the island to the coast and made it a promontory. After passing over +this narrow strip they ascended the cliff by a road so steep that it +had been paved with flagstones placed edgeways to afford a hold for +the horses' hoofs and aid them in climbing. It was too dark to see +all this then; but Claudia knew from the inclined position of the +carriage how steep was the ascent, and she held her very breath for +fear. As for old Katie, in the carriage behind, she began praying. + +A solitary light shone amid the darkness above them. It came from a +lamp at the top of the castle gate. They reached the summit of the +cliff in safety, and Lady Vincent breathed freely again and old +Katie's prayers changed to thanksgivings. + +They crossed the drawbridge over the ancient moat and entered the +castle gate. The light above it revealed the ghastly, iron-toothed +portcullis, that looked ready to fall and impale any audacious +passenger under its impending fangs. And they entered the old paved +courtyard and crossed over to the main entrance of the castle hall. + +Here, at length, some of the attendant honors of Lady Vincent's new +rank seemed ready to greet her. + +The establishment had been expecting its lord and had heard the +sound of carriages. The great doors were thrown open; lights flashed +out; liveried servants appeared in attendance. + +"You got my telegram, I perceive, Cuthbert," Lord Vincent said to a +large, red-haired Scot, in plain citizen's clothes, who seemed to be +the porter. + +"Yes, me laird, though, as ye ken, the chiels at yon office at Banff +hae to send it by a special messenger--sae it took a long time to +win here." + +"All right, Cuthbert, since you received it in time to be ready for +us. Light us into the green parlor, and send the housekeeper here to +attend Lady Vincent." + +"Yes, me laird," answered the man, bowing low before he led the way +into a room so elegantly furnished as to afford a pleasant surprise +to Claudia, who certainly did not expect to find anything so bright +and new in this dark, old castle. + +Here she was presently joined by a tall, spare, respectable-looking +old woman in a black linsey dress, white apron and neck shawl, and +high-crowned Scotch cap. + +"How do you do, dame? You will show Lady Vincent to her apartments +and wait her orders." + +"Eh, sirs! anither ane!" ejaculated the old woman under her breath; +then turning to Claudia, with a courtesy she said: "I am ready to +attend your leddyship." + +Claudia arose and followed her through the vast hall and up the +lofty staircase to another great square stone hall, whose four walls +were regularly indented by lines of doors leading into the bed +chambers and dressing rooms. + +And as Claudia looked upon this array, her first thought was that a +stranger might easily get confused among them and open the wrong +door. And that it would be well to have them numbered as at hotels +to prevent mistakes. + +The old housekeeper opened one of the doors and admitted her +mistress into a beautifully furnished and decorated suite of +apartments which consisted of boudoir, bedroom, and dressing room +opening into each other, so that, as Claudia entered the first, she +had the vista of the three before her eyes. The floors were covered +with Turkey carpets so soft and deep in texture that they yielded +like turf under the tread. And the heavy furniture was all of black +walnut; and the draperies were all of golden-brown satin damask and +richly embroidered lace. + +The effect of the whole was warm, rich, and comfortable. + +Claudia looked around herself with approbation; her spirits rose; +she felt reconciled to the rugged old fortress that contained such +splendors within its walls; for who would care how rough the casket, +so that the jewels it held were of the finest water? Her plans +"soared up again like fire." + +She passed through the whole suite of rooms to the dressing room, +which was the last in succession, and seated herself in an easy- +chair beside a bright coal fire. + +"The dinner will be served in an hour, me leddy. Will I bring your +leddyship a cup of tea before you begin to dress?" inquired the +housekeeper. + +"If you please, you may send it to me by one of my own women. You +are too aged to walk up and down stairs," replied Claudia kindly. + +"Hech, sirs! I'm e'en reddy to haud me ain wi' any lassie i' the +house," said she, nodding her tall, flapping white sap. + +"Will you tell me your name, that I may know in future what to call +you?" Claudia asked. + +"It's e'en just Mistress Murdock, at your leddyship's bidding. And +now I'll gae bring the tea." + +"Send my servant Katie to me at the same time," said Lady Vincent, +who, when she was left alone, turned again to view the magnificence +that surrounded her. + +"If ever I spend another autumn on this bleak coast, I shall take +care to fill the castle halls and chambers with gay company," she +said to herself. + +The housekeeper entered with an elegant little tea-service of gold +plate, and set it on a stand of mosaic work, by Claudia's side. + +While she was drinking her tea Katie entered, smiling with both her +eyes and all her teeth. + +"Well, my ladyship, ma'am, this looks like life at last; don't it, +though?" + +"I think so, Katie," said her mistress, sipping her aromatic +"oolong." + +"I like Scraggy better nor I thought I would." + +"You like what?" + +"This big jail of a house--Scraggy something or other they call it." + +"Castle Cragg." + +"Yes, that's it; plague take the outlandish names, I say!" + +"Now, Katie, unpack my maize-colored moire antique. I must dress for +dinner." + +Of course Claudia expected to meet no one at dinner except the +disagreeable companion of her journey; but Claudia would have made +an elaborate evening toilet had there been no one but herself to +admire it. + +So she arrayed herself with very great splendor and went downstairs. + +In the lower hall she found the porter and several footmen. + +"Show me into the drawing room," she said to the former. + +Old Cuthbert bowed and walked before her, and threw open a pair of +folding doors leading into the grand saloon of the castle. And +Claudia entered. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + +FAUSTINA. + + And she was beautiful, they said; + I saw that she was more-- + One of those women women dread, + Men fatally adore. + --_Anon._ + + + +It was a saloon of magnificent proportions and splendid decorations. +And Claudia was sailing across it with majestic gait, in the full +consciousness of being the Viscountess Vincent and Lady of the +Castle, when suddenly her eyes fell upon an object that arrested her +footsteps, while she gazed in utter amazement. + +One of the most transcendently beautiful women that she had ever +beheld lay reclining in the most graceful and alluring attitude upon +a low divan. Her luxuriant form, arrayed in rich, soft, white moire +antique and lace, was thrown into harmonious relief by the crimson +velvet cover of the divan. She was asleep, or perhaps affecting to +be so. One fine, round, brown arm, with its elbow deep in the downy +pillow, rose from its falling sleeve of silk and lace, and with its +jeweled hand, buried in masses of glittering, purplish black +ringlets, supported a head that Rubens would have loved to paint. +Those rich ringlets, flowing down, half veiled the rounded arm and +full, curved neck and bosom that were otherwise too bare for +delicacy. The features were formed in the most perfect mold of +Oriental beauty, the forehead was broad and low; the nose fine and +straight; the lips plump and full; and the chin small and rounded. +The eyebrows were black, arched, and tapering at the points; the +eyelashes were black, long, and drooping over half-closed, almond- +shaped, dark eyes that seemed floating in liquid fire. The +complexion was of the richest brown, ripening into the most +brilliant crimson in the oval cheeks and dewy lips that, falling +half open, revealed the little glistening white teeth within. While +one jeweled hand supported her beautiful head the other drooped over +her reclining form, holding negligently, almost unconsciously, +between thumb and finger, an odorous tea-rose. + +Claudia herself was a brilliant brunette, but here was another +brunette who eclipsed her in her own splendid style of beauty as an +astral lamp outshines a candle. Cleopatra, Thais, Aspasia, or any +other world-renowned siren who had governed kingdoms through kings' +passions, might have been just such a woman as this sleeping Venus. + +Doubting really whether she slept or not, Claudia approached and +looked over her; and the longer she looked the more she wondered at, +admired, and instinctively hated this woman. + +Who was she? What was she? How came she there? + +So absorbed was Claudia in these questions, while gazing at the +beautiful and unconscious subject of them, that she did not perceive +the approach of Lord Vincent until he actually stood at her side. + +Then she looked up at him inquiringly, and pointed at the sleeping +beauty. + +But instead of replying to her, he bent over the sleeper and +whispered: + +"Faustina!" + +Now, whether she were really sleeping or shamming, the awakening, +real or pretended, was beautiful. The drooping, black-fringed +eyelids slowly lifted themselves from the eyes--two large black orbs +of soft fire; and the plump, crimson lips opened, and dropped two +liquid notes of perfect music--the syllables of his baptismal name: + +"Malcolm!" + +"Faustina, you are dreaming; awaken! remember where you are," he +said in a low voice. + +She slowly raised herself to a sitting posture and looked around; +but every movement of hers was perfect grace. + +"Lady Vincent, this is Mrs. Dugald," said the viscount. + +Claudia drew back a step, and bent her head with an air of the most +freezing hauteur. + +Mrs. Dugald also bent hers, but immediately threw it up and shook it +back with a smile. + +So graceful was this motion that it can be compared to nothing but +the bend and rebound of a lily. + +But when Claudia looked up she detected a strange glance of +intelligence between her two companions. The beauty's eyes flashed +from their sheath of softness and gleamed forth upon the man--two +living stilettos pointed with death. + +His look expressed annoyance and fear. + +He turned away and touched the bell. + +"Let dinner be served immediately," he said to the servant who +answered the summons. + +"Dinner is served, my lord," answered the man, pushing aside the +sliding doors opening into the dining room. + +Lord Vincent waved his hand to Lady Vincent to precede them, and +then gave his arm to Mrs. Dugald to follow her. + +But when they reached the dining room Mrs. Dugald left his arm, +advanced to the head of the table, and stood with her hand upon the +back of the chair and her gaze upon the face of the viscount. + +"No; Lady Vincent will take the head of the table," said his +lordship, giving his hand to Claudia and installing her. + +"As you will; but 'where the MacDonald sits, there is the head of +the table,'" said Mrs. Dugald, quoting the haughty words of the Lord +of the Isles, as she gave way and subsided into a side seat. + +Lord Vincent, with a lowering brow, sat down. + +Old Cuthbert, who sometimes officiated as butler, placed himself +behind his lord's chair, and two footmen waited on the table. + +The dinner was splendid in its service, and luxurious in its viands; +but most uncomfortable in its company, and it suggested the +Scripture proverb: "Better is a dinner of herbs where love is, than +a stalled ox and hatred therewith." + +Claudia, for one, was glad when it was over, and they were permitted +to return to the saloon, where coffee awaited them. + +"Mrs. Dugald, will you give me some music?" said Lord Vincent, in +the course of the evening. + +The beauty arose, and floated away in her soft, swimming gait +towards the piano. + +Lord Vincent went after her and opened the instrument; and when she +sat down he stood behind her chair to turn over the music. + +She played a brilliant prelude, and then commenced singing. + +Claudia, who, at the proposition that Mrs. Dugald should give Lord +Vincent "some music," had shrugged her shoulders and turned her +back, was now startled. She turned around--listened. Claudia was a +most fastidious connoisseur of music, and she recognized in this +performer an artiste of the highest order. Claudia had heard such +music as this only from the best opera singers--certainly from no +unprofessional performer. + +After executing a few brilliant pieces the beautiful musician arose +with a weary air and, saying that she was tired, courtesied, smiled, +and withdrew from the room. + +Lord Vincent walked slowly up and down the floor. + +"Who is Mrs. Dugald?" inquired Claudia coldly. + +"Mrs. Dugald is--Mrs. Dugald," replied his lordship, affecting a +light tone. + +"That is no answer, my lord." "Well, my lady, she is a relation of +mine. Will that do for an answer?" + +"What sort of a relation?" + +"A very near one." + +"How near?" + +"She is my--sister," smiled Lord Vincent. + +"Your sister? I know that you have only two sisters, and they are +styled 'ladies'--Lady Eda and Lady Clementina Dugald. This is a +'Mrs.' She cannot be your sister, and not even your sister-in-law, +since you have no brother." + +The viscount coolly lighted his cigar and walked out of the room. + +Claudia remained sitting where he had left her, deeply perplexed in +mind. Then, feeling too restless to sit still, she arose and began +to walk about the room and examine its objects of interest--its +pictures, statues, vases, et cetera. + +She then went to the windows; the shutters were closed, the blinds +down and the curtains drawn, so that she could not look out into the +night; but she could hear the thunder of the sea as it broke upon +the rock on which the castle was founded. + +Tired of that, she went to the music stand, near the piano, and +began to turn over the music books. + +She picked up one from which Mrs. Dugald had been singing. In +turning it over her eyes fell upon the picture of a full-length +female form engraved upon the cover. She looked at it more closely. +It was the portrait of the woman who had been introduced to her as +Mrs. Dugald. But it bore the name: La Faustina, as Norma. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + +THE PLOT AGAINST CLAUDIA. + + Alas! a thought of saddest weight + Presses and will have vent: + Had she not scorned his love, her fate + Had been so different! + Had her heart bent its haughty will + To take him for its lord, + She had been proudly happy still; + Still honored, still adored. + --_Monckton Milnes_ + + + +Indignation rooted Claudia to the spot. + +Instinct had already warned her that she was insulted and degraded +by the presence of this strange woman in the house. + +Reason now confirmed instinct. + +And Claudia was entirely too self-willed and high-spirited to submit +to either insult or degradation. + +She instantly resolved to demand of Lord Vincent the immediate +dismissal of this woman, and to keep her own rooms until her demand +was complied with. + +This, in fact, was the only truly dignified course of conduct that, +under the circumstances, Claudia could have pursued. + +With this resolution she withdrew from the drawing rooms, and went +upstairs to seek her own apartment. + +Here the very accident happened that we mentioned as being so likely +to happen to any newcomer to the castle. + +As she reached the great hall on the second floor she looked around +upon the many doors that opened from its four walls into the many +suites of apartments that radiated from it, as from a common center, +to the outer walls of the castle keep. + +But which was her own door she was puzzled for a moment to decide. + +The chandelier that hung from the ceiling gave but a subdued light +that helped her but little. + +At last she thought she had found her own door; she judged it to be +her own because it was partly open and she saw, through the vista of +the three rooms, the little coal fire that burned dimly in the last +one. + +So she silently crossed the hall, walking on the soft deep drugget, +into which her footsteps sank noiselessly, as she entered what she +supposed to be her own boudoir. + +The room was dark, except from the gleam of light that stole in from +the chandelier in the hall, and the dull glow of the coal fire that +might be dimly seen in the distant dressing room, at the end of the +suite. + +Claudia, however, had no sooner entered the room and looked around +than she discovered that it was not hers. This suite of apartments +was arranged upon the same plan as her own--first the boudoir, then +the bed chamber, and last the dressing room with the little coal +fire; but--the hangings were different; for, where hers had been +golden brown, these were rosy red. + +And she was about to retire and close the door softly when the sound +of voices in the adjoining room arrested her steps. + +The first that spoke was the voice of Faustina, in tones of +passionate grief and remonstrance. She was saying: + +"But to bring her here! here, of all the places in the world! here, +under my own very eyes! Ah!" + +"My angel, I had a design in bringing her here, a design in which +your future honor and happiness is involved," said the voice of Lord +Vincent, in such tones of persuasive tenderness as he had never used +in speaking to his betrayed and miserable wife. + +"My honor and happiness! Ah!" cried the woman with a half-suppressed +shriek. + +"Faustina, my beloved, listen to me!" entreated the viscount. + +"Do not love her! Do not, Malcolm! If you do I warn you that I shall +kill her!" wildly exclaimed the woman, interrupting him. + +"My angel, I love only you. How can you doubt it?" + +"How can I doubt it? Because you have deceived me. Not once, nor +twice, nor thrice; but always and in everything, from first to +last!" + +"Deceived you, Faustina! How can you say so? In what have I ever +deceived you? Not in vowing that I love you; for I do! You must know +it. How, then, have I deceived you?" + +"You promised to make me your viscountess." + +"And I will do so. I swear it to you, Faustina." + +"Ah, you have sworn so many oaths to me." + +"I will keep them all--trust me! I would die for you; would go to +perdition for you, Faustina!" + +"You will keep all your oaths to me, you say?" + +"All of them, Faustina!" + +"One of them is, that you will make me your viscountess!" + +"Yes, and I will do it, my angel. Who but yourself should share my +rank with me? I will make you my viscountess, Faustina." + +"How can you do that, even if you wished to do so? She is your +viscountess." + +"Yes, for a little while; and for a little while only. Until she has +served the purpose for which I married her--and no longer," said the +viscount. + +"Ah! what do you mean?" There was breathless eagerness and ruthless +cruelty in the tone and manner in which the woman put this question. + +The viscount did not immediately reply. + +And Claudia, her blood curdling with horror at what seemed plainly a +design against her life, left her position near the door of the +boudoir and concealed herself behind the crimson satin hangings; +feeling fully justified in becoming an eavesdropper upon +conversation that concerned her safety. + +"What do you mean?" again whispered the woman, with restrained +vehemence. + +"'Be innocent of the knowledge, dearest chuck, 'till you approve the +deed,'" quoted Lord Vincent. + +"But trust me; I am ready to aid you in the deed, and to share with +you the danger it must bring, for I love you, Malcolm, I love you! +Confide in me! Tell me what you mean," she whispered in low, deep, +vehement tones. + +"I mean--not what you imagine, Faustina. Turn your face away. Those +eyes of yours make my blood run cold. No! We English are not quite +so ready with bowl and dagger as you Italians seem to be. We like to +keep within bounds." + +"I do not understand you, then." + +"No, you do not. And you will not understand me any better when I +say to you, that I shall get rid of my Indian Princess, not by +breaking the law, but by appealing to the law." + +"No; it is true; I do not understand you. You seem to be playing +with me." + +"Listen, then, you bewitching sprite. You reproached me just now +with bringing her here, here under your very eyes, you said. +Faustina, I brought her here, to this remote hold, that she might be +the more completely in my power. That I might, at leisure and in +safety, mature my plans for getting entirely rid of her." + +"But, Malcolm, why did you marry her at all? Ah, I fear, I fear, it +was after all a real passion, though a transient one, that moved +you!" + +"No; I swear to you it was not! I have never loved woman but you!" + +"But why then did you marry her at all?" + +"My angel, I told you why. You should have believed me! My marriage +was a financial necessity. The earl, my father, chose to take +umbrage at what he called my disreputable--" + +"Bah!" exclaimed the woman, in contempt. + +"Well, let the phrase pass. The Earl of Hurstmonceux chose to take +offense at my friendship with your lovely self. And he--did not +threaten to stop my allowance unless I would break with you; but he +actually and promptly did stop it until I should do so." + +"Beast!" + +"Certainly; but then what was to be done? I had no income; nothing +to support myself; much less you, with your elegant tastes." + +"I could have gone on the boards again! I did not love you for your +money; you know it, Malcolm." + +"I do know it, my angel; and in that respect, as in all others, you +were immeasurably above your fancied rival, who certainly loved me +only for my rank." + +"But why then did you not rather let me return to the boards?" + +"Where your beauty brought you so many admirers and me so many +rivals?" + +"But I preferred you to them all." + +"I know it, Faustina." + +"Why then not let me go?" + +"I could not bear the thought of it, my precious treasure. I +preferred to sacrifice myself. The opportunity occurred in this way. +You know that I left England as the bearer of dispatches to our +minister in the United States." + +"Yes." + +"The very day after I reached Washington I met at the evening +reception at the President's house this Indian Princess, as she was +called. I was no sooner presented to her than she began to exercise +all her arts of fascination upon me. But my heart was steeled by its +love for you against the charms of all others." + +"Ah! don't stop to pay compliments; go on." + +"Well, but I was good-natured, and I flattered her vanity by +flirting with her a little." + +"A little!" repeated the woman, curling her beautiful lip. + +"Yes, only a little; for I had no idea of seriously addressing her +until I discovered that she possessed in her own right one of the +largest fortunes in the--world, I was going to say--and I should not +have been far wrong, for she had in fact inherited three immense +fortunes. This was the way of it. Her mother was the only child of a +millionaire, and of course inherited the whole of her father's +estate. She had also two bachelor uncles who had made immense +fortunes in trade, and who left the whole to their niece, in her own +right. She, dying young, bequeathed the whole unconditionally to her +daughter." + +"Ciel! what good luck! How much is it all put together?" + +"About three millions of pounds sterling." + +"Ma foi! In what does it consist?" + +"It did consist in bank stock, railway shares, lead mines, city +houses, iron foundries, tobacco plantations, country seats, +gorillas, etc. It now consists in money." + +"But what good, if you get rid of her, will it do you? Is it not +settled on the lady?" + +"No! I took very good care of that. When I saw that she was doing +all she could to entrap--not me, for for me she did not care, but--a +title, I humored her by falling into the snare. I addressed her. We +were engaged. Then her governor talked of settlements. I took a high +tone, and expressed astonishment and disgust that any lady who was +afraid to trust me with her money should be so willing to confide to +me the custody of her person. And the negotiations might have come +to an end then and there, had not the lady herself intervened and +scornfully waived the question of settlements. She had always ruled +her father and everyone else around her in every particular, and she +ruled in this matter also. The fact is, that she was determined to +be a viscountess at any price, and she is one--for a little while!" + +"What a fool!" + +"Yes, she was a poor gambler; for it was a game between us. She was +playing for a title, I for a fortune; well, she won the title and I +won the fortune. Or rather you may call it purchase and sale. She +bought a title and paid a fortune for it. For the moment the +marriage ring encircled her finger she became the Viscountess +Vincent and I became the possessor of her three millions of pounds +sterling." + +"Ah, that marriage ring! There is another broken oath! You swore to +me, once, that no living woman should ever wear a marriage ring of +your putting on, except myself!" complained Faustina. + +"And I have kept that oath, my angel. If ever you see Lady Vincent +without her gloves, look on the third finger of her left hand and +see if there is any wedding ring to be found there." + +"But you yourself, just now, spoke of the ring on her finger, saying +that as soon as it was placed there, you became the possessor of her +three millions of pounds sterling." + +"I will explain. Listen! I remembered my vow to you. I got the ring +purposely too large for her finger; consequently, soon after it was +placed on, it dropped off and rolled away. When the ceremony was +over the gentlemen searched for it. I found it and concealed it. She +never saw it again. Here it is. I give it to you." + +Claudia from her hiding place stooped forward until she got a +glimpse of the two traitors. + +She saw the viscount open his pocketbook and take from an inner +compartment her own wedding ring, and place it upon the finger of +his companion, saying: + +"There, my angel, wear it; it will fit your fat finger, though it +was too large for her slender one." + +"What will she say when she sees it?" inquired the woman, +contemplating the golden circle with a triumphant smile. + +"She will not recognize it. All wedding rings are alike. This one +has no mark to distinguish it from all other wedding rings." + +"And so I have got it!" said the woman, clapping her hands +gleefully. + +"Yes, my sweet, and you shall have everything else; the three +millions of pounds sterling and the title of viscountess included." + +"Ah! but how got you all the fortune in money so easily?" + +"I sold everything, bank stock, railway shares, city houses, tobacco +plantations, lead mines, foundries, gorillas, and all! And I have +transferred the whole in simple cash to this country." + +"And it is three millions?" + +"Three millions." + +"Ciel! Now, then, I can have my villa at Torquay, and my yacht, and +my--" + +"You can have everything you want now, and the rank and position of +viscountess as soon as I can get rid of her." + +"Ah, yes! but when will that be?" + +"Very, very soon, I hope. Just as soon as I can mature my plans." + +"But what are they?" + +"Scarcely to be breathed even here. The very walls have ears, you +know." + +"Tell me; what does the earl think of this marriage of yours?" + +"So, so; he wrote me a cool letter, saying that he would have +preferred that I should have married an Englishwoman of my own rank; +but that since the lady was of respectable family and large fortune, +he should welcome her as a daughter. And finally, that any sort of a +decent marriage was better than--but let that pass!" + +"Yes, let it pass. Beast!" + +"Never mind, my angel. Your turn will come." + +"Ah, surely, yes! But is he not expecting to welcome his wealthy +daughter-in-law?" + +"Not yet. No, we have come over a full month before we were looked +for. The earl is traveling on the Continent. His daughter-in-law +will be disposed of before he returns to England." + +"Ha, ha, good! But is not miladie amusing herself with the +anticipation of being introduced to her noble father-in-law?" + +"Ha, ha, ha! yes! You would have been diverted, 'Tina, if you could +have heard her talk of her plans when coming over. Ah! but that was +good. I laughed in my sleeve." + +"Tell me! and I will laugh now." + +"Well, she expected to land on the shores of England like any royal +bride; to find the Earl of Hurstmonceux waiting to welcome her; to +be introduced to my family; to be presented to her majesty; to be +feted by the nobility; lionized by the gentry; and idolized by our +own tenantry. In short, she dreamed of a grand royal progress +through England, of which every stage was to be a glorious triumph! +Ha, ha, ha!" + +"Ha, ha, ha!" echoed Faustina. + +"But instead of entering England like a royal bride, she was +smuggled into England like a transported felon, who had returned +before her time of penal service in the colonies had expired. +Instead of a triumphal entry and progress along the highways, she +was dragged ignominiously through the byways! Instead of halting at +the palatial Adelphia, we halted at the obscure Crown and Miter." + +"Ha, ha, ha! Good! that was very good! But why did you do this? Not +that I care for her. I care not. But my curiosity. And it must have +inconvenienced you, this squalor." + +"Well, it did. But I was resolved she should meet no countrymen; +form no acquaintances; contract no friendships; in fine, have no +party here in England. The Adelphia was full of American travelers; +the Queen's was full of my friends. In either she would have got +into some social circles that might have proved detrimental to my +purposes. As it was managed by me, no one except the passengers that +came over with us, and dispersed from Liverpool all over the +Continent, knew anything about her arrival. At the Crown and Miter +she was half a mile in distance and half a thousand miles in degree +from anyone connected with our circle. No one, therefore, knows her +whereabouts; no inquiries will be made for her; we may do with her +as we like." + +"Oh, ciel! and we will quickly make way with her." + +"Quickly." + +"But how?" + +"Another time I will tell you, 'Tina. Now I must be gone. I must not +linger here. It becomes us to be very wary." + +"Go, then. But ah! you go to her. Misery! Do not love her! If you +do--remember I will kill her! I have sworn it. You say that you will +make way with her by the help of the law. Do it soon; or be sure I +will make way with her in spite of the law." + +"Hush! be tranquil. Trust in me. You shall know all in a few days. +Good-night!" + +"Ah! you are leaving me. You, that I have not seen for so many +months until now--and now have seen but a few minutes alone. And you +go to her--her, with whom you have been in company all the time you +have been away from me! Ah, I hate her! I will kill her!" exclaimed +the woman, in low, vehement tones. + +"Faustina, be quiet, or all is lost! You must be my sister-in-law +only until you can be my wife. To accomplish this purpose of ours, +you must be very, very discreet, as I shall be. Be on your guard +always. Treat Lady Vincent with outward respect, as I must do, in +the presence of the servants. They must be our future witnesses. +Surely you will be enabled to do what I require of you in this +respect, when I assure you that I hate my viscountess as deeply as +you hate your rival." + +"Ha! you?" + +"Yes; for in her heart she despises me and adores another. She is +unfaithful to me in thought. And it shall go hard, but I will make +it appear that she is unfaithful in deed, too, and so send her, +dishonored and impoverished, from the castle," said the viscount +vindictively. + +"Ciel! Is that your plan? I understand now. I trust you, my +Malcolm." + +"Good-night, then; and don't be jealous." + +"Never! I trust you. I shall triumph." + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + +IN THE TRAITOR'S TOILS. + + Her heart is sick with thinking + Of the misery she must find. + Her mind is almost sinking-- + That once so buoyant mind-- + She cannot look before her, + On the evil-haunted way. + Redeem her! oh! restore her! + Thou Lord of night and day! + --_Monckton Milnes._ + + + +Overwhelmed with, horror, terror, and indignation, Claudia just +tottered from the room in time to escape discovery. + +On reaching the hall she saw the door leading into her own suite of +apartments wide open and all the rooms lighted up and old Katie +moving about, unpacking trunks and hanging up dresses. Katie, it +seemed, with something like canine instinct as to locality, had +experienced no difficulty in finding her mistress' rooms. + +As soon as Lady Vincent entered her dressing room the old woman drew +the resting chair and footstool up to the fire, and when Claudia had +dropped into the seat she leaned over the back of the chair, and +forgetting ceremony, spoke to her nursling as she had spoken to her +in the days of that nursling's infancy. + +"Miss Claudia, honey, I wants to talk to you downright ser'us, I +do." + +"Talk on, Katie," sighed Claudia. + +"But, 'deed, I'm feared I shall hurt your feelings, honey." + +"You cannot do that." + +"Well, then, honey--but 'deed you must excuse me, Miss Claudia, +because I wouldn't say a word, only I think how it is my bounden +duty." + +"For Heaven's sake, Katie, say what you wish to without so much +preface." + +"Well, then, Miss Claudia--laws, honey, I's nussed you ever since +you was borned, and been like another mammy to you ever since your +own dear mammy went to heaven, and if I haven't got a right to speak +free, I'd like to know who has!" + +"Certainly; certainly! Only, in mercy, go on!" exclaimed Claudia, +who, fevered, excited, and nearly maddened by what she had +overheard, could scarcely be patient with her old servant. + +"Well, Miss Claudia, honey, it is all about this strange foreign +'oman as is a-wisiting here." + +"Ah!" exclaimed Claudia, looking up and becoming at once interested. + +"Miss Claudia, honey, that 'oman aint no fitting company for you. +She aint." + +"Ah! what do you know of her?" inquired Claudia in a low, +breathless, eager voice. + +"Honey, I cotch my eye on her dis evening. You see dis was de way of +it, chile. I was in dis very room; but I hadn't lighted up de lamps, +so I was in 'parative darkness, and de big hall was in 'parative +light; so dey couldn't see me, but I could see dem, when dey come +into de big hall, her and my lordship. And I seen her how she look +at him, and smile on him, and coo over him like any turkle dove, as +no 'spectable lady would ever do. And so dey walks into dat room, +opposite to dis." + +"Katie, I do not wish to hear any more of this stuff. You forget +yourself, surely!" said Lady Vincent, suddenly waking to the +consciousness that she was compromising her dignity in listening to +the tale-bearing of a servant, even so old and tried as Katie was. + +"Very well, Miss Claudia, honey, you knows best; but take one piece +of advice from de best friend you's got on dis side o' de big water. +You 'void dat 'oman. Oh, Miss Claudia, chile! wouldn't you keep +out'n de way of anybody as had de smallpox or any other deadly +plague? Tell me dat!" + +"Of course I would." + +"Oh, Miss Claudia, honey, listen to me, den! Dere is worser plagues +dan de smallpox; more 'fectious and more fatal, too. Moral plagues! +De fust plague, Miss Claudia, can only disfigur' de face and kill de +body; but de las' plague can disfigur' de heart and kill de soul. +Miss Claudia, 'void dat 'oman! She'll 'fect you with the moral +plague as is deadly to de heart and soul," said the old woman, with +a manner of deep solemnity. + +Claudia was moved. She shook as she answered: + +"Katie, you mean well; but let us talk no more of this tonight. And +whatever your thoughts may be of this evil woman, I must beg that +you will not utter them to any one of the other servants." + +"I won't, Miss Claudia. I won't speak of her to nobody but you." + +"Nor to me, unless I ask you. And now, Katie, bring me my dressing +gown and help me to disrobe. I am tired to death." + +"And no wonder, honey," said the old woman, as she went to obey. + +When she had arranged her young mistress at ease in dressing gown +and slippers, in the resting chair, she would still have lingered +near her, tendering little offices of affection, but Claudia, +wishing to be alone, dismissed her. + +Lady Vincent had need of solitude for reflection. + +As soon as old Katie had left her alone she clasped her hands and +fell back in her chair, exclaiming: "What shall I do? Oh! what shall +I do?" + +She tried to think; but in the whirl of her emotions, thought was +very difficult, almost impossible. She felt that she had been +deceived and betrayed; and that her situation was critical and +perilous in the extreme. What should she do? to whom should she +appeal? how should she escape? where should she go? + +Should she now "beard the lion in his den"; charge Lord Vincent with +his perfidy, duplicity, treachery, and meditated crime; demand the +instantaneous dismissal of Faustina; and insist upon an immediate +introduction to his family as the only means of safety to herself? +Where would be the good of that? She, a "stranger in a strange +land," an inmate of a remote coast fortress, was absolutely in Lord +Vincent's power. He would deride her demands and defy her wrath. + +Should she openly attempt to leave the castle and return to her +native country and her friends? Again, what would be the good of +such an attempt? Her departure, she felt sure, would never be +permitted. + +Should she try to make her escape secretly? That would be difficult +or impossible. The castle stood upon the extreme point of its high +promontory, overlooking the sea; it was remote from any other +dwelling; the roads leading from it were for miles impassable to +foot passengers. And besides all this, Claudia was unwilling to take +such a very undignified course. + +In fact, she was unwilling to abandon her position at all--painful +and dangerous as it was; having purchased it at a high price she +felt like retaining end defending it. + +What then should she do? The answer came like an inspiration. Write +to her father to come over immediately to her aid. And get him to +bring about her introduction to the Earl of Hurstmonceux's family +and her recognition by their circle. This course, she thought, would +secure her personal safety and her social position, if not her +domestic happiness; for the latter she had never dared to hope. + +And while waiting for her father's arrival, she would be "wise as +serpents," if not "harmless as doves." She would meet Lord Vincent +on his own grounds and fight him with his own weapons; she would +beat duplicity with duplicity. + +But first to write the letter to her father and dispatch it secretly +by the first mail. She arose and rang the bell. + +Katie answered it. + +"Unpack my little writing desk and place it on this stand beside +me." + +Katie did as she was ordered. + +"Now lock the door and wait here until I write a letter." + +Katie obeyed and then seated herself on a footstool near her lady's +feet. + +Claudia opened her writing desk; but paused long, pen in hand, +reflecting how she had better write this letter. + +If she should tell her father at once of all the horror of her +position the sudden news might throw him into a fit of apoplexy and +kill him instantly. + +And on the other hand, if she were to conceal all this and merely +write him a pressing invitation to come over immediately, he might +take his time over it. + +Speed Claudia felt to be of the utmost importance to her cause. So, +after due reflection, she dipped her pen in ink, and commenced as +follows: + + "Castle Cragg, near Banff, Buchan, Scotland. +"My Dearest Father: We are all in good health; therefore do not be +alarmed, even though I earnestly implore you to drop everything that +you may have in hand, and come over to me immediately, by the very +first steamer that sails after your receipt of this letter. Father, +you will comply with my entreaty when I inform you that I have been +deceived and betrayed by him who swore to protect and cherish me. My +life and honor are both imperiled. I will undertake to guard both +for a month, until you come. But come at once to your wronged, +though + "Loving child, + "Claudia." + +She sealed the letter very carefully, directed it, and gave it into +the hands of her old servant, saying: + +"Katie, listen to every word I say, and obey to the very letter. +Take this downstairs and give it to Jim privately. Let no one see, +or hear, or even suspect what you are doing. Tell him to steal out +carefully from the castle and walk to the nearest roadside inn, and +hire a horse and ride to Banff, and mail this letter there; and then +come back and report progress to you. Now, Katie, do you understand +what you have got to do?" + +"Yes, Miss Claudia." + +"Repeat it to me, then." + +Katie rehearsed her instructions. + +"That will do. Hurry now and obey them." + +When Katie had gone Lady Vincent closed her writing desk, threw +herself back in her chair, covered her face with her hands, and +wept. + +She was startled by the entrance of Lord Vincent. + +She hastily dried her eyes, and shifted her position so that her +back was to the light and her face in deep shadow. + +"You are sitting up late, my lady. I should think you would be tired +after your long journey," he said, as he took another armchair and +seated himself opposite to her. + +"I was just thinking of retiring," answered Claudia, putting severe +constraint upon herself. + +"But since I find you sitting up, if it will not fatigue you too +much, I will answer some questions you asked me concerning Mrs. +Dugald," said his lordship. + +"Yes?" said Claudia, scarcely able to breathe the single syllable. + +"Yes. You inquired of me who she was. I told you she was my sister. +You did not believe me; but you should have done so, for I told you +the truth. She is my sister." + +Scarcely able to restrain her indignation at this impudent +falsehood, and fearful of trusting the sound of her own voice, +Claudia answered in a low tone: + +"I supposed that you were jesting with my curiosity. I knew, of +course, that your sisters were titled ladies. Mrs. Dugald is an +untitled one, therefore she could not be your sister; nor could she +be your sister-in-law, since you are an only son." + +"You are mistaken in both your premises: Mrs. Dugald is my sister- +in-law, and is a titled lady, since she is the widow of my younger +half-brother, the Honorable Kenneth Dugald," said the viscount +triumphantly. + +"I never heard that your deceased brother had been married," +answered Claudia coolly. + +"No? Why, bless you, yes! About four years ago he married the beauty +over whom all Paris was going raving mad. She was the prima donna of +the Italian opera in Paris. But the marriage was not pleasing to the +earl, who is severely afflicted with the prejudices of his rank. He +immediately disowned his son, the Honorable Kenneth, never speaking +to him again during his, Kenneth's, life. And more than that, he +carried his resentment beyond the grave; for even after Kenneth died +of a fever contracted in the Crimea, and his widow was left +unprovided for, and with the pleasant alternative of starving to +death or dragging the noble name of Dugald before the footlights of +the stage, my father politely informed her that she was at liberty +to go on the stage or to go to--hem! It was then that I offered La +Faustina an asylum in my house, which she accepted. And I hope, Lady +Vincent, that you will be good enough to make her welcome," said +Lord Vincent. + +Claudia could not reply; the anger, scorn, and disgust that filled +her bosom fairly choked her voice. + +After a struggle with herself, she managed to articulate: + +"How does the earl like your protection of this woman?" + +"I wish you would not use that word 'protection,' Claudia. It is an +equivocal one." + +"Then it is the better suited to describe the relation, which is +certainly most equivocal!" Claudia, in spite of all her resolutions, +could not for the life of her help replying. + +"It is false! And I will not permit you to say it. The position of +Mrs. Dugald is not an equivocal one. It is clearly defined. She is +my brother's widow. When I invited her to take up her residence in +this castle I took care to leave it before she arrived. And I never +returned to it until to-day, when I brought you with me. Your +presence here, of course, renders the residence of my brother's +widow beneath my roof altogether proper." + +Claudia had much to do to control her feelings, as she said: + +"We will waive the question of propriety, which, of course, is +settled by my presence in the house; but you have not yet told me +how the earl likes this arrangement." + +"I have not seen the earl since the arrangement has been made. I +fancy he will like it well, since it relieves him of the burden of +having her to support, and saves him from the mortification of +seeing her return to the boards." + +"Good-night, my lord!" said Claudia abruptly, rising and retiring to +her bedroom, for she felt that she could not remain another moment +in Lord Vincent's presence, without confronting him with her perfect +knowledge of his meditated villainy, and thus losing her only chance +of defeating it. + +Claudia retired to bed, but, though worn out with fatigue, she could +not sleep. This, then, was her coming home! She had sold her +birthright, and got not even the "mess of pottage," but the cup of +poison. + +She lay tossing about with fevered veins and throbbing temples until +morning, when, at last, she sunk into a sleep of exhaustion. + +She awoke with a prostrating, nervous headache. She attempted to +rise, but fell helplessly back upon the pillow. Then she reached +forth her hand and rang the bell that hung at the side of her bed. + +Katie answered it. + +"Did Jim succeed in mailing my letter?" was her first question. + +"Yes, my ladyship; but he had to wait ever so long before the tide +ebbed to let him cross over to the shore; but he got there all +right, and in time to save the mail; but he didn't get back here +until this morning." + +"Did anyone find out his going?" + +"Not a living soul, as I knows of, Miss Claudia." + +"Thank Heaven!" said Lady Vincent, with a deep sigh. + +Old Katie busied herself with bringing her mistress' stockings, soft +slippers, and dressing gown to the bedside; but Claudia said: + +"Put them away again, Katie; I shall not rise to-day. I have one of +my very bad, nervous headaches. You may bring me a cup of strong +coffee." + +"Ah, honey, no wonder! I go bring it directly," said Katie, hurrying +away with affectionate eagerness to bring the fragrant restorative. + +A few minutes afterwards Katie entered with the tray, followed by +the housekeeper, Mrs. Murdock, who came with anxious inquiries as to +Lady Vincent's health. + +"I have a very bad, nervous headache, which is not surprising, after +all my fatigue," replied Claudia. + +"Nay, indeed, and it is not, me leddy; you should lie quietly in bed +to-day, and to-morrow you will be well," said the dame. + +"Yes." + +"And, me leddy, Mrs. Dugald bid me give her compliments to your +leddyship, and ask if she should come and sit with you." + +"I cannot receive Mrs. Dugald," said Claudia coldly. + +"Ah, then I will say your leddyship is na weel enough to receive +company?" + +"Say what you please. I cannot receive Mrs. Dugald." + +Old Katie had gone into the dressing room to stir the fire, which +was to warm the whole suite. Taking advantage of her absence the +housekeeper sat down beside Lady Vincent's bed, and, while pouring +out her coffee, stooped and nodded and whispered: + +"Aye! and sma' blame to your leddyship, gin ye never receive the +likes of her." + +"What do you know of Mrs. Dugald that you should say so?" was +Claudia's cold question. For alas, poor lady, she was in sad +straits! She had need to glean knowledge of her dangerous enemy from +every possible quarter; but--she felt that she must do so without +committing herself, or compromising her dignity. + +"Nay, I ken naething! I dinna like the quean! that's all!" said the +woman, growing all at once reserved. + +"She is the widow of the late Honorable Kenneth Dugald?" said +Claudia, in a tone that might be received either as a statement or a +question. + +"Sae it is said. I ken naething anent it," replied the dame, taking +up the tray of empty cups. "Will your leddyship ha' anything more?" + +"No, thank you, Mrs. Murdock," replied Claudia, in a very sweet +tone, for she felt that in her pride of place she had repulsed the +offered confidence of an honest old creature who might have been of +great use to her. + +"Will I sit wi' your leddyship?" inquired the dame. + +"No, I am much obliged to you. I must rest now; but I should be glad +if you would come to me later in the day." + +"Yes, me leddy," answered the dame, somewhat mollified, as she +courtesied and withdrew from the room, leaving Lady Vincent to the +care of her own faithful servant. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX. + +CLAUDIA'S TROUBLES AND PERILS. + + Like love in a worldly breast + Alone in my lady's chamber + The lamp burns low, suppressed + 'Mid satins of broidered amber + Where she lies, sore distressed. + + My lady here alone + May think till her heart is broken + Of the love that is dead and done, + Of the day that with no token + For evermore hath gone. + --_Owen Meredith._ + + + +All day long Claudia lay abed within her darkened chamber, It was a +scene of magnificence, luxury, and repose. Scarcely a ray of light +stole through the folds of the golden-brown curtains of window and +bed. No sound broke the stillness of the air, except the dull, +monotonous thunder of the sea upon the rocks below. This at length +soothed her nervous excitement and lulled her to repose. + +She slept until the evening, and awoke comparatively free from pain. + +Her first thought on waking was of the housekeeper, and her first +feeling was the desire to see the old creature, and if possible make +a friend of her. + +Ah! but it was bitterly galling to Lady Vincent's pride to be +obliged to stoop to the degradation of questioning a servant +concerning the domestic affairs of her own husband's family! But she +felt that her life and honor were imperiled, and that she must use +such means for her safety as circumstances offered. Mrs. Murdock +impressed her as being an honest, truthful, and trustworthy woman. +And Claudia wished to discover, by what should seem casual +conversation with her, how much or how little truth there might be +in Lord Vincent's representations of Mrs. Dugald's position in the +family. + +She put out her hand and rang the bell that hung just within her +reach. + +Katie answered it. + +"Tell the housekeeper I would like to see her now," said Lady +Vincent. + +Katie tossed her head and went out. Katie was already jealous of the +housekeeper. + +In a few minutes Mrs. Murdock entered. + +"I hope your leddyship is better," she said, courtesying. + +"I am better; do not stand; sit down on that chair beside me," said +Claudia kindly. + +The dame sank slowly into the offered seat and said: "Will your +leddyship please to take onything?" + +"Nothing, just yet." + +"Can I do naething for you, me leddy?" + +"Yes, thank you; you can take that flagon of carmelite water on the +stand beside you and bathe my forehead and temples while you sit +there," said Claudia slowly and hesitatingly; for she was thinking +how best to open the subject that occupied her mind. At length, +while the dame was carefully bathing her head, Claudia said, with +assumed carelessness: + +"Mrs. Dugald is very beautiful." + +"Ou, aye, me leddy, she's weel eneugh to look upon, if that was a'," +replied the housekeeper dryly. + +"Has she been here long?" + +"Ever sin' Mr. Kenneth died, me leddy." + +"Mr. Kenneth?" echoed Claudia, in an interrogative tone; for she +remembered well that Kenneth was the name of Lord Vincent's younger +brother, said to have been married to La Faustina; but she wished to +hear more without, however, compromising herself by asking direct +questions. + +"Mr. Kenneth?" she repeated, looking into the housekeeper's face. + +"Ou, aye, your leddyship; just the Honorable Kenneth Dugald, puir +lad!" + +"Why do you say poor lad?" + +"I beg your leddyship's pardon. I mean just naething. It's on'y just +a way I ha'." + +Claudia reflected a moment; and then, though it went sorely against +her pride so to speak to a dependent, she said: + +"Mrs. Murdock, I am a very young and inexperienced woman; I have +been motherless from my infancy; I am 'a stranger in a strange +land'; unacquainted even with the members of my husband's family; my +meeting with Mrs. Dugald here was unexpected, Lord Vincent never +having mentioned her existence to me; my first impression of her was +very unfavorable; some words you dropped deepened that impression; +and now I feel that there are circumstances with which I ought to be +made acquainted and with which you can acquaint me; will you do so?" + +"Aye, me leddy, and with the freer conscience that I ken weel his +lairdship the airl would approve. Ye ken, me leddy, there were but +twa brithers; Laird Vincent and the Honorable Kenneth Dugald?" + +"I am aware of that." + +"Aweel they were in Paris tegither and fell in somewhere with this +quean." + +"This--what?" + +"This player-bodie, me leddy; who afterwards put the glamour over +Mr. Kenneth's eyes to make her Mrs. Dugald." + +"Oh," said Claudia to herself, "then that is true; the woman really +is the widow of Kenneth Dugald and the sister-in-law of Lord +Vincent. Go on, Mrs. Murdock; I am listening." + +"Aweel, she had the art, me leddy, to make him marry her. A burning +shame it was, me leddy, in one of his noble name, but he did it. He +was a minor, ye ken, being but twenty years of age, and sae he could +na be lawfu' married in France nor in England, and sae he brought +his player-woman to auld Scotland and made her his wife--woe worth +the day!" + +"This must have been a terrible mortification to the earl?" + +"Ye may weel say that, me leddy. His lairdship never saw or spoke to +Mr. Kenneth afterwards. But he purchased him a commission in a +regiment that was just about to embark for the Crimea, where the +young gentleman went, taking his wife with him, and where he died of +the fever, leaving his widow to find her way back as she would." + +"Poor young man!" + +"Aye, puir laddie! nae doubt regret helped the fever to kill him. +Aweel, his widow come her ways back to Scotland, as I had the honor +to tell your leddyship, and made her appeal to his lairdship the +airl for dower. But your leddyship may weel ken that me laird would +ha'e naething to say till her. Will I bathe your leddyship's head +ony langer?" + +"Yes, please, and go on with what you are telling me." + +"Aweel, me leddy, failing to come over the airl, she began to cast +her spells over his lairdship my Laird Vincent. This gave the airl +great oneasiness, for ye ken he feared this woman that she should +bewitch the ane as she had the ither, e'en to the length of making +him marry her. And to say naething of ony ither reason against +siccan a marriage, we think it wrang for ony mon to wed wi' his +brother's widow. Sae the airl took short measures wi' his son, Laird +Vincent, and stopped his siller; but got him an appointment to carry +out papers to the minister, away yonder in the States. Sae the young +laird sent his sister-in-law, as he calls her, up here to bide her +lane, telling his feyther, the airl, he could na' turn his brither's +widow out of doors. Which, ye ken, me leddy, sounded weel eneugh. +Sae hither she cam'. And an unco' sair heart she's gi'e us a' sin' +ever she cam'!" + +"Has she been here ever since?" + +"Nay, me leddy; she left hame last August and did na come back till +a month." + +Claudia was satisfied. This was the same woman that she had seen on +the platform of the railway station at Jersey City. + +"Does the earl know of this lady's continued residence beneath his +roof?" + +"I dinna ken, me leddy. But I'm just thinking his lairdship will na +care onything about it ony langer, sin' his son is weel married to +yoursel', me leddy." + +"The earl liked his son's marriage, then?" inquired Claudia, for +upon this point she felt anxious for authentic information. + +"Aye, did he! didna it keep the lad out o' danger o' the wiles o' +siccan a quean as yon? And now, will I bring your leddyship some +refreshment ?" + +"Yes," said Claudia, "you may bring me a bowl of your oatmeal +porridge. I should like to taste your national food." + +The housekeeper left the room and Claudia fell into thought. Two +important facts she had gained by descending from her dignity to +gossip with an upper servant, namely: That La Faustina was really +the widow of Kenneth Dugald, and that the Earl of Hurstmonceux was +well pleased with his son's marriage to herself, and would therefore +be likely to be her partisan in any trouble she might have on +account of Mrs. Dugald. She resolved, therefore, to be very wary in +her conduct until the arrival of her father, and then to request an +introduction to the earl's family. Bitterly galling as it would be +to her pride, she even determined to meet Mrs. Dugald in the drawing +room and at the table without demur; since she could treat her as +the widow of the Honorable Kenneth Dugald without openly +compromising her own dignity. Finally she concluded to meet Lord +Vincent's treacherous courtesy with assumed civility. + +On the third day Lady Vincent felt well enough to join the viscount +and Mrs. Dugald at breakfast. Pursuant to her resolution she +received their congratulations with smiles, and answered their +inquiries as to her health with thanks. + +It was a foggy, misty, drizzly day the precursor of a long spell of +dark and gloomy weather, that Claudia at length grew to fear would +never come to an end. + +During this time the monotony of Claudia's life at the castle was +really dreadful. + +And this was something like it: She would wake about seven o'clock, +but knowing that it was hours too early to rise in that house, she +would lie and think until she was ready to go mad. At nine o'clock +she would ring for her maid, Sally, and spend an hour in dawdling +over her toilet. At ten she would go down to breakfast--a miserable, +uncomfortable meal of hollow civility or sullen silence. After +breakfast she would go into the library and hunt among the old, +musty, worm-eaten books for something readable, but without success. + +Then, ready to kill herself from weariness of life, she would wrap +up in cloak and hood and climb the turret stairs and go out upon the +ramparts of the castle and walk up and down with the drizzling mist +above and around her and the thundering sea beneath her--up and +down--hour after hour--up and down--lashing herself into such +excitement that she would be tempted to throw herself from the +battlements, to be crushed to death by the rocks or swallowed up by +the waves below. + +At length, as fearing to trust herself with this temptation, she +would descend into the castle again, and go to her own rooms, and +try to interest herself in a little needle-work, a little writing, a +talk with Katie or with Mrs. Murdock. + +At last the creeping hours would bring luncheon, when the same +inharmonious party would assemble around the same ungenial table, +and eat and drink without enjoyment or gratitude. + +After that she would lie down and try to sleep, and then write a +letter home, do a little embroidery, yawn, weep, wish herself dead, +and wonder how soon she would hear from her father. + +The dragging hours would at length draw on the late dinner, when she +would make an elaborate toilet, just for pastime, and go to dinner, +which always seemed like a funeral feast. Here Claudia formed the +habit of drinking much more wine than was good for her: and she did +it to blunt her sensibility; to obtund the sharpness of her +heartache; to give her sleep. + +After dinner they would go into the drawing room, where coffee would +be served. And after that, if Mrs. Dugald were in the humor, there +would be music. And then the party would disperse. Claudia would go +into her own room and pass a long, lonely, wretched evening, +sometimes speculating on life, death, and immortality, and wondering +whether, in the event of her deciding to walk out of this world with +which she was so much dissatisfied, into the other of which she knew +nothing, she would be any better off. + +At eleven o'clock she always rang for wine and biscuits, and drank +enough to make her sleep. Then she would go to bed, sink into a +heavy, feverish sleep, that would last until the morning, when she +would awake with a headache, as well as a heartache, to pass just +such a day as the preceding one. + +Such were Claudia's days and nights. Ah! how different to those she +had pictured when she sold herself and her fortune for rank and +title. + +Her days were all so much alike that they could only be +distinguished by the change in her dinner dress, and the difference +in the bill of fare. + +"It is maize-colored moire antique and mutton one day and violet- +colored velvet and veal another; that is all!" wrote Claudia in one +of her letters home. + +That was all! The same leaden sky overhung the land and sea; the +same fine, penetrating mist drizzled slowly down and sifted like +snow into everything; the same stupid routine of sleeping, walking, +dressing, eating, drinking, undressing, and sleeping again, occupied +the household. + +No visitors ever came to the house, and of course Claudia went +nowhere. She was unspeakably miserable, and would have wished for +death, had she not been a firm believer in future retribution. + +"Misery loves company," it is said. There was one inmate in this +unblessed house who seemed quite as miserable as Claudia herself. +This was one of the housemaids; the one who had charge of Claudia's +own rooms. Lady Vincent had noticed this poor girl, and had observed +that she was pale, thin, sad, always with red eyes, and often in +tears. Once she inquired kindly: + +"What is the matter with you, Ailsie?" + +"It's just naething, me leddy," was the weeping girl's answer. + +"But I am sure it is something. Can you not tell me? What is it +troubles you?" + +"Just naething, me leddy," was still the answer. + +"Are you away from all your friends? Are you homesick?" + +"I ha'e naebody belanging to me, me leddy." + +"You are an orphan?" + +"Aye, me leddy." + +"Then you must really tell me what is the matter with you, my poor +child; I will help you if I can." + +"Indeed I canna tell you, my leddy. Your leddyship maun please to +forgi'e me, and not mind me greeting. It's just naething; it's ony a +way I ha'e." + +And this was all that Claudia could get out of this poor girl. + +Once she inquired of Mrs. Murdock: "What ails Ailsie Dunbar? Her +looks trouble me." + +"Indeed, me leddy, I dinna ken. The lassie is greeting fra morning +till night, and will na gie onybody ony satisfaction about it! But I +will try to find out." And that was all Lady Vincent could get out +of the housekeeper. + +The month of November crept slowly by. And December came, darker, +duller, drearier than its predecessor. And now anxiety was added to +Claudia's other troubles. She had not heard from her father. + +The monotony, deepened by suspense, grew horrible. She wished for an +earthquake, or an inundation--anything to break the dreadful spell +that bound her, to burst the tomb of her buried life and let in air +and light. + +Sometimes she overheard the precious pair of friends who shared her +home murmuring their sinful nonsense together; and she was +disgusted. + +And sometimes she heard them in angry and jealous altercation; and +she grew insane, and wished from the bottom of her heart that one +might murder the other, if it were only to break the horrible +monotony of the castle life, by bringing into it the rabble rout of +inspectors, constables, coroners, and juries. At length there came a +day when that frenzied wish was gratified. + + + + +CHAPTER XX + +A LINK IN CLAUDIA'S FATE. + + For who knew, she thought, what the amazement, + The irruption of clatter and blaze meant. + And if, in this minute of wonder, + No outlet 'mid lightning and thunder, + Lay broad and her shackles all shivered, + The captive at length was delivered? + --_Robert Browning._ + + + +Claudia had awakened one morning with one of those nervous headaches +that were becoming habitual to her. She had taken a narcotic +sedative and gone to sleep again, and slept throughout the day. + +It was night when she awoke again, and became immediately conscious +of an unusual commotion in the castle--a commotion that reached her +ears, even over the thick drugget with which the stairs and halls +were covered, and through the strong doors and heavy hangings with +which her chamber was protected. Whether it was this disturbance +that had broken her rest, she did not really know. She listened +intently. There was a swift and heavy running to and fro, and a +confusion of tongues, giving voices in mingled tones of fear, grief, +rage, consternation, expostulation, and every key of passionate +emotion and excitement. + +Lady Vincent reached forth her hand and rang the bell, and then +listened, but no one answered it. She rang again, with no better +success. After waiting some little time she rang a violent peal, +that presently brought the housekeeper hurrying into the room, pale +as death, and nearly out of breath. + +"Mrs. Murdock, I have rung three times. I have never before had +occasion to ring twice for attendance," said Lady Vincent, in a +displeased tone. + +"Ou, me leddy, ye will e'en forgi'e me this ance, when ye come to +hear the cause," panted the housekeeper. + +"What has happened?" demanded Claudia. + +"Ou, me leddy! sic an' awfu' event." + +"What is it, then?" + +"Just murther--no less!" + +"Murder!" exclaimed Claudia, starting up and gazing at the speaker +with horror-distended eyes. + +"Just murther!" gasped the housekeeper, sinking down in the armchair +beside her lady's bed, because in truth her limbs gave way beneath +her. + +"Who? what? For Heaven's sake, speak!" + +"The puir bit lassie--" began the dame; but her voice failed, and +she covered her face with her apron and began to howl. + +Claudia gazed at her in consternation and horror for a minute, and +then again demanded: + +"What lassie? Who is murdered? For the Lord's sake try to answer +me!" + +"Puir Ailsie! puir wee bit lassie!" wailed the woman. + +"Ailsie! what has happened to her?" demanded Lady Vincent, +bewildered with panic. + +"She's found murthered!" howled the housekeeper. + +"Ailsie! Heaven of heavens, no!" cried Claudia, wound up to a pitch +of frenzied excitement. + +"Aye is she; found lying outside the castle wall, wi' her puir +throat cut fra ear to ear!" shrieked the dame, covering up her face +to smother the cries she could not suppress. + +"Mercy of Heaven, how horrible!" exclaimed Lady Vincent, throwing +her hands up to her face, and falling back on her pillow. + +"Puir Ailsie! puir, bonnie lassie!" howled the dame, rocking her +body to and fro. + +"Who did it?" gasped Claudia, under her breath. + +"Ah! that's what we canna come at; naebody kens." + +"I cannot rest here any longer. Ring the bell, Mrs. Murdock, and +hand me my dressing gown. I must get up and go downstairs. Good +Heavens! a poor, innocent girl murdered in this house, and her +murderer allowed to escape!" exclaimed Claudia, throwing the bed- +clothes off her and rising in irrepressible excitement. + +"Ah, me leddy, I fear, I greatly fear, she was no that innocent as +your leddyship thinks, puir bairn! Nae that I would say onything +about it, only it's weel kenned noo. Puir Ailsie! she lost her +innocence before she lost her life, me leddy. And I greatly +misdoubt, he that reft her of the ane reft her of the ither!" sobbed +the dame, as she assisted Claudia to put on her crimson silk +dressing gown. + +"Now give me a shawl; I must go below." + +"Nay, nay, me leddy, dinna gang! It's awfu' wark doon there. They've +brought her in, and laid her on the ha' table, and a' the constables +and laborers are there, forbye the servants. It's nae place for you, +me leddy. Your leddyship could na stand it." + +"Anyone who has stood six weeks of the ordinary life in this house +can stand anything else under the sun!" exclaimed Claudia, wrapping +herself in the large India shawl that was handed her, and hurrying +downstairs. + +She was met by old Katie, who was on her way to answer the bell that +had been rung for her, and who, as soon as she saw her mistress, +raised both her hands in deprecation, and in her terror began to +speak as if Lady Vincent were still a child and she was still her +nurse and keeper: + +"Now, Miss Claudia, honey, you jes' go right straight back ag'in! +Dis aint no place for sich as you, chile. You mustn't go down dar +and look at dat gashly objeck, honey. 'Cause no tellin' what de +quoncequinces mightn't be. Now mind what your ole Aunt Katie say to +you, honey, and turn back like a good chile." + +While old Katie was coaxing her Lady Vincent was looking over the +balustrade down into the hall below, which was filled to suffocation +with a motley crowd, who were pressing around some object extended +upon the table, and which Claudia could only make out in the +obscurity by the gleam of the white cloth with which it was covered. + +Without stopping to answer old Katie, she pushed her aside and +hurried below. + +The crowd had done with loud talking and an awe-struck silence +prevailed, broken only now and then by a half-suppressed murmur of +fear or horror. + +Forgetting her fastidiousness for once, Lady Vincent pushed her way +through this crowd of "unwashed" workmen, whose greasy, dusty, and +begrimed clothes soiled her bright, rich raiment as she passed, and +among whom the mingled fumes of tobacco, whisky, garlic, and coal- +smoke formed "the rankest compound of villainous smells that ever +offended nostrils." + +Claudia did not mind all this. She pressed on, and they gave way for +her a little as she approached the table. Three constables stood +around it to guard the dead body from the touch of meddlesome hands. +On seeing Lady Vincent with the air of one having authority, the +constable that guarded the head of the table guessed at her rank, +and officiously turned down the white sheet that covered the dead +body, and revealed the horrible object beneath--the ghastly face +fallen back, with its chin dropped, and its mouth and eyes wide open +and rigid in death; and the gaping red wound across the throat cut +so deep that it nearly severed the head from the body. With a +suppressed shriek Claudia clapped her hands to her face to shut out +the awful sight. + +At the same moment she felt her arm grasped by a firm hand, and her +name called in a stern voice: "Lady Vincent, why are you here? +Retire at once to your chamber." + +Claudia, too much overcome with horror to dispute the point, +suffered the viscount to draw her out of the crowd to the foot of +the stairs. Here she recovered herself sufficiently to inquire: + +"What has been done, my lord? What steps have been taken towards the +discovery and arrest of this poor girl's murderer?" + +"All that is possible has been done, or is doing. The coroner has +been summoned; the inspector has been sent for; a telegram has been +dispatched to Scotland Yard in London for an experienced detective. +Rest easy, Lady Vincent. Here, Mistress Gorilla! Attend your lady to +her apartment." + +This last order was addressed to Katie, who was still lingering on +the stairs, and who was glad to receive this charge from Lord +Vincent. + +"Come along, Miss Claudia, honey," she said, as soon as the viscount +had left them; "come along. We can't do no good, not by staying here +no longer. My lordship was right dar. Dough why he do keep on a- +calling of me Mrs. Gorilla is more'n I can 'count for. Not dat I +objects to de name; 'cause I do like the name. I think's it a perty +name, sweet perty name, so soft and musicky; only you see, chile, it +aint mine; and I can't think what could put it in my lordship's head +to think it was." + +Lady Vincent paid no attention to the innocent twaddle of poor old +Katie, though at a less horrible moment it might have served to +amuse her. She hurried as fast as her agitation would permit her +from the scene of the dreadful tragedy, unconscious how closely this +poor murdered girl's fate would be connected with her own future +destiny. She gained the shelter of her own apartments and shut +herself up there, while the investigations into the murder +proceeded. + +It is not necessary for us to go deeply into the revolting details +of the events that followed. The coroner arrived the same evening, +impaneled his jury and commenced the inquest. Soon after the +inspector came from Banff. And the next morning a skillful detective +arrived from London. And the investigation commenced in earnest. +Many witnesses were examined; extensive searches were made, and all +measures taken to find out some clew to the murderer, but in vain. +The police held possession of the premises for nearly a week, and +the coroner's jury sat day after day; but all to no purpose, as far +as the discovery of the perpetrator of the crime was concerned. This +seemed one of the obstinate murders that, in spite of the old +proverb to the contrary, will not "out." + +On Saturday night the baffled coroner's jury returned their +unsatisfactory verdict: "The deceased, Ailsie Dunbar, came to her +death by a wound inflicted in her throat with a razor held in the +hands of some person unknown to the jury." + +And the house was rid of coroner, jury, inspector, detective, +country constables and all; and the poor girl's body was permitted +to be laid in the earth; and the household breathed freely again. + +The same evening Lord Vincent, being alone in his dressing room, +rang his bell; and his valet as usual answered it. + +"Come in here, Frisbie. Shut the door after you, and stand before +me," said his lordship. + +"Yes, my lord," answered the servant, securing the door and standing +before his master. + +Lord Vincent sat with his back to the window and his face in the +shadow, while the light from the window fell full on the face of the +valet, who stood before him. This was a position Lord Vincent always +managed to secure, when he wished to read the countenance of his +interlocutor, without exposing his own. + +"Well, Frisbie, they are gone," said his lordship, looking wistfully +into the face of his servant. + +"Yes, my lord," replied the latter, looking down. + +"And--without discovering the murderer of Ailsie Dunbar," he +continued, in a meaning voice. + +"Yes, my lord," replied the valet, with the slightest possible +quaver in his tone. + +"That must be a very great relief to your feelings, Frisbie," said +the viscount. + +"I--have not the honor to understand your lordship," faltered +Frisbie, changing color. + +"Haven't you? Why, that is strange! My meaning is clear enough. I +say it must be a very great relief to your feelings, Frisbie, to +have the inquest so well over, and all the law-officers out of the +house. You must have endured agonies of terror while they were here. +I know I should in your place. Why, I expected every day that you +would bolt, though that would have been the worst thing you could +possibly have done, too, for it would have been sure to direct +suspicion towards you, and you would have been certain to be +recaptured before you could have got out of England," said Lord +Vincent coolly. + +"I--I--my lord--I have not the honor--to--to--under----" began the +man, but his teeth chattered so that he could not enunciate another +syllable. + +"Oh, yes! you have the honor, if you consider it such. You +understand me well enough. What is the use of attempting to deceive +me? Frisbie, I was an eye-witness to the death of Ailsie Dunbar," +said his lordship emphatically, and fixing his eyes firmly upon the +face of his valet. + +Down fell the wretch upon his knees, with his hands clasped, his +face blanched, and his teeth chattering. + +"Oh, my lord, mercy, mercy! It was unpremeditated, indeed it was! it +was an accident! it was done in the heat of passion! and--and--she +did it herself!" gasped the wretch, so beside himself with fright +that he did not clearly know what he was talking about. + +"Frisbie, stop lying. Did it herself, eh? I saw you do the deed. The +razor was in your hands. She struggled and begged, poor creature, +and cut her poor hands in her efforts to save her throat; but you +completed your purpose effectually before I could appear and prevent +you from murdering her. Then I kept your secret, since no good could +have come of my telling it." + +"Mercy, mercy, my lord! indeed it was unpremeditated! It was done in +the heat of passion. She had driven me mad with jealousy!" + +"Bosh! what do you suppose I care whether you committed the crime in +hot blood or cold blood? whether it was the result of a momentary +burst of frenzy or of a long premeditated and carefully arranged +plan? It is enough for me to know that I saw you do the deed. You +murdered that girl, and if the coroner's jury had not been just +about the stupidest lot of donkeys that ever undertook to sit on a +case, you would be now in jail waiting your trial for murder before +the next assizes." + +"Mercy, mercy, my lord! I am in your power!" + +"Hold your tongue and get up off your knees and listen to me, you +cowardly knave. Don't you know that if I had wished to hang you I +could have done so by lodging information against you? Nonsense! I +don't want to hang you. I think, with the Quaker, that hanging is +the worst use you can put a man to. Now, I don't want to put you to +that use. I have other uses for you. Get up, you precious knave!" + +"Oh, my lord! put me to any use your lordship wishes, and no matter +what it is, I will serve you faithfully in it!" said the wretch, +rising from his knees and standing in a cowed and deprecating manner +before his master. + +"It is perfectly clear to me, Frisbie, that you settled that girl to +silence a troublesome claimant of whom you could not rid yourself in +any other way." + +"Your lordship knows everything. It was so, my lord. She was all the +time bothering me about broken promises and all that." + +"And so you settled all her claims by one blow. Well, you have got +rid of the woman that troubled you; and now I mean that you shall +help me to get rid of one who troubles me." + +"In--in--in the same manner, my lord?" gasped the man, in an +accession of deadly terror. + +"No, you insupportable fool! I am not a master butcher, to give you +such an order as that. Noblemen are not cut-throats, you knave! You +shall rid me of my troublesome woman in a safer way than that. And +you shall do it as the price of my silence as to your own little +affair." + +"I am your lordship's obedient, humble servant. Your lordship will +do what you please with me. I am absolutely and unreservedly at your +lordship's disposal," whined the criminal. + +"Well, I should think you were, when I hold one end of a rope of +which the other end is around your neck. Come closer and stoop down +until you bring your ear to a level with my lips, for I must speak +low," said his lordship. + +The man obeyed. + +And Lord Vincent confided to his confederate a plan against the +peace and honor of his viscountess of so detestable and revolting a +nature that even this ruthless assassin shrunk in loathing and +disgust from the thought of becoming a participator in it. But he +was, as he had said, absolutely and unreservedly at the disposal of +Lord Vincent, who held one end of the rope of which the other was +around his own neck, and so he ended in becoming the confederate and +instrument of the viscount. + +When this was all arranged Lord Vincent dismissed the valet with the +words: + +"Now be at ease, Frisbie; for as long as you are faithful to me I +will be silent in regard to you." + +And as the second dinner-bell had rung some little time before, Lord +Vincent stepped before the glass, brushed his hair, and went +downstairs. + +As soon as he had left the room another person appeared upon the +scene. Old Katie came out from the thick folds of a window curtain +and stood in the center of the room with up-lifted hands and up- +rolled eyes, and an expression of countenance indescribable by any +word in our language. + +For more than a minute, perhaps while one could slowly count a +hundred, she stood thus. And then, dropping her hands and lowering +her eyes, she walked soberly up to Lord Vincent's tall dressing- +glass, plucked the parti-colored turban off her head and looked at +herself, muttering: + +"No! it aint white, nor likewise gray! dough I did think, when dat +creeping coldness come stealing through to roots of my h'ar, when I +heerd dem wilyuns at deir deblish plot, as ebery libbing ha'r on my +head was turned on a suddint white as snow; as I've heerd tell of +happening to people long o' fright. But dar! my ha'r is as good as +new, dough it has had enough to turn it gray on a suddint in dis +las' hour! Well, laws! I do think as Marse Ishmael Worth mus' be +somefin of a prophet, as well as a good deal of a lawyer! He telled +me to watch ober de peace and honor of Lady Vincent. Yes, dem was +his berry words--peace and honor. Well, laws! little did I think how +much dey would want watching ober. Anyways, I've kep' my word and +done my duty. And I've found out somefin as all de crowners, and +constables and law-fellows couldn't find out wid all deir larnin'. +And dat is who kilt poor misfortunate Miss Ailsie, poor gal! And +I've found out somefin worse 'an dat, dough people might think there +couldn't be nothing worse; but deir is. And dat is dis deblish plot +agin my ladyship. Oh, dem debils! Hanging is too good for my +lordship and his sham wally--wally sham! but it's all de same. And +now I go right straight and tell my ladyship all about it," said +Katie, settling her turban on her head and hurrying from the room. + +She met Lady Vincent, elegantly dressed in a rose-colored brocade +and adorned with pearls, on her way to the dinner-table. + +"Oh, my ladyship, I've found out somefin dreadful! I must tell you +all about it!" she exclaimed, in excitement, as she stopped her +mistress. + +"Not now, Katie. Dinner is waiting. Go into my dressing room and +stop there until I come. I will not stay long in the drawing room +this evening," said Lady Vincent, who thought that Katie's news +would prove to be only some fresh rumors concerning the murder of +poor Ailsie. + +"My ladyship, you had better stop now and hear me," pleaded the old +woman. + +"I tell you dinner is waiting, Katie," said Lady Vincent, hurrying +past her. + +Ah! she had better have stopped then, if she had only known it. Old +Katie groaned in the spirit and went to the dressing room as she was +bid. + +She sat down before the fire and looked at the clock on the chimney +piece. It was just seven. + +"Dat funnelly dinner will keep my ladyship an hour at the very +latest bit. It will be eight o'clock afore she comes back, Laws-a- +massy, what shall I do?" grunted the old woman impatiently. + +Slowly, slowly, passed that hour of waiting. The clock struck eight. + +"She'll be here every minute now," said old Katie, with a sigh of +relief. + +But minute after minute passed and Claudia did not come. A half an +hour slipped away. Old Katie in her impatience got up and walked +about the room. She heard the rustle of silken drapery, and peeped +out. It was only Mrs. Dugald, in her rich white brocade dress, +passing into her own apartments. + +"Nasty, wenemous, pison sarpint! I'll fix you out yet!" muttered old +Katie between her teeth, with a perfectly diabolical expression of +countenance, as she shook her head at the vanishing figure of the +beauty; for that was the unlucky way in which poor Katie's black +phiz expressed righteous indignation. + +"I do wonder what has become of my ladyship. This is a-keeping of +her word like a ladyship oughter, aint it now? I go and look for +her," said Katie. + +But just as she had opened the door for that purpose her eyes fell +upon the figure of the viscount, creeping with stealthy, silent, +cat-like steps towards the apartments of Mrs. Dugald, in which he +disappeared. + +"Ah ha! dat's somefin' else. Somefin' goin' on in dere. Well, if I +don't ax myself to dat party, my name's not old Aunt Katie Mortimer, +dat's all!" said the old woman in glee, as she cautiously stole from +the room and approached the door leading into Mrs. Dugald's +apartments. + +When at the door, which was ajar, she peeped in. The suite was +arranged upon the same plan as Lady Vincent's own. As Katie peered +in, she saw through the vista of three rooms into the dressing room, +which was the last of the suite. Before the dressing-room fire she +saw the viscount and Mrs. Dugald standing, their faces towards the +fire; their backs towards Katie. + +She cautiously opened the door and stepped in, closing it silently +behind her. Then she crept through the intervening rooms and reached +the door of the dressing room, which was draped around with heavy +velvet hangings, and she concealed herself in their folds, where she +could see and hear everything that passed. + +"How long is this to go on? Do you know that the presence of my +rival maddens me every hour of the day? Are you not afraid--you +would be, if you knew me!--that I should do some desperate deed? I +tell you that I am afraid of myself! I cannot always restrain my +impulses, Malcolm. There are moments when I doubt whether you are +not playing me false. And at such times I am in danger of doing some +desperate deed that will make England ring with the hearing of it," +said Mrs. Dugald, with passionate earnestness. + +"Faustina, you know that I adore you. Be patient a few days longer-- +a very few days. The time is nearly ripe. I have at last found the +instrument of which I have been so much in need. This man, Frisbie. +He is completely in my power, and will be a ready tool. I will tell +you the whole scheme. But stop! first I must secure this interview +from interruption. Not a word of this communication must be +overheard by any chance listener," said Lord Vincent. + +And to poor old Katie's consternation he passed swiftly to the outer +door of the suite of rooms, locked it and put the key in his pocket +and returned to the dressing room, the door of which remained open. + +"Dere! if I aint cotch like an old rat in a trap, you may take my +hat! Don't care! I gwine hear all dey got to say. An' if dey find me +dey can't hang me for it, dat's one good thing! And maybe dey won't +find me, if I keep still till my lordship--perty lordship he is-- +unlocks de door and goes out, and den I slip out myself, just as I +slipped in, and nobody none de wiser. Only if I don't sneeze. I feel +dreadful like sneezing. Nobody ever had such an unlucky nose as I +have got. Laws, laws, if I was to sneeze!" thought old Katie to +herself as she lurked behind the draperies. + +But soon every sense was absorbed in listening to the villainous +plot that Lord Vincent was unfolding to his companion. It was the +very same plot that he had communicated to his valet, the atrocity +of which had shocked even that cut-throat. It did not shock +Faustina, however. She listened with avidity. She co-operated with +zeal. She suggested such modifications and improvements for securing +the success of the conspiracy, and the safety of the conspirators, +as only her woman's tact, inspired by the demon, could invent. + +"Oh, the she-sarpint! the deadly, wenemous, pisonous sarpint!" +shuddered Katie, in her hiding-place. "I've heern enough this night +to hang the shamwally, and send all the rest on 'em to Bottommy Bay. +And I'll do it, too, if ever I live to get out'n this room alive." + +But at that instant the catastrophe that Katie had dreaded occurred. +Katie sneezed--once, twice, thrice: "Hick-ket-choo! Hick-ket-choo! +Hick-ket-choo!" + +Had a bombshell exploded in that room it could not have excited a +greater commotion. Lord Vincent sprang up, and in an instant had the +eavesdropper by the throat. + +"Now, you old devil, what have you got to say for yourself?" +demanded the viscount, in a voice of repressed fury, as he shook +Katie. + +"I say--Cuss my nose! There never was sich a misfortunate nose on +anybody's face--a-squoking out dat way in onseasonable hours!" cried +Katie. + +"How dare you be caught eavesdropping in these rooms, you wretch?" +demanded the viscount, giving her another shake. + +"And why wouldn't I, you grand vilyun? And you her a-plotting of +your deblish plots agin my own dear babyship--I mean my ladyship, as +is like my own dear baby! And 'wretch' yourself! And how dare you +lay your hands on me? on me, as has heern enough this precious night +to send you down to the bottom of Bottommy Bay, to work in de mud, +wid a chain and a weight to your leg, you rascal! and a man with a +whip over your head, you vilyun! 'Stead o' standin' dere sassin' at +me, you ought to go down on your bare knees, and beg and pray me to +spare you! Dough you needn't, neither, 'cause I wouldn't do it! no! +not if you was to wallow under my feet, I wouldn't. 'Cause soon as +eber I gets out'n dis room I gwine right straight to de queen and +tell her all about it; and ax her if she's de mist'ess of England +and lets sich goings on as dese go on in her kingdom. And if I can't +get speech of the queen, I going to tell de fust magistet I can +find--dere! And you, too, you whited salt-peter! you ought dis +minute to be pickin' of oakum in a crash gown and cropped hair! And +you shall be, too, afore many days, ef eber I lives to get out'n dis +house alive!" shrieked Katie, shaking her fist first at one culprit +and then at the other, and glaring inextinguishable hatred and +defiance upon both. For righteous wrath had rendered her perfectly +insensible to fear. + +Meanwhile the viscount held her in a death-grip; his face was +ghastly pale; his teeth tightly clenched; his eyes starting. + +"Faustina, she is as ignorant as dirt, but her threats are not vain. +If she leaves this room alive all is lost!" he exclaimed in +breathless excitement. + +"She must not leave it alive!" said the fell woman. + +Katie heard the fatal words, and opened her mouth to scream for +help. But the fingers of the viscount tightened around her throat +and strangled the scream in its utterance. And he bore her down to +the floor and placed his knee on her chest. And there was murder in +the glare with which he watched her death-throes. + +"Faustina!" he whispered hoarsely, "help me! have you nothing to +shorten this?" + +She flew to a cabinet, from which she took a small vial, filled with +a colorless liquid, and brought it to him. + +He disengaged one hand to take it, and then stooped over his victim. +And in a few moments Katie ceased to struggle. + +Then he arose from his knees with a low laugh, whispering. + +"It is all right." + + + + +CHAPTER XXI + +NEWS FOR ISHMAEL. + + December's sky is chill and drear, + December's leaf is dun and sere; + No longer Autumn's glowing red + Upon our forest hills is shed; + No more beneath the evening beam + The wave reflects their crimson gleam; + The shepherd shifts his mantle's fold + And wraps him closely from the cold: + His dogs no merry circles wheel, + But shivering follow at his heel; + And cowering glances often cast + As deeper moans the gathering blast. + --_Scott._ + + + +"Ah what is good must be worked for," wrote the wisest of our sages. +Ishmael felt the truth of this, and worked hard. + +His first success at the bar had been so brilliant as to dazzle and +astonish all his contemporaries; and upon the fame of that success +he prospered exceedingly. + +But Ishmael well knew that if it needed hard work to win fame, it +needed much harder work to keep it. + +He felt that if he became idle or careless now, his brilliant +success would prove to be but a meteor's flash, instead of the clear +and steady planet light he intended it to become. + +He read and thought with great diligence and perseverance; and so he +often found a way through labyrinths of difficulty that would have +baffled any less firmly persistent thinker and worker. + +And thus his success, splendid from the first, was gaining +permanency every day. + +His reputation was established on a firm foundation, and be was +building it up strongly as well as highly. + +Strangers who had heard of the celebrated young barrister, and had +occasion to seek his professional services, always expected to find +a man of thirty or thirty-five years old, and were astonished to see +one of scarcely twenty-two. + +Ishmael was very much admired and courted by the best circles of the +Capital; but, though eminently social and affectionate in his +nature, he entered only moderately into society. Devotion to company +and attention to business were incompatible, he knew. + +If there ever happened to be an alternative of a tempting evening +party, where he might be sure of meeting many congenial friends on +the one hand, and an impending case that required careful +preparation on the other, you may rely on it that Ishmael sacrificed +pleasure and gave himself up to duty. And this he did, not +occasionally, but always; in this way he earned and retained his +high position. + +And, ambitious young reader, this is the only way. + +Thus in useful and successful work Ishmael employed the autumn that +Claudia in her distant home was wasting in idleness and repinings. + +On the first Monday in December Congress met, as usual. And about +the middle of the month the Supreme Court sat. + +Therefore Ishmael was not very much surprised when one morning, just +after he had brought a very difficult suit to a triumphant +termination, he saw his friend Judge Merlin enter his private +office. + +Ishmael started up joyously to greet his visitor; but stopped short +on, seeing how pale, haggard, and feeble the old man looked. And his +impulsive exclamation of: "Oh, judge, I am so glad to see you," +changed at once to the commiserating words--"How sorry I feel to see +you so indisposed! Have you been ill long?" he inquired, as he +placed his easiest chair for the supposed invalid. + +"Yes, I have been ill, Ishmael, very ill; but not long, and not in +body--in mind, Ishmael, in mind!" and the old man sank into the +chair and, resting his elbow on the office table, bowed his stricken +head upon his hand. + +Ishmael drew near and bent over him in respectful sympathy, waiting +for his confidence. But as the judge continued overwhelmed and +silent, the young man took the initiative, and in A soft and +reverential tone said: + +"I do hope, sir, that you have met with no serious trouble." + +A deep groan was the only answer. + +"Can I serve you in any way, sir? You know that I am devoted to your +interests." + +"Yes, Ishmael, yes. I know that you are the most faithful of +friends, as well as the most accomplished of counselors. It is in +both characters, my dear boy, that you are wanted to-day." + +"Instruct me, sir. Command me. I am entirely at your disposal." + +"Even to the extent of going to Europe with me?" + +Ishmael hesitated; but only because he was utterly unprepared for +the proposal; and then he answered: + +"Yes, sir; if it should appear to be really necessary to your +interests." + +"Oh, Ishmael! I am an old and world-worn man, and I have had much +experience; but, indeed, I know not how to break to you the news I +have to bring!" groaned the judge. + +"If there is any man in the world you can confide in it is surely +myself, your friend and your attorney." + +"I feel sure of that, Ishmael, quite sure of that. Well, I do not +see any better way of putting you in possession of the facts than by +letting you read these letters. When you have read them all, you +will know as much as I do," said the judge, as he drew from his +pocket a parcel of papers and looked over them. "There, read that +first," he continued, placing one in Ishmael's hand. + +Ishmael opened the letter and read as follows: + + "Castle Cragg, near Banff, Buchan, Scotland. +"My Dearest Father: We are all in good health; therefore do not be +alarmed, even though I earnestly implore you to drop everything you +may have in hand and come over to me immediately, by the very first +steamer that sails after your receipt of this letter. Father, you +will comply with my entreaty when I inform you that I have been +deceived and betrayed by him who swore to cherish and protect me. My +life and honor are both imperiled. I will undertake to guard both +for a month, until you come. But come at once to your wronged but + "Loving child, + "Claudia." + +"Good Heaven, sir, what does this mean?" exclaimed Ishmael, looking +up, after he had read the letter. + +"I do not clearly know myself. It is what I wish you to help me to +find out." + +"But--when was this letter received?" + +"On Monday last." + +"On Monday last," repeated Ishmael, glancing at the envelope; "that +was the 5th of December; and it is postmarked 'Banff, October 15th.' +Is it possible that this important letter has been seven weeks on +its way?" + +"Yes, it is quite possible. If yea look at the envelope closely you +will see that it is stamped 'Missent,' and remailed from San +Francisco, California, to which place it was sent by mistake. You +perceive it has traveled half around the world before coming here." + +"How very unfortunate! and a letter so urgent as this! Sir, can you +give me any idea of the danger that threatens Lady Vincent?" +inquired Ishmael, raising his eyes for a moment from his study of +the letter. + +"Read this second letter; I received it, and a third one, by the +very same mail that brought the long-delayed first one," replied the +judge. + +Ishmael took this letter also, and read: + + "McGruder's Hotel, Edinboro', Scotland, + "November 25, 184--. +"My Dearest Father: I wrote to you about six weeks ago, informing +you that I was in sorrow and in danger, and imploring you to come +and comfort and protect me. And since that time I have been waiting +with the most acute anxiety to hear from you by letter or in person. +Expecting this with confidence, I did not think it necessary to +write again. But, as so long a time has elapsed, I begin to fear +that you have not received my letter, and so I write again. Oh, my +father! if you should not be already on your way to my relief--if +you should be still lingering at home on the receipt of this letter, +fly to me at once! My situation is desperate; my danger imminent; my +necessity extreme. Oh, sir! an infamous plot has been hatched +against me; I have been driven with ignominy from my husband's +house; my name has gone over the length and breadth of England, a +by-word of reproach! I am alone and penniless in this hotel; in +which I know not how short the time may be that they will permit me +to stay. Come! Come quickly! Come and save, if it be possible, your +wretched child, + "Claudia." + +"Heaven of heavens! how can this be?" cried Ishmael, looking up from +these fearful lines into the woe-worn face of the judge. + +"Oh, I know but little more than yourself. Head this third letter." + +Ishmael eagerly took and opened it and read: + + "Cameron Court, near Edinboro', + "November 27, l84--, +"Judge Merlin--Sir: Your unhappy daughter is under my roof. As soon +as I heard what had happened at Castle Cragg, and learned that she +was alone and unprotected at McGruder's, I lost no time in going to +her and offering my sympathy and protection. I induced her to come +with me to my home. I have heard her story from her own lips. And I +believe her to be the victim of a cunningly contrived conspiracy. +Lord Vincent has filed a petition for divorce, upon the ground of +alleged infidelity. Therefore I join my urgent request to hers that, +if this finds you still in America, you will instantly on its +receipt leave for England. I write in great haste to send my letter +by the Irish Express so as it may intercept the steamer at +Queenstown and reach you by the same mail that carries hers of the +25th; and so mitigate your anxiety by assuring you of her personal +safety, with sympathizing friends; although her honor is endangered +by a diabolical conspiracy, from which it will require the utmost +legal skill to deliver her. + "With great respect, sir, I remain, + "Berenice, Countess of Hurstmonceux." + +"You will go by the first steamer, sir," said Ishmael. + +"Certainly. This is Saturday morning; one sails at noon from New +York to-day; but I could not catch that." + +"Of course not; but the 'Oceana' sails from Boston on Wednesday." + +"Yes; I shall go by her. But, Ishmael, can you go with me?" inquired +the judge, with visible anxiety. + +"Certainly," promptly replied the young man, never hinting at the +sacrifices he would have to make in order to accompany his friend on +so long a journey. + +"Thank you, thank you, my dear Ishmael! I knew you would. You will +be of great assistance. Of course we must oppose this rascally +viscount's petition, and do our best to unmask his villainy. But how +to do it? I was never very quick-witted, Ishmael; and now my +faculties are blunted with age. But I have much to hope from your +aid in this case. I know that you cannot appear publicly for Lady +Vincent; but at the same time you may be of inestimable value as a +private counselor. Your genius, acumen, and wonderful insight will +enable us to expose this conspiracy, defeat the viscount, and save +Claudia, if anything on earth can do so. Thank you, thank you, good +and noble young friend!" said the judge, taking and cordially +pressing his hand. + +"Judge, you know that you are most heartily welcome to all my +services. There is no one in the world that I would work for with +more pleasure than for you," replied the young man, returning the +pressure. + +"I know it, my boy. Heaven bless you!" + +"And now let us arrange for our journey. As the steamer leaves +Boston on next Wednesday morning, we should leave here on Tuesday +morning at latest." + +"Yes, I suppose so." + +"Therefore, you see, we have but three days before us; and, as the +Sabbath intervenes, we have really but two for preparation--to-day +and Monday." + +"That will be sufficient." + +"Yes, sir. But, judge, I must run down into St. Mary's, and take +leave of my betrothed, before starting on so long a journey." + +"Oh, Ishmael, you will not have time. Suppose you should be too late +to meet the steamer?" + +"I will not be too late, Judge Merlin. I will hire a horse and start +this morning. I can get fresh horses at several places on the road, +and reach the Beacon before twelve o'clock at night. I can spend the +Sabbath there, and go to church with the family. And on Monday +morning I will make an early start, so as to be here on Monday +night." + +"Oh, Ishmael, it will be a great risk." + +"Not at all; I shall be sure to come up in time. And, besides, you +know I must see Bee before I go," said Ishmael, with that confiding +smile that no one could resist. + +"Well, well, I suppose it must be so; so go on; but only be +punctual." + +"I surely will." + +"And oh, by the way, Ishmael, tell Mr. Middleton all about it; that +is, all we know, which is very little, since neither Lady Vincent +nor Lady Hurstmonceux has given us any details." + +"Then Mr. Middleton knows nothing of this?" + +"Not a syllable. I left the neighborhood without breathing a hint of +it to any human being. I did not even think of doing so. Oh, +Ishmael, I was in a state of distraction when I left home! Think of +it! I had been tormented with anxiety for weeks before the receipt +of these letters. For, listen: you know that Claudia sailed on the +first of October. Well; I calculated it would take about two weeks +for her to reach Liverpool, and about two more weeks for a letter to +return. So I made myself contented until the first of November, +when, as I expected, I received my first letter from her. It was a +very long letter, dated at various times from the sea, and written +during the voyage, and mailed at Queenstown. Three days later I +received another and shorter letter, merely advising me of her safe +arrival in England, and mailed from Liverpool. Still three days +later a letter dated Aberdeen, and informing me of her journey to +Scotland. A whole week later--for it appeared this last letter was +much delayed on its route--I got a short letter from her dated +Banff, and telling me that she had arrived that far on her journey, +and expected to be at Castle Cragg the same evening. Now these +letters were all dated within one or two days of each other, though +there was a longer time between the reception of each; a fact, I +suppose, to be accounted for by the irregularity of the ocean mails. +The last letter, dated October 14th, did not reach me until November +12th. And after that I received no more letters, until I got these +three all by one mail. You may judge how intense my anxiety was +until these letters came; and how distracted my mind, as soon as I +had read them." + +"Oh, yes, sir, yes!" + +"Therefore, you see, I never thought of what was due to Middleton, +or anybody else. So just tell him all about it, but in strict +confidence; for Claudia must not become the subject of gossip here, +poor child!" + +"No, sir; certainly she must not. I will bind Mr. Middleton to +secrecy before I tell him anything about it." + +"Yes, and--stop a moment! You had better just show him these +letters. They will speak for themselves and save you the trouble. +Tell him that we know no more than these letters reveal." + +"I will do so, Judge Merlin." + +"And now, Ishmael, I must return to my hotel, where I expect to meet +my old friend, General Tourneysee. When do you start for St. +Mary's?" + +"Within an hour from this." + +"Well, then, call at the hotel on your way and take leave of me." + +"I will do so." + +"Good-by, for the present," said the judge, shaking hands with his +young friend. + +As soon as Judge Merlin had left the office Ishmael sank down into +his chair and yielded up his mind to intense thought. + +It was true, then, the terrible presentiment of evil that had +haunted his imagination in regard to Claudia was now realized! The +dark storm cloud that his prophetic eye had seen lowering over her +had now burst in ruin on her head! How strange! how unexplainable by +human reason were these mysteries of the spirit! But Ishmael lost no +time in fruitless speculations. He arose quickly and rang the bell. + +The professor answered it. + +"Morris, I wish you to go around to Bellingby's stables and ask them +to send me a good, fresh horse, immediately, to go into the country. +I shall want him for three days. Tell them to send me the brown +horse, Jack, if he is not in use; but if he is, tell them to send +the strongest and fastest horse they have." + +"Yes, sir," answered the professor, hurrying off. + +Ishmael went up to his chamber and packed his valise, and then +returned to the office and summoned his first clerk, told him that +he was going into the country immediately, for three days, and that +after his return he should start for Europe, to be gone for a few +weeks, and gave him instructions regarding the present conduct of +the office business, and promised directions respecting the future +administration of professional affairs when he should return from +the country before starting for Europe. + +When he had got through his conference with his clerk, and the +latter had left the private office, the professor, who had come back +and was waiting his turn, entered. + +"Well, Morris?" + +"Well, sir, the brown horse will be here as soon as he is fed, and +watered, and saddled, and bridled. He is in good condition, sir, and +quite fresh, as he hasn't been in use for two days, sir." + +"All right, professor, sit down; I have something to tell you." + +"Yes, sir? Indeed, sir!" said Jim Morris, taking his seat and +feeling sure he should presently hear Mr. Worth was going down into +the country for the purpose of marrying Miss Middleton and bringing +her home. But the news that he really heard astonished him more than +this would have done. + +"I shall start for Europe on Wednesday, Morris." + +"You don't say so, sir!" exclaimed the old man. + +"Yes; sudden business. But I promised you, professor, that if ever I +should go to Europe you should go with me, if you should please to +do so. Now I will give you your choice. You shall attend me to +Europe, or stay here and take care of my rooms while I am gone." + +The professor's eyes fairly danced at the idea of crossing the +mighty Atlantic and seeing glorious old Europe; but still he had +sense of propriety and self-denial enough to say: + +"I am willing to do that which will be of the most use to yourself, +sir." + +"Morris, you would be of great use to me in either position. If you +should stay here, I should feel sure that my rooms were safe in the +care of a faithful keeper." + +"Then, sir, I prefer to stay." + +"Yes, but stop a moment. If you should go with me, I should enjoy +the trip much more. I should enjoy it myself and enjoy your +enjoyment of it also. And, besides, it would be so pleasant to feel +that I had an attached friend always with me." + +"Then, Mr. Worth, as there is about as much to be said on one side +as there is on the other, I'll do whichever you prefer." + +"I greatly prefer that you should go with me, professor," said +Ishmael, who read the old man's eager desire to travel. + +"Then I'll go, sir; and with the greatest of pleasure." + +"Can you be ready to leave for Boston on Tuesday morning, to catch +the steamer that sails on Wednesday?" + +"Law, yes, sir! what's to hinder? Why, I would be ready in ten +minutes, sooner than miss going to Europe. What's to do but just +pitch my clothes into a trunk and lock it?" + +"Well, Morris, I will give you time enough to pack your clothes +carefully, and mine also. There is the horse!" exclaimed Ishmael, +rising and locking his desk. + +"Sure enough, there he is, and looking as gay as a lark, this bright +morning. You will have a pleasant ride, sir," said the professor, +looking from the window. + +"Yes; fetch my overcoat from the passage, Morris." + +"Yes, sir; here it is. But won't you take just a bit of luncheon +before you go? I am sure the ladies would get it ready for you +quick, and glad to do it." + +"No, thank you, Morris. You know I ate breakfast only two hours ago, +and a very hearty one, too, as I always do. So I shall not require +anything until I get to Horsehead," said Ishmael, buttoning up his +greatcoat. Then he drew on his gloves and shook hands with the +professor. + +"Good-by, Morris! God bless you! Think of going to Europe." + +"Oh, sir, you may be sure I shan't think of anything else all day, +nor dream of anything else all night. To think of my seeing the +Tower of London! Well, sir, good-by! And the Lord bless you and give +you a pleasant journey," said the professor as he handed his +master's hat. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII + +ISHMAEL'S VISIT TO BEE. + + Thank Heaven my first love failed, + As every first love should. + --_Palmore_. + + + +Ishmael mounted and rode off, calling only at the hotel to say good- +by to the judge and renew his promise of a punctual return. + +Then he galloped blithely away; crossed the beautiful Anacostia, by +the Navy Yard bridge; and gayly took the road to the old St. Mary's. + +Gayly? Yes, gayly, notwithstanding all. + +To be sure he was sorry for Claudia; and he proved it by consenting, +at a great sacrifice of his personal interests, to cross the ocean +and go to her assistance. But he had faith in the doctrine that-- +"Ever the right comes uppermost"; and he believed that she would be +delivered from her troubles. And his compassion for Claudia did not +prevent him from rejoicing exceedingly in the speedy prospect of +meeting Bee. Besides he no longer loved Claudia, except with that +Christian kindliness which he cherished for every member of the +human family. + +You may be sure that the sickly, sentimental, sinful folly of loving +another man's wife, even if she had been, before her marriage, his +own early passion, was very far below Ishmael's healthy, rational, +and honorable nature. No nerve in his bosom vibrated to the sound of +Claudia's name. The passion of his heart was perfectly cured; its +wounds were quite healed; even its scars were effaced. He could have +smiled at the memory of that ill-starred passion now. + +He was heart-whole, and his whole heart--his sound, large loving +heart--was unreservedly given to Bee. + +And therefore, notwithstanding his compassion for the misfortunes of +Claudia, he rode gayly on to his anticipated meeting with his +betrothed. + +It was a fine, frosty, bracing, winter morning; the roads were good; +and the horse was fresh; and he enjoyed his ride exceedingly, +rejoicing in his youth, health, and happy, well-placed love. + +He galloped all the way to Horsehead, where he arrived at noon, took +an early dinner, procured a fresh horse and continued his journey. + +He rode all the short, bright winter afternoon, and at dusk reached +his second stopping-place, where he took an early tea, changed his +horse, and started afresh. + +Four more hours of riding through the leafless forest, and under the +starlit sky, brought him in sight of the water; and a few minutes +brought him to the door of the Beacon. + +Here he sprung from his saddle; secured his horse to a post; and +rushed up the front steps to the hall door and rang. An old servant +opened it. + +"Oh, Mr. Ishmael, sir! what a surprise! I am so glad to see you, +sir." + +"Thank you, Ben. How are the family?" + +"All well, sir. Walk in, sir. Won't they be delighted to see you!" +said the old man, opening a side door leading into the lighted +drawing room, and announcing: + +"Mr. Worth!" + +There was a general jumping up of the party around the fireside, and +a hasty rushing towards the visitor. + +Mr. Middleton was foremost, holding out both his hands, and +exclaiming: + +"Why, how do you do? Is this you? This is a surprise! Where did you +drop from?" + +"Washington, sir," replied Ishmael, returning the handshaking, and +then passing on to meet the ready welcome of Mrs. Middleton and the +young folks. + +"How do you do, Mrs. Middleton? Dearest Bee--it is such joy to meet +you!" he said, as he returned the lady's greeting, and pressed the +maiden's hand to his lips. + +Bee was fairer, fresher, and lovelier than ever, as she stood there, +blushing, but delighted to see him. + +"How do you do, Worth?" spoke another deep voice. + +Ishmael looked up suddenly, and saw his father standing before him. +The latter had approached from a distant part of the room. + +"Mr. Brudenell--you here? This is indeed a pleasant surprise!" said +the young man joyfully. + +"Mutually so, I assure you, Ishmael." + +"When did you arrive, sir?" + +"Only this afternoon. I came up to take the Shelton boat, that goes +to Washington on Monday. My dislike to Sunday traveling decided me +to come up to-day, and quarter myself on our friend Middleton for +the Sabbath, so as to be in readiness to catch the 'Errand Boy' on +Monday." + +"You were coming to see me, I hope, sir?" + +"Not purposely, my dear fellow. I had other business, less pleasant +but more pressing. I should have called on you, however, though I +could not have stayed long; for I must go by the Monday evening +train to Boston, in order to catch the 'Oceana,' that sails on +Wednesday morning. I am off by her." + +"Indeed, sir!" exclaimed Ishmael, in surprise and delight. "Why, I +am going to Europe by the 'Oceana '!" + +"You!" responded the elder man, in equal surprise and pleasure. +"Why, what on earth should take you to Europe?" + +"I go on strictly confidential business with Judge Merlin." + +"Merlin going to England, too? Oh, I see!" + +The last three words were uttered in a low tone, and with a total +change of manner, that struck Ishmael with the suspicion that Mr. +Brudenell knew more of Lady Vincent's troubles than anyone on this +side of the ocean, except her father and himself, was supposed to +know. + +"Going to Europe, Ishmael? you and the judge? Well, Merlin did start +off at a tangent yesterday from Tanglewood. I suppose he is pining +after his child, and has taken a sudden freak to rush over and see +her. And as you are the staff of his age, of course, he would not +think of undertaking so long a journey without the support of your +company. Am I right?" inquired Mr. Middleton jollily. + +"Judge Merlin is going to see Lady Vincent, and has invited me to +accompany him, and I have accepted the invitation," answered the +young man. + +"Exactly, precisely, just so. But I wonder how the son of Powhatan, +Merlin of Tanglewood, who could scarcely breathe out of the +boundless wilderness, will like to sojourn in that cleared-up, trim, +tidy, well-packed little island!" laughed Mr. Middleton; while Mr. +Brudenell looked down, and slowly nodded his head. + +Meanwhile Bee's careful, affectionate eyes noticed that Ishmael was +very tired, and she said something in a low voice to her father. + +"To be sure--to be sure, my dear. I ought to have thought of that +myself. Ishmael, my boy, you have ridden hard to-day; you look +fagged. Go right up into your own room now--you know where to find +it; it is the same one you occupied when you were here last, kept +sacred to you; and I will send up Ben to rub you down and curry you +well; and by the time he has done that Bee will have the provender +ready," said Mr. Middleton, whose delight at seeing his welcome +visitor hurried him into all sorts of absurdities. + +Ishmael smiled, bowed, and withdrew. + +Half an hour afterwards, when he returned to the drawing room, +looking, as Mr. Middleton said, "well-groomed and much refreshed," +Mrs. Middleton touched the bell; the doors leading into the dining +room were thrown open; and the guests were invited to sit down to a +delicious supper of fresh fish, oysters, crabs, and waterfowl, which +had been spread there in honor of Mr. Brudenell's arrival; but which +was equally appropriate to Ishmael's welcome presence. + +After supper, when they returned to the drawing room, Ishmael found +an opportunity of saying aside to his host that he wished to have +some private conversation with him that night. + +Accordingly, when the evening circle had broken up and each had +withdrawn to his or her own apartment, and Ishmael found himself +alone in his chamber, he heard a rap at his door, and on bidding the +rapper come in, saw Mr. Middleton enter. + +"I have come at your request, Ishmael," he said, taking the chair +that the young man immediately placed for him. + +"Thank you, sir; I wished to confide to you the cause of Judge +Merlin's sudden journey to England," said Ishmael gravely. + +"Why, to see his daughter!" exclaimed Mr. Middleton, raising his +eyebrows. + +"Yes, it is to see Lady Vincent. But Mr. Middleton, her ladyship is +in great sorrow and greater danger," said the young man, speaking +more gravely than before. + +"Sorrow and danger! What are you talking of, Ishmael?" inquired Mr. +Middleton, knitting his brows in perplexity. + +"Lady Vincent is separated from her husband, who has filed a +petition for divorce from her," said Ishmael solemnly. + +The exclamation of amazement and indignation that burst from Mr. +Middleton's lips was rather too profane to be recorded here. + +"Yes, sir; it is so," sighed Ishmael. + +"Who says this?" demanded Mr. Middleton, in a voice of suppressed +fury. + +"She herself says it, sir, in a letter to her father, who has +commissioned me to impart the facts in confidence to yourself. Here +are the letters he received and desired me to hand to you for +perusal. They are numbered one, two, three. Read them in that order, +and they will put you in possession of the whole affair, as far as +is known to any of us over here." + +Mr. Middleton grasped the letters, and one after another devoured +their contents. + +"This first letter is nearly two months old! Why has it not been +acted upon before?" he demanded, in an angry manner, that proved he +would have liked to quarrel with somebody. + +"It was not received until two days since. It was miscarried and it +went half around the world before it reached its proper +destination," said Ishmael equably. + +"But what does it all mean, then? What plot is this alluded to? And +who is in it?" + +"Mr. Middleton, we know no more than you now do. We know no more +than the letters that you have just read tell us." + +"But why, in the name of Heaven, then, could these letters not have +been more explicit? Claudia was alone at McGruder's Hotel! Where +were her servants? A plot was formed against her! Who formed it? Why +could she not have satisfied us upon these subjects?" exclaimed Mr. +Middleton vehemently. + +"Sir, each letter seems to have been written under the spur of +imminent necessity. Perhaps there was no time to enter fully upon +the subject; perhaps also it was one that could not be discussed +through an epistolary correspondence." + +"Perhaps they were all raving mad!" exclaimed Mr. Middleton +excitedly. "Now what are you all to do?" + +"Judge Merlin and myself are going to England, as I told you. He +will support his daughter in opposing Lord Vincent's application for +a divorce. I will give them all the assistance in my power to +render. Of course, as I am not a member of any English bar, I cannot +appear as her public advocate; but I will serve her to the utmost of +my ability as a private counselor. I will make myself master of the +case and use my best efforts to discover and expose the conspiracy +against her. And if I succeed, I will do my best to have the +conspirators punished. For in England, fortunately, conspiracy +against the life, property, or character of any person or persons is +a felony, punishable by penal servitude. Fortunately, also, in the +criminal courts of England the peer finds no more favor than the +peasant. And if the Lord Viscount Vincent is prosecuted to +conviction he will stand as good a chance of transportation to the +penal colonies as the meanest confederate he has employed," said +Ishmael. + +"I wish he may be! I'd make a voyage to Sydney myself for the sake +of seeing him working in a chain-gang. I hate the fellow, and always +did." + +"I never liked him," candidly admitted Ishmael; "but still it is not +in the spirit of vengeance, but of stern justice, that I shall +devote every faculty of my mind and body to the duty of exposing and +convicting him." + +"I declare to you, Ishmael, 'vengeance' and 'stern justice' look so +much alike to me, that, as the darkies say, I cannot tell 't'other +from which.'" + +"There is a distinction, however," said Ishmael. + +"But, under either name, I hope the villainous Viscount Vincent (I +didn't mean to make that alliteration, however) will get his full +measure of retribution! You go by the 'Oceana' on Wednesday, you +say?" + +"Yes, sir." + +"Well, success to you! Poor Claudia! I hope she will be vindicated. +I will talk farther of this with you to-morrow, after church. Now I +see that you are very weary and need repose. Good-night! God bless +you, my dear boy." + +Very early the next morning Ishmael arose, and after making his +toilet and offering up his devotions, he went out to refresh himself +by a stroll on the beach that fine winter morning. + +Very exhilarating it was to him, coming from the crowded city, to +saunter up and down the sands, letting his eyes wander over the +broad, sun-lit waters and the winding, wooded shores. + +He watched the latest, hardier fish, not yet driven to warmer +climes, leap up through the sparkling ripples and disappear again. + +He watched the waterfowl start up in flocks from some near brake, +and, spreading their broad wings, sail far away over the bright +emerald-green waves. + +Along the shore he noted the sly, brown squirrel peep at him from +her hole, and then hop quickly out of sight; and the hardy little +snow-bird light at his feet and then dart swiftly away. + +Very dear to Ishmael were all these little darlings of nature. They +had been the playfellows of his boyhood; and something of the boy +survived in Ishmael yet, as it does in every pure young man. It is +only sin that destroys youthfulness. + +Sometimes he watched a distant sail disappear below the horizon, and +followed her in imagination over the seas, and thought with youthful +delight how soon he too would be on the deep blue waves of mid- +ocean. + +A step and a voice roused him from his reverie. + +"Good-morning, Ishmael! I saw you walking here from my window and +came out to join you." + +"Oh, good-morning, Mr. Brudenell!" exclaimed the young man, turning +with a glad smile to meet the elder one. + +Mr. Brudenell took the arm of Ishmael, and, leaning rather heavily +on it, joined him in his walk. + +"I know why Judge Merlin and yourself are going to England," he +said. + +"I thought you did. But I could not, and cannot now, conceive how +you should have found out; since we ourselves knew nothing about the +unfortunate affair until a day or two since; and it is one of a +strictly private and domestic nature," replied Ishmael. + +"Strictly private and domestic? Why, Ishmael, it may have been so in +the beginning; but now it is public and patent. All England is +ringing with the affair. It is the last sensation story that the +reporters have got hold of. It was from the London papers received +by the last mail that I learned the news," said Mr. Brudenell, +taking from his pocket the "Times," "Post," and "Chronicle." + +Ishmael hastily glanced over the accounts of the affair as contained +in each of these. But though the articles were long and wordy they +afforded him no new information. + +They told him what he already knew; that the Viscount Vincent had +filed a petition for divorce from his viscountess on the ground of +infidelity; that the lady was the daughter of an American chief- +justice; that she was a beauty and an heiress; that Lord Vincent had +formed her acquaintance at the President's house during his official +visit to Washington; that he had married her during the past summer; +and after an extended bridal tour had brought her in October to +Castle Cragg, when the suspicions that led to subsequent discovery +and ultimate separation were first aroused, etc., etc., etc. + +"All that is very unsatisfactory. I wish we knew the suspicious +circumstances," said Mr. Brudenell. + +"I believe there were no suspicious circumstances. I believe the +whole affair to be a conspiracy against Lady Vincent," said Ishmael. + +"But what motive could the viscount have for conspiracy against +her?" + +"The motive of getting rid of her, while he retains her fortune, +which most unluckily was not settled upon herself." + +While Mr. Brudenell stood gazing with consternation upon the +speaker, there came flying from the house a negro boy, who said that +he was sent to tell them that the breakfast was ready. + +They returned to the house and joined the family at the cheerful +breakfast table. It was a large party that met in the parlor +afterwards to go to church. + +And a gig in addition to the capacious family carriage was in +attendance. + +"Ishmael," said Mr. Middleton, in the kindly thoughtfulness of his +nature, "you will drive Bee in the gig. The rest of us will go in +the carriage." + +"Thank you very much, Mr. Middleton," answered the young man, as he +smilingly led his betrothed to the gig, placed her in it and seated +himself beside her. + +"Go on--go on ahead! We shall not ride over you in our lumbering old +coach!" said Mr. Middleton. + +Ishmael nodded, took the reins, and started. The road lay along the +high banks of the river above the sands. + +"How delightful it is to spend this day with you, dear Bee!" he +said, as they bowled along. + +"Oh, yes! and it is delightful to us all to have you here, Ishmael!" +she said; and then, with a slight depression in her tone, she +inquired: + +"Will you be gone to Europe long?" + +"No, dearest Bee. I shall dispatch the business that takes me there +as quickly as I can and hasten back," he replied; but he forbore to +hint the nature of this business; it was a subject with which he did +not wish to wound the delicate ear of Bee Middleton. + +"I hope you will enjoy your voyage," she said, smiling on him. + +"I wish you were going with me, dearest Bee. I had looked forward to +the pleasure of our seeing Europe together when we should go there +for the first time. And the continent we will see together; for I +shall go no farther than England. I shall reserve France, Italy, +Germany, and Russia for our tour next autumn, dear Bee." + +She smiled on him with sympathetic delight. But as the road here, +quite on the edge of the banks, required the most careful driving, +the lovers' conversation ceased for a while. + +And presently they were at the Shelton church. The congregation were +in luck that day. A celebrated preacher, who happened to be visiting +the neighborhood, occupied the pulpit. He preached from the text, +"Come up higher." And his discourse was a stirring call upon his +hearers to strive after perfection. All were pleased, instructed, +and inspired. + +When the services were concluded, our party returned home in the +same order in which they had come. And as there was no afternoon +service, they spent the remainder of the day in the enjoyment of +each other's company and conversation. + +Bee and Ishmael were mercifully left to themselves, to make the most +of the few hours before their separation. They were not morbid +sentimentalists--those two young people; they were not fearful, or +doubtful, or exacting of each other. If you had chanced to overhear +their conversation, you would have heard none of those entreaties, +warnings, and protestations that often make up the conversation of +lovers about to part for a time, and a little uncertain of each +other's fidelity. They had faith, hope, and love for, and in, each +other and their Creator. Ishmael never imagined such a thing as that +Bee could form another attachment, or go into a decline while he was +gone. And Bee had no fears either that the sea would swallow her +lover, or that a rival would carry him off. + +So at the end of that evening they bade each other a cheerful good- +night. And the next morning, when Ishmael had bid farewell to all +the family, herself included, and was in the saddle, she sent him +off with a brilliant smile and a joyous: + +"Heaven bless you, Ishmael! I know you will enjoy the trip." + +But when he had ridden away and disappeared down the path leading +through the pine woods, Bee turned into the house, ran into her +mother's chamber, threw herself into her mother's arms, and burst +into a flood of tears. + +It is the mother that always comes in for this sort of thing. Women +spare men--sometimes; but never spare each other. + +"My poor child! but it isn't far, you know!" + +"Oh, mamma, such a long way! I never expected to be separated so far +from Ishmael." + +"My dear, steam annihilates distance. Only think, it is a voyage of +but ten days." + +"I know. Oh, it was very foolish in me to cry. Thank Heaven, Ishmael +didn't see me," said Bee, wiping her eyes, and smiling through her +wet eyelashes, like a sunbeam through the rain-sprinkled foliage. + +Bee would scarcely have been flesh and blood if she had not indulged +in this one hearty cry; but it was the last. + +She left her mother's side and went about her household duties +cheerfully, and very soon she was as happy as if Ishmael had not +come and gone; happier, for she followed him in imagination over the +ocean and sympathized in his delight. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII. + +HANNAH'S HAPPY PROGNOSTICS. + + The morn is tip again, the dewy morn, + With breath all incense and with cheek all bloom, + Laughing the night away with playful scorn, + Rejoicing as if earth contained no tomb + And glowing into day. + --_Byron_. + + + +Ishmael had also keenly felt the parting with Beatrice. But +accustomed to self-government, he did not permit his feelings to +overcome him. And indeed his mind was too well balanced to be much +disturbed by what he believed would be but a short separation from +his betrothed. + +He rode on gayly that pleasant winter morning, through the leafless +woods, until he came to those cross-roads of which we have so often +spoken. + +Here he paused; for here it was necessary, finally, to decide a +question that he had been debating with himself for the last two +days. + +And that was whether or not he should take the time to go to see +Hannah and Reuben and bid them good-by, before proceeding on his +long journey. + +To go to Woodside he must take the road through Baymouth, which +would carry him some miles out of the direct road to Washington, and +consume several hours of that time of which every moment was now so +precious. But to leave the country without saying farewell to the +friends of his infancy was repugnant to every good feeling of his +heart. He did not hesitate long. He turned his horse's head towards +Baymouth and put him into a gallop. The horse was fresh, and Ishmael +thought he would ride fast until he got to Woodside and then let the +horse rest while he talked to Hannah. + +He rode through Baymouth without drawing rein; only giving a rapid +glance of recognition as he passed the broad show-window of Hamlin's +bookstore, which used to be the wonder and delight of his destitute +boyhood. + +It was still early in the morning when he reached Woodside and rode +up to the cottage gate. How bright and cheerful the cottage looked +that splendid winter morning. The evergreen trees around it and the +clusters of crimson rose-berries on the climbing rosevines over its +porch, making quite a winter verdure and bloom against its white +walls. + +Ishmael dismounted, tied his horse, and entered the little gate. +Hannah was standing on the step of the porch, holding a tin pan of +chicken food in her hands, and feeding two pet bantams that she kept +separate from the shanghais, which beat them cruelly whenever they +got a chance. + +On seeing Ishmael she dropped her pan of victuals and made a dash at +him, exclaiming: + +"Why, Ishmael! Good fathers alive! is this you? And where did you +drop from?" + +"From my saddle at your gate, last, Aunt Hannah," said Ishmael, +smiling, as he folded her in his embrace. + +"But I'm so glad to see you, Ishmael! And so surprised! Come in, my +dear, dear boy. Shoo! you greedy, troublesome creeturs. You're never +satisfied! I wish the shanghais would swallow you!" cried Hannah, +speaking first to Ishmael as she cast her arms around his neck; and +next to the bantams that had flown up to her shoulders. + +"I am delighted to see you looking so hearty, ma'am. I declare you +are growing quite stout," said Ishmael, affectionately surveying his +relation. + +"Women are apt to, at my age, Ishmael. But come in, my dear boy, +come in!" + +When they entered the cottage she drew Reuben's comfortable armchair +up to the fire; and when Ishmael had seated himself she said: + +"And now! first of all--have you had your breakfast?" + +"Hours ago, thank you." + +"Yes; a road-side tavern breakfast. I know what that is. Here, Sam! +Sam! Lord, how I do miss Sally, to be sure!" complained Hannah, as +she went to the back door and bawled after her factotum. + +"Sit down and give yourself no trouble. I breakfasted famously at +the Beacon." + +"Oh!" exclaimed Hannah, with a little jealous twinge, "you've been +there, have you? That accounts for everything. Well, I suppose it's +natural. But when is that affair to come off, Ishmael?" + +"If you mean my marriage with Miss Middleton, it will not take place +until next autumn, Aunt Hannah, as I believe I have already told +you." + +"But haven't you been down there to coax the old man to shorten the +time?" + +"No, ma'am, but with a very different purpose." + +"A different purpose? What was it? But, law, here I am keeping you +talking in your greatcoat! Take it off at once, Ishmael, and be +comfortable. And I will make Sam light a fire and carry some hot +water in your room." + +"No, ma'am, do not, please. Believe me it is unnecessary, and indeed +quite useless. I have but half an hour to stay." + +"But half an hour to stay with me! Do you mean to insult me, Ishmael +Worth?" demanded Hannah wrathfully. + +"Certainly not, dear Aunt Hannah," laughed Ishmael, "but I am going +to leave the country, and so--" + +"Going to--what?" + +"I am going to leave the country quite suddenly, and that is the +reason--" + +"Ishmael Worth! have you robbed a bank or killed a man that you are +going to run away from your native land?" exclaimed Hannah +indignantly. + +"Neither, ma'am," laughed Ishmael. "I go with Judge Merlin, on +professional business--" + +"Is that old man going to travel at his age?" + +"Yes, because--" + +"The more fool he!" + +"He goes on very important business." + +"Very important fiddle-stick's end! The great old baby is pining +after his daughter. And he's just made up this excuse of business +because he is ashamed to let people know the real reason--as well he +may be! But why he should drag you along with him is more than I can +guess." + +"He thinks I can be of service to him, and I shall try." + +"You'll try to ruin yourself, that's what you'll do!" + +"Aunt Hannah, I have but a few minutes left. If you will permit me, +I will just give my horse some water and go." + +"Go! What, so suddenly? Lord, Lord, and Reuben away out in the field +and the children with him! And you'll go away without taking a last +farewell of them. I'll call Sam and send for them if you will wait a +minute. Sam! Sam! Sam!" cried Hannah, going to the back door and +screaming at the top of her voice. + +But no Sam was forthcoming. + +"Plague take that nigger! I do wish from the very bottom of my heart +the deuce had him! Now, what shall I do?" she cried, returning to +the room and dropping into her chair. + +Fate answered the question by relieving her from her dilemma. + +The front door opened and Reuben Gray entered, leading the two +children and saying: + +"It was too sharp for 'em out there, Hannah, my dear, especially as +Molly, bless her, was a-sneezin' dreadful, as if she was a-catchin' +a cold in her head; and so I fotch 'em in." + +"Reuben, where's your eyes? Don't you see who is in the room? Here's +Ishmael!" exclaimed Hannah irately. + +"Ishmael! Why, so he is! Why, Lord bless you, boy. I'm so glad to +see you!" exclaimed Reuben, with his honest face all in a glow of +delight as he shook his guest's hands. + +And at the same time the children let go their father's hand, and +stood before the young man, waiting eagerly to be noticed. + +"Yes, you better look at him! Look at him your fill now, You'll +never see him again!" groaned Hannah. + +"Never see who again? What are you talking about, Hannah, my dear?" + +"Ishmael! He's come to bid a last good-by to us all. He's a-going to +leave his native country! He's a-going to foreign parts!" + +"Ishmael going to foreign parts!" exclaimed Reuben, gazing in +surprise on his young guest. + +"Yes, Uncle Reuben, I am going to England with Judge Merlin on +business." + +"Well, to be sure! that is a surprise! I knowed the judge was a- +going to see his darter; but I had no idee that you was a-going +'long of him," said Reuben. + +"When do you go? that is what I want to know," cried Hannah sharply. + +"We sail in the 'Oceana' from Boston on Wednesday; and that is the +reason, Aunt Hannah, why I am so hurried; you see I must reach +Washington to-night so as to finish up my business there, and take +the early train for the North on Tuesday morning." + +"What? you going in one of them steamers? Oh, law!" + +"What is the matter, ma'am?" + +"I know the steamer'll burst its boiler, or catch afire, or sink, or +something! I know it!" + +"Lord, Hannah, don't dishearten people that-a-way! Why should the +steamer do anything of the kind?" said Reuben, with a doubtful and +troubled air. + +"Because they are always and for everlasting a-doing of such things. +Just think what happened to the 'Geyser'--burst her boiler and +scalded everybody to death!" + +"Law, Hannah! that was only one in a--" + +"And the 'Vesuvius,'" fiercely continued Hannah; "the 'Vesuvius' +caught on fire and burned down to the water's edge, and was so +found--a floating charcoal, and every soul on board perished." + +"Lord, Hannah, you're enough to make anybody's flesh creep. Surely +that was only--" + +"And then there was the 'Wave,' as struck St. George's bar and +smashed all to pieces, and all on board were drowned!" + +"Well, but, Hannah, you know--" + +"And the 'Boreas,' that was lost in a gale. And the 'White Bear,' +that was jammed to smash between two icebergs. And the 'Platina,' +that sunk to the bottom with a clear sky and a smooth sea. Sunk to +the bottom as if she had been so much lead. And the--" + +"Goodness, gracious, me alive! And the Lord bless my soul, Hannah! +You turn my very blood to water with your stories. Ishmael, don't +you go!" + +"Nonsense, Uncle Reuben! You know Aunt Hannah. She cannot help +looking on the darkest side. When I was a boy, she was always +prophesying I'd be hung, you know. Positively, sometimes she made me +fear I might be," said Ishmael, smiling, and turning an affectionate +glance upon his croaking relative. + +"Yes, it's all very well for you to talk that way, Ishmael Worth. +But I know one thing. I know I never heard of any sort of a ship +going safe into port more than two or three times in the whole +course of my life. And I have heard of many and many a shipwreck!" +said Hannah, nodding her head, with the air of one who had just +uttered a "knock-down" argument. + +"Why, of course, Aunt Hannah. Because, in your remote country +neighborhood you always hear of the wreck that happens once in a +year or in two years; but you never hear of the thousands upon +thousands of ships that are always making safe voyages." + +"Oh, Ishmael, hush! It won't do. I'm not convinced. I don't expect +ever to see you alive again." + +"Law, Hannah, my dear, don't be so disbelieving. Really, now, you +disencourage one." + +"Hold your tongue, Reuben, you're a fool! I say it, and I stand to +it, that steamer will either burst her boiler, or catch on fire, or +sink, or something! And we shall never see our boy again." + +Here little Molly, who had been attentively listening to the +conversation, and, like the poor Desdemona, understood "a horror in +the words," if not the words, opened her mouth and set up a howl +that was immediately seconded by her brother. + +It became necessary to soothe and quiet these youngsters; and Reuben +lifted them both to his knees. + +"Why, what's the matter with pappy's pets, then? What's all this +about?" he inquired, tenderly stroking their heads. + +"Cousin Ishmael is going away to be drownded! Boo-hoo-woo!" bawled +Molly. + +"And be burnt up, too! Ar-r-r-r-r-r-r!" roared Johnny. + +"No, I am not going to be either one or the other," said the subject +of all this interest cheerfully, as he took the children from Reuben +and enthroned them on his own knees. "I am going abroad for a little +while, and I will bring you ever so many pretty things when I come +back." + +They were reassured and stopped howling. + +"How is your doll, Molly!" + +"Her poor nose is broke." + +"I thought so." Well, I will bring you a prettier and a larger doll, +that can open and shut its mouth and cry." + +"Oh-h!" exclaimed Molly, making great eyes in her surprise and +delight. + +"Now, what else shall I bring you, besides the new doll?" + +"Another one." + +"What, two dolls?" + +"Yes." + +"Well, what else?" + +"Another one, too." + +"Three dolls! goodness! but tell me what you would like beside the +three dolls?" + +"Some more dolls," persisted Molly, with her finger in her mouth. + +"Whew! What would you like, Johnny?" inquired Ishmael, smiling on +the little boy. + +"I'd like a hatchet all of my own. I want one the worst kind of a +way," said Johnny solemnly. + +"Shall I bring him a little box of dwarf carpenter tools, Uncle +Reuben?" inquired Ishmael doubtfully. + +"Just as you please, Ishmael. He can't do much damage with them +inside, because Hannah is always here to watch him; and he may hack +and saw as much as he likes outside," said Reuben. + +These points being settled, and the children not only soothed, but +delighted, Ishmael put them off his knees and arose to depart. + +He kissed the children, shook hands with Reuben and embraced Hannah, +whose maternal tenderness caused her to restrain her emotions and +forbear her croakings, lest she should frighten the children again. + +When he got outside he found Sam standing by the horse, having just +given him water, and being in the act of removing the empty bucket. + +Ishmael shook hands with him also, got into the saddle, and, amid +the fervent blessings of Reuben and Hannah, recommenced his journey. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV. + +THE JOURNEY. + + Love, hope, and joy, fair pleasure's smiling train; + Hate, fear, and grief, the family of pain; + These mixed with art and to due bounds confined, + Make and maintain the balance of the mind; + The lights and shades whose well-accorded strife + Give all the strength and color to our life + --_Pope_. + + + +Ishmael's ride up to the city was, upon the whole, as much enjoyed +as the ride down had been. It is true that, in the first instance, +he had been going to see Bee; and now he was coming away from her; +but he had passed one whole day and two pleasant evenings in her +society, and he could live a long time on the memory of that visit. + +He soon struck into his old direct path, and calling at the same +places where he had changed horses on his journey down, he re- +changed them on his way up. + +At Horsehead, where he stopped to take tea, he recovered his +favourite brown horse Jack, which was in excellent condition and +carried him swiftly the rest of the way to Washington. + +It was ten o'clock when he drew rein at the door of his office, +dismounted, and rang. + +The professor opened the door. + +"Well, Morris, all right here?" was Ishmael's cheerful greeting. + +"All right, sir, now that you have come. We have been a little +anxious within the last hour or two, sir; especially the judge, who +is here." + +"Judge Merlin here?" + +"Yes, sir. He came over to wait for you. And the two young gentlemen +are also here, sir. They came back after tea. I heard them say to +the judge that they thought it quite likely you would have some last +things to say to them to-night, and so they would wait." + +"Quite right. Morris. Now take my horse around to the stables and +then return as fast as you can," said Ishmael, as he passed the +professor and entered the office. + +The judge and the two young clerks occupied it. + +The former was walking up and down the floor impatiently. The latter +were seated at their desks. + +The judge turned quickly to greet his young friend. + +"Oh, Ishmael, I am so relieved that you have come at last. I have +been very anxious for the last few hours." + +"Why so, sir?" inquired Ishmael, as he shook hands with the old man. +"Did you not know that I would be punctual when I gave you my word +to that effect?" + +"Oh, yes; but there are such things as accidents, you know, and an +accident would have been very awkward on the eve of a voyage. And +you are late, you are late, you see!" + +"Yes," said Ishmael, as he passed on to speak to his young clerks +and thank them for their thoughtfulness in waiting. + +Then, while divesting himself of his greatcoat, he explained to the +judge the cause of his short delay--the detour he had made to bid +good-by to his old friends, Hannah and Reuben. By the time he had +done this, and seated himself, the professor returned from the +livery stables; but he only reported the safe delivery of the horse +and then passed through the office into the house. + +In a few minutes he returned, saying: + +"Mr. Worth, the ladies bid me say that they had kept supper waiting +for you, and they hope you will do them the favor to come in and +partake of it, as it is your last evening at home for some time. And +they will also be very much gratified if your friends will come and +sup with you on this occasion." + +"Will you come, judge? And you, too, gentlemen?" inquired Ishmael, +turning to his companions, who all three bowed assent. + +"Return to the ladies and say that I thank them very much for their +kindness, and that we will come with pleasure," he said to the +professor. + +And then with a smile and a bow, and a request to be excused for a +few minutes, Ishmael passed into his bedroom to make some little +change in his toilet for the evening. + +When he rejoined his friends they went into the supper-room, where +they found an elegant and luxurious feast laid; and the two fair old +ladies, in their soft, plain, gray mousseline dresses and delicate +lace caps, waiting to do the honors. These maiden ladies, with their +refinement, intelligence, and benevolence, had completely won the +affections of Ishmael, who loved them with a filial reverence. + +There was no one else present in the room except themselves and a +waiter. + +"My dear Mr. Worth," said the elder lady, approaching and taking his +hand, "we hear that you are going to Europe. How sudden, and how we +shall miss you! But we hope that you will have a pleasant time." + +"Yes, indeed!" joined in her sister, coming up to shake hands; "we +do so! and I am sure in church, yesterday, when we came to that part +of the litany in which we pray for 'all who travel by land or by +water,' I thought of you and bore you up on that prayer. And I shall +continue to do it until you get back safe." + +"And so shall I," added the elder. + +"Thank you! thank you!" said Ishmael, fervently shaking both their +hands. "I am sure if your good wishes and pious prayers can effect +it, I shall have a pleasant and prosperous voyage." + +"That you will," they simultaneously and cordially responded. + +"And now permit me to introduce my friends: Judge Merlin, Mr. Smith, +Mr. Jones." + +The gentlemen bowed and the ladies courtesied, and they presently +sat down to supper. The conversation turned on the projected voyage. + +"Judge, you will have an unexpected fellow-passenger--an old +friend," said Ishmael. + +"Ah! who is he?" sighed the judge, who never spoke now without a +sigh. + +"Mr. Brudenell is going over in the 'Oceana.'" + +"Indeed! What takes him over?" + +"I do not know; unless it is the desire of seeing his mother and +sisters. He did not tell me, and I did not ask him. In fact, we had +so short a time together there was no opportunity." + +"Oh! you have seen him? Where did you meet him? And where is he +now?" + +"I met him at the Beacon, en route for Washington. He left there +this morning, to embark on the 'Errand Boy,' which expects to reach +the city to-morrow, in time for the express train North." + +"Ah! coming by the 'Errand Boy,' is he? That's a risk, under all the +circumstances, for the 'Errand Boy' is sometimes three or four hours +behind time. And if he should miss the early train to-morrow morning +he can never be in time to meet the Boston steamer, that is certain. +Why couldn't he have dashed up on horseback with you?" + +"I fancy, sir, he was not strong enough to bear such a forced ride +as I was obliged to undertake." + +As it was eleven o'clock when they arose from the supper-table the +judge almost immediately took his leave, having previously arranged +with Ishmael to join him at his hotel the next morning, to proceed +from there to the station. + +The two young clerks remained longer, to go over certain documents +with their employer, and receive his final instructions. When they +had departed, Ishmael went into his bedroom, where he found the +professor waiting for him. + +"At last!" said the latter, as his master entered. + +"What, Morris, you up yet? Do you know what time it is?" demanded +Ishmael, in surprise. + +"Yes, sir; it is two o'clock in the morning." + +"Then you know you ought to have been in bed, hours ago." + +"Law, Mr. Worth--I couldn't have slept, sir, if I had gone to bed. +I'm rising sixty years old, but I am just as much excited over this +voyage to England as if I was a boy of sixteen. To think I shall see +St. Paul's Cathedral, sir! Aint the thought of that enough to keep a +man's eyes open all night? And to think it is all through you, young +Ish--Mr. Worth. If it wasn't for you, I might be vegetating on, in +that cabin, in old St. Mary's, with no more chance of improving my +mind than the cattle that browse around it. God bless you, sir!" + +"Ah, professor, if at your age I have such a fresh, young, evergreen +heart, and such an aspiring, progressive spirit as yours, I shall +think the Lord has blessed me. But now go to bed, old friend, and +recruit your strength for the journey. Though 'the spirit is +willing, the flesh is weak,' you know. The soul is immortal, but the +body is perishable; so you must take care of it." + +"Yes, sir, I will, just because you tell me. But I want to show you +first what preparations I have made for the voyage, to see if you +approve them. You see, sir, when you went off to St. Mary's so +sudden, and left me to pack up your clothes, it just struck me that +there must be many things wanted on a sea-voyage as is not wanted on +land; but of course I didn't know exactly what they were. So after +cogitating a while, I remembered that the judge had been to Europe +several times, and would know all about it, and so I just made bold +to go and ask him. And he told me what you would require. And I went +and got it, sir. Please, look here," said the professor, raising the +lid of a trunk. + +"You are very thoughtful, Morris. You are a real help to me," said +Ishmael, smiling. + +"You see, here are the warm, fine, dark flannel shirts, to be worn +instead of linen ones on the voyage. And here is a thick woolen +scarf. And here is your sea cap. And oh, here is your sea suit--of +coarse pepper and salt. And if you believe me, sir, I went and gave +the order to your tailor on Saturday morning, and told him the +necessity for haste, and he sent the clothes home before twelve +o'clock at night. I'm only afraid they'll hang like a bag on you, +sir, as the tailor had nothing but your business suit to measure +them by, though, to be sure, the fit of a sea suit isn't much +matter, sir." + +"Certainly not. You are a treasure to me, Morris; but if you do not +go to bed now and recruit your strength, my treasure may be +endangered." + +"I'm going now, sir; only I want to call your attention to the books +I have put into your trunk, sir. I thought as we could only take a +very few, I had better put in the Bible, and Shakspeare, and Milton, +sir." + +"An admirable selection, Morris. Good-night, dear old friend." + +"Good-night, sir; but please take notice I have put in a chess board +and set of chessmen." + +"All right, professor. Good-night," repeated Ishmael + +"Yes, sir; good-night! And there's a first-rate spy-glass, as I +thought you'd like to have to see distant objects." + +"Thank you, professor. Good-night!" reiterated Ishmael, scarcely +able to restrain his laughter. + +"Good-night, sir. And there's some--well, I see you're laughing at +me." + +"No, no, professor! or, if I was, it was in sympathy and pleasure; +not in derision--Heaven forbid! Your boyish interest in this voyage +is really charming to me, professor. But you must retire, old +friend; indeed you must. You know we will have plenty of time to +look over these things when we get on board the steamer," said +Ishmael, taking the old man's hand, cordially shaking it, and +resolutely dismissing him to rest. + +And Ishmael himself retired to bed and to sleep, and being very much +fatigued with his long ride, he slept soundly until morning. + +Though the professor was too much excited by the thoughts of his +voyage to sleep much, yet he was up with the earliest dawn of +morning, moving about softly in his master's room, strapping down +the trunks and laying out traveling clothes and toilet apparatus. + +The kind old maiden ladies also bestirred themselves earlier than +usual this morning, that their young favorite should enjoy one more +comfortable breakfast before he left. + +And so when Ishmael was dressed and had just dispatched the +professor to the stand to engage a hack to take them to the station, +and while he was thinking of nothing better in the way of a morning +meal than the weak, muddy coffee and questionable bread and butter +of the railway restaurant, he received a summons to the dining room, +where he found his two hostesses presiding over a breakfast of Mocha +coffee, hot rolls, buckwheat cakes, poached eggs, broiled salmon, +stewed oysters, and roast partridges. + +Our young man had a fine healthy appetite of his own, and could +enjoy this repast as well as any epicure alive; but better than all +to his affectionate heart was the motherly kindness that had brought +these two delicate old ladies out of their beds at this early hour +to give him a breakfast. + +They had their reward in seeing how heartily he ate. There was no +one at the table but himself and themselves; and they pressed the +food upon him, reminding him how long a journey he would have to +make before he could sit down to another comfortable meal. + +And when Ishmael had breakfasted and thanked them, and returned to +his rooms to tie up some last little parcels, they called in the +professor, who had now come back, and they plied him with all the +luxuries on the breakfast table. + +And when to their great satisfaction the old man had made an +astonishing meal and risen from the table, they beckoned him +mysteriously aside and gave a well-filled hamper into his charge, +saying: + +"You know, professor, it is a long journey from Washington to +Boston, and in going straight through you can't get anything fit to +eat on the road; and so we have packed this hamper for your master. +There's ham sandwiches and chicken pie, and roast partridges and +fried oysters, and French rolls and celery, and plenty of pickles +and pepper and salt and things. And I have put in some plates and +knives and napkins, all comfortable." + +The professor thanked them heartily on the part of his master; and +took the hamper immediately to the hack that was standing before the +door. + +Ishmael had already caused the luggage to be carried out and placed +on the hack, and now nothing remained to be done but to take leave +of the two old ladies. He shook hands with them affectionately, and +they blessed him fervently. And as soon as he had got into the hack +and it had driven off with him, they turned and clasped each other +around the neck and cried. + +Truly Ishmael's good qualities had made him deeply beloved. + +When the hack reached the hotel, Ishmael found Judge Merlin, all +greatcoated and shawled, walking up and down before the door with +much impatience. His luggage had been brought down. + +"You see I am in time, judge." + +"Yes, Ishmael. Good morning. I was afraid you would not be, however. +I was afraid you would oversleep yourself after your hard ride. But +have you breakfasted?" + +"Oh, yes! My dear old friends were up before day to have breakfast +with me." + +"I tell you what, Ishmael, they are really two charming old ladies, +and if ever I get right again and spend another winter in this city, +I will try to get them to take me to board. They would make a home +for a man," said the judge. + +While they were talking the porters were busy putting Judge Merlin's +luggage upon Ishmael's hack. + +"You have not heard whether the 'Errand Boy' has reached the wharf?" +inquired Ishmael. + +"Not a word. There has been no arrival here this morning from any +quarter, as I understand from the head waiter." + +"I am really afraid Mr. Brudenell will miss the train." + +"If he does he will miss the voyage also. But we must not risk such +a misfortune. Get in, boy, get in!" said the judge, hastily entering +the hack. + +Ishmael followed his example. The professor climbed up to a seat +beside the driver and the hack moved off. They reached the railway +station just in time. In fact they had not a moment to lose. + +They had just got seated in the cars, and were expecting the signal +whistle to shriek out every instant, when Ishmael, who was seated +nearest the window, saw a gentleman in a great-coat, and with his +shawl over his arm, and his umbrella and hat-box in his hand, +hurrying frantically past. + +"There is Mr. Brudenell now!" he exclaimed with pleasure, as he +tapped upon the window to attract that gentleman's attention. + +Mr. Brudenell looked up, nodded quickly, and darted on, and the next +moment hurried in at the end door of the car and came down to them +just as the signal whistle shrieked out and the train started. + +Ishmael reserved the seat in front of himself and the judge, and +invited Mr. Brudenell to take it. + +The latter gentleman dropped into his place and then held out his +hand to greet his fellow-passengers. + +"So you are going with us to England. I am very glad of it," said +the judge, though in fact he looked very pale and worn, as if he +never could be glad again in this world. + +"Yes," said Mr. Brudenell, "I am very glad indeed to be of your +party. Good-morning, Worth!" + +"Good-morning, sir! You were very fortunate to catch the train." + +"Very! I was within half a minute of missing it. I had a run for it, +I assure you." + +"I beg your pardon, sir! Have you breakfasted?" here inquired the +professor, in all the conscious importance of carrying a hamper. + +"Ah, professor! how do you do? You are never going to Europe?" +exclaimed Mr. Brudenell, in surprise. + +"Yes, sir. I go wherever my master leads, sir. Mr. Worth and his +humble servant will never be separated till death do them part. But +about your breakfast, sir?" + +"Why, truly, no, I have not breakfasted, unless a cup of suspicious- +looking liquid called coffee, drunk at the railway table, could be +called breakfast." + +The professor sat his hamper on his knees, opened it, and began to +reveal its hidden treasures. + +Ishmael laughed, expressed his surprise, and inquired of Morris what +cook shop he patronized. + +And then the professor explained the kind forethought of the old +ladies who had provided these luxuries for his journey. + +"I declare I will live with them if they will let me, if ever I +spend another winter in Washington! One could enjoy what is so often +promised, so seldom given--'the comforts of a home'--with those old +ladies," said the judge fervently. + +Mr. Brudenell made a very satisfactory meal off half a dozen French +rolls, a roasted partridge and a bottle of claret. And then while he +was wiping his mouth and the professor was repacking the hamper and +throwing the waste out of the window, Judge Merlin turned to Mr. +Brudenell, and, with an old man's freedom, inquired: + +"Pray, sir, may I ask, what procures us the pleasure--and it is +indeed a great pleasure--of your company across the water?" + +A shade of the deepest grief and mortification fell over the face of +Herman Brudenell, as bending his head to the ear of his questioner, +and speaking in a low voice, he replied: + +"Family matters, of so painful and humiliating a nature as not to be +discussed in a railway car, or scarcely anywhere else, in fact." + +"Pardon me," said the judge, speaking in the same low tone; "some +malignant star must reign. Had you asked the same question of me, +concerning the motives of my journey, I might have truly answered +you in the very same words." + +And the old man groaned deeply; while Ishmael silently wondered what +the family matters could be of which Mr. Brudenell spoke. + +A modern railway journey is without incident or adventure worth +recording, unless it be an occasional disastrous collision. No such +calamity befell this train. Our travelers talked, dozed, eat, and +drank a little through their twenty-four hours' journey. At noon +they reached Philadelphia, at eve New York, at midnight Springfield, +and the next morning Boston. + +It was just sunrise as they arose and stretched their weary limbs +and left the train. They had but an hour to spare to go to a hotel +and refresh themselves with a bath, a change of clothes, and a +breakfast before it was time to go on board their steamer. + +They were the last passengers on board. Fortunately, at this season +of the year there are comparatively but few voyagers. The best +staterooms in the first cabin, to use a common phrase, "went a- +begging." + +And Judge Merlin, Mr. Brudenell, and Ishmael were each accommodated +with a separate stateroom "amidships." + +The professor was provided with a good berth in the second cabin. + +There were about thirty other passengers in the first cabin, as many +in the second, and quite a large number in the steerage. + + + + +CHAPTER XXV. + +THE VOYAGE. + + Thalatta! Thalatta! + I greet thee, thou ocean eternal! + I give thee ten thousand times greeting, + My whole soul exulting! + --_Heine_. + + + +It was a splendid winter morning, and Boston harbor, with its +shipping, presented a magnificent appearance, lighted up by the +rising sun, as the "Oceana" steamed out towards the open sea. + +Our three friends stood in the after part of the deck, gazing upon +the dear native land they were leaving behind them. The professor +waited in respectful attendance upon them. + +A little way from the shore the signal gun was fired; the farewell +gun! how it brought back to the father's memory that moment of agony +when the signal gun of another steamer struck the knell of his +parting with his only daughter, and seemed to break his heart! + +He was going to Claudia now, but oh! how should he find her? Who +could tell? + +Still there was hope in the thought that he was going to her, and +there was exhilaration in the wide expanse of sparkling waters, in +the splendid winter sky, in the fresh sea-breeze, and in the swift +motion of the steamer. + +His eyes, however, with those of all his party, were fixed upon the +beloved receding shore; for so smooth as yet was the motion of the +steamer that it did not seem to be so much the "Oceana" that was +sailing eastward, as the shore that was receding and dropping down +below the western horizon. + +They stood watching it until all the prominent objects grew +gradually indistinct and became blended in each other; then until +the dimly diversified boundary faded into a faint irregular blue +line; then until it vanished. Only then they left the deck and went +down into the cabin to explore their staterooms. + +Ishmael found the professor, who had gone down a few minutes before +him, busy unpacking his master's sea trunk, and getting him, as he +said: + +"Comfortably to housekeeping for the next two weeks." + +When Ishmael entered the professor was just in the act of setting up +the three books that comprised the sea library, carefully arranging +them on a tiny circular shelf in the corner. One of the stateroom +stewards who stood watching the "landlubber's" operations +sarcastically said: + +"How long, friend, do you expect them books to stand there?" + +"Until my master takes them down, sir," politely answered the +professor. + +"Well, now, they'll stand there maybe until we get out among the big +waves; when, at the first lurch of the ship, down they'll tumble +upon somebody's head." + +"'Sufficient unto the day--'" said the professor, persevering in his +housekeeping arrangements. All that day there was nothing to +threaten the equilibrium of the books. A splendid first day's sail +they had. The sky was clear and bright; the sea serene and +sparkling; the wind fresh and fair; and the motion of the steamer +smooth and swift. Our travelers, despite the care at the bottom of +their hearts, enjoyed it immensely. Who, with a remnant of hope +remaining to them, can fail to sympathize with the beauty, glory, +and rapture of Nature in her best moods? + +At dinner they feasted with such good appetites as to call forth a +jocose remark from a fellow-passenger who seemed to be an +experienced voyager. He proved, in fact, to be a retired sea- +captain, who was making this voyage partly for business, partly for +pleasure. He was an unusually tall and stout old gentleman, with a +stately carriage, a full, red face, and gray hair and beard. + +"That is right. Go it while you're well, friends! For in all human +probability this is the last comfortable meal you will enjoy for +many a day," he said. Those whom he addressed looked up in surprise +and smiled in doubt. + +The splendid sunny day was followed by a brilliant starlight night, +in which all the favorable circumstances of the voyage, so far, +continued. + +After tea the passengers went on deck to enjoy the beauty of the +evening. + +"What do you think, Captain Mountz?" inquired a gentleman, "will +this fair wind continue long?" + +"What the deuce is the wind to me? I'm a passenger," responded the +irresponsible retired captain. + +They remained on deck enjoying the starlit glory of the sea and sky +until a late hour, when, fatigued and sleepy, they went below and +sought their berths. To new voyagers there is in the first night at +sea something so novel, so wild, so weird, so really unearthly, that +few, if any, can sleep. They have left the old, still, safe land far +behind, and are out in the dark upon the strange, unstable, perilous +sea. It is a new element, a new world, a new life; and the novelty, +the restlessness, and even the dangers, have a fascination that +charms the imagination and banishes repose. A few voyages cure one +of these fancies; but this is how a novice feels. + +And thus it was with Ishmael. Fatigued as he was, he lay awake in +his berth, soothed by the motion of the vessel and the sound of the +sea, until near morning, when at length he fell into a deep sleep. +It was destined to be a brief one, however. + +Soon every passenger was waked up by the violent rolling and tossing +of the ship; the creaking and groaning of the rigging; the howling +and shrieking of the wind, and the rising and falling of the waves. + +All the brave and active passengers tumbled up out of their berths +and dressed quickly, while the timid and indolent cowered under +their sheets and waited the issue. + +Ishmael was among the first on deck. Day was dawning. + +Here all hands were on the alert: the captain swearing his orders as +fast as they could be obeyed. One set of men were rapidly taking in +sail. Another set were seeing to the life boats. The sea was running +mountains high; the ship rolling fearfully; the wind so fierce that +Ishmael could scarcely stand. + +He saw old Captain Mountz on deck, and appealed to him. + +"We are likely to have a heavy gale?" + +"Oh, a capful of wind! Only a capful of wind!" contemptuously +replied that "old salt," who, by the way, through the whole of the +tempestuous voyage could not be induced to acknowledge that they had +had a single gale worth noticing. + +But the wind increased in violence and the sea arose in wrath, and +to battle they went, with their old irreconcilable hatred. And yet, +notwithstanding the fury of wind and wave, the sun arose upon a +perfectly clear sky. + +Ishmael remained on deck watching the fierce warring of the elements +until the second breakfast bell rung, when he went below. + +Neither Judge Merlin nor Mr. Brudenell was at the breakfast table. +In fact there was no one in the saloon, except Captain Mountz and +two or three other seasoned old voyagers. + +The remainder of the passengers were all dreadfully ill in their +berths. The prediction of the old captain was fulfilled in their +cases at least; they had eaten the last comfortable meal they could +enjoy for many days. + +As soon as Ishmael had eaten his breakfast he went below in search +of the companions of his voyage. + +He found the judge lying flat on his back, with his hands clasping +his temples, and praying only to be let alone. + +The stateroom steward was standing over him, bullying him with a cup +of black tea, which he insisted upon his taking, whether or no. + +"If he drinks it, sir, he will have something to throw up; which +will be better for him than all this empty retching. And after he +has thrown up he will be all right, and be able to get up and eat +his breakfast and go on deck," said the man, appealing to Ishmael. + +"Ishmael, kick that rascal out of my room, and break his neck and +throw him overboard!" cried the judge, in anguish and desperation. + +"Friend, don't you know better than to exasperate a seasick man? +Leave him to me until he is better," said Ishmael smiling on the +well-meaning steward. + +"But, sir, if he would drink this tea he would throw up and--" + +"Ishmael, will you strangle that diabolical villain and pitch him +into the sea?" thundered the judge. + +The "diabolical villain" raised his disengaged hand in deprecation +and withdrew, carrying the cup of tea in the other. + +"And now, Ishmael, take yourself off, and leave me in peace. I hate +you! and I loathe the whole human race!" + +Ishmael left the stateroom, meditating on the demoralizing nature of +seasickness. + +He next visited Mr. Brudenell, whom he found in a paroxysm of +illness, with another stateroom steward holding the basin for him. + +"Ugh! ugh! ugh!" moaned the victim. "This heaving, rising, falling +sea! And this reeling, pitching, tossing ship! If it would only stop +for one moment! I should be glad of anything that would stop it-- +even a fire!" + +"I am sorry to see you suffering so much, sir! Can I do anything for +you?" inquired Ishmael sympathetically. + +"Ugh! ugh! ugh! No! Hold the basin for me again, Bob! No, Ishmael, +you can do nothing for me! only do go away! I hate anyone to see me +in this debasing sickness! for it is debasing, Ishmael! Ugh! the +basin, Bob! quick!" + +Ishmael backed out in double-quick time. + +And next he found his way to the second cabin, to the bedside of the +professor. + +Apparently Jim Morris had just suffered a very severe paroxysm; for +he lay back on his pillow with pale, sharp, sunken features and +almost breathless lungs. + +"I am sorry to see you so ill, professor," said Ishmael tenderly, +laying his hand on the old man's forehead. + +"It is nothing, Mr. Ishmael, sir, only a little seasickness, as all +the passengers have. I dare say it will soon be over. I am only +concerned because I can't come and wait on you," said the professor, +speaking faintly, and with a great effort. + +"Never mind that, dear old friend. I can wait on myself very well; +and on you, too, while you need attention." + +"Oh, Mr. Ishmael, sir! You are much too kind; but I shall be all +right in a little time, and am so glad you are not sick, too." + +"No; I am not sick, Morris. But I am afraid that you have been +suffering very much," said Ishmael, as he noticed the old man's +pallid countenance. + +"Oh, no, Mr. Ishmael! Don't disturb yourself. I shall be better +soon. You see, when I was very bad they persuaded me to drink a pint +of sea-water, which really made me much worse, though it was all +well meant. But now I am better. And I think I will try to get up on +deck. Why, law, seasickness aint pleasant, to be sure; but then it +is worth while to bear it for the sake of crossing the sea and +beholding the other hemisphere," said Jim Morris, trying to smile +over his own illness and Ishmael's commiseration. + +"God bless you, for a patient, gentle-spirited old man and a true +philosopher! When you are able to rise, Morris, I will give you my +arm up on deck and have a pallet made for you there, and the fresh +air will do you good." + +"Thank you, thank you, Mr. Ishmael! It is good to be ill when one is +so kindly cared for. Isn't there a gale, sir?" + +"Yes, Morris, a magnificent one! The old enemies, wind and sea, are +in their most heroic moods, and are engaged in a pitched battle. +This poor ship, like a neutral power, is suffering somewhat from the +assaults of both." + +"I think I will go and look on that battlefield," smiled the +professor, trying to rise. + +Ishmael helped him, and when he was dressed gave him his arm and +took him up on deck, at the same time requesting one of the second- +cabin stewards to follow with a rug and cushion. + +This man, wondering at the affectionate attention paid by the +stately young gentleman to his sick servant, followed them up and +made the professor a pallet near the wheel-house, on the deck. + +When, with the assistance of the steward, Ishmael had made his old +retainer comfortable, he placed himself with his shoulders against +the back of the wheel-house to steady himself, for the ship was +rolling terribly, and he stood gazing forth upon the stormy surface +of the sea. + +A magnificent scene! The whole ocean, from the central speck on +which he stood to the vast, vanishing circle of the horizon, seemed +one boundless, boiling caldron. Millions of waves were simultaneously +leaping in thunder from the abyss and rearing themselves into blue +mountain peaks, capped with white foam, and sparkling in the sunlight +for a moment, to be swallowed up in the darkness of the roaring deep +the next. A lashing, tossing, heaving, foaming, glancing rise and fall +of liquid mountains and valleys, awful, but ravishing, to look on. + +Ishmael stood leaning against the wheel-house, with his arms folded +and his eyes gazing out at sea. His whole soul was exalted to +reverence and worship, and he murmured within himself: + +"It is the Lord that commandeth the waters; it is the glorious God +that maketh the thunder! + +"It is the Lord that ruleth the sea; the voice of the Lord is mighty +in operation; the voice of the Lord is a glorious voice!" + +As for the professor, he lay propped up at his master's feet, and +looking forth upon the mighty war of wind and wave. The sight had +subdued him. He was content only to exist and enjoy. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVI. + +THE STORM. + + Colder and louder blew the wind, + A gale from the northeast; + The snow fell hissing in the brine; + And the billows foamed like yeast. + + Down came the storm and smote amain, + The vessel in its strength; + She shuddered and paused like a frightened steed, + Then leaped her cable's length. + + And fast through the midnight, dark and drear, + Through the whistling sleet and snow, + Like a sheeted ghost the vessel swept, + Toward the reef of Norman's Woe. + --_Wreck of the "Hesperus_." + + + +Ishmael remained upon the quarterdeck, gazing out upon the stormy +glory of the sea and sky until he was interrupted by the most +prosaic, though the most welcome of sounds--that of the dinner-bell. + +Then he went below. + +On his way to the saloon he stopped at the entrance of the second +cabin; called one of the stewards, and while putting a piece of +money in his hand, requested him to take a bowl of soup up to the +old man on deck, and to see that he wanted nothing. + +Then Ishmael paid a visit to each of his suffering companions. + +First he opened the door of Judge Merlin's stateroom, and found that +gentleman with his face sulkily turned to the wall, and in a state +of body and mind so ill and irritable as to make all attempts at +conversation with him quite dangerous to the speaker. + +Next Ishmael looked in upon Mr. Brudenell, whom he luckily found +fast asleep. And then, after having given the stateroom stewards a +strict charge concerning the comfort of these two victims, Ishmael +passed on to the dining saloon. It was nearly empty. There were even +fewer people gathered for dinner than there had been for breakfast. + +The tables had the storm-guards upon them, so that each plate and +dish sat down in its own little pen to be kept from slipping off in +the rolling of the ship. But this arrangement could not prevent them +from occasionally flying out of their places when there was an +unusually violent toss. + +At the table where Ishmael sat there was no one present except the +old retired merchantman, Captain Mountz, who sat on the opposite +side, directly under the port lights. And with the rolling of the +ship these two diners, holding desperately onto the edge of the +table, were tossed up and down like boys on a see-saw plank. + +The mingled noise of wind and wave and ship was so deafening as to +make conversation difficult and nearly impossible. And yet Ishmael +and the captain seemed to feel in courtesy compelled to bawl at each +other across the table as they see-sawed up and down. + +"The gale seems to have knocked down all our fellow passengers and +depopulated our saloon," cried Ishmael, soaring up to the sky with +his side of the table. + +"Yes, sir, yes, sir; a lot of land-lubbers, sir; a lot of lubbers, +sir! Gale? Nothing but a capful of wind, sir! Nothing but a capful +of wind!" roared the captain, sinking down to the abyss on his side +of the table. + +Here the steward, seizing a favorable moment, deftly served them +with soup. And nothing but the utmost tact and skill in marine +legerdemain enabled this functionary to convey the soup from the +tureen to the plates. And when there, it required all the attention +and care of the diners to get it from plate to lip. And, after all, +more than half of it was spilled. + +"Thank goodness, that is over! The solids won't give us so much +trouble," said the captain, handing his empty plate to the steward. + +The second course was served. But the motion of the ship increased +so much in violence that the two diners were compelled to hold still +more firmly on to the edge of the table with one hand, while they +ate with the other, as they were tossed up and down. + +"You're a good sailor, sir!" bawled the captain as he pitched down +out of sight. + +"Yes, thank Heaven!" shouted Ishmael, flying up. + +Then came a tremendous lurch of the ship. + +"Oh, I must see that wave!" cried the captain, imprudently climbing +up to look out from the port-light above him. + +He had scarcely attained the desired position when there came +another, an unprecedented toss of the ship, and the unlucky captain +lay sprawling on the top of the table--with one wide-flung hand deep +in the dish of mashed turnips and the other grasping the roast pig, +while his bullet head was butted into Ishmael's stomach. + +"Blast the ship!" cried the discomfited old man--very unnecessarily, +since there was "blast" enough, and to spare. + +"'Only a capful of wind,' captain! 'Only a capful of wind,'" said +Ishmael, in a grave, matter-of-fact way, as he carefully assisted +the veteran to rise. + +"Humph! humph! humph! I might have known you would have said that. +Ha! glad none of the women are here to see me! I s'pose I've done +for the mashed turnips and roast pig; and I shouldn't wonder if I +had knocked your breath out of your body, too, sir," sputtered the +old man, trying to recover his feet, a difficult matter amid the +violent pitching of the ship. + +"Oh, you've not hurt me the least," said Ishmael, still rendering +him all the assistance in his power. + +But this mishap put an end to the dinner. For the captain's toilet +sadly needed renovating, and the table required putting right. + +Ishmael went up on deck--a nearly impossible feat for any landsman, +even for one so strong and active as Ishmael was, to accomplish with +safety to life and limb, for the ship was now fearfully pitched from +side to side, and wallowing among the leaping waves. + +High as the wind was--blowing now a hurricane--the sky was perfectly +clear, and the sun was near its setting. + +Ishmael found his old servant sitting propped up against the back of +the wheel-house, looking out at one of the most glorious of all the +glorious sights in nature--sunset at sea. + +"As soon as the sun has set you must go down and turn in, Morris. +The wind is increasing, and it is no longer safe for a landsman like +you to remain up here," said his master. + +"Mr. Ishmael, sir, you must just leave me up here to my fate. As to +getting me down now, that is impossible; I noticed that it took both +your hands, as well as both your feet, to help yourself up," replied +the professor. + +"What! do you mean to stay on deck all night?" + +"I see no help for it, sir; I should be pitched downstairs and have +my neck broken, or be washed into the sea and get drowned, by any +attempt to go below." + +"Nonsense, Morris; the sun has gone down now; follow his example. I +will take you safely," said Ishmael, offering his arm to the old man +in that kind, but peremptory, way that admitted of no denial. + +A sailor near at hand came forward and offered his assistance. And +between the two the professor was safely taken down to the second +cabin and deposited in his berth. + +A German Jew, who shared the professor's stateroom, saw the party +coming, and exclaimed to a fellow-passenger: + +"Tere's tat young shentleman mit his olt man again. Fader Abraham! +he ish von shentleman; von drue shentleman!" + +"A 'true gentleman,' I believe you, Isaacs. Why, don't you know who +he is? He is that German prince they've been making such a fuss +over, in the States. I saw his name in the list of passengers. +Prince--Prince Edward of--of Hesse--Hesse something or other, I +forget. They are all Hesses or Saxes up there," said his +interlocutor. + +"No, no," objected the Jew. "Dish ish nod he. I know Brince Etwart +ven I see him. He ish von brince, but nod von shentleman. He svears +ad hish mens." + +The near approach of the subject of this conversation prevented +farther personal remarks. But when Ishmael had seen his old follower +comfortably in bed, the Jew turned to him and, as it would seem, for +the simple pleasure of speaking to the young man whom he admired so +much, said: + +"Zir; te zhip rollts mush. Tere vill pe a gread pig storm." + +"I think so," answered Ishmael courteously. + +"Vell, if zhe goesh down do te boddom tere vill pe von lesh drue +shentleman in de vorlt, zir. Ant tat vill be you." + +"Thank you," said Ishmael, smiling. + +"Ant tere vill pe von lesh Sherman Shew in te vorlt. Ant tat vill pe +me." + +"Oh, I hope there is no danger of such a calamity. Good-night!" said +Ishmael, smiling upon his admirer and withdrawing from the cabin. + +Ishmael took tea with the old captain, who came into the saloon and +sat down in a perfectly renovated toilet, as if nothing had +happened. + +But when I say they took tea, I mean that they took quite as much of +it up their sleeves and down their bosoms as into their mouths. +Drinking tea in a rolling ship is a sloppy operation. + +After that the captain produced a chess-board, ingeniously arranged +for sea-service, and the two gentlemen spent the evening in a mimic +warfare that ended in a drawn battle. + +"The gale seems to be subsiding. The motion of the ship has not been +so violent for the last half hour, I think," said Ishmael, as they +arose from the table. + +"No; if it had been, we could not have played chess, even on this +boxed board," was the reply. + +"I hope we shall have fine weather now. What do you say, captain?" + +"I say as I said before. I am a passenger, and the weather is +nothing to me. But if you expect we are going to have fine weather +because the wind has lulled--humph!" + +"We shall not, then?" + +"We shall have a twister, that is what we shall have--and before +many hours. And I shouldn't wonder if we had a storm of snow and +sleet to cap off with. Good-night, sir!" And with this consoling +prophecy the old man withdrew. + +Ishmael went to his berth and slept soundly until morning. When he +awoke he found the ship rolling, pitching, tossing, leaping, +falling, and fairly writhing and twisting like a living creature in +mortal agony. + +He fell out of his berth, pitched into his clothes, slopped his face +and hands, raked his hair, and tumbled on deck. In other words, by +sleight of hand and foot, he made a sea-toilet and went up. + +What a night! + +The sky black as night; the sea lashed into a foam as white as snow; +the waves running mountain high from south to north; the wind +blowing a hurricane from east to west; the ship subjected to this +cross action, pitching onward in semicircular jerks, deadly +sickening to see and feel. + +"I suppose this is what you call a 'twister,'" said Ishmael, reeling +towards the old captain, who was already on deck. + +"Yes; just as I told you! You see that gale blew from the south for +about forty-eight hours and got the sea up running north. And then, +before the sea had time to subside, the wind chopped round and now +blows from due east. And the ship is rolled from side to side by the +waves and tossed from stem to stern by the wind. And between the two +actions she is regularly twisted, and that is the reason why the +sailors call this sort of thing a 'twister.' And this is not the +worst of it. This east wind will be sure to blow up a snowstorm. We +shall have it on the Banks." + +"This has gone beyond a gale. I should call this a hurricane," said +Ishmael. + +"Hurricane? hurricane? Bless you, sir, no, sir! capful of wind! +capful of wind!" said the old man doggedly. + +Nevertheless Ishmael noticed that the ship's captain looked anxious +and gave his orders in short, peremptory tones. + +The predicted snowstorm did not come on during that short winter's +day, however. The "twister" "twisted" vigorously; twisted the ship +nearly in two; twisted the souls, or rather the stomachs, nearly out +of the bodies of the seasick victims. Even the well-pickled "old +salt," Captain Mountz, felt uncomfortable. And it was just as much +as Ishmael could do to keep himself up and avoid succumbing to +illness. Those two were the last of the passengers that attempted to +keep up. And they were very glad when night came and gave them an +excuse for retiring. + +The predicted snowstorm came on about midnight. When Ishmael dressed +and struggled out of his stateroom in the morning, he found it just +the nearest thing to an impossibility to go up on deck. The wind was +still blowing a hurricane; the sea leaping in the wildest waves; the +ship pitching, tossing, and jerking as before; and in addition to +all this, the snow was falling thick and fast, and freezing as it +fell, and every part of the deck and rigging was covered with a +slippery, shining coating of ice. + +Those who find it dangerous to walk on a motionless pavement in +sleety weather may now imagine what is was to climb the ice-sheathed +steps of this pitching ship. + +Ishmael managed to get up on deck somehow; but he found the place +deserted of all except the man at the wheel and the officer of the +watch. Even the old sea lion, Captain Mountz, was among the missing. + +There was little to be seen. He stood on the deck of a tossing ship +of ice, in the midst of a high wind, a boiling sea, and a storm of +snow; he could not discern an object a foot in advance of him. + +And so, after a few words with the well-wrapped-up officer of the +watch, he went below to look after the companions of his voyage. + +Judge Merlin and Mr. Brudenell, like all the other passengers, were +so ill as still to hate the sight of a human being. Leaving them in +the care of the stateroom steward, Ishmael went to see after his old +retainer. The professor was up, clothed, and in his right mind. + +"You see I made an effort, Mr. Ishmael, sir, and a successful one, +so far as getting on my feet was concerned. When I woke up this +morning it occurred to me, like a reproach, that I had come with +you, sir, to wait on you and not to be waited on by you--which +latter arrangement was a sort of turning things topsy-turvy--" + +"I ding sho doo," interrupted the German Jew, whose name was Isaacs. + +"And so," continued the professor, "I made an effort to get up and +do my duty, and I find myself much better for it." + +"I am glad you are well enough to be up, Morris, but indeed, you +need have suffered no twinges of conscience on my account," said +Ishmael, smiling. + +"I know your kindness, sir, and that makes it more incumbent on me +to do my duty by you. Well, sir, I've been to your stateroom; but +finding you gone, and everything dancing a hornpipe there, I tried +to get up on deck to you, but there, sir, I failed. And, besides, +while I was doing my best, a stout old gentleman, a sea captain I +take him to be, blasted my eyes, and ordered me to go below and not +break my blamed neck. And so I did." + +"That was Captain Mountz. He meant you well, Morris. You did quite +right to obey him." + +Soon after this Ishmael went to his stateroom, took a volume of +Shakspeare, and then ensconsed himself in a corner of the saloon, +where he sat and read until dinner-time. + +The progress of the steamer was very slow. The day passed heavily. +And again when night came everyone was glad to go to bed and to +sleep. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVII. + +THE WRECK. + + And ever the fitful gusts between + A sound came from the land; + It was the sound of the tramping surf, + On the rocks and the hard sea-sand. + + The breakers were right beneath her bows, + She drifted a dreary wreck, + And a whooping billow swept the crew + Like icicles from her deck. + + She struck where the white and fleecy waves + Looked soft as carded wool, + But the cruel rocks, they gored her sides, + Like the horns of an angry bull. + --_Wreck of the "Hesperus."_ + + + +When Ishmael awoke in the morning he was surprised to find that the +motion of the ship was much lessened. And when he went up on deck he +was pleased to discover that the wind had fallen and the sea was +going down. + +There was but one trouble--the thick fog; but that might be expected +on the Banks of Newfoundland. + +Old Captain Mountz was pacing up and down the deck with the firm +tread of a man who felt himself on solid ground. + +"Good-morning, captain! A pleasant change this," was Ishmael's +greeting. + +"Oh, aye, yes! for as long as it will last," was the dampening +reply. + +"Why, you don't think the wind will rise again, do you?" + +"Don't I? I tell you before many hours we shall have a strong +sou'wester, that will do its best to drive us ashore on these +Banks," was the discouraging answer. + +But by this time Ishmael had grown to understand the old sailor, and +to know that he generally talked by the "rules of contrary"; for +whereas he would not permit the late gale to be anything more than a +"capful of wind," he now declared the fine weather to be nothing +less than the forerunner of a hurricane. + +So Ishmael did not feel any very serious misgivings, but went +downstairs to breakfast with a good appetite. + +Here another pleasant surprise greeted him: Judge Merlin and Mr. +Brudenell, recovered from their seasickness, were both at breakfast; +and notwithstanding the weight of care that oppressed their hearts +they were both, from the mere physical reaction from depressing +illness, in excellent spirits. + +They arose to greet their young friend. + +"How do you do, how do you do, Ishmael?" began Judge Merlin, +heartily shaking his hand. "I really suppose now that you think I +owe you an apology? But the fact is you owe me one. Didn't you know +better than to intrude on the privacy of a seasick man? Didn't you +know that a victim hates the sight of one who is not a victim? And +that a seasick man or a rabid dog is better let alone, eh?" + +"I beg your pardon, sir; I did not know it; but now that you +enlighten me, I will not offend again," laughed Ishmael. + +Mr. Brudenell's greeting was quieter, but even more cordial than +that of the judge. + +Before breakfast was over they were joined by others of their +fellow-passengers, whom they had not seen since the first day out. + +Among the rest was a certain Dr. Kerr, a learned savant, professor +in the University of Glasgow, who had been on a scientific mission +to the United States, and was returning home. He was a tall, thin +old gentleman, in a long, black velvet dressing-gown and a round, +black velvet skullcap. And he entered readily into conversation with +our party on the subject of the late gales, and from that diverged +into the subject of meteorology. There were no ladies present at +breakfast. + +The whole party soon adjourned to the deck, and notwithstanding the +fog, enjoyed the pleasure of a promenade and conversation as they +only can who have been deprived of such privileges for many days. + +At dinner the long absent ladies reappeared; among the rest, the +wife and daughters of the Scotch professor; and with the freedom of +ocean steamer traveling, all well-dressed and well-behaved first- +cabin passengers soon became acquainted and sociable, if not +intimate. + +Mrs. Dr. Kerr had happened to hear of Mr. Worth as one of the most +promising young barristers of the time; and finding him in the +company of Chief Justice Merlin, and approving him on short +acquaintance, and knowing that he was unmarried, and not knowing +that his heart, hand, and honor were irretrievably engaged, she +singled him out as a very desirable match for one of her four +penniless daughters, and paid such court to him as Ishmael, in the +honesty and gratitude of his heart, repaid with every attention. + +Mrs. Dr. Kerr, complaining of the tediousness of the voyage, and the +dullness of her own circle, invited Ishmael and his party to spend +the evening and play whist in the ladies' cabin--forbidden ground to +all gentlemen who had no ladies with them, unless indeed they should +happen, as in this case, to be invited. + +All the gentlemen of our party availed themselves of this privilege, +and the evening passed more pleasantly than any other evening since +they had been at sea. + +The fog lasted for three days, during which, as the wind was fair +and the sea calm, the passengers, well wrapped up, enjoyed the +promenade of the deck during the day, and the social meetings in the +dining saloon, or the whist parties in the ladies' cabin during the +evening. + +And lulled by this deceitful calm, they were happy in the thought +that the voyage was nearly half over, and in the anticipation of a +prosperous passage over the remaining distance, and a safe arrival +in port. + +On the evening of the third day of the fog, however, a vague and +nameless dread prevailed among the passengers. No one could have +told whence this dread arose, or whither it pointed. Those well +acquainted with the locality knew that the steamer was upon the +Banks of Newfoundland, and that those Banks were considered rather +unsafe in a fog. + +Some others, who were in the secret, also knew that the captain had +not left the quarterdeck, either to eat or to sleep, for forty-eight +hours; for they had left him on deck at a late hour at night, and +found him there at an early hour of the morning. And they had seen +strong coffee carried up to him at short intervals. That was all. +For sailors never think of danger until that danger, whatever it +might be, is imminent; and never speak of it until it becomes +necessary to do so, in order to save life. + +Thus the passengers on board the "Oceana," on the night of the 20th +of December, were totally ignorant of the real nature of the perils +that beset them, although, as I said, an undefined misgiving and a +sense of insecurity oppressed their hearts. + +At ten o'clock that night the weather was thick, foggy, and +intensely cold, with a heavy sea and a high wind. + +The captain and first mate were on deck, where a number of the +hardier and more anxious passengers were collected to watch. + +In the dining saloon were gathered around the tables those +inveterate gamblers who seem to have no object, either in the voyage +of the ocean or the voyage of life, except the winning or losing of +money. + +In the ladies' cabin there were two social whist parties, formed of +the ladies of the Scotch professor's family and the gentlemen of our +set. + +They were playing with great enjoyment, notwithstanding that little +undercurrent of vague uneasiness of which I spoke, when the +Scotchman, who had been on the deck all the evening, came down into +the cabin, wearing a long face. + +But the whist-players were too much interested in their game to +notice the lugubrious expression of the old man, until he came to +the table, and in a tone of the most alarming gravity exclaimed: + +"Don't be frightened!" + +Every lady dropped her cards and turned deadly pale with terror. +Every gentleman looked up inquiringly at this judicious speaker. + +"What is there to be frightened at, sir?" coldly inquired Ishmael. + +"Well, you know our situation--But, ladies, for Heaven's sake, be +composed. Your sex are noted for heroism in the midst of danger--" + +Here, to prove his words good, one of the ladies shrieked, fell back +in her chair, and covered her face with her hands. + +"These ladies are not aware of any danger, sir, and I think it quite +needless to alarm them," said Ishmael gravely. + +"My good young friend, I don't wish to alarm them; I came down here +on purpose to exhort them to coolness and self-possession, so +necessary in the hour of peril. Now, dear ladies, I must beg that +you will not suffer yourselves to be agitated." + +"There is really, sir, no present cause for agitation, except, if +you will pardon me for saying it, your own needlessly alarming words +and manner," said Ishmael cheerfully, to reassure the frightened +women, who seemed upon the very verge of hysterics. + +"No, no, no, certainly no cause for agitation, ladies--certainly +not. Therefore don't be agitated, I beg of you. But--but--don't +undress and go to bed to-night. Lie down on the outside of your +berths just as you are; for, look you--we may all have to take to +the lifeboats at a minute's warning," said the doctor, his long, +pale face looking longer and paler than ever under his round, black +skullcap. + +A half-smothered shriek burst simultaneously from all the women +present. + +"I trust, sir, that your fears are entirely groundless. I have heard +no apprehensions expressed in any other quarter," said Ishmael. And +although he never begged the ladies not to be "frightened," yet +every cheerful word he spoke tended to calm their fears. + +"What cause have you for such forebodings, doctor?" inquired Mr. +Brudenell. + +"Oh, none at all, sir. There is no reason to be alarmed. I hope +nobody will be alarmed, especially the ladies. But you see the +captain has not been able to make an observation for the last three +days on account of the fog; and it is said that no one accurately +knows just where we are; except that we are on the Banks, somewhere, +and may strike before we know it. That is all. Now don't be +terrified. And don't lose your presence of mind. And whatever you +do, don't take off your clothes; for if we strike you mayn't have +time to put them on again, and scanty raiment, in an open boat, on a +wintry night at sea, wouldn't be pleasant. Now mind what I tell you. +I shall not turn in myself. I am going on deck to watch." + +And having succeeded in spreading a panic among the women, the old +man took himself and his black skullcap out of the cabin. +Exclamations of surprise, fear, and horror followed his departure. + +There was no more card-playing; they did not even finish their game; +they felt it to be sacrilegious to engage in even a "ladies' game" +of whist, on the eve of possible shipwreck, perhaps on the brink of +eternity. + +Ishmael gathered up and put away the cards and set himself earnestly +to calm the fears of his trembling fellow-passengers; but they were +not to be soothed. Then he offered to go up on deck and make +inquiries as to the situation, course, and prospects of the ship; +but they would not consent to his leaving them; they earnestly +besought him to stay; and declared that they found assurance and +comfort in his presence. + +At length he took the Bible and seated himself at the table, and +read to them such portions as were suited to their condition. He +read for more than an hour, and then, hoping that this had composed +their spirits, he closed the book and counseled them to retire and +take some rest; and promised to station himself outside the cabin +door and be their vigilant sentinel, to warn them of danger the +instant it should become necessary. + +But no! they each and all declared sleep to be impossible under the +circumstances. And they continued to sit around the table with their +arms laid on its top and their heads buried In them, waiting for-- +what? Who could tell? + +Meanwhile the ship was borne swiftly on by wind and wave--whither? +None of these frightened women knew. + +Eight bells struck--twelve, midnight; and Ishmael renewed his +entreaties that they would take some repose. But in vain; for they +declared that there could be no repose for their bodies while their +minds were suffering such intense anxiety. + +One bell struck, and there they sat; two bells, and there they still +sat; and there was but little conversation after this. Three bells +struck, and they sat on, so motionless that Ishmael hoped they had +fallen asleep on their watch and he refrained from addressing them. +Four bells struck. It was two o'clock in the morning, and dead +silence reigned in the ladies' cabin. Everyone except Ishmael had +gone to sleep. + +Suddenly through the stillness a cry rang--a joyous cry. It was the +voice of the man on the lookout, and it shouted forth: + +"Land ho!" + +"Where away?" called another voice. + +"On her lee bow!" + +"What do you make of it?" + +"Cape Safety lighthouse!" + +A shout went up from the passengers on deck. A simultaneous, +involuntary, joyous three times three. + +"Hurrah! Hurrah! Hurrah!" + +A devout thanksgiving ascended from Ishmael's heart: + +"Thank God!" he fervently exclaimed. + +It was indeed an infinite relief. + +Then he turned to wake up his wearied fellow-passengers, who had +fallen asleep in such uneasy attitudes--arms folded, on the top of +the table and heads fallen on the folded arms. + +"Ladies! dear ladies! dear Mrs. Kerr! you may retire to rest now. We +have made Cape Safety," he said, going from one to another and +gently rousing them. + +They were a little bewildered at first; and while they were still +trying to understand what Ishmael was saying, the Scotch professor +burst into the cabin and enlightened them by a coup-de-main. + +"You may all undress and go to bed now, and sleep in peace, without +the least fear of a shipwreck." + +"Eh, pa! is it so--are we safe?" cried the elder daughter. + +"Safe as St. Paul's. We know where we are now. We have made Cape +Safety Lighthouse. Go to bed and sleep easy. I'm going now. Come +along, Jeanie," said the doctor to his old wife. + +"Not until I have shaken hands with this good young gentleman. I +don't know what would have become of us, doctor, after you +frightened us so badly, if it had not been for him. He stayed with +us and kept up our hearts. God bless you, young sir!" said Mrs. Dr. +Kerr, fervently pressing Ishmael's hands. + +Ishmael himself was glad to go to rest; so he only stopped long +enough to bid good-night to Judge Merlin and Mr. Brudenell, who had +just awakened to a sense of security, and then he went to his +stateroom and turned in. + +Thoroughly wearied in mind and body, he had no sooner touched his +pillow than he fell into a deep sleep--a sleep that annihilated +several hours of time. + +He slept until he was aroused by a tremendous shock--a shock that +threw him, strong, heavy, athletic man as he was, from his stateroom +berth to the cabin floor. He was on his feet in a moment, though +stunned, confused, and amazed. The poor ship was shuddering +throughout her whole frame like a living creature in the agony of +death. + +Men who had been violently thrown from their berths to the floor +were everywhere picking themselves up and trying to collect their +scattered senses. Crowds were hurrying from the cabins and saloons +to the deck. The voices of the officers were heard in quick, +anxious, peremptory orders; and those of the crew in prompt, eager, +terrified responses. + +And through all came shrieks of terror, anguish, and despair. + +"The ship has struck!" "We are lost!" "God have mercy!" were the +cries. + +Ishmael hurried on his clothes and rushed to the deck. Here all was +panic, confusion, and unutterable distress. The fog had cleared +away; day was dawning; and there was just light enough to show them +the utter hopelessness of their position. + +The steamer bad struck a rock, and with such tremendous force that +she was already parting amidships; her bows were already under water +and the sea was breaking over her with fearful force. + +How had this happened, with the lighthouse ahead? Was it really a +lighthouse, or was it a false beacon? + +No one could tell; no one had time to ask. Everybody was fast +crowding to the stern of the ship, the only part of her that was out +of water. Some crawled up, half drowned; some dripping wet; some +scarcely yet awake, acting upon the blind impulse of self- +preservation. + +Two of the lifeboats had been forcibly reft away from the side of +the ship by the violence of the shock and carried off by the sea. +Only two remained, and it was nearly certain that they were not of +sufficient capacity to save the crew and passengers. + +But the danger was imminent--a moment's delay might be fatal to all +on board the wreck; not an instant was to be lost. + +The order was quickly given: + +"Get out the lifeboats!" + +And the sailors sprang to obey. + +At this moment another fatality threatened the doomed crew--it was +what might have been expected: the steerage passengers, mostly a low +and brutalized order of men, in whom the mere animal instinct of +love of life and fear of death was predominant over every nobler +emotion, came rushing in a body up the deck, and crying with one +voice: + +"To the lifeboats! to the lifeboats! Let us seize the lifeboats, and +save ourselves!" + +Everyone else was panic-stricken. It is in crises like this that the +true hero is developed. With the bound of a young Achilles Ishmael +seized a heavy iron bar and sprang to the starboard gangway, where +the two remaining boats were still suspended; and standing at bay, +with limbs apart, and eyes threatening, and his fearful weapon +raised in his right hand, he thundered forth: + +"Who tries to pass here dies that instant! Stand off!" + +Before this young hero the, crowd of senseless, rushing brutes +recoiled as from a fire. + +He pursued and secured his victory with a few words: + +"Are you men? If so, before all, let helpless childhood, and feeble +womanhood, and venerable age be saved; and then you. I demand of you +no more than I am willing to do myself. I will be the last to leave +the wreck. I will see you all in safety before I attempt to save my +own life." + +So great is the power of heroism over all, that even these brutal +men, so selfish, senseless, and impetuous a moment before, were now +subdued; nay, some of them were inspired and raised a hurrah. + +Fear of a possible reaction among the steerage passengers, however, +caused old Captain Mountz, Judge Merlin, Mr. Brudenell, Dr. Kerr, +Jem Morris, the Jew, and several others to come to the support of +Ishmael. Among the rest the captain of the steamer came. + +"Young man, you have saved all our lives," he said. + +Ishmael slowly bowed his head. + +"I hope that God has saved you all," he answered. + +The sailors were now busy getting down the lifeboats. It was but the +work of a very few minutes. + +"Let the ladies and children be brought forward," ordered the +captain. And the women and children, some screaming, some weeping, +and some dumb with terror, were lowered into one of the boats. + +"Now the nearest male relatives of these ladies to the same boat," +was the captain's next order. + +And Dr. Kerr and about a dozen other gentlemen presented themselves, +and were lowered into the boat, where they were received with +hysterical cries of mingled joy and fear by the women. + +And all this time the sea was dashing fearfully over the wreck, and +at every interval the planks of the deck upon which they clung were +felt to swell and sway as if they were about to part. + +"Now the old men!" shouted the captain. + +Ishmael took Judge Merlin by the arm, and with gentle coercion +passed them on to the sailors, who lowered him into the boat. + +Then Captain Mountz and several other old men, and many who were not +old, but were willing to appear so "for this occasion only," +followed and were passed down into the boat. + +Then Ishmael looked around in concern. The professor was lingering +in the background. + +"Come here, Morris! You certainly fall under the head of "'old +men,'" he said, taking the professor by the elbow and gently pushing +him forward. + +"No, young Ishmael, no! I cannot go! The boat is as full as it can +be packed now--or at least it won't hold more than one more, and you +ought to go; and I will not crowd you out," urged the old man, with +passionate earnestness. + +And all this time the sea was thundering over the wreck and entirely +drenching everybody, and nearly drowning some. + +"Morris, I shall not in any case enter that boat. There is no time, +when scores of lives are in imminent danger, to argue the point. +But--as you never disobeyed me in your life before, I now lay my +commands on you to go into that boat," said Ishmael, with the tone +and manner of a monarch. + +With a cry of despair the professor let himself drop into the +lifeboat to be saved. + +The boat was now really as full as it could possibly be crammed with +safety to its passengers. And it was detained only until a cask of +fresh water and a keg of biscuit could be thrown into it, and then +it gave way for the second lifeboat to come up to the gangway. + +This second boat was rapidly filled. But when it was crowded quite +full there remained upon the breaking wreck Ishmael and ten of the +younger steerage passengers. + +"Come! come!" shouted the captain of the steamer, who was in the +second boat. "Come, Mr. Worth! There is room for one more! There is +always room, for one more." + +"If there is room for one more, take one of these young men, my +companions," replied Ishmael gravely. + +"No! no! if we cannot take all, why take one of their number, +instead of taking you, Mr. Worth? Come! come! do not keep us here! +It is dangerous!" urged the captain. + +"Pass on! I remain here!" answered Ishmael steadfastly. + +"But that is madness. What good will it do? Come, quick! climb up on +the bulwarks and leap down into the boat! You are young and active, +and can do it! quick!" + +"Give way! I shall remain here," replied Ishmael, folding his arms +and planting himself firmly on the quaking deck, over which the sea +incessantly thundered. + +"Ishmael! Ishmael! My son! my son! for Heaven's sake--for my sake,-- +come!" cried Mr. Brudenell, holding out his arms in an agony of +prayer. + +"Father," replied the young man, in this supreme moment of fate not +refusing him that paternal title; "father," he repeated, with +impassioned fervor, "father, every one of these men has precedence +of me, in the right to be saved. For when I intervened between them +and the lifeboats they were about to seize I promised them that I +would see every one of them in safety before attempting to save +myself. I promised them that I would be the very last man to leave +the wreck. Father, they confided in me, and I will keep my word with +them." + +"But you cannot save their lives!" cried Mr. Brudenell, with a +gesture of desperation. + +"I can keep my word by staying with them," was the firm reply. + +While Ishmael spoke there was a rapid consultation going on among +his companions on the wreck. Then one of them spoke for the rest: + +"Go and save yourself, young gentleman. We give you back your +promise." + +Ishmael turned and smiled upon them with benignity, as he replied +sweetly: + +"I thank you, my friends. I thank you earnestly. You are brave and +generous men. But from such a pledge as I have given, you have no +power to release me." + +"Ishmael! Ishmael, for Bee's sake!" cried Judge Merlin, stretching +his arms imploringly towards the young man. "For Bee's sake, +Ishmael! Think of Bee!" + +"Oh, I do! I do think of her!" said the young man, in a voice of +impassioned grief. "God bless her! God forever bless her! But not +even for her dear sake must I shrink from duty. I honor her too much +to live to offer her the dishonored hand of a craven. Tell her this, +and tell her that my last earthly thought was hers. We shall meet in +eternity." + +"Ishmael, Ishmael!" simultaneously cried Judge Merlin and Mr. +Brudenell, as they saw a tremendous sea break in thunder over the +wreck, which was instantly whirled violently around as in the vortex +of a maelstrom. + +"Give way! give way! quick! for your lives! The wreck is going and +she will draw down the boats!" shouted Ishmael, waving his arm from +the whirling deck. + +The sailors on board the lifeboats laid themselves vigorously to +their oars, and rowed them swiftly away from the whirling eddy +around the settling wreck. The passengers on board the boats averted +their heads or veiled their eyes--they could not look upon the death +of Ishmael, + +But as the boats bounded away, something leaped from one of them +with the heavy plunge of a large dog into the water, and the next +instant the old gray head of Jim Morris was seen rising from the +foaming waves. He struggled towards the deck, clambered up its sides +and sunk at Ishmael's feet, embracing his knees, weeping and crying: + +"Young Ishmael! master! master! Oh, let me die with you!" Speechless +from profound emotion, Ishmael stooped and raised the old man and +clasped him to his bosom with one arm, while with the other he waved +adieu to the rapidly receding lifeboats. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII. + +A DISCOVERY. + + Why stand ye thus amazed? me thinks your eyes + Are fixed in meditation; and all here + Seem like so many senseless statues, + As if your souls had suffered an eclipse + Betwixt your judgments and affections. + --_Swetnam_ + + + +We must return to Claudia, and to that evening when she was accosted +by Katie on the stairs. + +On that occasion Claudia went down to dinner without feeling the +least anxiety on the subject of Katie's promised communication. She +supposed, when she thought of it at all, that it was some such idle +rumor as frequently arose concerning the discovery of some suspected +person implicated in the murder of Ailsie Dunbar. + +The dinner that evening happened to be more protracted than usual. + +And when they arose from the table Mrs. Dugald, contrary to her +custom, immediately retired to her private apartments. Claudia was +also about to withdraw, when the viscount said to her: + +"Excuse me, Lady Vincent; but I must request the favor of a few +moments' conversation with you." + +"Very well, my lord," answered Claudia, bowing coldly. + +He led the way to the drawing room and Claudia followed. Coffee was +already served there, and old Cuthbert was in attendance to hand it +around. + +"You may go, Cuthbert. We can wait on ourselves." said Lord Vincent, +as he led his wife to a seat and took one for himself near her. + +When the old servant had left the room the viscount turned to +Claudia and said: + +"Lady Vincent, I have been obliged to solicit this interview because +I have much to say to you, while you give me very few opportunities +of saying anything." + +Claudia bowed a cold assent and remained silent. + +"It is of Mrs. Dugald that I wish to speak to you." + +"I am listening, my lord," replied Claudia haughtily. + +"Lady Vincent, this arrogant manner towards me will not serve any +good purpose. However, it is not on my own score that I came to +complain, but on Mrs. Dugald's; that lady's position in this house +is a very delicate one." + +"So delicate, my lord, that I think the sooner she withdraws from it +the better it will be." + +"You do! It is the to that end, then, I presume, that you have +treated her with so much scorn and contempt?" said his lordship +angrily. + +"My lord, with all my faults, I am no hypocrite; and with all my +accomplishments I am no actress." + +"What do you mean by that, my lady?" + +"I mean that I have not been able to treat your--sister-in-law--with +the respect that I could not feel for her," replied Claudia, with +disdain. + +"No, madam!" exclaimed Lord Vincent, turning pale with rage. "You +have treated that lady with the utmost contumely. And I have +demanded this interview with you for the express purpose of telling +you that I will not submit to have the widow of my brother treated +with disrespect in my own house and by my own wife!" + +Claudia arose with great dignity and answered: + +"My lord, since you desired this interview for the purpose of +expressing your wishes upon this point; and, since you have +expressed them, I presume the object of our meeting has been +accomplished and I am at liberty to withdraw. Good-night." + +"Not so fast, not so fast, Lady Vincent! I have not done with you +yet, my lady. The will that I have just spoken must be obeyed. Mrs. +Dugald must be treated by you, as well as by others, with the +courtesy and consideration due to her rank and position. Many abuses +must be reformed. And among them is this--your constant refusal to +appear in public with her. Ever since your arrival here Mrs. Dugald +has been a prisoner in the house, because she cannot go out alone; +and she will not go out, attended by me, unless you are also of the +party, for fear that evil-minded people will talk." + +Claudia's beautiful lip curled with scorn as she answered: + +"Mrs. Dugald's scruples do credit to her--powers of duplicity." + +"You wrong her. You always wrong her; but, by my soul, you shall not +continue to do so! Listen, Lady Vincent! Mr. and Mrs. Dean, the +celebrated tragedians, are playing a short engagement at Banff. Mrs. +Dugald and myself wish to go and see them. It will be proper for you +to be of the party. I desire that you will be prepared to go with us +to-morrow evening." + +Claudia's face flushed crimson with indignation. + +"Excuse me, my lord. I cannot possibly appear anywhere in public +with Mrs. Dugald," she haughtily replied. + +"If you fail to go with us, you will rue your scorn in every vein of +your heart, my lady. However, I will not take your final answer to- +night; I will give you another chance in the morning. Au revoir!" he +said, with an insulting laugh, as he lounged out of the room. + +Claudia remained where he had left her, transfixed with indignation, +for a few minutes. And then she began to walk up and down the room +to exhaust her excitement before going upstairs to her dressing +room, where she supposed that Katie was awaiting her. + +She walked up and down the floor some fifteen or twenty minutes, and +then left the saloon and sought her own apartments. She had just +reached the landing of the second floor, on which her rooms were +situated, when she was startled by a low, half-suppressed cry of +"Murd--," which was quickly stopped, and immediately followed by a +muffled fall and a low scuffling, and the voice of Lord Vincent +muttering vehemently: "Faustina!" and other words inaudible to the +hearer. + +"Ah! they are quarreling as usual!" said Claudia to herself, with a +scornful smile, as she crossed the hall and entered her own suite of +apartments. + +"I have kept you waiting, Katie; but I could not help it, my good +woman," she said cheerfully, as she entered her dressing room. But +there was no reply. She looked around her in surprise. Katie was +nowhere to be seen; the room was empty. The lamp was burning dimly +and the fire was smoldering out. + +Claudia raised the light of the lamp, and, seating herself in her +easy-chair before the fire, stirred the coals into a blaze and +began, to warm her feet and hands. + +"'The old creature has grown weary of waiting, I suppose, and has +gone down to her supper," she said to herself. And she sat waiting +patiently for some time before she rang her bell. + +Sally answered it. + +"Go down, Sally, and tell Katie that I am here and ready to see her +now," said Lady Vincent. + +Sally went on this errand, but soon returned and said: + +"If you please, ma'am, Aunt Katie aint nowhere downstairs. I s'pects +she's done gone to bed." + +Claudia suddenly looked up to the ormolu clock that stood upon the +mantel shelf. + +"Why, yes!" she said, "it is nearly eleven o'clock. I had no idea +that it was so late. Of course she has gone to bed." + +"Mus' I go call her up, ma'am?" + +"No, Sally; certainly not. But there was something that she said she +had to tell me. Something, I fancy, it was, about the murder of that +poor girl. Has anything new been discovered in relation to that +affair, do you know?" + +"No, ma'am, not as I has hearn. 'Deed it was only jes now we was +all a-talking about it in de servants' hall, and Mr. Frisbie he was +a-mentioning how misteerious it was, as we could hear nothing. And +jes then your bell rung, ma'am, and I came away." + +"Well, Sally, you must help me to disrobe, and then you may go." + +The waiting maid did her duty and retired. + +And Claudia, wrapped in her soft dressing gown and seated in her +easy-chair before the fire, gave herself up to thought. + +She was thinking of her meeting with Katie on the stairs. Since it +was no new rumor connected with the murder, she was wondering what +could be the nature of the communication Katie had to make to her. +She recalled the anxious, frightened, indignant countenance of the +old woman, and in her memory that expression seemed to have a more +significant meaning than it had had to her careless eyes at the time +of seeing it. + +What could it be that Katie had to tell her? Of course Claudia did +not know; she soon gave up trying to conjecture; but felt impatient +for the morning, when the mystery should be revealed. + +Other anxious thoughts also troubled her; thoughts of the dangers to +which she was exposed from the hatred of Lord Vincent, the jealousy +of Mrs. Dugald, and the depravity of both; thoughts of her father's +long and strange silence; thoughts of the insult she had received +that evening in being commanded to chaperon Mrs. Dugald to the +theater; thoughts of the mysterious sounds she had heard from Mrs. +Dugald's room, and which she was so far from connecting with any +idea of Katie that she attributed them solely to a quarrel between +her two precious companions; and lastly the ever-recurring thoughts +of that mysterious discovery which old Katie had made, and which she +was so eager to impart to her lady. Ever Claudia's thoughts, +traveling in a circle, came back to this point. + +Wearied with fruitless speculation she still sat on, watching the +decaying fire and listening to the thunder of the sea as it broke +upon the rocks at the base of the castle. At length she got up, drew +aside the heavy window curtains, opened the strong oaken shutters +and looked out upon the expanse of the gray and dreary sea, dimly +visible under the cloudy midnight sky. + +At last she closed the window and went to bed. But she could not +sleep. She lay wakeful, restless, anxious, through the long hours of +the middle night, and through the gray dawn of morning and the early +flush of day. A little before her usual hour of rising she rang the +bell. + +Sally answered it. + +"Is Katie up?" she inquired. + +"No, ma'am. Mus' I wake her?" + +"Certainly not. Let her have her sleep out, poor creature. And do +you stop and help me to dress." + +And so saying Claudia arose and made an elegant morning toilet; for +Claudia, like Mary Stuart, would have "dressed" had she been a +lifelong, hopeless captive. + +When her toilet was made she directed Sally to bring her a cup of +strong coffee; and when she had drunk it she sat down to wait with +what patience she could for the awakening of old Katie. + +Poor Claudia, with all her faults, was kind to her dependents and +considerate of their comforts. And so, anxious as she was to hear +the communication old Katie had to make to her, she was resolved not +to have the old woman's rest broken. + +She sat by the window of her dressing room, looking out upon the +boundless sea from which the sun was rising, and over which a +solitary sail was passing. She sat there until the breakfast bell +rang. And then she went below. + +She was the first in the breakfast room, and she remained there +standing before the fire full ten minutes before anyone else +appeared. + +Lord Vincent was the next to come in. And Claudia actually started +when she saw the awful pallor of his face. Every vestige of color +had fled from it; his brow, cheeks, and even lips were marble white; +his voice shook in saying "good-morning," and his hand shook in +lifting the "Banff Beacon" from the table. + +While Claudia was watching him in wonder and amazement, there came a +flutter and a rustle, and Mrs. Dugald entered the room all +brightness and smiles. + +She gave one quick, wistful glance at the viscount, and then +addressed him in a hurried, anxious tone, speaking in the Italian +language and saying: + +"Rouse yourself! Look not so like an assassin. You will bring +suspicion!" + +"Hush!" answered the viscount, with a quick glance towards Claudia, +which warned La Faustina that the American lady might be supposed to +understand Italian. + +Claudia did understand it, and was filled with a vague sense of +horror and amazement. + +They sat down to the table. Lord Vincent followed Mrs. Dugald's +advice and tried to "rouse" himself. And after he had two or three +cups of coffee he succeeded. + +Faustina was as bright as a paroquet and as gay as a lark. She +prattled on in a perpetual, purling stream of music. Among other +things she said: + +"And do we go to see Mr. and Mrs. Dean in 'Macbeth' tonight, mon +ami?" + +"Yes; and Lady Vincent goes with us," answered Lord Vincent +emphatically. + +"I beg your pardon, my lord. I have already declined to do so," said +Claudia, speaking with forced coolness, though her heart was +burning, her cheeks flaming, and her eyes flashing with indignation. + +"You will think better of it, my lady. You will go. Cuthbert, pass +the eggs." + +"I shall not, my lord," replied Claudia. + +"Why will you not? Pepper, Cuthbert." + +"For the reason that I gave you last night. Your lordship cannot +wish me to repeat it here." + +"Oh, a very particular reason you gave me! The salt, Cuthbert," said +his lordship, coolly breaking the shell of his egg. + +"A reason, my lord, that should be considered sufficiently +satisfactory to relieve me from importunity on the subject," +answered Claudia. + +"If miladie does not wish to go, we should not urge her to do so," +observed Mrs. Dugald, as she slowly sipped her chocolate. + +"Certainly not. And now I think of it, you can send over for Mrs. +MacDonald to come and go with us. The old lady enjoys the drama +excessively and will be glad to come. So you shall be sure of your +intellectual treat, Faustina." + +"That will be so nice!" exclaimed Mrs. Dugald, clapping her hands in +childish glee. + +Claudia arose from the table and withdrew to her own apartments. She +was revolted by the fulsome manners of the strange woman who shared +her dwelling, and she was drawn toward the secret, whatever it was, +that old Katie wished to impart to her. + +When she entered the rooms she found them all arranged tidily by the +neat hands of Sally, who since the death of poor Ailsie had had the +care of them. + +"Sally, has not Katie been up yet?" inquired Lady Vincent. + +"No, ma'am; I don't think she's awake yet; I reckon she's a- +oversleepin' of herself. And I would 'a' waked her up, only, ma'am, +you bid me not to do it." + +"What, do you mean to say that she has not yet made her appearance?" +demanded Claudia, in alarm. + +"Nobody aint seen nothing 'tall of her this morning, ma'am." + +"Go to her room at once and see if she is ill. She may be, you know. +Go in quietly, so that you will not awaken her if she should be +asleep," said Claudia, in alarm, for she suddenly remembered that +people of Katie's age and habit sometimes die suddenly and are found +dead in their beds. + +Sally went on her errand, and Claudia stood waiting and listening +breathlessly until her return. + +"Laws, ma'am, Aunt Katie's done got up, and made her bed up and put +her room to rights, and gone downstairs," said Sally, as she entered +the room. + +"Then go at once, and if she has had her breakfast send her up to +me. Strange she did not come." + +Sally departed on this errand also, but she was gone longer than on +the first. It was nearly half an hour before she returned. She came +in with a scared face, saying: + +"Ma'am, it's very odd; but the servants say as ole Aunt Katie hasn't +been down this morning." + +"Hasn't been down this morning? And is not in her room either?" +cried Claudia, in amazement. + +"No, ma'am!" answered Sally, stretching her big eyes. + +Lady Vincent sharply rang the bell. + +The housekeeper promptly answered it, entering the room with an +anxious countenance. + +"Mrs. Murdock, is it true that my servant Katie has not been seen +this morning?" + +"Me leddy, she has nae been seen, puir auld bodie, sin' last e'en at +the gloaming. She didna come to supper, though Katie isna use to be +that careless anent her bit and sup, neither." + +"Not seen since last evening at dusk!" exclaimed Claudia, in +consternation. + +"Na, me leddy, ne'er a bit o' her, puir bodie!" + +"Go, Mrs. Murdock, and send the maids to look for her in every place +about the castle where she is in the habit of going. And send the +men outside to examine the premises. She may be taken with a fit +somewhere, and die for want of assistance," said Lady Vincent, in +alarm. + +"And sae she may, me leddy! That is true enough," replied the dame, +nodding her head emphatically as she hurried out on this mission. + +Claudia sat down before her dressing-room fire and tried to wait the +issue patiently. To be sure, she thought Katie might be in the +stillroom, or the linen closet, or the bathroom, and there could be +no reasonable cause of uneasiness. But why, then, did she not come +up? Well, she might have been busy in some one of the above- +mentioned places; and she might have been waiting until she thought +her mistress should have got through breakfast; and perhaps she +might come now very soon; might even enter at any moment. Such were +the thoughts that coursed through Claudia's brain, as she tried to +sit still before her little fire. + +For more than an hour Claudia waited, and then she impatiently rang +the bell. It brought Mrs. Murdock into the room. + +"Has Katie been found yet?" + +"Na, me leddy, not a bit of her. The servants are still seeking +her." + +"But this is very strange and alarming." + +"It just is, me leddy. And I canna but fear that some ill has +happened till her, puir soul!" + +"I will go down and assist in the search," said Lady Vincent, rising +anxiously. + +"Na, me leddy, dinna gang, ye canna do ony good. The lasses are +seeking in every nook and cranny in the house; and if she is biding +in it they will find her. And the lads hae gone outside to seek in +the grounds, whilk same is sune done; for the castle yard and +grounds are nae that expansive, as your leddyship kens." "But I +cannot sit here, waiting in idleness. It drives me half frantic! Who +can say what may not have happened to poor Katie?" + +"Nae, me leddy, dinna fash yo'sel'! She may e'en just ha' gone her +ways over to Banff, or some gait, and may be back sune. I'll gae see +if they ha' brought in ony news." + +"Go, then, Mrs. Murdock, and let me know the instant you hear +anything definite," said Claudia, sinking back in her chair. + +Mrs. Murdock left the room, and another hour of suspense passed. And +then, uncalled, the housekeeper came up again, and said: + +"It is a' in vain, me leddy. The servants have sought everywhere, +within and without the castle, and they can na find the auld bodie +at a'! And your leddyship's ain footman, Jamie, ha' come fra Banff +and brought the morning mail, and he has na seen onything o' his +mither on the road." + +"Good Heavens! but this is strange and very dreadful. Send Jim up to +me at once." + +The housekeeper went to obey. And Jim soon stood in the presence of +his mistress. + +"Any letters from America, Jim?" inquired Lady Vincent anxiously, +and for a moment forgetting poor old Katie's unknown fate. + +"No, my lady, not one. There was no foreign mail to-day." + +"Another disappointment! Always disappointments!" sighed Claudia. +And then reverting to the subject of Katie's disappearance, she +said: + +"What is this about your mother, Jim? When did you see her last? And +have you any idea where she can be gone?" + +Jim suddenly burst into tears; for we know that he loved his old +mother exceedingly; and he sobbed forth the words: + +"Oh, my lady, I am afeared as somebody has gone and made way with +her as they did with poor Ailsie!" + +"Gracious Heaven, Jim, what a horrible idea! and what an utterly +irrational one. Who could possibly have any motive for harming poor +old Katie?" + +"I don't know, my lady. But, you see, my poor mother was always a- +watching and a-listening about after his lordship and that strange +lady. And I know they noticed it, and maybe they have done made way +with mother--My lady! oh! you are fainting! You are dying!" cried +Jim, suddenly breaking off, and rushing towards his mistress, who +had turned deadly pale, and fallen back in her chair. + +"No, no! water, water!" cried Lady Vincent, struggling to overcome +her weakness. + +Jim flew and brought her a full glass. She quaffed its contents +eagerly, and sat up, and tried to collect her panic-stricken +faculties. She had received a dreadful shock. Jim's words had given +the key to the whole mystery. In one terrible moment the ghastly +truth had burst upon her. She understood, now, the whole. She could +combine the circumstances: Katie's agitated meeting with her on the +stairs; the communication which the poor faithful old creature +seemed so eager to make, and which must have related to some +discovery that she had made; the mysterious noises heard in Mrs. +Dugald's apartments; the guilty paleness of the viscount at the +breakfast table; the strange words spoken in Italian by Faustina; +the mysterious disappearance of Katie; all, all these pointed to one +dreadful deed, from the bare thought of which all Claudia's soul +recoiled in horror. + +"Jim!" she gasped, in a choking voice. + +"My lady!" + +"At what hour last evening did you see your mother?" + +"Just a little after sunset. The last dinner bell had rung; and I +brought some coal up to put on your ladyship's fire, and I set it on +the outside of the door, intending to take it in as soon as your +ladyship came out to go down to dinner. Well, I was standing there +waiting with the coal when I saw my lord's dor open and Mr. Frisbie +come out, with such a face! Oh, my lady! I don't know how to +describe it; but it had a cruel, cowardly, desperate look--as if he +would have cut someone's throat to save himself a shilling! He +passed on downstairs without ever seeing me. And the next minute my +lord came out of the same room, with--I beg your pardon, my lady--a +look of wicked triumph on his face. He was even laughing, like he +had done something that pleased him. And he happened to look up and +see me, and he growled: + +"'What are you doing there, fellow?' + +"And I bowed down to the ground a'most, and answered: + +"'I have brought up coal for my lady's rooms, my lord.' + +"'Very well,' he said, and he went on. + +"Next thing, I was tuk right off my feet, by seeing of my own mother +come right out'n that same room. And she came out, did the old +woman, with her eyes rolled up and her arms lifted high, looking as +she a'most always does when she hears anything dreadful; looking +just for all the world as she did the day she heard of poor Ailsie's +murder. Well, my lady, I felt sure as she had been a-hiding of +herself in my lord's room, and had discovered something horrible. +And so I called to her in a low voice: + +"'Mother!' + +"But she shook her head at me, and ran down the stairs, and stood +waiting. And just at that minute your ladyship came out of your +room. You may remember, my lady, seeing me standing there with the +coal as you came out?" + +"Yes, Jim, I remember," replied Lady Vincent. + +"Well, my lady, I saw mother stop you, and I heard a whispered +conversation, in which she seemed to beg you to do something that +you hadn't time to attend to, for you went downstairs and left her." + +"I was on my way to dinner, you remember; but I bade Katie go into +my dressing room and await me there. When I went up after dinner, +however, I found that she had not followed my directions. She was +not in my apartments, nor have I seen her since." + +"I beg pardon, my lady; but, indeed, poor mother did obey your +ladyship. She came upstairs again, and she took the coal hod out'n +my hands, and said--said she: + +"'You go right straight downstairs, Jim, and I'll tend to my +ladyship's fires myself.' And I said: + +"'Mother,' said I, 'what's the matter?' And she whispered to me: + +"'I done hear somethin' awful, Jim; but I must tell my ladyship +before I tells anyone else.' + +"'Was it about poor Ailsie's death?' said I. + +"'Worse 'an dat,' she answered; and then she went in and shut the +door in my face. And I come away. And that was the last time as ever +I see my poor, dear old mother. She never come down to supper, nor +likewise to play cards in the servants' hall in the evening, as she +is so fond of doing. And surely, my lady, I was not uneasy, because +I knew she often stayed in your ladyship's rooms until late; and as +I had seen her go into them myself that evening, I was feeling full +sure that she was with you. And so I went to bed in peace. And this +morning, as I got up and went to the post office before any of the +woman servants were astir, of course I didn't expect to see her. But +the first thing as I heard when I come back, was as she was a- +missing! And oh, my lady, I'm sure, I'm dead sure, as somebody has +made way with her!" exclaimed Jim, bursting into a fresh flood of +tears. + +"Don't despair, Jim; we must hope for the best," replied Lady +Vincent, in whose bosom not a vestige of hope remained. + +But Jim only answered with his tears. + +"Compose yourself, boy; and go and say to Lord Vincent that I +request to see him in my boudoir." + +Jim went out with a heavy heart to do his errand; but returned with +an answer that Lord Vincent was engaged. + +"I will not be baffled in this way!" muttered Claudia to herself. +Then speaking aloud she inquired: "Where is his lordship, and upon +what is he engaged?" + +"He is sitting in the library, with a bottle of brandy and a box of +cigars on the table by him; he is smoking and drinking." + +"'Smoking and drinking' at twelve o'clock in the day!" muttered +Claudia to herself, with a motion of disgust. Then speaking up, she +said: "Go downstairs, Jim, and assist in the search for your poor +mother; I will ring when I want you." + + + + +CHAPTER XXIX. + +A DEEP ONE. + + An evil soul producing holy witness, + Is like a villain with a smiling face. + A goodly apple, rotten at the core. + --_Shakespeare._ + + + +And when her footman had retired Claudia gave herself up to severe +and painful thought upon what she had just heard. And the more she +reflected on the circumstances the more firmly convinced she became +that poor old Katie had suffered foul play; though of what precise +nature or by whom exactly dealt she could not decide. Whether Katie +had been kidnaped and sent away; or immured in one of the +underground dungeons of the castle; or murdered; or whether the +perpetrators of either of these crimes were Lord Vincent and +Faustina; or Lord Vincent and Frisbie; or Faustina and Frisbie; or +finally, whether all three were implicated, she could not determine. +And the whole question overwhelmed her with horror. Was this ancient +and noble castle really a den of thieves and assassins? One +frightful murder had already been committed. Another had perhaps +been perpetrated. Was even her own life safe in such a cut-throat +place? She feared not; and she knew that she must act with exceeding +caution and prudence to insure her safety. What then should she do? +What became her duty in these premises? Clearly she could not leave +the faithful servant, who had probably lost life or liberty in her +service, to such a fate. And yet for Lady Vincent to stir in the +matter would be to risk her own life. + +No matter! Claudia, with all her faults, was no coward. + +And with a sudden resolution she arose and went downstairs and into +the library, where Lord Vincent sat drinking and smoking. + +"Lady Vincent, I believe I sent you word that I was engaged," said +the viscount, as soon as he saw her. + +"Not very particularly engaged, I believe, my lord," said Claudia, +resolutely advancing toward him. + +"I was smoking. And I understood that you disliked smoke," said Lord +Vincent, throwing away the end of his cigar. + +"There are crises in life, my lord, that make us forget such small +aversions. One such crisis is at hand now," answered Claudia +gravely. + +"Will your ladyship explain?" he demanded, placing a chair for her. +Evidently the brandy or something or other had strung up Lord +Vincent's nerves. + +Claudia took the seat, and sitting opposite to him, fixed her eyes +upon his face and said: + +"Are you aware, Lord Vincent, that my servant Katie has been missing +since yesterday afternoon?" + +"Indeed? Where has the old creature taken herself off to? She has +not eloped with one of our canny Scots, has she?" inquired the +viscount, coolly lighting another cigar and puffing away at it. + +"Such jesting, my lord, is cruelly out of place! It has not been +many days since a very horrid murder was committed on these +premises. The murderer has eluded detection. And apparently such +impunity has emboldened assassins. I have too much cause to fear +that my poor old servant has shared Ailsie Dunbar's fate!" + +Before Claudia had finished her sentence Lord Vincent had dropped +his cigar and was gazing at her in ill-concealed terror. + +"What cause have you for such absurd fears? Pray do you take the +castle of my ancestors to be the lair of banditti?" he asked in a +tone of assumed effrontery, but of real cowardice. + +"For something very like that indeed, my lord!" answered Claudia, +with a terrible smile. + +"I ask you what cause have you for entertaining these preposterous +suspicions?" + +"First of all, the assassination of Ailsie Dunbar and the successful +concealment of her murderer. Secondly, the mysterious disappearance +of my servant Katie, just at a time when it was desirable to some +parties to get her out of the way," said Claudia emphatically, and +fixing her eyes firmly on the face of the viscount, that visibly +paled before her gaze. + +"What--what do you mean by that?" + +"My lord, I will tell you. Yesterday afternoon, as I was descending +to dinner, old Katie met me on the stairs and with a frightened face +told me that she had made an important discovery that she wished to +communicate to me. I directed her to go to my dressing room and wait +there until my return from dinner, when I fully intended to hasten +at once to her side and hear what she had to say--" + +"Some 'mare's nest' of a new rumor concerning the murderer of Ailsie +Dunbar, I suppose," said the viscount, with a feeble attempt to +sneer. + +"No, my lord, I rather think it was something concerning my own +safety. But I never knew; for you may recollect that on last evening +your lordship detained me in conversation some time after dinner. +When I went to my dressing room Katie was not there. I thought she +had grown sleepy and had gone to bed, and so I felt no anxiety on +that score. But this morning, my lord, she is missing. She is +nowhere to be found." + +"Oh, I dare say she has gone visiting some of the country people +with whom she has picked acquaintance. She will turn up all right by +and by." + +"I fear not, my lord." + +"Why do you 'fear not'?" + +"Because there are other very suspicious circumstances connected +with the disappearance of Katie, that since her evanishment have +recurred to my memory, or been brought to knowledge." + +"Pray, may one ask without indiscretion, what these suspicious +circumstances are?" + +"Certainly, my lord; it was to report them that I came here. First, +then, last evening on my return towards my own room I was a little +startled by hearing a scream, quickly smothered, and then a fall and +a scuffling, soon silenced. These sounds came from the apartment of +Mrs. Dugald--" + +"The demon!" burst involuntarily from the unguarded lips of Lord +Vincent. + +Claudia heard, but continued to speak as though she had not heard.--"I +caught one single word of the conversation that ensued. It was--'Faustina!' +and it was your voice that uttered it. I therefore supposed at the +time, my lord, that you were only having one of your customary slight +misunderstandings with your--sister-in-law." + +"Yes, yes, yes, yes, that was it! She was suffering from an attack +of hysterics; and I had to go in and control her a little. She has +been subject to these attacks ever since the death of her husband, +poor woman," said he, in a quavering voice. + +Claudia eyed him closely and continued: + +"That was the circumstance that recurred to my memory with so much +significance when Katie was reported missing this morning. Then, +upon making inquiries as to where and by whom she was last seen, +another very significant circumstance was brought to my knowledge; +that she was seen last evening to issue from your rooms immediately +after you and your valet left them; and it appears to have been just +after that she met me on the steps." + +"Flames of--! What was she doing in my rooms?" exclaimed the +viscount, losing all self-command for the moment and turning ghastly +white with the mingled passions of rage and terror. + +"I do not know, my lord; probably her duty, a part of which is to +keep your linen in order. But whatever took her to your rooms, on +that occasion, or detained her there, it is very evident that while +there she made some frightful discovery which she wished to +communicate and would have communicated to me had she not been-- +prevented," said Claudia firmly. + +Lord Vincent was tremendously agitated, but struggled hard to regain +composure. At last he succeeded. + +"Who told you that she was seen coming from my rooms? What spy, what +eavesdropper, what mischief-maker have you in your employ that goes +about my house--watching, listening, and tale-bearing? If I detect +such a culprit in the act I will break his or her neck, and that you +may rely upon!" he said. + +"Have you broken Katie's neck?" inquired Lady Vincent. + +"Ha, ha, ha! If I had caught her hiding in my rooms I should have +done so beyond all doubt! Luckily for her I did not do so, as you +must be aware, since you say she was seen coming out of them." + +"Yes; but she was never seen to leave the castle!" + +"Lady Vincent, what is it that you dare to insinuate?" + +"My lord, I insinuate nothing. I tell you plainly that I feel myself +to be--not in a nobleman's castle, but in a brigand's fastness; and +that I suspect my poor old servant has been foully made way with." + +"Lady Vincent, how dare you!" + +"You may glare at me, my lord, but you shall not intimidate me. I +have seen one murdered woman in the house; I do strongly suspect the +presence of another, and I know not how soon my own life may fall a +sacrifice to the evil passions of the fiend that rules your fate. I +have been silent in regard to my deep wrongs for a long time, my +lord. But now that my poor servant has fallen a victim to her +fidelity, I can be silent no longer! I am here alone, helpless, and +in your power! Yet I must make my protest, and trust in God's mercy +to deliver me, and what is left of mine, from the hands of the +spoiler!" said Claudia solemnly. + +Sometimes necessity compels people to think and act with great +rapidity; to rally their faculties and charge a difficulty at a +moment's notice. + +This was the case with the Viscount Vincent now. Very quickly he +collected his mind, formed his resolution, and acted upon it. + +"Lady Vincent," he said, in a kinder tone than he had yet used, +"your words shock and appall me beyond all measure. Your suspicions +wrong me cruelly, foully; I know nothing whatever of the fate of +your woman; on my soul and honor, I do not! But if you really +suspect that anyone had an interest in the taking off of that poor +old creature, tell me at once to whom your suspicions point, and I +will do my very utmost to discover the truth. By all my hopes of +final redemption and salvation, I will!" he added, looking earnestly +in her face. + +Claudia gazed at him in utter amazement. Could this be true? she +asked herself. Could a man look so full in her face, speak so +earnestly, and swear by such sacred things, while telling a +falsehood? To one of Claudia's proud nature it was easier to believe +a man guilty of murder than of lying and perjury. She was thoroughly +perplexed. + +Lord Vincent saw the effect his words had had upon her, and he was +encouraged to follow up his success. + +"Whom do you suspect, Claudia?" he inquired. + +She answered honestly. + +"My lord, I will tell you truly. I suspect you." + +"Me!" he exclaimed, with a laugh of incredulity. Never were honest +scorn and righteous indignation more forcibly expressed. "Me! Why, +Claudia, in the name of all the insanities in Bedlam, why should you +suspect me? What interest could I possibly have in getting rid of +your amusing gorilla?" + +"My lord, I hope that I have wronged you; but I feared that Katie +had become possessed of some secret of yours which you wished to +prevent her from divulging." + +"And for that you thought I would have taken her life?" + +"For that reason I thought you would have made away with her--by +kidnaping and sending her out of the country, or by immuring her in +one of the dungeons of the castle, or even by--" + +"Speak out! 'Cutting her throat,' why don't you say?" + +"Oh, Lord Vincent, but this is horrible, horrible!" shuddered +Claudia. + +"Ha, ha, ha! Well, upon my life, my lady, you are excessively +complimentary to me! But I am willing to believe that the tragic +event of last week has shattered your nervous system and disturbed +the equilibrium of your mind. But for that I should hardly know how +to pardon your absurd insults. Have you anything more to say to me, +Lady Vincent?" + +"Only this, my lord; that if I find I have wronged you by this +dreadful suspicion, as perhaps I have, I shall be glad, yes, +overjoyed, to acknowledge it and beg your pardon. And, in the +meantime, I must ask you to keep your word with me, and investigate +the disappearance of Katie!" + +"I will do so willingly, Lady Vincent. And now a word with you. Will +you not change your mind and go with us to Mr. and Mrs. Dean to- +night?" + +"No, my lord," replied Claudia, in a tone that admitted of no +further discussion of the question. + +And thus they parted. + +For some time after Claudia left the library Lord Vincent remained +sitting with his brows contracted, his mouth clenched, and his eyes +fixed upon the ground. He was in deep thought. Handsome man as he +was, villain was written all over his face, form, and manner in +characters that even a child could have read; and, therefore, no one +was to be pitied who, having once seen Lord Vincent, suffered +themselves to be deceived by him. + +Presently he arose, bent toward the door and peered out, and, seeing +that the coast was clear, he went out with his stealthy, cat-like +step, and stole softly to the room of Mrs. Dugald. + +She was in her boudoir. + +He entered without knocking, locked the door behind him, and went +and sat down by her side. + +"What now?" she inquired, looking up. + +"What now? Why, all is lost unless we act promptly!" + +"I said it." + +"Faustina, she has missed Katie!" + +"That was a matter of course." + +"But she suspects her fate." + +"What care we what she suspects? She can prove nothing," said Mrs. +Dugald contemptuously. + +"Faustina, she can prove everything if she follows up the clew she +has found. Listen. She was in the hall, near the door, when the deed +was done! She heard the struggle and the cry and a part of our +conversation." + +"We shall all be guillotined!" cried the woman, starting to her feet +and standing before him in deadly terror. + +"We have no guillotining in England; but hanging is equally or even +more disagreeable." + +"How can you talk so when my bones are turning to gristle and my +heart to jelly with the fright!" cried Mrs. Dugald. + +"I jest to reassure you. If we act with promptitude there will be no +danger; not in the least. I have thrown her off the scent for the +present; I have told her that the noise, the struggle, the cry, and +the exclamation she heard were nothing but this--that you were +suffering from an attack of hysterics, and that I was trying to +control and soothe you. I told her that I knew nothing whatever of +the fate of her gorilla; and I did not spare the most solemn oaths +to assure her of the truth of my statement." + +"Good! but was she assured?" + +"Not fully. She is confused, bewildered, perplexed, thrown out of +her reckoning and off the track; and before she has time to recover +herself, collect her faculties, and get upon the scent again, we +must act. We must draw the net around her. We must place her in a +position in which her character as a witness against you would he +totally vitiated. To do this we must hasten the denouement of the +plot." + +"That plot which will rid me of my rival and make me--me--Lady +Vincent!" exclaimed the siren, her eyes sparkling with anticipated +triumph. + +"Yes, my angel, yes! And I would it were to-morrow!" + +"Ah, but, in the meanwhile, if I should be found out and +guillotined!" she cried, with a shudder. + +"Hanged, my angel, hanged; not guillotined! I told you we do not +guillotine people in England." + +"Ah--h--h!" shrieked the guilty woman, covering her face with her +hands. + +"But I tell you there is no danger, my love; none at all, if we do +but act promptly and firmly. The time is ripe. The plot is ripe. She +herself walks into the trap, by insisting on staying at home this +evening, instead of accompanying us to the theater. I have sent the +carriage for Mrs. MacDonald. She will come to luncheon with us, and +afterwards go with us to the play. My lady will remain at home, by +her own request." + +"Does Frisbie know the part he is to play?" + +"Yes; but not the precise hour of his debut. That I shall teach him +to-day. He will be well up in his lesson by this evening, you may +depend." + +"Ah, then we shall finish the work to-night!" + +"We shall finish it to-night." + +"But Mrs. MacDonald--will she not be in the way?" + +"No; as I shall arrange matters, she will be of the greatest use and +help to us, without knowing it. First, as a most respectable +chaperon for you, and, secondly, as a most indubitable witness of +the fall of Lady Vincent." + +"Good! good! I see! To-night, then, she shall be cast down from her +proud pedestal. And to-morrow--" + +"To-morrow she shall be dismissed from the castle." + +"But then I shall have to go, too. I could not stay--the world would +talk." + +"No, Faustina, you shall not go. I shall go and leave you here, and +invite Mrs. MacDonald to remain and bear you company until--until I +shall be free, my angel, to return and make you my wife." + +She clapped her hands with great glee and eagerly demanded: + +"And when will that be? Oh, when will that be? How soon? how soon?" + +"It may be weeks; it may be months; for the Divorce Courts are +proverbially slow. But the time will come at length; for I have +taken every measure to insure perfect success." + + + + +CHAPTER XXX. + +A NIGHT OF HORROR. + + He threw his sting into a poisonous libel + And on the honor of--oh God!--his wife, + The nearest, dearest part of all men's honor, + Left a base slur to pass from month to mouth, + Of loose mechanics with all foul comments, + Of villainous jests and blasphemies obscene; + While sneering nobles in more polished guise + Whispered the tale and smiled upon the lie. + --_Byron._ + + + +Claudia passed a weary day. She did not cease in her efforts to +discover some clew to the disappearance of old Katie. But all her +efforts were fruitless of success. + +Early in the afternoon the carriage that was sent for Mrs. MacDonald +returned, bringing that lady. + +Claudia did not go down into the drawing room to receive her; she +considered Mrs. Dugald's companion, whatever her pretensions might +be, no proper associate for Lady Vincent. She met the visitor, +however, at dinner, which was served some hours earlier than usual +in order to give the play-going party time enough to reach their +destination before the rising of the curtain. She found Mrs. +MacDonald to be a thin, pale, shabby woman, about forty years of +age; one of those poor, harmless, complacent creatures who, when +they can de so without breaking any law of God or man, are willing +to compromise a good deal of their self-respect to secure privileges +which they could not otherwise enjoy. + +And though Mrs. MacDonald was a descendant of the renowned "Lords of +the Isles," and was as proud of her lineage as any aristocrat alive, +yet she did not hesitate to accept an invitation, to go to the +theater with Lord Vincent, who was called a "fast" man, and Mrs. +Dugald, who was more than a suspected woman. Claudia treated this +lady with the cold politeness that the latter could neither enjoy +nor complain of. Immediately after dinner the party left for Banff. + +Few good women have ever been so distressingly misplaced as Claudia +was; therefore few could understand the hourly torture she suffered +from the mere presence of her vicious companions, or the infinite +sense of relief she felt in being rid of them, if only for one +evening. She felt the atmosphere the purer for their absence, and +breathed more freely than she had done for many days. + +She soon left the drawing room, whose atmosphere was infected and +disturbed with memories of Mrs. Dugald, and retired to her own +boudoir, where all was comparatively pure and peaceful. + +A deep bay-window from this room overhung the sea. There was a +softly cushioned semicircular sofa around this window, and a round +mosaic table within it. + +Claudia drew aside the golden-brown curtains and sat down to watch +the gray expanse of ocean, over which the night was now closing. + +While gazing abstractedly out at sea she was thinking of Katie. Now +that the darkening influence of Mrs. Dugald's and Lord Vincent's +presence was withdrawn from her sphere, she was enabled to think +clearly and decide firmly. Now that the viscount no longer stood +before her, exercising his diabolical powers of duplicity upon her +judgment, she no longer believed his protestations of ignorance in +regard to Katie's fate. On the contrary, she felt convinced that he +knew all about it. She did not now suppose, what her first frenzied +terrors had suggested, that Katie had been murdered, but that she +had been abducted, or confined, to prevent her from divulging some +secret to the prejudice of the viscount of which she had become +possessed. For Claudia had read the viscount's character aright, and +she knew that though he would not hesitate to break every +commandment in the Decalogue when he could do so with impunity, yet +he would not commit any crime that would jeopardize his own life or +liberty. Therefore she knew he had not murdered Katie; but she +believed that he had "sequestrated" her in some way. + +Having come to this conclusion, Claudia next considered what her own +duty was in the premises. Clearly it was for her to take every +measure for the deliverance of her faithful servant, no matter how +difficult or repugnant those measures should be. + +Therefore she resolved that early the next morning she would order +the carriage and go on her own responsibility and lodge information +with the police of the mysterious disappearance of her servant and +the suspicious circumstances that attended her evanishment. Claudia +knew that the eye of the police was still on the castle, because it +was believed to hold the undetected murderer of Ailsie Dunbar, and +that, therefore, their action upon the present event would be prompt +and keen. She knew, also, that the investigation would bring much +exposure and scandal to the castle and its inmates; and that it +would enrage Lord Vincent and result in the final separation of +herself and the viscount. But why, she asked herself, should she +hesitate on that account? + +The price for which she had sold herself had not been paid. She had +her empty title, but no position. She was not a peeress among +peeresses; not a queen of beauty and of fashion, leading the elite +of society in London. Ah, no! she was a despised and neglected wife, +wasting the flower of her youth in a remote and dreary coast castle, +and daily insulted and degraded by the presence of an unprincipled +rival. + +Claudia was by this time so worn out in body and spirit, so +thoroughly wearied and sickened of her life in the castle, that she +only desired to get away with her servants and pass the remainder of +her days in peaceful obscurity. + +And her contemplated act of complaining to the authorities was to be +her first step towards that end. Having resolved upon this measure, +Claudia felt more at ease. She drew the curtains of her window, and +seated herself in her favorite easy-chair before the bright, sea- +coal fire, and rang for tea. Sally brought the waiter up to her +mistress, and remained in attendance upon her. + +"Has anything been heard of Katie yet?" inquired Lady Vincent. + +"No, ma'am, nothing at all," answered Sally through her sobs. + +"Don't cry; tell them when you go down, to keep up the search +through the neighborhood; and if she is not forthcoming before to- +morrow morning, I will take such steps as shall insure her +discovery," said Lady Vincent, as she sipped her tea. + +Sally only wept in reply. + +"Remove this service now. And you need not come up again this +evening unless you have news to bring me of Katie, for I need to be +alone," said Lady Vincent, as she sat her empty cup upon the waiter. + +Sally took the service from the room. + +And the viscountess wheeled her chair around to the fire, placed her +feet upon the fender, and yielded her wearied and distracted spirit +up to the healing and soothing influences of night and solitude. As +she sat there, the words of a beautiful hymn glided into her memory. +Often before this evening, lying alone and wakeful upon her bed,-- +feeling the great blessing night brought her, in isolating her +entirely from her evil companions, and drawing her into a purer +sphere, feeling all the sweet and holy influences of night around +her,--she had soothed her spirit to rest repeating the words of Mr. +Longfellow's hymn: + + "From the cool cisterns of the midnight air + My spirit drinks repose; + The fountains of perpetual peace flows there, + From those deep cisterns flows. + + Oh, Holy Night! from thee I learn to bear + What souls have borne before, + Thou lay'st thy fingers on the lips of care + And they complain no more. + + Peace! Peace! Orestes-like I breathe this prayer, + Descend with broad-winged flight, + The welcome, the thrice prayed-for, the most fair, + The best beloved Night!" + +She repeated it now. And it soothed her like a benediction, + +A solitary night in her own boudoir would not seem to promise much +enjoyment; yet Claudia was happier, because more peaceful now than +she had ever seen since her first arrival at Castle Cragg. + +She sat on, letting the hours pass calmly and silently over her, +until the clock struck ten. Then to her surprise she heard a +knocking at the outer hall door, followed by the sound of an +arrival, and of many footsteps hastening up the stairs. + +Claudia arose to her feet in astonishment, and at the same moment +heard the voice of the viscount without, saying in ruffianly tones: + +"Burst open the door then! Don't you see it is locked on the +inside?" And with a violent kick the door of Claudia's boudoir, +which certainly was not locked, was thrown open, and Lord Vincent, +with inflamed cheeks and blood-shot eyes, strode into the room, +followed by Mrs. Dugald, Mrs. MacDonald, and old Cuthbert. + +"Keep the door, sir! Let no one pass out!" roared the viscount to +his butler, who immediately shut the door and placed himself against +it. + +"My lord!" exclaimed Claudia, in indignant amazement, "what is the +meaning of this violence?" + +"It means, my lady, that you are discovered, run to earth, +entrapped, cunning vixen as you are!" exclaimed the viscount, with +an air of vindictive triumph. + +Mrs. Dugald laughed scornfully. + +Mrs. MacDonald turned up her chin contemptuously. + +Old Cuthbert groaned aloud. + +Claudia looked from one to the other, and then said: + +"My lord, you and your friends appear to have been supping on very +bad wine; I would counsel you to retire and sleep off its effects." + +"Ha, ha, my lady! You take things coolly! I compliment you on your +self-possession!" sneered the viscount. + +Her heart nearly bursting with anger, Claudia threw herself into her +chair, and with difficulty controlling her emotions, said: + +"Will your lordship do me the favor to explain your errand in this +room, and then retire with your party as speedily as possible?" + +"Certainly, my lady, that is but reasonable, and is also just what I +intended to do," said the viscount, bowing with mock courtesy. + +And he drew a letter from his pocket and held it in his hand, while +he continued to speak, addressing himself now to the whole party +assembled in Lady Vincent's boudoir. + +"It is necessary to premise, friends, that my marriage with this +lady was a hasty, ill-advised, and inconsiderate one; unacceptable +to my family, unfortunate for myself, humiliating in its results. +For some weeks past my suspicions were aroused to the fact that all +was not right between the viscountess and another member of my +establishment. Cuthbert, keep that door! Let no one rush past!" + +"Ah, me laird; dinna fash yoursel'! I'll keep it!" groaned the old +man, putting his back firmly against the door. + +"Lord Vincent," exclaimed Claudia haughtily, "I demand that you +retract your words. You know them to be as false--as false as-- +yourself. They could not be falser than that!" + +"I will prove every word that I have spoken to be true!" replied the +viscount. Then continuing his story, he said: "This morning certain +circumstances strengthened my suspicions. Among others the +persistence with which her ladyship, though in good health, and with +no other engagement at hand, resolved and adhered to her resolution +to remain at home and miss the rare opportunity of seeing Mr. and +Mrs. Dean in their great parts of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth. +Suspecting that her ladyship had some unlawful design in thus +denying herself an amusement of which I know her to be excessively +fond, and preferring to spend the evening at home, of which I know +she is excessively tired, I ordered my faithful old servant, +Cuthbert, to watch--not his mistress, Lady Vincent, but another +individual--" + +Here old Cuthbert interrupted the speaker with deep groans. + +Claudia remained sitting in her chair, with her face as pale as +death, her teeth firmly set, and her eyes fiercely fixed upon the +face of the man who was thus maligning her honor. + +He continued: + +"How well my suspicions were founded, and how faithfully old +Cuthbert has performed his duty, you will soon see. It appears that +we had but just started on our drive, when Cuthbert, watching the +motions of the suspected person, saw him steal towards Lady +Vincent's apartments. The old man glided after him, and, unseen +himself, saw him, the miscreant, enter Lady Vincent's boudoir." + +"It is as false as Satan! Oh, you infamous wretch, what form of +punishment would be ignominious enough for you!" cried Claudia, +springing to her feet, her eyes flaming with consuming wrath. + +But the viscount approached and laid his hand upon her shoulder, and +forced her down into her seat again. + +And Claudia, too proud to resist, where resistance would be but a +vain, unseemly struggle, dropped into her chair and sat perfectly +still--a marble statue, with eyes of flame. + +The viscount, with fiendish coolness, continued: + +"Cuthbert watched and listened on the outside of the door for some +time, and then, thinking that the intruder had no intention of +leaving the room, he went and wrote a note, and sent it by one of +the grooms, mounted on a swift horse, to me. Ladies, you both saw +the boy enter the theater and hand me this note. Your interest was +aroused, but I only told you that I was summoned in haste to my +lady's apartments, and begged you to come with me--" + +"And I thought her ladyship was perhaps ill, and needed experienced +help, or I should certainly not have followed your lordship into +this room," said Mrs. MacDonald, who, however, made no motion to +withdraw. + +Mrs. Dugald's insulting laugh rang through the room. + +"I beg pardon, madam; I know this is not a pleasant scene for a lady +to take part in, but I needed witnesses, and necessity has no law. +If you will permit me, I will read the note I received," said the +viscount, with a diabolical sneer, as he unfolded the paper. He read +as follows: + +"'It is a' as your lairdship suspicioned. If your lairdship will +come your ways hame at ance, you will find the sinful pair in me +leddy's boudoir.'" + +The note had neither name nor date. + +"You know," pursued Lord Vincent, "that we hurried home; you saw me +speak aside with Cuthbert in the hall; in that short interview he +informed me that he had remained upon the watch, and that the +villain had not yet left Lady Vincent's apartments; that he was +still within them!" + +"Oh, Cuthbert! I believed you to be an honest old man! It is awful +to find you in league with these wretches!" exclaimed Claudia, in +sorrowful indignation. + +"Ou, me leddy! I'd rather these auld limbs o' mine had been streaket +in death, ere I had to use them in siccan uncanny wark! But the +Lord's will be dune!" groaned the old man, is such sincere grief +that Claudia was thoroughly perplexed. + +And all this time the viscount was continuing his cool, devlish +monologue. + +"It was for this reason, ladies, that I burst open the door and +called you in; and it was to prevent the escape of the fellow that I +placed Cuthbert on guard at the door. Now, my lady, that you +understand the cause of the 'violence' of which you just now +complained, you will please to permit me to search the room. You +cannot complain that I have acted with unseemly haste. I have +proceeded with great deliberation. In fact, your accomplice has had +abundant time to escape, if he had the means." + +"Lord Vincent, these outrages shall cost you your life!" exclaimed +Claudia, in the low, deep, stern key of concentrated passion. + +"All in good time, my lady," sneered the viscount, commencing the +humiliating search. He looked in the recess of the bay window; +peeped behind curtains; opened closets: and finally drew a large +easy-chair from the corner of the room. + +"Pray, whom do you expect to find concealed in my apartment, my +lord?" demanded Claudia, white with rage. + +"My respectable valet, the good Mr. Frisbie. And here he is!" +replied the viscount sarcastically. + +And to Claudia's horror and amazement he drew the trembling wretch +from his concealment and hurled him into the center of the room, +where he stood with dangling arms and bending legs, pale and +quaking, but whether with real or assumed fear Claudia could not +tell. + +"How came this fellow in my room?" she demanded, in consternation. + +"Aye, sure enough! how did he come here?" sneered Lord Vincent. + +Mrs. Dugald laughed. + +Mrs. MacDonald raised both her hands in horror. + +"Come! perhaps he'll tell us why he came here! Confess, you +scoundrel! Say what brought you here!" exclaimed the viscount, +suddenly changing his tone from cool irony to burning rage, as he +seized and shook his valet. + +"Oh, my lord, I will! I will! only let go my collar!" gasped the +man, shaking or affecting to shake. + +"Confess, then, you rascal! What brought you here?" + +"Oh, my lord, mercy! mercy! I will confess! I will!" + +"Do it, then, you villain!" + +"Oh, my lord, I--I come--at--at my lady's invitation, my lord!" + +"You came at Lady Vincent's invitation?" cried the viscount, shaking +the speaker. + +"Y-y-yes, my lord!" stammered the valet. + +"You--came--at my invitation?" demanded Lady Vincent haughtily, +fixing her eyes of fire on the creatures's dace. + +"Yes, my lady, you know I did! It is no use for us to deny it now! +Ah, my lady, I alwasy warned you that we should be found out, and +now sure enough we are!" replied Frisbie. + +Claudia clasped her hands and raised her eyes to Heaven with the +look of one who would have called down fire upon the heads of these +fiends in human form. + +Lord Vincent continued to question his valet. + +"Does Lady Vincent makes a practice of inviting you to her +apartments?" + +"Y-y-yes, my lord!" + +"How often?" + +"Wh-wh-whenever your lordship's abscence seems to make it safe." + +"Then I am to understand that you are a favored suitor of Lady +Vincent's?" + +"Yes, yes, my lord! Oh, my lord, I know I have done very wrong. I +know I--" + +"Do you know that you deserve death, sir?" demanded the viscount, in +a voice of thunder. + +"Oh, my lord, mercy! mercy! I know I am a great sinner! I could kill +myself for it, if it wasn't for fear of losing my soul! All I can do +now is to repent and confess! I do repent from the bottom of my +heart; and I will confess everything! Yes, I will tell your lordship +all about it and throw myself on your lordship's mercy! cried this +remorseless villain. + +"Enough! I wish to hear no more from you just at present. Your +confession would be scarcely fir for the ears of these ladies. your +testimony must be reserved for a future occasion," said the viscont. +And then turning to Claudia with the coolest and most insulting +hauteur, he said: + +"And now! what have you to say to all this, my lady?" + +Claudia advanced into the center of the room; her step was firm; her +head erect; her cheeks burning; her eyes blazing; her whole form +dilated and lifted to grandeur; she looked a very Nemesis--a very +Goddess of Retribute Justice, as throwing her consuming glance +around upon the group, who fairly quailed before her, she said: + +"What have 'I to say to all this'? I say, Lord Vincent, be assured +that you shall die for these insults! I say that I know this to be a +foul conspiracy against my honor, and as feeble as it is foul! Oh, +reptiles! base, venomous reptiles! Do you really suppose that the +honor of a pure woman is of such a weak and sickly nature as to be +destroyed by the poison of your calumnies? Fools! I shall leave this +place for London tomorrow! I shall go at once to the American +Legation and see our American minister, who is an old friend of my +father. I will tell him all that has taken place and come to my +knowledge, since I have lived under this accursed and polluted roof. +I will advise with him as to the best measures to be taken for the +discovery of my poor old servant, Katie, and for the unmasking and +prosecuting to conviction the wretches who have conspired against my +honor. What! I am the daughter of Randolph Merlin! The blood of an +Indian king, who never spared a foe, burns along my veins! Take +heed--beware--escape while you may! My lord, your fate shall find +you, even though it follow you to the farthest ends of the earth! +You are warned! And now, as a few moments since, my request that you +would withdraw your accomplices from the room was disregarded, I +must retire to my chamber." + +And with the air and manner of an outraged queen, Claudia left the +boudoir. + +"Friends," said Lord Vincent, turning to his female companions, +"your testimony will be hereafter required in this case. I beg you, +therefore, in the name of justice, to make a mental note of what you +have seen and heard to-night. Remember Lady Vincent's strange +conduct in declining to accompany us to the theater and resolving to +stay at home; remember the note that was brought me in my box and +our unexpected return home; remember particularly that the door +leading into Lady Vincent's apartments was fastened on the inside, +and that I had to break it open; remember also that we found the +wretch, Frisbie, concealed in the room, and that he made a full +confession." + +"It is not likely that we shall forget it, my lord!" said Mrs. +MacDonald gravely. + +"No! what horror!" cried Mrs. Dugald. + +"And now, ladies, I will no longer detain you from your necessary +rest," said the viscount, ringing the bell, which the housekeeper, +looking amazed, scandalized, and full of curiosity, answered. + +"Murdock, show this lady, Mrs. MacDonald, to the blue suite of +rooms, and place yourself at her service. Madam, pray order any +refreshments you may require. Good-night, madam. Sister, good- +night!" + +"Good-night! good-night, my lord! I shall pray that you shall be +able to bear this great misfortune with the fortitude becoming a +man," said Mrs. MacDonald. + +"Good-night, brother!" said Mrs. Dugald. + +When the "ladies," attended by the housekeeper, had left the room +and were quite out of hearing, Lord Vincent turned to his accomplice +and whispered: + +"You did that capitally, Frisbie. You would make an excellent actor. +Anyone on earth, looking at you this evening and not knowing the +truth, would have thought you were dying of mortification and +terror--you shook and faltered so naturally." + +"Oh, my lord!" returned the valet, in modest deprecation of this +praise. + +"You did; but now I wish you to tell me. How did you manage to +awaken the suspicions of old Cuthbert? How did you manage to draw +his eyes upon you--and draw him on to watch you until you entered +the room without seeming to know that you were watched?" + +"I tell you, my lord, that part of my task was hard. But I contrived +to do it by pretending to watch him, and affecting to dodge out of +sight every time he saw me. This excited his curiosity, and caused +him to conceal himself in order to watch me. When I knew that he had +done this, I began to creep towards my lady's apartments, knowing +full well that he was stealing after me." + +"But how did you contrive to get into the boudoir?" + +"I wore list slippers, and your lordship knows that the thick +carpets return no echo to the footstep, and that the doors open and +shut silently. First I peeped through the keyhole, and I saw that +her ladyship was sitting within the curtained recess of the hay +window, looking out at sea, her attention being absorbed there, and +her back being towards the door. So I just softly opened the door, +entered the room, closing it after me and concealed myself behind +your lordship's own great easy-chair, that I knew was never drawn +from its dark corner," + +"For the good reason that the owner is never there to occupy it," +sneered the viscount. + +"Just so, my lord. And now I have told your lordship exactly how I +managed matters, so as to make old Cuthbert our accomplice without +his ever suspecting it." + +"Old Cuthbert must think you a grand rascal." + +"He does me great honor, your lordship." + +"There! now go about your business, Frisbie. Of course you must get +away from here by the morning's first light. It must be supposed +that you have been kicked out. Remain in the neighborhood of Banff. +You will be wanted as a witness." + +"Yes, my lord; but in the meantime-I have saved nothing. I have no +means." + +"Oh, you mercenary rascal! You have saved your neck from the +gallows, if you have saved nothing else. But here are ten pounds for +present needs; and I will take care not to see you want for the +future. Now be off with you. Your longer stay will excite surprise +and conjecture." + +"Your lordship is too good!" said the caitiff, bowing himself out. + +Lord Vincent soon after left the boudoir and went downstairs. In the +hall he found old Cuthbert up and waiting. + +"You here yet, Cuthbert? Why don't you go to bed?" + +"Ou, me laird, I couldna sleep wi' the thought o' siccan dishonor +befa'ing the house!" groaned the old man. + +"The dishonor attaches but to one person, and the house will be rid +of it when she is cast forth," said the viscount. + +"Ou, me laird! for pity, dinna do that! Send her ways back to her +ain countrie. She's but a wee bit lassie after a'! And she's awa' +fra fayther and mither, and a' her folk! And 'deed I canna bring +mysel' to think that ill o' her, neither! 'deed no!" + +"Cuthbert, are you out of your senses? What are you talking about? +The man was found concealed in her room, and being discovered, +confessed his guilt," said Lord Vincent. + +"Aye, me laird, but she denied all knowledge of him; and she looked +grand wi' the majesty of truth, me laird. Folk dinna look that way +when they're leeing. And the lad Frisbie looked just as if he were +leeing. Folk dinna look as he looked when they're telling the +truth." + +"Cuthbert, you are an old dolt! We do not depend on Frisbie's word, +exclusively. We have the fact of finding him in the room." + +"I misdoubt he e'en just hid himsel' in there for the purpose of +robbery, unbeknownst to the leddy. And then cast the blame on her to +help to shield himsel', the villain!" + +"Cuthbert, you are in your dotage!" exclaimed the viscount angrily. + +"It may be sae, my laird; but I canna think shame o' the leddy! Nay, +I canna! Howbeit! richt or wrong, the shame has come till her. Sae, +me laird, in marcy take an auld man's counsel, and e'en just gie her +her dower, and send her her ways to her feyther's house." + +"Cuthbert, your brain is softening. Hark ye! Get yourself off to +bed." + +"Aye, me laird," said the old man meekly, as he withdrew to his den; +"but I canna think sin o' the leddy! nay, nay, I canna!" + +When all the house was still Lord Vincent stole to the apartments of +Mrs. Dugald. + +"Oh! I have been waiting for you so long and so impatiently," she +said, as she placed him a chair at her dressing-room fireside. + +"I came as soon as all was quiet. Oh, Faustina, how I am sinking my +soul in sin and infamy for your sake!" exclaimed Lord Vincent, as a +momentary qualm of shame sickened his heart. + +"Do you repent it, then?" she inquired, with a glance that brought +him to her feet, a slave once more, "do you repent it?" + +"No, my angel, no! though we go to perdition, we go together! And it +is joy and glory to lose myself for you--for you!" he exclaimed +passionately, and attempting to embrace her. + +"Ha! stop! beware! You are not free yet--nor am I your wife!" +exclaimed the artful woman, withdrawing herself from his advances. + +"But I shall be free soon, and you shall be my wife. You know it, +Faustina. You know that I am your slave. You can do with me as you +please. Then why be so cruel as to refuse me even one kiss?" + +"That I may have nothing to reproach myself with in after time--when +I shall be Lady Vincent. That you may not have to blush for your +second viscountess, as you have had to blush for your first." + +"Oh, Faustina, how coldly cruel and calculating you sometimes seem +to me! Why do I love you so insanely that you possess my very soul? +Why is it, beautiful witch?" + +"Because I love you so much, mon ami." + +"You do, you do! You really love me, 'Tina?" + +"Oh, I do! You know I do! more than life!" + +"Then let Satan have me after death! I do not care!" replied this +desperate fool. + +"Hush! this is a dangerous topic. It makes me reel. Give me a glass +of water, Malcolm, and let us talk of something else," said the wily +siren. + +When she had drunk the water the viscount brought her she said: + +"There is a question I have been dying to ask you all day, but I +could get no good chance without the risk of being overheard--and +that would have been ruin." + +"What is the question, Faustina?" + +The woman turned so deadly white that her black eyes gleamed like +great balls of jet from a face of stone, as sinking her voice to the +lowest key, she said: + +"What have you done with it?" + +"With what, Faustina?" + +"With the dead body of the black woman?" + +The viscount slowly lowered his finger and significantly pointed +downward. + +"Down there?" whispered Faustina. + +The viscount nodded. + +"Where we left it?" + +"Yes." + +"Oh, but that is not safe. There is suspicion. Suppose there should +be a search; suppose there should be a discovery?" cried the woman +in alarm. For she, who was not afraid of committing the worst +crimes, was terribly afraid of meeting their consequences. + +"Be at ease. I shall not leave her there long; the sea is near at +hand," whispered the viscount. + +"Yes, you may cast her into the sea; but the sea sometimes casts +back its dead--especially when they have been murdered," shuddered +the woman. + +"The sea will not cast her back," said the viscount significantly. + +"Oh. you will tie a heavy weight to her body! But when will you do +it? Oh, I am in agony, until that is removed!" + +"Be still! I hope to have an opportunity of removing it tonight." + +"But you cannot do it alone. Let me help you. I would rather help +you." + +"No, I can and will do it without your help. Do you think, my angel, +that I would permit you to engage in such dreadful work?" + +"I helped you to stop her breath," said the woman hoarsely. + +"That was a work of necessity that presented itself suddenly before +us. This is different." + +"But I would rather help. I would rather be present. I would rather +see, for then I should know to a certainty that it was gone," she +insisted. + +"Can you not trust me?" + +"No, no, I cannot trust anyone when my head is in danger of the +guillotine." + +"I tell you there are no guillotines in England." + +"The other thing, then, which is worse, because it is more +disgraceful. Hanging by the neck until one is dead! Ugh! No, I +cannot trust you, Malcolm, where so much is at stake," said the +woman, with a terrible shudder. + +"You have no confidence in me then? And yet you say you love me. +Why, confidence is the very soul of love." + +"Oh, yes, I love you, Malcolm. I love you more than words can tell. +And it is for your safety as well as for my own that I am so +cautious. And I have confidence in you, Malcolm. Only, being alone, +you may not be able to do the work effectually. I must help you. The +house is all still; everybody has retired; can we not go now and +remove it?" + +"No, not now; there is a vessel lying at anchor close under the +shore. We must wait until she moves off." + +"And the vessel may lay there a whole week. And in the meantime what +becomes of the body?" exclaimed Faustina, her eyes wild with +apprehension. + +"I am assured by those who know, that the vessel will sail with the +first tide to-morrow morning. So be tranquil. And now, Faustina, +there is another subject which we must settle to-night. Lady Vincent +leaves the castle early to-morrow morning. That is necessary; and +though it cleaves my heart in two to part with you, I must do it for +a season. The world must have no cause to talk of you and me, +Faustina; of you, especially, for of you it would be the most likely +to talk." + +"Why of me?" inquired the ex-opera singer testily. + +"Because, my dearest, you have more beauty and genius and fame than +the world ever forgives in a woman," answered the viscount artfully. + +"Oh!" said the siren, with an air of arch incredulity. + +"And now, Faustina, it shall be for you to decide. Shall you remain +here, with Mrs. MacDonald for a companion and chaperon, while I go +to London to take the preliminary steps towards the divorce; or +shall you go to Brighton or Torquay, or any other watering-place on +the South Coast?" + +Mrs. Dugald was very astute; she answered promptly: + +"Oh, I will remain here. And then you will not be jealous. There is +no one here to admire me except Mrs. MacDonald and old Cuthbert and +Murdock." + +"Bless you! Bless you! I do believe you love me because you +anticipate my wishes so readily," said this devotee fervently. + +"And now you must go, and say good-night! It is two o'clock in the +morning and I am tired to death. And mind about that below, you +know. And the first safe opportunity you have, come to me to help +you remove it. Mind!" said Faustina, raising her finger. + +"I will mind. Good-night! What, no kiss, even for good-night?" he +said, as she recoiled from his offered salute. + +"No. I reserve my kisses for my husband," she answered archly. Thus +this evil woman, steeped to the lips in sin, affected the prude with +the man she wished to secure. And while making and receiving the +most ardent protestations of love, disallowed the very slightest +caress. + +The viscount, baffled and dissatisfied, but more determined than +ever to marry this tantalizing beauty, left the room and retired to +his own chamber. + +Mr. Frisbie's work was over there, and Mr. Frisbie himself was +absent, of course. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXI. + +THE CASTLE VAULT. + + It was more dark and lone, that vault, + Than the worst dungeon cell, + A hermit built it for his fault, + In penitence to dwell: + This den, which chilling every sense + Of feeling, hearing, sight, + Was called the Vault of Penitence, + Excluding air and light. + 'Twas by an ancient prelate made + The place of burial for such dead + As having died in mortal sin + Might not be laid the church within. + 'Twas next a place of punishment; + Where if so loud a shriek were sent, + As reached the upper air, + The hearers blessed themselves and said + The spirits of the sinful dead + Bemoaned their torments there. + --_Scott._ + + + +There was opening from Lord Vincent's dressing room a bay window, +having a balcony on the outside, overhanging the sea. The viscount +took a night telescope, opened the window, and stepped out upon the +balcony. He adjusted the glass and swept the coast. Nothing was to +be seen but the solitary vessel that lay at anchor almost under the +castle walls. + +"The coast is clear," said the viscount to himself, as he re-entered +the room and replaced the telescope. + +Then wrapping himself in a large maud and pulling a slouched hat +over his eyes, he left the room, descended the stairs and went out. + +He took the way down to the sands at the extreme base of the +promontory. The path that led down the side of the cliff was steep, +slippery, and very dangerous even at noonday. And this was one of +the darkest hours of the night that precedes the dawn. And the path +was more perilous than ever. But the viscount was Highland-bred, and +his step was as sure on the steep mountain edge as on the level +plain. He reached the foot of the precipice in safety and stood upon +the sands and drew from his pocket a small whistle, which he placed +to his lips and blew a shrill call. + +It was answered from the vessel at anchor. And soon a boat was put +off from her side, and rowed swiftly to the shore. + +"Is that you, Costo?" inquired the viscount of the man who jumped +ashore. + +"No, senor; it is Paolo." + +"The mate?" + +"Yes, senor." + +"Where is Costo?" + +"On board the vessel, senor." + +"What have you brought this time?" + +"Cuban tobacco, Jamaica spirits, and some rich West Indian fabrics +for ladies' dresses. A cask of spirits and a box of cigars have gone +up to the castle. Old Mr. Cuthbert took them in." + +"All right; but I have some business now at hand that Cuthbert must +know nothing about. For instance, he is in ignorance, and must +remain in ignorance, of my visit to the beach to-night." + +"We can be silent as the grave, senor." + +"Have you had any trouble from the coastguard?" + +"No, senor; how could we? Is not your excellency the protector of +the poor?" + +The viscount laughed. + +"It is true," he said, "that the guards at the nearest station are +in my power, and know better than to pry too closely into the +concerns of any vessels that run into my castle cove; but beyond +their domain I cannot protect you; so be cautious." + +"We are cautious, senor. So cautious that we shall sail with the +first tide." + +"For Havana?" + +"For Havana, senor." + +"Well, now I wish you to take me to the vessel. I must see the +captain." + +"Surely, senor," said the obsequious mate, as the viscount stepped +into the boat. + +"Give way, men! Back to the brigantine," said the mate. And the men +laid themselves to their oars, and soon reached the vessel's side. + +Lord Vincent was received with the greatest respect by the captain, +who came obsequiously to the starboard gangway to meet him. + +"Let us go into your cabin at once, Costo; I have business to +discuss with you," said the viscount. + +"Surely, senor," replied the captain, leading the way down to a +small, snug cabin. + +It was flanked each side by two comfortable berths, and furnished +with a buffet at one end and a round table and two chairs in the +center. + +"Will the senor deign to seat himself?" said the captain, offering +one of these chairs to the visitor and taking the other himself. + +There were decanters of spirits, glasses, cigars, pipes, and tobacco +on the table. + +"Will the senor deign to taste this rum, which is of fine quality, +and try one of these cigars, which are at once so strong and so +delicate of aroma?" + +For an answer the viscount poured out a liberal portion of the +spirits and quaffed it almost at a draught, and then lighted a cigar +and commenced smoking. He smoked away for a few minutes, during +which Costo waited respectfully for him to open communications. + +At length the viscount spoke: + +"Costo, in your island of Cuba able-bodied men and women of the +negro race command good prices, do they not?" + +"Yes, senor--great prices, since your illustrious statesmen have +abolished the African slave-trade over all the ocean." + +"For instance, how much would a fine young man, of say twenty-one +years of age, bring?" + +"From two to five thousand dollars, according to his health, good +looks, and accomplishments. I have known a likely boy of fourteen to +sell for three thousand dollars. He is now one of the best cooks on +the island." + +"Humph! then I should say the one I speak of would bring near the +highest price you have named. How much would a healthy, handsome +girl of eighteen bring?" + +"Mulatress or quadroon?" + +"Oh, neither. She is a negress, black as the blackest satin, but +with a skin as smooth and soft--a Venus carved in jet." + +"From a thousand to two thousand dollars, perhaps, as she is a +negress but if she were a mulatress she would bring more, or if a +quadroon most of all--other things being equal." + +"And how much would a stout, healthy, strong-minded woman of fifty +bring?" + +"That depends upon other circumstances, senor. If, together with her +health and intelligence, she should be a good housekeeper and nurse, +as women of her age are apt to be, why, then she might bring from +nine to twelve hundred dollars." + +"Well, Costo, I have three such negroes as I have just described to +dispose of." + +"Yes, senor? But you are English and this is England!" exclaimed the +buccaneer in amazement. + +"Scotch--and Scotland. But, no matter--it amounts to the same thing. +Will you buy my negroes at a bargain?" + +"Pardon, senor, but I do not understand. I thought there was no +buying and selling of slaves in England." + +"Of course there is not. And there is no free trade in England. Both +negro-trading and smuggling are illegal. Yet, as you manage to drive +a pretty profitable business in the latter, you might speculate a +little in the former. Eh?" + +"But, pardon, senor. I am not in the slave-trade." + +"What of that? When such a splendid opportunity of doing a fine +stroke of business offers, you might step aside from your regular +routine of trade to make a considerable sum of money, might you +not?" + +"If the senor would condescend to explain himself I might understand +the affair he proposes to me. I do not yet comprehend how he can +have slaves to sell in England," said the captain respectfully. + +"Perhaps another would not be able to understand how you manage to +import articles upon which heavy duty is laid, free of all duty +whatever?" said the viscount, indulging in a sneer. + +"If the senor would deign to make his meaning clear?" + +"Well, the senor will endeavor to do so. Though more depends upon +your perspicacity than his perspicuity. Can you comprehend that when +I was on a visit to the States I married a young American lady, who +owned a large number of slaves, who, of course, passed into my +possession from the marriage day?" + +"Oh, yes, senor; that is easily understood." + +"Three of these slaves, the three of which I have just spoken, being +favorites of their mistress, attended her to this country." + +"And became free from the moment they touched English ground, senor; +for such is English law." + +"We are not talking of law--though I suppose there is as much law +for slavery as there is for smuggling. But the less you and I say +about law the better. So just suppose we leave law entirely out of +the argument." + +"With all my heart, senor; if the senor desires it to be left out." + +"'The senor' does. So now, then, we shall get along better, These +three negroes are at Castle Cragg. At your own estimation, the lot +must be worth eight thousand dollars--sixteen hundred pounds in our +money; now you shall have them for six hundred pounds--that is, +three thousand dollars of your money; and you will thereby make a +profit of one thousand pounds, or five thousand dollars, which is +nearly two hundred per cent. Come, what do you say?" + +"Senor, we are to leave law out of the argument?" + +"Of course." + +"Then, if I had these negroes on board this vessel, which is to sail +with the morning tide, I would give the senor his price for them." + +"You shall have them all on board within the hour." + +"Good! but, pardon, senor, a thought strikes me!" + +"What is it?" + +"Since these negroes are favorite servants of the illustrious +Senora?" + +"What then?" + +"She will not consent to part with them." + +"Her consent is as unnecessary as the sanction of the law. It is +just because they are favorite servants--petted, pampered, and +spoiled servants--that I wish to part with them. Such servants are +nuisances in the family circle." + +"The senor is right, always right! but--shall we have any difficulty +with the negroes?" + +"None whatever. You will take them in their beds." + +"Will they not make an outcry and bring the house upon us?" + +"My excellent but too cautious friend, did you never hear of +chloroform?" + +"Surely, senor." + +"It is one of the greatest blessings modern science has conferred +upon us. It not only saves much pain in surgical operations, but in +other operations it actually saves life. The experienced burglar +now, when he enters a house for the purpose of robbery, instead of +cutting the throat of a wakeful inmate, simply administers +chloroform, and soothes his restlessness so perfectly that he falls +into a happy state of insensibility, while he, the burglar, pursues +his calling undisturbed and at leisure." + +"Well, senor?" + +"Well, don't you understand? I will conduct you and such of your men +as you can trust to the castle; admit you secretly; lead you to the +bedside of the negroes, who are sure at this hour to be in a deep +sleep; administer the chloroform to send them into a deeper one; and +so transport them to the vessel." + +"And by that time we will be ready to raise anchor and sail. And +when our sleepers awake we shall be safely on our way to Cuba." + +"Exactly. But no time is to be lost. Will you go now?" inquired the +viscount, rising. + +"Certainly," said the captain, and he went on deck to order the boat +manned to go on shore. + +In a few minutes it was reported ready, and the captain, the mate, +and two sailors whom they supposed they could rely upon, entered it. +In a very few minutes they reached the shore and left the boat. + +"Leave the two sailors here with the boat; the mate will be +sufficient for our purpose," said the viscount. + +The captain gave the necessary directions to the boatmen. Lord +Vincent, Captain Costo, and Paolo went up the narrow pass leading to +the top of the cliff and entered the castle courtyard. + +"Your boots are heavy; they might awaken the household, even at this +hour of its deepest sleep; you must put them off here," whispered +the viscount. + +It was no sooner said than done. The men cast off both shoes and +stockings and stood in their bare feet. + +"We must keep them dry to put on again," said the mate, as he +stuffed the stockings into the boots. + +Then, silent as death, they stole into the castle and glided along +the dark, deserted halls and up its staircases. + +The viscount paused before the door of Mrs. Dugald's boudoir, and +taking the maid's pass-key from its hiding place, softly unlocked +and entered the room, beckoning his companions in crime to follow. + +Silently he stole across the room, drew aside the crimson-satin +hangings, exposed the oak-paneled walls, and touched a spring. + +A secret door opened, revealing a narrow flight of stairs. Making a +sign for his companions to follow, he descended. + +Down many narrow flights of stairs, through many winding labyrinths, +along many dark passages, the sailors followed their leader, until +far down in the deepest foundations of the castle they reached a +large, circular stone crypt, with many rusted iron doors around it, +leading into little dungeons. On one side of this horrible place was +a rude stone altar with an iron crucifix. In the center was a block. +It was probably a vault which in the old and dark ages had been used +for a place of secret imprisonments, executions, and burials. + +Lord Vincent flashed his lantern around upon the scene and then went +up to one of the grated doors, unfastened it, and entered the +dungeon. + +It was a small stone cavity, a hard hole, where it seemed impossible +for a human being to live and breathe for an hour. And yet poor old +Katie, with the wonderful tenacity of life which belongs to the pure +African, had clung to existence there ever since the hour when, +seeming dead, she had been dragged from the apartments of Faustina +to this hideous vault. + +So you see he had deceived Faustina into the belief that Katie had +died in the vault from the effects of chloroform. + +By the dim light of the lantern her form could now be seen squatted +in the corner of the dungeon. Her knees were drawn up, her arms +folded on them, and her head buried in them. She had fallen asleep; +probably after long watching and fasting and the effects of mental +and physical exhaustion. The entrance of the viscount did not awaken +her. + +"This is the woman; I was obliged to confine her here for a violent +assault upon a lady of my family. She is fast asleep; but to attempt +to remove her might awaken her; so we will make all sure by sending +her into a deeper sleep," whispered the viscount, drawing from his +pocket first a bottle of chloroform and then a piece of sponge, +which he proceeded to saturate with the liquid. + +But it required tact to apply it. Katie's face was buried in her +arms. So he first put the lantern out of the way where it could not +shine upon her, and then went and gently lifted Katie's head with +one hand while he applied the sponge near her nose with the other. + +"Yes, chile; I tink so too--my ladyship--whited saltpetre--Bottomy +Bay," muttered Katie, who was sleeping the deep sleep of her race, +and probably dreaming of her lady and her lady's dangers. + +The viscount laid her head back on his own breast, put the +chloroform sponge to her nose, and fitted his own slouch hat over +her face in such a manner as to confine the fumes. + +Poor old Katie's wide nostrils soon inhaled the whole of the deadly +vapor, which acted with unusual power upon her exhausted frame, so +that she speedily lay as one dead. + +"Take her up! make haste! There is a shorter way out of this vault; +but I could not bring you here by it because it is fastened on this +side," said the viscount, leaving the den. + +The captain and mate went in, and raised old Katie's unresisting +form in their arms, and followed the viscount, who led them from the +vault into a long stone passage, at the end of which was a door, +fastened on the inside with a chain and padlock. + +The viscount unlocked this door, which opened out into a rocky cave, +through which they passed to an intricate, winding, and rugged +labyrinth, which finally led out into the open air, on the beach +near which the boat was left. + +The captain and mate laid down their burden, and stretched their +limbs, and took a long breath. The viscount beckoned the boatmen to +approach, and they came. Then turning to the captain, he said: + +"You had better order these men to take this woman immediately to +the boat, and carry her across to the vessel, and lock her up in +some place of safety. Then they can return for us; and in the +meantime we will return to the castle for the other two." + +"Yes, senor," said the captain; and he promptly gave the order. + +The viscount waited until he saw Katie safely in the boat and half +across on her way to the vessel, and then he beckoned his companions +to follow him, and led the way back to the castle. + +This time he conducted them to an old turret that had been appointed +to the use of Lady Vincent's servants; it was remote from the +sleeping apartments of the other domestics. The locks were without +keys. + +"We will take the man first," said Lord Vincent, softly opening an +old oaken door and leading them into a small circular room, scantily +furnished, where, upon a rude bedstead, lay poor Jim in a profound +sleep. He was a fine subject for their villainous practices. He was +lying on his back, with his head stretched back over his pillow, his +eyes fast closed, and his mouth wide open. One touching incident in +the appearance of this poor fellow was the presence of two large +tears on his cheeks. He had probably lain awake all night, and just +cried himself to sleep over the fate of his mother, whom his loyal +heart loved so faithfully. + +The viscount applied the chloroform, and Jim's sleep sunk into +insensibility. The captain and the mate then raised him in their +arms and bore him from the room and through the many passages and +down the many stairs, and along the great hall to the outside of the +castle. + +They had a hard time getting him down the cliff. But they +accomplished the task at last. They found the boat returned and the +boatmen waiting patiently for their arrival. + +"Captain, the tide serves," said one of these men. + +"I know it, Jacques. We will sail in half an hour. Where did you put +the woman?" + +"I locked her in your cabin for the present, captain." + +"Did she recover her senses?" + +"No, captain." + +"The devil! I hope she won't die." + +"No danger, Costo; they lie insensible under the influence of +chloroform sometimes for hours, and then recover in a better +condition than they were before," said the viscount, hazarding an +opinion on a subject of which he knew very little. "But, now, order +the sailors to convey this man to the vessel and then return once +more for us." + +"Pardon, senor. We had better bind him first. If he should recover +before he reaches the vessel he might jump out and make his escape," +replied the captain, drawing a large silk handkerchief from his +pocket and tying the hands of the captive firmly behind his back. + +"Lend me yours, Paolo," he next requested, holding his hands out for +the required article. + +With this second handkerchief twisted into a rope the captain firmly +tied together the feet of the captive. + +Jim was now as effectually bound as if his fetters had been iron or +rope; but he was beginning to show signs of recovery. The viscount +saw this and applied the chloroform again, and Jim relapsed into +insensibility. In this condition he was conveyed into the boat and +rowed swiftly to the vessel. + +Meanwhile Lord Vincent and his confederates in crime retraced their +steps up the cliff. + +"We must be very quick this time, for the household will soon be +astir," whispered Lord Vincent eagerly, as he noticed on the eastern +horizon the faint dawn of the late winter morning. + +They entered the castle, which, luckily for them, was still buried +in repose, and wound their circuitous way back to the turret where +the last victim, poor Sally, lay. + +The viscount opened the oaken door and preceded his companions into +her chamber. + +But, oh, horror! Sally was awake and up! She was seated on the side +of her bed and in the act of putting on her shoes. On seeing the +viscount enter she raised her eyes and gazed in dumb amazement. + +He lost no time. Like a wild beast he sprang upon her before she +could utter a cry. + +Throwing one arm around her throat, with his hand upon her mouth, he +forced her head back against his breast and applied the chloroform +until she succumbed to its fatal power and sunk like a corpse in his +arms. + +Then his two accomplices took her, and by the same winding route of +halls, stairs, and passages carried her out of the castle and down +to the beach, where the boat was waiting to receive her. They put +her into it, and the viscount, the captain, and the mate followed. +In three minutes they reached the vessel, and all went on board, +taking the captive girl with them. + +The viscount accompanied the captain to his little office and +received the six hundred pounds in gold which was the price of this +last infamy. + +Then the accomplices shook hands and parted. + +The sailors rowed the viscount back to the shore, and then returned +to their vessel. The viscount stood on the beach, watching the +brigantine until she raised her anchor and made sail. And then, as +it was growing light, he turned and climbed the cliff and entered +the castle, wearing a smile of triumph. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXII. + +THE END OF CLAUDIA'S PRIDE. + + Is she saved by pangs that pained her? + Is there comfort in all it cost her? + Before the world had gained her, + Before the Lord had lost her, + Or her soul had quite disdained her? + + For her soul--(and this is the worst + To bear, as we well know)-- + Has been watching her from the first + As closely as God could do, + And herself her life has curst! + + Talk of the flames of hell, + We build, ourselves, I conceive, + The fire the fiend lights.--Well! + Believe or disbelieve, + We know more than we tell. + --_Owen Meredith._ + + + +After a sleepless night, whose lonely anguish would have driven +almost any woman who was compelled to endure it mad, Claudia arose +and rung her bell. + +No one answered it. + +Too impatient to wait for the tardy attendance of her servants, +Claudia thrust her feet into slippers, drew on her dressing-gown, +and went and opened the window-shutters to let in the morning light. +Then she rang again. + +Still no one obeyed the summons. + +She was not alarmed. Even with the knowledge of what had gone +before, she felt no uneasiness. She went to the dressing glass and +loosened her hair, and let it fall all over her shoulders to relieve +her burning head. And then she bathed her face in cold water. She +was impatient to make her toilet and leave the castle. + +She knew that all was over with her worldly grandeur; that all her +splendid dreams had vanished forever; that obscurity, perhaps +deepened by degradation, was all that awaited her in the future. + +Wounded, bruised, and bleeding as her heart was, she felt glad to +go; glad to leave the abode of splendid discord, misery, and crime, +for any quiet dwelling-place. For she was utterly worn out in body, +mind, and spirit. + +She no longer desired wealth, rank, admiration, or even love; she +only longed for peace; prayed for peace. + +She knew a turbulent future threatened her; but she feebly resolved +to evade it. She knew that Lord Vincent would sue for a divorce from +her; would drag her name before the world and make it a by-word of +scorn in those very circles of fashion over which she had once hoped +to reign; she would not oppose him, she thought; she had no energy +left to meet the overwhelming mass of testimony with which he had +prepared to crush her. If her father should come over and defend her +cause--well and good. She would let him do it; but as for her, she +would go away, and seek peace. + +You see, Claudia was in a very different mood of mind from that of +the night previous, which had inspired her with such royal dignity +and heroic courage to withstand and awe her accusers. + +There had come the natural reaction from high excitement, and feats +which had appeared easy, in the hour of her exalted indignation, +seemed now impossible. She could now no more go to the American +minister, and tell him her story, and claim his assistance, than she +could have run into a burning fire. But, thank Heaven, she could go +from the castle. + +She rang her bell a third time, and more sharply than before. After +a few minutes it was answered by the housekeeper, who entered with +her customary respectful courtesy. + +"She has not heard of last night's scandal," thought Claudia, as she +noticed the dame's unaltered manner. + +"I have rung three times, Mrs. Murdock. Why has not my maid come +up?" she inquired. + +"Indeed, me leddy, I dinna ken. I ha' na seen the lass the morn," +answered the woman. + +"What! You do not mean to say that Sally has not made her appearance +this morning?" + +"Indeed and she ha' na, me leddy." + +"Mrs. Murdock, pray go at once to her room and see if she is there." + +The housekeeper went away; and after an absence of fifteen minutes +returned to say that Sally was not in her room. + +"But I dinna think she is far awa', me leddy; because her bed is all +tumbled as if she was just out of it. And her shoes and clothes are +lying there, just as she put them off." + +"I will dress and go and make inquiries myself. This house is a +place of mysterious disappearances. I wonder if the beach below is +of quicksand, and does it swallow people up alive?" + +"I dinna ken, me leddy," gravely answered the dame. + +"Mrs. Murdock, can you help me to dress?" + +"Surely, me leddy," said the housekeeper, approaching Claudia with +so much respectful affection that the unhappy lady said once more to +herself: + +"She knows nothing of last night's work." + +And then Claudia, who was much too high-spirited and sincere to +receive attentions rendered by the dame in ignorance of that night's +scandal which she might not have so kindly rendered had she known of +them, said: + +"Mrs. Murdock, do you know what happened last night?" + +"Aye, surely, me leddy, I ken a' about it, if your leddyship means +the fause witness o' that de'il Frisbie," said the housekeeper, +growing red with emotion. + +"It was a false witness! a base, wicked, infamous calumny! I think +the more highly of you, Mrs. Murdock, for so quickly detecting this. +And I thank you," said Claudia, with difficulty restraining the +tears, which for the first time since her great wrong were ready to +burst from her eyes. + +"Ou, aye, me leddy! It did na require the Witch of Endor to see the +truth of that business. Ye'll see I ken Laird Vincent and Frisbie +and the player-quean, wha is worst o' a'! And I hanna served ye, me +leddy, these twa months without keening yer ladyship as well. And +sae I ken the differ, me leddy. I ken the differ---" + +"Oh, Mrs. Murdock, in this deep desolation I find some comfort in +your faith in me!" + +"And sae I dinna believe a word the fause knave Frisbie says. And +neither does auld Cuthbert, honest man! But wae's me, me leddy, +whate'er our convictions may be, we canna disprove the lees o' yon +de'il." + +"No, we cannot," said Claudia, with a sigh of despair; "and unless +Providence intervenes to save me, I am lost." + +"Aweel, me leddy, ye maun just hope that he will intervene. Na, na, +dinna greet sae sairly!" the good woman entreated, for Claudia had +burst into a flood of tears, and was weeping bitterly. + +This refreshed her spirit and cleared her brain. Presently, wiping +her eyes and looking up, she said: + +"Mrs. Murdock, I cannot meet those wretches at breakfast. Send me +some coffee; and order the carriage to be at the door in an hour; +also send Sally, who must be at hand by this time, to help me pack." + +The dame went on this errand, and after a short absence returned, +bringing Claudia's breakfast on a tray. + +"Where is Sally?" inquired Lady Vincent, as the housekeeper arranged +the breakfast on a little table. + +"She hanna come yet, me leddy," said the housekeeper, who remained +and waited on Lady Vincent at breakfast. + +Claudia could eat but little. To all her own sources of trouble was +now added alarm, on account of Sally. What if the hapless girl had +shared old Katie's fate? was the question that now began to torture +her. + +"Have you seen my footman this morning, Mrs. Murdock?" she inquired. + +"Nae, me leddy; the lad aye gaes to Banff for the mail about this +hour." + +"When he comes send him to me at once. And now please take the +service away. And when you go downstairs institute a search for my +maid. And do you, if you can do so conveniently, return and help me +to pack." + +"Aye, me leddy," replied the woman, as she lifted the tray and +carried it away. + +In a few minutes she returned and assisted Lady Vincent to fill one +large trunk. + +"That is all I shall take with me. I shall leave the remainder of my +wardrobe in your care, Mrs. Murdock, and I must request you to see +them packed and sent on to Edinboro', where I shall stop before +deciding on my future steps," said Lady Vincent. + +"Aye, me leddy; ye may be sure I will do a' in my power to serve +your leddyship." + +"And now pray see if Jim has returned from the post office." + +Mrs. Murdock went; but returned with startling news: + +"The lad Jamie has na got back, me leddy; and it e'en appears that +he has na gane. I just asked ane o' the stable lads what time it was +when Jamie took the horse to gang to the post office, and the lad +said that Jamie had na come for the horse at a'!" + +Claudia sprang up and gazed at the speaker in consternation; and +then sunk down in her chair, and covered her face with her hands and +groaned. + +"Dinna do that, me leddy--dinna do that!" + +"Oh, Mrs. Murdock! don't leave me! don't lose sight of me, or I +shall vanish too; swallowed up in this great ruin!" she cried, with +a shudder. + +There was a rap at the door. Mrs. Murdock opened it. Lord Vincent's +footman stood there. + +"My lord sends his compliments to my lady, and says that the +carriage is waiting to take her from the castle; the tide is rising, +which will render the road impassable for several hours; and he +hopes she will take that fact into consideration and not delay her +departure." + +"'Delay'? I am only too glad to go. But oh, my poor faithful +servants. Mrs. Murdock, tell the man to send someone up here to +carry my trunk down," said Lady Vincent, hastily putting on her +sable cloak and tying on her bonnet. + +Her heart ached at the thought of abandoning her servants; and she +only reconciled herself to the measure by reflecting that to lodge +information with the detective police at Banff would really be the +best means she could possibly take for their recovery. + +When two of the men servants had carried down her trunk, Lady +Vincent shook hands with the kind-hearted housekeeper, and prepared +to follow them. In taking leave of Mrs. Murdock she said: + +"I thank you sincerely for your kindness to the strangers that came +to your land. You are really the only friend that I and my +unfortunate servants have met since our arrival in this country; and +I shall not forget you!" + +The housekeeper wept. + +"When my poor servants reappear, if they ever should do so, you will +be so good as to send them to me at Edinboro'. Send them to the +railway office, where I will leave my address." + +"Aye, me leddy, I will na forget," sobbed the old dame. + +Claudia pressed her hand, dropped it, and went below. + +In crossing the central hall towards the principal entrance Claudia +suddenly stopped as though the Gorgon's head had blasted her sight. +For Lord Vincent stood near the open door, as if to witness and +triumph over her expulsion. With a strong effort she conquered her +weakness and approached the door. The viscount made a low and +mocking bow and stepped aside. Claudia confronted him. + +"My lord," she said, "you think you have very successfully conspired +against my honor; but if there is justice on earth, or in heaven, +you will yet be exposed and punished." + +Lord Vincent made her an ironical bow; but no other reply. + +"Where are my servants?" she inquired solemnly. + +"I am not their manager, my lady, that I should be conversant with +their movements," answered the viscount. + +"My lord, you well know where they are. And if Heaven should bless +my efforts this morning, the world shall soon know." + +"My lady, the way is open; the north wind rather piercing. Will you +please to pass out and let me close it?" said his lordship, holding +the door wide open for her exit. + +"Will you tell me where my servants are?" persisted Claudia. + +"I do not know, my lady. They have probably stolen the plate and +gone. I will ask the butler, and if it is so, I will put the +constables on their track," said Lord Vincent, bowing and waving his +hand towards the door. + +"I leave you to the justice of Heaven, evil man!" replied Claudia, +as she passed through and left the castle. She entered the carriage +and was driven off. + +Lord Vincent closed the door behind her and then went into the +breakfast room, where the cloth was already laid. Neither Mrs. +MacDonald nor Mrs. Dugald had yet come down. They seemed to be +sleeping late after their disturbed night. + +Presently, however, they entered--Mrs. MacDonald looking very much +embarrassed, Faustina pale as death. Lord Vincent received them with +grave politeness, and they all sat down to the table. + +It was then Lord Vincent said: + +"Mrs. MacDonald, Lady Vincent has this morning left this house upon +which she has brought so much dishonor. It is also necessary for me +to go to London to take measures for the dissolution of my marriage. +I am, therefore, about to ask of you a great favor." + +"Ask any you please, my lord. I am very anxious to be of service to +you in this awful crisis. And I will gladly do all in my power to +help you," replied this very complaisant lady. + +"I thank you, madam. I thank you very much. The favor I had to ask +of you is this--that you will kindly remain here with Mrs. Dugald, +until some plan is formed for her future residence." + +"Surely, my lord, I will remain with great pleasure," answered this +needy lady, who was only too glad to leave for a season the +straitened home of her married sister, and take up her abode in this +plentiful establishment. + +"Again I thank you, madam; thank you cordially on the part of my +widowed sister as well as on my own part," said the viscount +courteously. + +And this point being settled, the party dispersed. + +Mrs. MacDonald retired to her own apartments to write a note to her +sister, requesting that her effects might be forwarded to Castle +Cragg. + +Mrs. Dugald went to her boudoir to await there in feverish +impatience the arrival of the viscount. + +He did not keep her long in suspense; he soon entered, locked the +door behind him, and seated himself beside her. + +"She is gone--really gone?" whispered Faustina, in a low, eager, +breathless voice. + +"Yes, my angel; you heard me say so." + +"Really and truly gone?" + +"Really and truly." + +"Oh, I am so glad! And her servants? Ah, I always hated those +blacks! She has not left them behind?" + +"Certainly not," answered the viscount evasively. + +"Ah, what a relief! The house is well rid of them." + +"It is, indeed, my love." + +"But--but--but--the dead body?" whispered the woman in a husky +voice, while her eyes dilated with terror. + +"It is gone." + +"Where? how?" + +"I tied a heavy weight to its feet and sunk it in the depths of the +sea," replied the viscount, who felt no scruples in deceiving +anyone, least of all his accomplice in crime. + +And this shows the utter falsity of the absurd proverb that asserts +"there is honor among thieves." There can be no honor and no +confidence in any league wherein the bond is guilt. + +Lord Vincent was completely under the influence of Mrs. Dugald, whom +he worshiped with a fatal passion--a passion the more violent and +enduring because she continually stimulated without ever satisfying +it. Up to this time she had never once permitted the viscount to +kiss her. Thus he was her slave; but, like all slaves, he deceived +his tyrant. He had deceived Mrs. Dugald from the first; he +habitually deceived her. + +In this instance he persuaded her that old Katie died under the +influence of the chloroform that she had helped to administer on +that fatal night when the old negress had been discovered +eavesdropping behind the curtain in Mrs. Dugald's apartments. + +What his motive could have been for this deception it would be +difficult to say; perhaps it was for the purpose of gaining some +power over her; perhaps it was from the pleasure of torturing her +and seeing her terrors--for his passion for the woman was by no +means that pure love which seeks first of all the good of its +object; and, finally, perhaps it was from the mere habit of +duplicity. + +However that might be, he had persuaded her that Katie was dead, +dead from the effects of the chloroform they had forced her to take. + +And now that he had really committed a felony by selling the three +negroes to a West Indian smuggler, he was not inclined to confess +the truth. For not upon any account would he have confided to his +companion in guilt the secret of a criminal transaction in which she +had not also been implicated. He could not have trusted her so far +as to place his liberty in her keeping. Therefore he preferred she +should believe Katie's body had been sunk in the depths of the sea; +and that Sally and Jim had accompanied their lady in her departure +from the castle. It is true, the household servants might soon +disabuse her mind of the mistake that the lady's maid and footman +had gone with their mistress. But if they should do so, the viscount +knew he could easily plead ignorance as to the fact; and say that +all he knew was, she had not left them at the castle. + +Mrs. Dugald listened to his account of the disposition of old +Katie's body with deep delight. She clapped her little hands in her +usual silly manner and exclaimed eagerly: + +"That is good; oh, that is good! But are you sure it will stay down +there? Great Heaven, if it should rise against us!" + +"There is no danger, love, no danger." + +"We should all be guillotined!" she repeated for the twentieth time +since that night. And she shuddered through all her frame. + +"Hanged, my dearest, not guillotined; hanged by the neck till we are +dead," said the viscount, smiling. + +"Ah, but you look like Mephistopheles when you say that!" she +shrieked, covering her face with her hands. + +"But there is no danger, none at all, I assure you. And now, my +angel, I must leave you; I ordered the brougham to be at the door at +twelve precisely to take me to Banff to meet the Aberdeen coach. And +I have some preparations to make. Come down into the drawing room +and wait to take leave of me, that is a dear." + +"Oh, yes, yes! but before you go, promise me! You will write every +day?" + +"Every day, my angel," said the viscount, bowing over her hand, +before he withdrew from the room. + +His preparations were soon made. Old Cuthbert performed the duties +of valet. And punctually at twelve o'clock the viscount took leave +of his evil demon and her chaperon and departed for Banff, where he +took the coach to Aberdeen, at which place he arrived in time to +catch the night train up to London. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIII. + +THE COUNTESS OF HURSTMONCEUX. + + The beauteous woe that charms like faded light, + The cheek so pure that knows no youthful bloom, + Well suiteth her dark brow and forehead white, + And in the sad endurance of her eye + Is all that love believes of woman's majesty. + --_Elliott_. + + + +In the meantime Lady Vincent reached Banff. She drove at once to the +principal hotel, where she engaged a room into which her luggage was +carried. With a gratuity to the coachman who had driven her she +dismissed the carriage, which returned immediately to the castle. + +Then she ordered a fly and drove to the police station--at that time +a mean little stone edifice, exceedingly repulsive without and +excessively filthy within. + +A crowd of disreputable-looking ragamuffins of both sexes and all +ages obstructed the entrance. Surely it was a revolting scene to one +of Lady Vincent's fastidious nature and refined habits. But she did +not shrink from her duty. She made her way through this disgusting +assemblage, and found just within the door a policeman, to whom she +said: + +"I wish, if you please, to see your inspector." + +"You will have to wait in the outer room, then, miss, because he is +engaged now," replied the man curtly; for the beauty of the woman, +the costliness of her apparel, and the fact of her having come +unattended to a place like that, filled the mind of the officer with +evil suspicions concerning her. + +He opened a door on the left and let the visitor pass into the +anteroom--a wretched stone hall, whose floor was carpeted with dirt +and whose windows were curtained with cobwebs. A bench ran along the +wall at one end, on which sat several forlorn, stupefied, or +desperate-looking individuals waiting their turn to be examined. Two +or three policemen, walking up and down, kept these persons in +custody. + +Claudia could not sit down among them; she walked to one of the +windows and looked out. + +She waited there some time, while one after another the prisoners +were taken in and examined. Some returned from examination free, and +walked out unattended and wearing satisfied countenances. Others +came back in the custody of policemen and with downcast looks. + +It seemed long before the inspector was at leisure to receive her. +At length, however, the policeman she had seen at the door came up +and said: + +"Now, miss!" + +Claudia arose and followed him to another room--a small, carpeted +office, where Inspector Murray was seated at a desk. + +He was a keener observer of character than the policeman had proved +himself to be; and so, despite the suspicious circumstances which +had awakened that worthy's doubts, Inspector Murray recognized in +his visitor a lady of rank. He arose to receive her and handed her a +chair, and then seated himself and respectfully waited for her to +open her business. + +Lady Vincent felt so much embarrassed that it was some time before +she spoke. At length, however, she took courage to say: + +"My errand here is a very painful one, sir." + +The inspector bowed and looked attentive. + +"Indeed it is of so strange and distressing a nature that I scarcely +know how to explain it," she said. + +"I beg you will feel no hesitation in making your communication, +madam. We are accustomed to receive strange and distressing +complaints." + +"Sir," said Claudia, gently preparing the way, "you have not failed, +then, in the course of your professional experience, to observe that +crime is not an inmate of the houses of the impoverished and the +degraded only, but that it may be found in the mansions of the rich +and the palaces of the nobility." + +"Without a doubt, madam." + +"Then you will be the less shocked when I inform you that the +circumstances which have driven me to seek your aid occurred +recently in Castle Cragg, in the family of Lord Vincent." + +"It is not the murder that was lately committed there to which you +allude?" gravely inquired the inspector. + +"Oh, no, not that murder; but I greatly fear there has been another +one," replied Claudia, with a shudder. + +"Madam!" exclaimed the inspector, in astonishment. + +"I fear it is as I have hinted, sir," persisted Claudia. + +"But who has been murdered?" + +"I suspect that a harmless old female servant, named Katie Mortimer +who became aware of a dangerous secret, has been." + +"And--by whom?" + +"I fear by a woman called Faustina Dugald and a man named Alick +Frisbie." + +Now, it is very difficult to surprise or startle an inspector of +police. But Mr. Murray was really more than surprised or startled. +He was shocked and appalled, as his countenance betrayed when he +dropped his pen and fell back in his chair. + +"Madam," he said, "do you know what you are saying?" + +"Full well, sir; and I entreat you to receive my statement in detail +and act upon it with promptitude. Your own investigations will +discover how much cause I have for my suspicions," said Claudia +firmly. + +The inspector drew some writing paper before him, took up his pen, +and said: + +"Proceed, madam, if you please." + +Claudia commenced her statement, but was almost immediately +interrupted by the inspector, who said: + +"Your name, madam, if you please." + +Claudia started and blushed at her own forgetfulness; though, in +truth, it had never occurred to her to introduce herself by name to +an inspector of police. Now, however, she perceived how necessary it +was that her name should attend her statement. + +"I am Lady Vincent," she replied. + +There was an instantaneous change in the inspector's manner. His +deportment had been respectful from the first, because he had +recognized his visitor as a lady; but his manner was obsequious now +that he heard she was a titled lady. + +"I beg your ladyship's pardon," he said. "I had no idea that I was +honored with the presence of Lady Vincent. Pray, my lady, do not +inconvenience yourself in the least by going over these painful +things at the present hour, unless you feel that it is really +necessary. I could wait on your ladyship at your residence and +receive your communication there." + +"Sir, I thank you for your courtesy, but I prefer to make my +statement now and here," replied Claudia. + +The inspector dipped his pen in ink and looked attentive. + +Claudia proceeded with her communication. She related all the +circumstances that had come to her knowledge respecting the +disappearance of Katie, and the inspector took down her words. + +Then she mentioned the more recent evanishment of Sally and Jim; but +she alluded to these facts only as collateral circumstances; she +could not believe that the two last named had lost their lives. + +When the inspector had taken down the whole of her statement she +arose to go. + +The inspector also arose. + +"Will you investigate this matter immediately?" she said. + +"I will do so to-day, my lady," replied Mr. Murray, bowing +deferentially. + +"Can I be of any assistance to you in pursuing your inquiry into +this affair?" + +"Not at present, I thank your ladyship," replied the inspector, with +a second bow. + +"Then I will bid you good-morning." + +"I beg your ladyship's pardon; but would your ladyship deign to +leave your address with me? We might need your ladyship's personal +testimony." + +"Certainly," said Claudia. "I shall go to Edinboro' to-day, where I +shall remain at the best hotel, if you know which that is, for a few +days; before I leave I will write and advise you of my destination. +And now there is one important part of my errand that I had nearly +forgotten. It was to ask you to advertise for the missing servants, +and to authorize you to offer a reward of two hundred pounds for any +information that may lead to their recovery." + +"I will do it immediately, my lady," replied Inspector Murray, as he +obsequiously attended Lady Vincent to the door and put her into the +fly. + +She drove quickly back to her hotel, where she had only time to take +a slight luncheon before starting in the eleven o'clock coach for +Aberdeen, where, after four hours' ride through a wildly picturesque +country, she arrived just in time to take the afternoon train to +Edinboro'. It was the express train, and reached the old city at +seven o'clock that evening. + +Among the many hotels whose handbills, pasted on the walls of the +railway station, claimed the attention of travelers, Claudia +selected "MacGruder's," because it was opposite Scott's monument. + +She took a cab and drove there. She liked the appearance of the +house, and engaged a comfortable suite of apartments, consisting of +a parlor, bed chamber, and bathroom, and ordered dinner. + +Now, by all the rules of tradition, Claudia, ignominiously expelled +from her husband's house, deprived of her servants' attendance, far +from all her friends, alone in a strange hotel in a foreign city, +with a degrading trial threatening her--Claudia, I say, ought to +have been very unhappy. But she was not. She was almost happy. + +Her spirits rebounded from their long depression. Her sensations +were those of escape, freedom, independence. She felt like a bird +freed from its cage; a prisoner released from captivity; a soul +delivered from purgatory. Oh, she was so glad--so glad to get away +entirely, to get away forever--from the hold of sin, that Castle +Cragg, where she had been buried alive so long; where she had lived +in torment among lost spirits; where the monotony had been like the +gloom of the grave, and the guilt like the corruption of death! + +She had passed through the depths of Hades, and was happy--how +happy!--to rise to the upper air again and see the stars. This, +only, was enough for the present. And she scarcely thought of the +future. Whatever that unknown future might bring her, it would not +bring back Castle Cragg, Lord Vincent, Faustina, or Frisbie. + +After she had refreshed herself with a bath and a change of dress, +she went into the parlor, where she found a warm fire, a bright +light, and a neatly laid table. + +And whatever you may think of her, she really enjoyed the boiled +salmon, roasted moor-hen, and cabinet custard she had ordered for +dinner. After the service was removed she sat comfortably in her +easy-chair before the fire, and reflected on her future movements. + +She liked her quarters in this hotel very much. The rooms were clean +and comfortable; the servants were polite and attentive; the meals +delicately prepared and elegantly served. + +And she resolved to remain here for the present; to write to her +father by the first American mail; and while waiting for his answer, +beguile the interval by seeing everything that might prove +interesting in the city and in the surrounding country. + +And in a locality so rich in historical monuments as this was, she +was sure of interesting occupation for the month that must intervene +before she could hear from her father in answer to the letter which +she meant to write. + +She had brought with her from Castle Cragg all the ready money she +had; it was something more than two hundred pounds; so that there +was nothing to fear from financial embarrassments. + +After settling this matter to her satisfaction, Claudia, feeling +very tired, went to bed, and having lost two nights' rest, +immediately fell into a deep and dreamless sleep, that lasted, +unbroken, until morning. + +Her first sensation on awakening from this sleep of oblivion to the +consciousness of her altered circumstances was--not humiliation at +her own unmerited dishonor--not dread of the impending, degrading +trial--but pleasure at the recollection that she was free; that she +was away from Castle Cragg; that she would not have to meet Lord +Vincent and Faustina at breakfast; that she would never have to meet +them again. + +Ah! only those who have been compelled for months to breathe the +vitiated atmosphere of guilt can appreciate the excess of Claudia's +joy at her deliverance. It was a joy that not even the distressing +circumstances that surrounded her, and the trial that awaited her, +had any power to destroy. + +To one who knew her position, without being able to enter into her +feelings, it would have seemed an extravagant, an unnatural, an +insane joy. Perhaps she was a little insane; she had had enough +trouble to derange her reason. + +She arose gladly. She had a motive for rising now; formerly, at +Castle Cragg, she had none, because she had nothing to do. Now she +had to order her breakfast, write to her father, and drive round to +see the old city. + +She dressed herself quickly and went into the parlor. The windows +were already opened, the fire lighted, and the breakfast table was +laid. + +She went to the windows and looked out. The morning was clear and +bright. It seemed to her that even Nature sympathized in her +deliverance. The winter sun shone down brightly upon Scott's +monument, that stood within its inclosure in the middle of the space +before her windows. Yes, she was pleased with her quarters. + +She rang the bell and ordered breakfast, which was quickly served. +When she had finished her morning meal and sent the service away, +she got her writing-case from her trunk and sat down to write to her +father and give him a detailed account of her misfortunes. + +But she found a difficulty in arranging her thoughts; her mind was +in too excitable a condition to admit of close application. She +commenced, and discarded letter after letter. + +Finally, she gave up trying to write for the present. There was time +enough; the foreign mail, as she had ascertained, did not close +until six o'clock in the evening. She thought a drive through the +old city would work off her excitement and tranquilize her nerves. +She rang and ordered a fly, and drove out. + +First she went to Holyrood, and soon lost all consciousness of her +own present and individual troubles in dreaming of all those +princes, heroes, and beauties of history who had lived and sinned or +suffered within those old palace walls. + +She went into Queen Mary's rooms, and fell into a reverie over that +fatal bed-chamber, which remains to this day in the same condition +in which it was left by the hapless queen about three hundred years +ago. She saw the steep, dark, narrow, secret staircase, with its +opening concealed behind the tapestry, up which the assassins of +Rizzio had crept to their murderous work. She saw the little turret +closet in which the poor queen was at supper with her ladies when +the minstrel was surprised and massacred in her presence. + +She went into the great picture gallery, where hung the portraits of +the Scottish kings--each mother's royal son painted with a large +curled proboscis--"a nose like a door-knocker," as someone described +it. With one exception--that of James IV., the hapless hero of +Flodden field. It was a full-length portrait, life-sized, and full +of fire. Claudia stood and gazed upon it with delight. She was +charmed by its beauty and by the lines that it brought distinctly to +her recollection. Whether this was really a faithful portrait of +King James or not, it certainly was an accurate likeness of the hero +described by the poet: + + "The monarch's form was middle size; + For feat of strength or exercise + Shaped in proportion fair; + And hazel was his eagle eye, + And auburn of the darkest dye + His short curled beard and hair. + Light was his footstep in the dance + And firm his stirrup in the lists; + And oh! he had that merry glance + That seldom lady's heart resists." + +Yes, there he stood before her, pictured to the very life; all +luminous with youth and love, chivalry and royalty; bending +graciously from the canvas, smiling upon the spectator, and seeming +about to step forward and take her hand. + +Claudia turned away from this picture, feeling at the same moment +both pleased and saddened. She had spent three hours dreaming +amongst the ancient halls and bowers of Holyrood, and now she felt +that it was time for her to return to the hotel, especially as the +palace was beginning to be filled with the usual daily inflowing of +sight-seers, and she felt somewhat fatigued and worried by the +crowd. + +So she went out and re-entered her cab, and was driven back to the +hotel. Here an unexpected misfortune awaited her. As she left the +cab she put her hand in her pocket to take out her purse and pay the +cabman. + +It was gone! + +She turned sick with apprehension, for the loss of this purse, which +contained all the money which she had brought with her, was, under +the circumstances, a serious calamity. + +She hurried again into the cab and searched it thoroughly; but no +purse was to be found. + +Then the truth burst upon her; she had been robbed of it by someone +in the crowd of visitors in Holyrood Palace; her pocket had probably +been picked while she stood in the picture gallery dreaming before +the portrait of King James. How she reproached herself for her +carelessness in taking so considerable an amount of money with her. + +She was excessively agitated; but she managed to control herself +sufficiently to speak calmly to the waiter, and say: + +"Be good enough to pay this man and put the item in my bill" + +The waiter obeyed and discharged the cab; for, of course, the name +of Lady Vincent was as yet a passport to credit. Then she hurried to +her room in a state of great agitation that nearly deprived her of +all power to think or act. She rang the bell, which brought a waiter +to her presence. + +"I would like to see the landlord of this hotel," she said. + +"I beg your pardon, my lady, but the proprietor lives out of town," +returned the man. + +"Then send the clerk of the house, or the head waiter, or whoever is +in charge here." + +"I will send the clerk, my lady," said the waiter, retiring. + +The clerk soon made his appearance. + +"Sir," said Claudia, "I sent for you to say, that while I was seeing +Holyrood Palace, this forenoon, my pocket was picked of my purse, +which contained a considerable amount of money; and I wish to ask +you what steps I should take for its recovery?" + +"Have you any idea of the sort of person that robbed you, my lady?" + +"Not the slightest; all I know is that I had the purse with me when +I paid the guide on entering the palace, and then I missed it when I +reached home; and all I suspect is that it was purloined from me +while I was in the picture gallery, standing before the portrait of +James IV." + +"In what form was the money, my lady?" + +"Five and ten pound Bank of England notes." + +"Were the numbers taken?" + +"Oh, no; I never thought of taking the numbers." + +"Then, my lady, I very much fear that it will be difficult or +impossible to recover the money. However, I will send for a +detective, and we will make an effort." + +"Do, sir, if you please." + +The clerk retired. + +In a few moments Detective Ogilvie waited on Lady Vincent, and +received her statement in regard to the robbery, promised to take +prompt measures for the discovery of the thief, and retired. + +Then suddenly Claudia remembered her letter to her father It was now +near the close of the short winter day. Her interview with the +detective had occupied her so long that she had barely time to +scribble and send off the few urgent lines with which the reader is +already acquainted. Then she dined and resigned herself to repose +for the remainder of the evening. + +While she sat in her easy-chair luxuriating in indolence and +solitude before the glowing fire, the thought suddenly occurred to +her that she was not really so badly off as the loss of her purse +had first led her to suppose. She recollected that she had several +costly rings upon her fingers; diamonds, rubies, and emeralds--the +least valuable of which was worth more than the purse of money which +had been stolen from her; and if she should be driven to extremity +she could part with one of these rings; but then, on calm +consideration of the subject, she had really no fears of being +driven to extremity. She was Lady Vincent, and her credit was as yet +intact before the world. This was a first-class hotel, and would +supply her with all that she might require for the month that must +intervene before her father's arrival. + +She would spend this interval in seeing Edinboro' and its environs, +and when her father should come she would persuade him to take her +to the Continent, and afterwards carry her back to her native +country, and to her childhood's home, to pass the remainder of her +life in peace and quietness. + +Dreaming over this humble prospect for the future, Claudia retired +to bed, and slept well. + +The next morning, as soon as she had breakfasted, she ordered a +carriage from the stables connected with the hotel and drove to +Edinboro' Castle, where she spent two or three hours among its royal +halls and bowers, dreaming over the monuments of the past. + +She lingered in the little cell-like stone chamber where Queen Mary +had given birth to her son, afterwards James VI. She read the +pathetic prayer carved on the stone tablet above the bedstead, and +said to have been composed by the unhappy queen in behalf of her +newborn infant. + +In the great hall of the castle she paused long before a beautiful +portrait of Mary Stuart, that was brought from Paris, where it had +been painted, and which represented the young queen in her earliest +womanhood, when she was the Dauphiness of France. And Claudia +thought that this portrait was the only one, among all that she had +ever seen of Mary Stuart, which came up to her ideal of that royal +beauty, who was even more a queen of hearts than of kingdoms. + +At length, weary of sight-seeing, she re-entered her carriage and +returned home. While she was in her bedchamber taking off her +bonnet, a card was brought to her. + +"This must be a mistake--this cannot be for me; I have no +acquaintances in the town," she said, without taking the trouble to +glance at the card. + +"I beg your ladyship's pardon, but the countess inquired +particularly for Lady Vincent," replied the waiter who had brought +the card. + +"The countess?" repeated Claudia, and she took it up and read the +lightly penciled name: + +"Berenice, Countess of Hurstmonceux." + +"Say to Lady Hurstmonceux that I will be with her in a few minutes," +said Claudia. + +"'Berenice, Countess of Hurstmonceux,'" she repeated when the man +had retired; "that is the widow of the late earl, and the forsaken +wife of Herman Brudenell. What on earth brings her here? And how did +she know of my presence in the city, and even in this house? +However, I shall know soon, I suppose." + +And so saying, Claudia made a few changes in her toilet, and went +into the parlor. + +Standing, looking from the window, was a lady dressed in a black +velvet bonnet and plumes, a black silk gown, and a large sable cloak +and muff. + +As Claudia entered, this lady turned around and lifted her veil, +revealing a beautiful, pale face, with large, deep-fringed, mournful +dark eyes, and soft, rippling, jet-black hair. At the first glance +Claudia was touched by the pensive beauty of that lovely face. + +Yes! at the age of forty-five the Countess of Hurstmonceux was still +beautiful. She had passed a serene life, free alike from carking +cares and fashionable excesses, and so her beauty had been well +preserved. It would have taken a keen observer to have detected the +few wrinkles that had gathered in the corners of her fine eyes and +plump lips, or to have found out the still fewer silver threads that +lay hidden here and there among her dark tresses. + +Claudia advanced to greet her, holding out her hand, and saying: + +"The Countess of Hurstmonceux, I presume?" + +"Yes," replied the visitor, with a sweet smile. + +"I am Lady Vincent; and very happy to see you. Pray be seated," said +Claudia, drawing forward a chair for her visitor. + +"My dear Lady Vincent, I only learned this morning of your arrival +in town, and presuming upon my slight connection with the family of +the present Earl of Hurstmonceux, I have ventured to call on you and +claim a sort of relationship," said Berenice kindly. + +"Your ladyship is very good, and I am very glad to see you," said +Claudia cordially. Then suddenly recollecting her own cruel +position, and feeling too proud as well as too honest to appear +under false colors, she blushed, and said: + +"I cannot think how your ladyship could know that I was here; but I +am sure that when you did me this honor of calling, you did not know +the circumstances under which I left Castle Cragg." + +A tide of crimson swept over the pale face of Berenice; it arose for +Claudia, not for herself, and she replied: + +"My dear, wronged lady, I know it all." + +"You know all--all that they allege against me, and you call me +wronged?" exclaimed Claudia, in pleased surprise. + +"I know all that they allege against you, and I believe you to be +wronged. Therefore, my dear, I have come to-day to offer you all the +service in my power," said Berenice sweetly. + +Claudia suddenly caught her hand and clasped it fervently. + +"And now, my dear Lady Vincent, will you permit me to explain myself +and inform you how I became acquainted with the circumstances of +your departure from Castle Cragg, and your arrival at this house?" +inquired Berenice. + +"Oh, do! do!" replied Claudia. + +"You must know, then, that a few of my old domestics, who served the +late earl and myself while we lived at Castle Cragg, still remain +there in the service of the present earl's family, which is always +represented at the castle by Lord Vincent. Among them there are two +who, it appears, became very much attached to your ladyship. I +allude to the housekeeper, Jean Murdock, and the major-domo, +Cuthbert Allan." + +"Yes, they were very kind; but, after all, it was old Cuthbert who +sent that note to Lord Vincent, which brought him from the play at +midnight to burst into my room and find his wretched valet hidden +there," replied Claudia gravely. + +"Yes; Cuthbert saw the valet steal into your room and sent word to +his master, as in duty bound. But, after witnessing the scene of his +discovery, Cuthbert's mind instantly cleared your ladyship of +suspicion and rushed to the conclusion that the miserable valet +concealed himself in your boudoir unknown to you and for the purpose +of robbery. I, for my part, believe he was placed there with the +connivance of Lord Vincent, and that old Cuthbert was made to play a +blind part in that conspiracy." + +"I knew, of course, that it was a conspiracy, but really wondered to +find the honest old man in it." + +"He was a blind tool in their hands. But I was about to tell you how +the facts of your departure from the castle and your arrival in this +hotel came to my knowledge. In brief, I received a letter from old +Cuthbert this morning, in which he related the whole history of the +affair, as it was known to him. He expressed great sorrow for the +part he had been obliged to bear in the business, and the most +respectful sympathy for your ladyship. He said his 'heart was sair +for the bonnie leddy sae far frae a' her friends and living her lane +in Edinboro' toun.' And he begged me to find you out and protect +you. To this letter was added a postscript by Jean Murdock. It was a +warm, humble, respectful encomium upon your ladyship, in which she +joined her prayers to those of Cuthbert that I would seek you out +and succor you." + +As Berenice spoke, blushes dyed the cheeks of Claudia, and tears +dropped from her eyes. She was softened by the kindness of those two +old people, and their patronage humiliated her. + +Something of the nature of her emotions the countess must have +divined, for she took the hand of Claudia and said: + +"Believe me, dear Lady Vincent, I did not need urging to come to +you. I needed only to know that you were in town and alone. As soon +as I read the letters I sent for the morning paper to look for the +arrivals at the various hotels, to see if I could find your name +among them. I could not, and so I was about to lay aside the paper +and send for the one of the day before, when my eye happened to +light on a paragraph in which I found your name. It was the robbery +of your purse at Holyrood Palace. There I learned your address. And +I came away here immediately." + +Claudia's fingers tightened on the hand of the countess which she +still retained in hers. + +"How much I thank you, Lady Hurstmonceux, you can never know; +because you have never felt what it is to be a stranger in a foreign +country, with your fame traduced and not one friend to stand by your +side and sustain you," she said. + +Again that crimson tide swept over the pale face of Berenice; but +this time it was for herself, and she answered: + +"Oh, yes, yes! I have known just that. Ten years in a foreign +country, forsaken, shunned, traduced, without one friend to speak +comfort to an almost breaking heart--It is past. I have overlived +it. The God of my fathers has sustained me. Let us speak no more of +it." And crimson as she had been for a moment she was as pale as +marble now. + +Claudia laid her hand caressingly upon the shoulder of Berenice and +looked in her face with that mute sympathy which is more effective +than eloquent words. Something, indeed, she had heard of this +before, but the rumor had left no impression on her mind; though she +blamed herself now for the momentary forgetfulness. + +"Let us speak of yourself and your plans for the future," said the +countess. + +"My plans are simple enough. I have written to my father. I shall +remain here until his arrival," said Claudia. + +There was a pause between them for a few minutes, during which the +countess seemed in deep thought, and then this still beautiful +woman, smiling, said: + +"I am old enough to be your mother, Lady Vincent, and in the absence +of your father, I hope you will trust yourself to my guardianship. +It is not well, under present circumstances, that you should remain +alone at a public hotel. Come with me and be my guest at Cameron +Court. It is a pretty place, near Roslyn Castle, and despite all the +evil in the hearts of men, I think I can make your visit there +pleasant and interesting." + +Claudia burst into tears; the proud Claudia was softened, almost +humbled by this unexpected kindness. + +"God bless you!" was all that she could say. "I will gladly go." + +"I am your mother, in the meantime, Claudia, you know," said Lady +Hurstmonceux, touching the bell. + +"You are my guardian angel!" sobbed Claudia. + +"Lady Vincent's bill, if you please," said the countess to the +waiter who answered the bell, and who immediately bowed and +disappeared. + +But Claudia grasped the arm of the countess and exclaimed in alarm: + +"I had forgotten. I cannot leave the hotel yet, because I cannot pay +the bill. My lost purse contained all the money that I brought from +Castle Cragg." "What of that? I am your mother, Claudia, until you +hear from your father; and your banker until you recover your money. +Now, my dear, go put on your bonnet, while I settle with the waiter. +My carriage is at the door, and we will go at once. I will send my +own maid in a fly to pack up your effects and bring them after us." + +"How much my father will thank and bless you!" said Claudia, as she +left the room to prepare herself. + +Lady Hurstmonceux paid the bill, and left half a sovereign in the +hands of the chambermaid, bidding her take care of Lady Vincent's +effects until they should be sent for. + +And when Claudia came out, equipped for her ride, they went below +stairs. + +A handsome brougham, painted dark green, drawn by fine gray horses, +with silver mountings on their harness and with a coachman and +footman in gray-and-green livery stood before the door. + +And the countess and her protegee entered it and were driven towards +the Cameron Court. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIV. + +THE RESCUE. + + The tide has ebbed away; + No more wild surging 'gainst the adamant rocks, + No swayings of the sea-weed false that mocks + The hues of gardens gay; + No laugh of little wavelets at their play! + No lucid pools reflecting Heaven's brow-- + Both storm and cloud alike are ended now. + + The gray, bare rocks sit lone; + The shifting sand lies so smooth and dry + That not a wave might ever have swept by + To vex it with loud moan. + Only some weedy fragments blackening grown + To dry beneath the sky, tells what has been; + But desolation's self has grown serene. + --_Anon_. + + + +We must now relate what happened to Ishmael and his companions after +they were deserted by the lifeboats. When they were out of sight he +dropped his eyes and bent his head in prayer for himself and his +fellow-sufferers, and thus awaited his fate. + +But, oh, Heaven of heavens! what is this? Is it death, or--life? + +The wreck that had been whirling violently around at the mercy of +the furious sea was now lifted high upon the crest of a wave and +cast further up upon the reef, where she rested in comparative +safety. + +So suddenly and easily had this been done that it was some minutes +before the shipwrecked men could understand that they were for the +present respited from death. + +It was Ishmael who now inspired and confirmed their hopes. + +"Friends," he exclaimed, in a deep, earnest, solemn voice, as he +looked around upon them, "let us return thanks to the Lord, for we +are saved!" + +"Yes; saved from immediate death by drowning, but perhaps not saved +from a slow death of starvation," observed a "doubting Thomas" of +their number. + +"The Lord never mocks his servants with false hopes. We are saved!" +repeated Ishmael emphatically, but with the deepest reverence. + +For some hours longer the wind raved and the sea roared around the +wreck; but even the highest waves could not now wash over it. As the +sun arose the mist cleared away and the wreck gradually dried. About +noon the sea began to subside. And at sunset all was calm and clear. + +Ishmael and his companions now suffered from only two causes-hunger +and cold-the sharpest hunger and the most intense cold; for every +single atom and article that could be possibly used for food or +covering had been washed out of the wreck and swept off to sea. And +all day long they had been fasting and exposed to all the inclemency +of that severe season and climate. And during the ensuing night they +were in danger of death from starvation or freezing. But they +huddled closely together and tried to keep life within them by their +mutual animal heat; while Ishmael, himself confident of timely +rescue, kept up their hopes. It was a long and trying night. But it +ended at last. Day dawned; the sun arose. Then Ishmael saw some +fragments of the wreck that had been tossed upon the rocks and left +there by the retiring waves. Among them was a long spar. This he +directed the men to drag up upon the deck. The men, who were weak +from hunger and numb from cold, could scarcely find power to obey +this order. But when they did, Ishmael took off his own shirt and +fastened it to the end of the spar, which he immediately set up in +its position as a flag-staff. They had no glass, and therefore could +not sweep the horizon in search of a sail. But Ishmael had an +eagle's piercing glance, and his fine eyes traveled continually over +the vast expanse of waters in the hope of approaching rescue. + +At last he cried out: + +"A sail from the eastward, friends!" + +"Hurrah! but are you sure, sir?" broke from half a dozen lips, as +all hands, forgetting cold and hunger, weakness and stiffness, +sprang upon their feet and strained their eyeballs in search of the +sail; which they could not yet discern. + +"Are you quite certain, sir?" someone anxiously inquired. + +"Quite. I see her very plainly." + +"But if she should not see our signal!" groaned "doubting Thomas." + +"She sees it. She is bearing rapidly down upon us!" exclaimed +Ishmael. + +"I see her now!" cried one of the men. + +"And so do I!" said another. + +"And so do I!" added a third. + +"She is not a sail-boat, she is a steamer," said a fourth, as the +ship came rapidly towards the wreck. "She is the 'Santiago,' of +Havana," said Ishmael, as she steamed on and came within hailing +distance. + +Then she stopped, blew off her steam, and sent out a boat. While it +was cleaving the distance between the ship and the rocks a man on +the deck of the former shouted through his trumpet: + +"Wreck ahoy!" + +"Aye, aye!" responded Ishmael, with all the strength of his powerful +lungs. + +"All safe with you?" + +"All safe!" + +As the boat was pushed up as near as it could with safety be brought +to the wreck, the frozen and famished men began to climb down and +drop into it. When they were all in, even to the professor, Ishmael +stepped down and took his place among them with a smile of joy and a +deep throb of gratitude to God, For, ah! the strong young man had +loved that joyous and powerful life which he had been so prompt to +offer up on the shrine of duty; and he was glad and thankful to +return to life, to work, to fame, to love, to Bee! + +The boatmen laid themselves to their oars and pulled vigorously for +the steamer. They were soon alongside. + +The men made a rush for her decks. They wanted to be warmed and fed. +Ishmael let them all go before him, and then he followed and stepped +upon the steamer. + +And the next moment he found himself seized and clasped in the +embrace of--Mr. Brudenell! + +"Oh, my son, my brave and noble son, you are saved! God is kinder to +me than I deserve!" he cried. + +"One moment, Brudenell! Oh, Ishmael, thank Heaven, you are safe!" +fervently exclaimed another voice--that of Judge Merlin, who now +came forward and warmly shook his hand. + +"Ant dere ish--von more--drue shentlemans--in te vorlt!" sobbed the +German Jew, seizing and pressing one of Ishmael's hands. + +Captain Mountz, Doctor Kerr, and in fact all Ishmael's late fellow- +passengers, now crowded around with earnest and even tearful +congratulations. + +And meanwhile dry clothes and warm food and drink were prepared for +the shipwrecked passengers. And it was not until Ishmael had changed +his raiment and eaten a comfortable breakfast that he was permitted +to hear an explanation of the unexpected appearance of his friends +upon the deck of the steamer. + +It happened that the passengers in the lifeboats, after suffering +severely with cold and with the dread of a slow death from exposure +for twelve hours, were at last picked up by the "Santiago," a +Spanish steamer bound for Havana. That after their wants had been +relieved by the captain of the "Santiago" they had told him of the +imminently perilous condition In which they had left the remnant of +the crew and passengers. And the captain had altered the course of +the ship in the forlorn hope of yet rescuing those forsaken men. And +the Lord had blessed his efforts with success. Such was the story +told by Mr. Brudenell and Judge Merlin to Ishmael. + +"But, oh, my dear boy, what a fatal delay! Just think of it! This +steamer is bound for Havana. And this very day, when we ought to be +landing on the shores of England, we find ourselves steaming in an +opposite direction for the West India Islands," said Judge Merlin. + +"Oh, sir, trust still in Heaven," answered Ishmael. "Think how +marvelously the Lord has delivered us from danger and death! This +very delay that seems so fatal may be absolutely necessary to our +final success." + +The words of Ishmael proved prophetic. For had it not been for their +shipwreck and the consequent alteration in their course, their +voyage to England would have been taken in vain. + +The "Santiago" steamed her way southward, and in due course of time, +without the least misadventure, reached the port of Havana. + +It was Sunday, the first of January, when they arrived. + +"We shall have no trouble with the Custom House officers here," +laughed Ishmael, as he gave his arm to Judge Merlin and went on +shore, leaving all the passengers who had not been shipwrecked, and +lost their luggage, to pass the ordeal he and his friends had +escaped. + +They went at once to the hotel which had been recommended to them by +the captain of the "Santiago." + +And as this was Sunday, and there was no English Protestant church +open, they passed the day quietly within doors. + +On Monday Judge Merlin's first care was to go to the American consul +and get the latter to accompany him to a banker, from whom he +procured the funds he required in exchange for drafts upon his own +New York bankers. + +While Judge Merlin was gone upon this errand Ishmael went down to +the harbor to make inquiries as to what ships were to sail in the +course of the week for Europe. + +He found that he had a choice between two. The "Mary," an English +sailing ship, would leave on Wednesday for London. And the "Cadiz," +a screw steamer, would sail on Saturday for the port whose name she +bore. + +Ishmael mentally gave preference to the swift and sure steamer, +rather than the uncertain sailing packet; but he felt bound to refer +the matter to Judge Merlin before finally deciding upon it. + +With this purpose he left the harbor and entered the city. He was +passing up one of the narrow granite-paved streets in the +neighborhood of the grand cathedral where lie the ashes of Columbus, +when he was startled by hearing quick and heavy footsteps and a +panting, eager voice behind him: + +"Marse Ishmael! Marse Ishmael Worth! Oh, is it you, sir, dropped +from the clouds to save me! Marse Ishmael! Oh, stop, sir! Oh, for de +Lord's sake, stop!" + +Ishmael started and turned around, and, to his inexpressible +amazement, stood face to face with old Katie. + +"Oh, Marse Ishmael, honey, is dis you? Is dis indeed you, or only de +debbil deceiving of me!" she exclaimed, panting for breath as she +caught him by the greatcoat, and grasping him as the drowning grasp +a saving plank. + +"Katie!" exclaimed Ishmael, in immeasurable astonishment. "Yes, +honey, it's Katie. Yes, my dear chile, ole Katie an' no ghose, nor +likewise sperit, dough you might think I is! But oh, Marse Ishmael! +is you, you? Is you reely an' truly you, and no, no 'ception ob de +debbil?" + +"Katie!" repeated Ishmael, unable to realize the fact of her +presence. + +"Hi! what I tell you? Oh, Marse Ishmael, chile, don't go for to 'ny +your old Aunt Katie, as nussed you good when you lay out dere for +dead at Tanglewood! don't!" said the poor creature, clinging to his +coat. "Katie!" reiterated Ishmael, unable to utter another word. + +"Laws a massy upon top of me, yes! I keep on telling you, chile, I +is Katie! don't 'ny me; don't 'ny me in my 'stress, Marse Ishmael, +if ebber you 'spects to see hebben!" she said, beginning to cry. + +"I do not deny you, Katie; but I am lost in amazement. How on earth +came you here?" asked Ishmael, staring at her. + +"I didn't come on earth at all. I come by de sea. Oh, Marse Ishmael! +I done died since I lef' you! done died and gone to the debbil! been +clar down dar in his place, which it aint 'spectable to name! done +died and gone dere and come to life again, on a ship at sea." + +"Who brought you here, Katie?" questioned Ishmael, thoroughly +perplexed. + +"De debbil, honey! de debbil, chile! Sure as you lib it was de +debbil! Oh, Marse Ishmael, honey, stop long o' me! Don't go leabe +me, chile, don't! Now de Lor' has sent you to me, don't go leabe me. +You is all de hopes I has in de world!" she cried, clinging with +desperate perseverance to his coat. + +"I will not leave you, Katie. I have not the least intention of +doing so. But all this is quite incomprehensible. Where is your +mistress? She is never here?" said Ishmael. + +"I dunno. I dunno nuffin 'bout my poor dear babyship--ladyship, I +mean; only my head is so 'fused! Oh, lor', don't go break away from +me! don't, Marse Ishmael!" + +"I will not desert you, Katie, be assured that I will not; but let +go my coat and try to compose yourself. Don't you see that you are +collecting a crowd around us?" expostulated Ishmael. + +But Katie hung fast, saying: + +"'Deed I can't! 'Deed I can't, Marse Ishmael! If I let go of you I +shall wake up an' find you is all a dream, an' I'll be as bad off as +ebber," persisted Katie, taking Ishmael more firmly into custody +than ever. + +He laughed; he could not help laughing at the ludicrous desperation +of his captor. But his astonishment and wonder were unabated; and he +saw that Katie could not give a lucid explanation of her presence on +the island, or at least not until her excitement should have time to +subside. + +Besides the crowd of negroes, mulattoes, and creoles, men, women, +and children, who had gathered around them, with open eyes and +mouths, was still increasing. + +"Katie," he said, "we cannot talk in the middle of the street with +all these people staring at us. So come with--" + +"Oh, lor', Marse Ishmael," interrupted Katie, "don't you mind dese +poor trash! Dey can't speak one word o' good Christian talk, nor +likewise understand a Christian no mor'n dumb brutes. Dey is no +better nor barbariums, wid dere o's and ro's ebery odder word. Don't +mind dem herrin's." + +"But, Katie, they have eyes. Come with me to the hotel. You will +find your old master there." + +"Who? My ole--" began Katie, opening her mouth, which remained open +as if incapable of closing again, much less of uttering another +syllable. + +"Yes, Judge Merlin is here." + +"My ole--Well, Lor'!" + +"Come, Katie." + +"My ole--If ebber I heard de like! What de name o' sense he doin' +here? An' same time, what you doin' here yourself, Marse Ishmael?" + +"Katie, it is a long story. And I fancy we both, you and I, have +much to tell. Will you come with me to my hotel?" + +"Will I come, Marse Ishmael? Why wouldn't I come den? Sure I'll +come. I don't mean to do nuffin else; nor likewise let go of you, +nor lose sight of you, de longest day as eber I lib, please my 'Vine +Marster, don't I; so dere!" replied the old creature, tightening her +clasp upon Ishmael's coat. + +"Oh, Katie, Katie, but that would be too much of a good thing," said +Ishmael, smiling. + +"Dey done sent me arter pines. Fetch pines! I don't care as ebber I +see a pine again as long as ebber I lib. I gwine to my own ole--, De +Lor'! but de thought o' he being here!" cried Katie, breaking off in +the middle of her speech again to give vent to her amazement. + +"Now, Katie, you must walk by my side; but, really, you must let go +my coat," said Ishmael kindly, but authoritatively. + +"If I do, you promise me not to run away?" said Katie half +pleadingly and half threateningly. + +"Of course I do." + +"Nor likewise wake me up to find it all a dream?" + +"Certainly not, Katie." + +"Well, den, I trust you, Marse Ishmael--I trust you," said Katie, +releasing her hold on him. "'Dough, 'deed and 'deed," she added +doubtingly, "so many queer things is happened of since I done left +my ole--Goodness gracious me! to think o' he being here!--marster; +and so many people and so many places has 'peared and dis'peared, +dat, dere! I aint got no conference in nothing." + +"I hope that you will recover your faith with your happiness, Katie. +And now come on, my good woman," said Ishmael, who felt extremely +anxious to get from her, as soon as they should reach the hotel, +some explanation of her presence on the island, and some news of her +unfortunate mistress. + +They walked on as rapidly as the strength of the old woman would +allow, for Ishmael would not permit her to put herself out of +breath. When they reached the hotel Ishmael told Katie to follow +him, and so led her to her master's apartments. + +They stopped outside the door. + +"You must remain here until I go in and see if the judge has +returned from his ride from the bank. And if he has, I must prepare +him for your arrival here; for your master has aged very much since +you saw him last, Katie, and the surprise might hurt him," whispered +Ishmael, as he turned the doorknob and went in. + +The judge had just returned. He was seated at the table, counting +out money. "Ha, Ishmael, my boy, have you got back?" he asked, +looking up from his work. + +"Yes, sir; and I have the choice of two packets to offer you. The +brig 'Mary' sails for London on Wednesday; the steamer 'Cadiz' sails +for the port of Cadiz on Saturday. The choice remains with you," +said Ishmael, putting down his hat and seating himself. + +"Oh, then we will go by the 'Cadiz'; though she sails at a later +day, and for a farther port, we shall reach our destination sooner, +going by her, than we should to go in a sailing packet bound direct +for London." + +"I think so too, sir; there is no certainty in the sailing packets. +I hope you succeeded at the bank?" + +"Perfectly; our consul, Tourneysee, went with me, to identify me and +vouch for my solvency, and I got accommodated without any difficulty +whatever. And now I must insist upon being banker for our whole +party until we reach England." + +"I thank you, sir, in behalf of my father as well as myself," said +Ishmael. + +"Now, let me see--nine hundred and seventy, eighty, ninety, an +hundred--that is one thousand. I will lay that by itself," muttered +the judge, still counting his money. + +"I met an old acquaintance down in the city," said Ishmael, +gradually feeling his way towards the announcement of Katie. + +"Ah!" said the judge indifferently, and going on with his counting. + +"An old friend, indeed, I may say," added Ishmael emphatically. + +"Yes," replied the judge absently, and continuing to count. + +"Judge Merlin," inquired Ishmael, in a meaning tone, "have you no +curiosity to know who it was that I met near the quays?" + +"No," said the old man, counting diligently; "some fellow you knew +in Washington, I suppose, my boy. Why, the Lord bless you, I +stumbled over half a dozen acquaintances on my way to the consulate +and the bank. Among them Frank Tourneysee, who is staying here with +his brother for the benefit of his health. He is a consumptive, poor +man! crossed in love; or something; + +"Sir, it was no casual acquaintance or ordinary friend that I met," +said Ishmael, in so grave a voice that the judge looked up from his +work and stared in wonder, not at the words, but at the manner of +the speaker. + +"It was no man, but a woman, sir," continued Ishmael, fixing his +eyes wistfully upon the face of the old man. + +"It was Claudia!" cried the judge, in an ear-piercing voice, jumping +at once at the most improbable conclusion, as he started up, pale as +death, and gazed with breathless anxiety upon the grave face of +Ishmael. + +"No, Judge Merlin," answered the young man, as he gently replaced +him in his seat; "no, it was not Lady Vincent; but it is one who, I +hope, can give us later news of her." + +"Who--who was it then?" gasped the old man, trembling violently. + +Ishmael poured out a glass of water and handed it to the judge, +saying calmly: + +"It was old Katie whom I met." + +"Katie!" cried the judge, in astonishment, and holding the glass of +water suspended in his hand. + +"Katie. But drink your water, Judge Merlin; it will refresh you." + +"Katie! But where is her mistress?" demanded the old man, in burning +anxiety. + +"I do not know, sir; Katie was too much excited by the shock of her +meeting with me and hearing that you were on the island to give any +coherent account of herself." + +"But--how came she here if not in attendance upon her mistress? +And--what should have brought Claudia here?--unless she should have been +on her voyage home to me, and got wrecked and brought here, as we +have been, which is not likely." + +"No; that is too improbable to have happened, I should think. But +drink the water, sir, let me beg of you." + +"I will. I will, Ishmael, when I have qualified it a little!" said +the judge, tottering to his feet and going to a buffet upon which +stood some Jamaica rum. He mixed a strong glass of spirits and +water, drank it, and returned to his seat, saying, as he sank into +it with a deep sigh of refreshment: + +"I feel better. Where is Katie? And how in the world came she here? +And what news does she bring of her mistress?" + +"Katie is outside that door, sir, waiting for you to receive her." + +"Let her come in, then, Ishmael." + + + + +CHAPTER XXXV. + +A FATHER'S VENGEANCE. + + Haste me to know it; that I, with wings as swift + As meditation or the thoughts of love, + May sweep to my revenge! + --_Shakespeare_. + + + +Ishmael went to the door and admitted Katie. The old woman made an +impulsive rush towards her master, but stopped and burst into a +passion of tears so violent that she was scarcely able to stand. + +"Sit down, Katie. Sit down and compose yourself. Your master will +not take it amiss that you sit in his presence," said Ishmael, +pushing a low, soft chair towards the woman, while he glanced +inquiringly towards the judge. + +"Certainly not; let her rest; sit down, Katie. How do you do?" said +the judge, going towards his old servant and holding out his hands. + +"Oh, marster! Oh, marster!" sobbed Katie, sinking into the seat and +clinging to her master's venerable hands, upon which her tears fell +like rain. + +The judge gently withdrew his hands, but it was only that he might +use them for Katie's relief. + +He poured out a glass of the same restorative that he had found so +effectual in his own case, and he made her drink it. + +Poor Katie was unused to such stimulants, and she immediately felt +its effects. Her eyes sparkled threateningly as she set the empty +glass down upon the table. + +"Ah!" she exclaimed, with indescribable force of spite; "ah, the +whited saltpeter! Now I send her to de penumtenshury; now I send her +dere to pick oakum in a crash gown and cropped hair, and an oberseer +wid a big whip to drive her!" + +"What is she talking of? What does she mean by whited saltpeter?" +inquired the judge. + +"'Whited sepulchre' is Katie's Scripture name for a hypocrite, I +suppose," suggested Ishmael. + +"Not on'y for a hypocrite, Marse Ishmael! Not on'y for a hypocrite; +but for a pi'son, 'ceitful, lyin' white nigger!" said Katie, with +her eyes snapping. + +"Katie, Katie, you are using ugly words," remonstrated the judge. + +"Not half so venomous ugly as dem I applies 'em to, begging your +pardon, ole marse," said the woman, with a positive nod of her head. + +"Where did you leave your lady?" inquired the judge, who had been +almost dying of anxiety to ask this question, but had refrained on +account of Katie's excessive agitation. "Where did you leave your +mistress?" + +"Le'me see. Where did I leave her ag'in? Oh! I 'members exactly now. +'Deed I got good reason to 'member dat night, if I never 'members +anoder day nor night of my life." + +"Tell us, Katie," said Ishmael. + +"Well, den, I done lef her on de grand staircase o' de castle a- +goin' down to dinner. And she looked beautiful in her rosy more +antics, just like a lamb dressed for the sacrifice, 'cordin' to de +Scriptur'. And she unsuspicionin' anything and me dyin' to tell her, +on'y she wouldn't stop to listen to me." + +"To tell her what, Katie?" + +"Why, laws, honey, 'bout de debblish plot as my lordship and dat +whited saltpeter and de shamwalley plotted ag'in her--ag'in her, my +own dear babyship--ladyship, I meant to say." + +"There was a plot, then?" inquired Ishmael, with forced calmness, +for he wished quietly to draw out the woman's story without +agitating and confusing her. "There was a plot then?" + +"Oh, wasn't dere? De blackest plot ag'in my ladyship as ebber de old +debbil hisse'f could o' put in anybody's head. And I heard it all! +And I heard it all good, too." + +"What was it, Katie? Can you tell us?" inquired Ishmael, while the +judge bent his pale, careworn, and anxious face nearer the speaker. + +"Well, Marse Ishmael, you know how solemn you cautioned me to watch +ober my ladyship, don't you, sir?" + +"Yes, Katie; yes." + +"Well, I beared what you said in mind. And de dear knows as my poor +dear ladyship did 'quire to be watched ober worse nor anybody I +ebber seed. It seems like you was a prophet, Marse Ishmael, 'cause +how you know how she was going to be sitterated." + +"Never mind, Katie. Go on and tell us of the plot," said Ishmael, +while Judge Merlin's face grew sharp and peaked in his silent +anguish of suspense. But both knew that it was best to let Katie +tell her story in her own way. + +"Well, Marse Ishmael, sir, I laid to heart what you telled me so +solemn, and I did watch ober my ladyship, and I watched ober her +good! And she didn't know it, nor likewise nobody else. And berry +soon I saw as my ladyship was 'rounded by inimies. And as dat whited +saltpeter was a'tryin' to take her husband away from her. And den +ag'in I say plain 'nough as my lordship was willin' 'nough for to be +tuk, for dat matter. So I watched him and de whited saltpeter." + +"But who is it that you call the whited sepulchre, Katie?" demanded +the judge. + +"Why, who but his sisser-in-law! his sisser-in-law what lib long o' +him; yes! and libbed long o' him afore ebber my poor, dear, 'ceived +ladyship ebber see him!" + +"But who was this lady, and what was her name?" asked the judge. + +"She warn't no lady! She was an oppry singer, as was no better 'an +she should be, and as had misled away my lordship's younger brother, +who married of her, and died, and serve him right, de 'fernally +fool! And den ebber since he died she done lib long o' my lordship +at de castle. And her name is Mrs. Doogood, which is a 'fernally +false, 'cause she nebber does no good! But my lordship, whenebber +he's palabering ob his sof' nonsense to her, he call her, so he do, +Fustunner! I s'pose 'cause, when she quarrel wid him, she make fuss +'nough to stun a miller." + +"And this woman you say was my daughter's enemy?" + +"Well, I reckon, marster, as you would call her sich, ef you heerd +de plot she and my lordship and de shamwalley made up 'gin my +ladyship." + +"Yes, but, Katie, you have not yet told us the plot," said Ishmael. + +"Well, I gwine do it now, right off, Marse Ishmael! Well, you see I +kept on watchin' of 'em, till one day, it happened as a poor gal, +one o' de housemaids, was found wid her t'roat cut unnerneaf of de +castle wall--" + +At this announcement Judge Merlin started and looked at Ishmael, but +the young man made a sign that the judge should say nothing that +might interrupt the thread of Katie's narrative. Katie continued: + +"And de offercers ob de law tuk possession ob de castle to 'quire +inter who was de murderers ob de poor gal. But de more dey 'quired +inter it, de more dey couldn't find it out! And arter dey'd stayed +dere a whole week 'quiring, dey was furder off from findin' out nor +ebber. So dey all up and sent in a werdick as de gal was foun' wid +her t'roat cut and nobody knowed who did it. Dat was de werdick. +Which dey needn't o' stayed 'quiring and eaten' and drinkin' on us a +whole week to tell us dat. 'Cause we knowed dat much afore. How-so- +ebber, home 'dey all went and let de poor gal be buried. And I +happened to be in de big hall and to cotch my eye on my lordship, as +he said to his wally sham: + +'"Frisbie, I shall want you in my room presently; so don't be out o' +de way.' + +"And I cotch my eye on Mr. Frisbie, too, and I see how he turned +sort o' white round de gills, and he say: + +"'I'll be at hand, my lord.' + +"I says: + +"'And so will I be at hand, my lord.' + +"And sure 'nough, I goes and steals inter my lordship's dressing +room, unbeknown to anybody, and I hides myself ahind one ob dem +thick curtains! And presently sure 'nough my lordship he comes in +and rings for Mr. Frisbie. Marse Ishmael, honey, would you mind +givin' of your poor old Aunt Katie another tumbler o' rum? 'Deed I +don't beliebe as I can go on wid de story widout somet'ing to s'port +me." + +"So much rum is not good for you, Katie, but I will give you a glass +of water," said Ishmael. + +"Oh, honey, no, don't, please! I don't like water in de winter time, +it allers gibs me a cold in the stummick. But rum warms me." + +Judge Merlin, who was much too anxious that Katie should continue +her story to be fastidious as to the means he took to that end, +poured out and administered to the old creature a small portion of +the spirits. + +"Thanky, marster! thanky, chile! You'se got some feelin' for ole +folks, you has! Dese young people, dey aint got no 'sideration, dey +aint. Dat make me feel good all ober! now I gwine on. Well, Mr. +Frisbie, he answers my lordship's bell and he comes in, so he does. +And den--oh! Marse Ishmael!--my lordship 'cuses ob him o' bein' de +murderer! and tells him how he, my lordship, seen him, Mr. Frisbie, +do de deed! Well Frisbie, he fell on his two knees and begged for +marcy. And oh! marster! my lordship promised to hide his crime on +conditions--such conditions, Marse Ishmael!" + +"What were they, Katie?" inquired Judge Merlin, in a dying voice, +for a suspicion of something like the truth made him reel. + +"My lordship promised de shamwalley he would save him from de +gallows if he would help him to get rid ob Lady Vincent." + +There was an irrepressible exclamation of horror from Ishmael and a +low cry of anguish from Judge Merlin. But neither ventured to speak, +lest by doing so he should confuse Katie, who continued her story. + +"And so my lordship plotted wid de shamwalley, how he, de +shamwalley, was to 'tend to be fond o' my ladyship, and follow arter +her, and do sly things to draw de eyes o' de household on her, make +dem all s'picion her, and talk about her--" + +"What! my daughter! Claudia Merlin!" exclaimed the judge, in a voice +of thunder, as he started to his feet and stood staring at the +speaker. + +"Oh, ole marse, for de Lord's sake, don't! You scare away all de +little sense dem debbils has lef' me!" cried Katie, shuddering. + +"His wretched lackey!" vociferated the judge. "By all the fiends in +flames, I'll shoot that scoundrel Vincent with less remorse than I +would a mad dog!" + +"Oh, marster, yes! shoot him or hang him, jus' which ebber you +thinks bes'! On'y don't roar so loud; for 'deed it's awful to hear +you! And besides, if you do, I can't go on and tell you no more, and +you ought to hear it all, you know," shivered Katie. + +"She is right, sir! Pray compose yourself. Do you not see how +important it is that we should have a clear statement of facts from +this eye- and ear-witness of the conspiracy against Lady Vincent's +honor? Try to listen coolly, sir! as coolly as if you were on the +bench. Be--not the father, but the judge," earnestly remonstrated +Ishmael, as he gently constrained his old friend to sit down again. + +"Don't you know that I will kill that man?" exclaimed the judge, as +he sank into his seat. + +"I know that you will do just what a Christian gentleman should do +in the premises," gravely replied Ishmael. + +"Go on! what next?" demanded the judge, in a voice that utterly +upset Katie, who had to recover her composure before she could +continue her statement. At last she said: + +"Well, den, arter dey had 'ranged dat plot dey lef' de room. And I +come out and waylaid my ladyship to tell her all about it and put +her on her guard. And I met her on de stairs jus' as I telled you +afore, and she looking like an angel o' beauty; but she wouldn't +stop to listen to me. She tole me to go to her dressing room and +wait for her there. And she walked downstairs like any queen, so she +did, and dat was de las' as ebber I see ob my ladyship." + +Here Katie paused for breath. Ishmael made a sign to Judge Merlin +not to speak. Then Katie went on. + +"I goed to de dressin' room; and I waited and waited hour arter +hour, but my ladyship she nebber come. But while I was a-peeping +t'rough de door, a-watching for her, in comes dat whited saltpeter +and goes into her 'partments. And den soon arter comes my lordship, +takin' long, sly steps, like a cat as is gwine to steal cream. And +he goes into Fustunner's rooms." + +Katie paused, drew a long breath, and went on. + +"You may be sure, marster, as I knowed he war a-going in dere to +talk ober his debblish plot long o' her. So I jus' took a leaf out'n +my lordship's own book and I creeps along jus' as sly as he could +and I peeps t'rough de keyhole, and I sees as how dey wasn't in de +outermos' room, but in de innermos', dough all the doors was open in +a row and I seen clear t'rough to de dressin'-room fire, where dey +was bof a-standing facin' of it, wid deir backs towards me. So I +opens de door sof', an' steals in t'rough all de rooms to de las' +one, and hides myse'f in de folds ob de curtain as was drawed up one +side o' de door. So, sure 'nough, he was a-tellin' of her 'bout de +plot ag'n my ladyship, and how dey would 'trive t'rough de wallysham +to make her appear guilty, so he could get a 'vorce from her, and +keep her fortin, and marry Fustunner!" + +"Flames and furies!" burst forth the judge, starting to his feet; +but Ishmael firmly, though gently, put him down again, and made an +imploring sign that he should control his passion and listen in +calmness. + +It took Katie some little time to get over this last startling shock +before she could continue her story. + +"Now, Marse Ishmael, if you don't keep ole marster quiet, 'deed I +gwine shut up my mouf, 'cause he's wuss on anybody's narves dan an +elected battery," she said. + +"Go on, Katie, go on!" commanded Ishmael, as he stood by Judge +Merlin's chair and kept his arm over the old man's shoulders. + +"Well, den, he keep still. 'Deed I 'fraid he tears me up nex' time +he jump at me." + +"Have no uneasiness, Katie. Go on!" + +"Well, dat whited saltpeter--oh, but she's deep!--'proved _ob_ +de plot, and clapped her hands like a fool, and den she 'proved +_on_ de plot, too, for she planned out how dey should all make +a party to go to de play, and pertend to inwite my ladyship to go +'long too, which they knowed she wouldn't do. And how dey should go +widout her; and how de shamwalley should hide himse'f in my +ladyship's room, unbeknownst to her; and how dey should all come +back and bust open de door and find him in dere; and how he should +'fess a lie as my ladyship invited him dere, and was in de habit ob +so doing--" + +Here Ishmael had hard work to keep Judge Merlin down in his seat, +and restrain the old man's demonstrations within the limits of +making awful faces and tearing out his own gray hair by the roots. + +Katie meanwhile continued: + +"Well, marster, jus' when I had heerd dat much--cuss my nose!--I beg +your pardon, Marse Ishmael, but--I sneezed! And nex' minute my +lordship had me by de t'roat, and den he began cussin' and swearin', +an' sassin' at me hard as ebber he could. But didn't I gib him good +as he sent, soon as ebber he let go my t'roat? Well, childun, I jus' +did! But den, when dey foun' out I had heern ebberyt'ing, and knowed +all deir 'fernally tricks, and mean to 'form on dem, dey got scared, +dey did! And my lordship ax what was to be done? And de whited +saltpeter said how I mus'n't be let to leabe de room alibe. So when +I heerd dat, I got scared; and anybody would in my place. So I +opened my mouf to scream. But lor', childun, he squeezed my t'roat +till I loss my breaf as well as my voice. But I heerd him ax her +ag'in what was to be done? For, you see, de 'fernally fool seemed to +'pend on her for ebberyt'ing. And he ax her couldn't she help him? +And she rushed about de room and fotch somefin, and he put it to my +nose, and--I went dead!" + +"It must have been chloroform," suggested Ishmael. + +"Dunno what it was; but I'm sure I should know de truck ag'in. For +of all de grape winyards and apple orchids and flower gardens as +ebber smelt lovely, dat truck smelt de loveliest. And of all de +silvery flutes and violins and pineannas and bells as ebber rung out +for a wedding, dat truck did ring de silveriest t'rough my brain. +And of all de 'luminations as ebber was 'luminated for de presiden's +'lection, dat truck did 'luminate my eyes. And tell you what, +childun, dough dey was a-murdering of me wid it, de 'ceiving truck +sent me right to hebben afore it sent me dead!" + +"What next?" inquired Ishmael. + +"Well, nex' thing when I come to life ag'in, I found myself in a +dark, narrow, steep place, going down--bump! bump! bump! and den +faster--bumpetty--bumpetty--bumpetty--bump! till I t'ought ebbery +blessed bone in my body would have been broke! And I t'ought how two +debbils had hold of my soul, a-dragging it down to--you know where," +said Katie, rolling her eyes mysteriously. + +"Proceed," said Ishmael. + +"Well, when dey got me to de bottom, dey drag me along a wet, hard, +stony floor, so dey did; and I 'fraid to draw my bref! Oh, marster! +I couldn't tell you how far dey dragged me, till dey stopt. Den a +voice said: + +"'Finish her here!'--and dat was Fustunner's voice. And den anoder +voice answered and said: + +"'She's done for already.' And dat was my lordship's voice. + +"And den I knowed as dey wa'n't debbils--leastways not spiritual +debbils--as had my soul, dragging it down to--you know where; but +human debbils, as was takin' of me down in some deep wault to kill +me. So I t'ought de best t'ing I could do was to sham dead. So I +kep' my eyes shet and held my breaf, and shammed hard as I could. +But somehow or 'noder I don't t'ink I 'ceived my lordship. I t'ink I +on'y 'ceived her. Anyways, he pitched me neck and crop into a dark, +stony, wet cell, and locked de door on me, and den dey bof went +away." + +Here Katie paused and remained silent so long that Ishmael felt +obliged again to set her going by saying: + +"Well, Katie, what followed?" + +"Why, nothing but darkness; blackness of darkness, Marse Ishmael, so +thick it 'peared like I could feel it with my hands. I did get up on +my feet and feel all around, and dere was nothing below, or 'round, +or ober me but wet stone wall. And de place was so small, as I could +stand dere and reach any part of de wall on any side ob me widout +taking of a step. And wa'n't dat a perty place to put a Christian +'oman into? Deed, I beliebe I should o' gib up de ghose, if I had +had de t'ought to t'ink about myself. But I hadn't. I t'ought only +of my poor, dear ladyship up dere 'sposed to de treachery ob dem +debbils wid nobody to warn her, nor likewise purtect her, poor dear +baby! And when I t'ought of dat, seemed to me as my poor heart would +'a' bust. And I beliebe it would, on'y dere came a divurtisement. +For you see, I sets myself down in my 'spair, on de cole stone +floor; and soon as ebber I does dat, a whole passel o' rats come a- +nosin' and a-smellin' at me, and nibblin' my shoes 's if dey'd like +to 'vour me alibe; and it tuk all my time and 'tention to dribe dem +away." + +"That was horrible, Katie," said Ishmael, in a tone of sympathy. + +"Well, so it was, Marse Ishmael; but for all dat somehow I was right +down glad to see de rats--dey was alibe, and arter dey come, 'peared +like de place wasn't so much like a grabe; 'sides which dey was +company for me down dere in de dark, and dey gi' me somefin to do, +keepin' dem offen me." + +"But, Katie, were you not afraid of being abandoned there and left +to die?" + +"Well, honey, I s'pose I should ha' been ef I had t'ought of it. +But, you see, I nebber t'ought o' nothin' but my poor, dear, +desolate ladyship, as I telled you before." + +"Yes; I can easily understand that, Katie. Lady Vincent's situation +was even much worse than your own," said Ishmael. + +"Oh, the infernal scoundrel! I'll kill him! I'll shoot him like a +dog, if I have to follow him all over the world and spend my life in +the pursuit!" broke forth Judge Merlin. + +There ensued a short pause in the conversation, and then Ishmael, +speaking in a low, calm tone, inquired: + +"How long did you remain in that dungeon, Katie?" + +"'Deed, Marse Ishmael, chile, I dunno; cause, you see, I hadn't no +ways o' keepin' 'count o' de time; for, you see, noonday was jus' as +dark as midnight in dat den. So how I gwine tell when day broke, or +when night come ag'in? or how many days broke, or how many nights +come?" + +"Then you have really no idea of how long you remained there?" + +"Not a bit! 'Cause, you see, Marse Ishmael, 'pears to me, judging by +my feelin's, as I must a stayed dere about seben years. But den I +don't s'pose I stayed dat long neider, 'cause I know I nebber had +nothin' to eat nor drink all de time I was dere; which, you know I +couldn't a' fasted seben years, down dere, could I?" + +"Not with safety to life and health, Katie," smiled Ishmael. + +"Well, den, if it wasn't seben years, it was as long as ebber +anybody could lib dere a-fastin'!" + +"How did you get out at last, Katie?" + +"Well, now, Marse Ishmael, begging of your pardon, dat was the +curiousest t'ing of all! I dunno no more how I come out'n dat dark +den, nor de man in de moon! I t'ink it was witchcraft and +debbilment, dat's what I t'ink," whispered Katie, rolling her eyes +mysteriously. + +"Tell us what you do know, however," said Ishmael. + +"Well, all I know is jus' dis: I had to keep my eyes open day and +night to dribe de rats away. And tired and sleepy as I was, I +dar'n't go to sleep, for fear as dey would 'vour me alibe. Last, +hows'eber, I was so dead tired, and so dead sleepy, dat I couldn't +keep awake no longer, and so I fell fas' asleep, and now, Marse +Ishmael, listen, 'cause I gwine to tell you somethin' wery +'stonishin'! Sure as I'm a-libbin' 'oman, standin' here afore your +eyes, when I drapped asleep I was in dat dark den, unner de groun', +and when I waked up I was in a ship sailin' on de big sea! Dere! you +may beliebe me or not, as you choose, but dat is de trufe!" + +Judge Merlin and Ishmael exchanged glances and then the latter said: + +"The case is a perfectly clear one to me, sir. While she slept she +was made to inhale chloroform, and while under its influence she was +conveyed from her prison to the ship, very likely a smuggler; and +was brought here and sold for a slave." + +"Dere! dere! If Marse Ishmael wort aint hit de nail right on de +head! To be sure it mus' a been chloe-fawn! And 'pears to me I has a +faint membry as how I was dreaming o' de same sweet scents and +silver bells and rosy lights as I had 'sperienced once afore. To be +sure it mus' a been chloe-fawn! And as for de rest, Marse Ishmael, +it is all true as gospel! Sure 'nough, dey did fetch me to dis +island and dey did sell me for a slabe," said old Katie. + +"But hadn't you a tongue in your head? Couldn't you have told the +people here that you were free?" demanded Judge Merlin impatiently. + +"An' sure, didn't I do it? Didn't I pallaber till my t'roat was +sore? And didn't poor Jim and Sally pallaber till deir t'roats was +sore? And didn't all t'ree of us pallaber togeder till we mos' wore +out our tongues? Didn't do no good, dough! 'Cause you see, de people +here is sich barbariums dat dey cannot unnerstan' one word o' good +Christian talk." + +"And if they had understood you, Katie, as some of them probably +did, it would not have served you; your unsupported words would have +never been taken. As you are aware, my dear judge, if you will take +time to reflect," added Ishmael, turning to Judge Merlin, + +"Certainly, certainly," replied the latter. + +"But, Katie, you mentioned Sally and Jim. Is it possible that they +also were kidnaped?" inquired Ishmael. + +"You better beliebe it, honey! 'Cause it's true as gospel, chile! +Now I gwine to tell you all about it. One o' de fust tings I t'ought +when I woke up and stared around to find myself aboard dat vessel on +de water, was dat I had died in dat cell and dat de angels was a- +takin' my soul across de Riber ob Jordan to the City ob de New +Jerusalem 'cordin' to de Scriptur'. On'y you see, chile, I wasn't +dat downright sure and sartain as I myse'f was a saint prepared for +hebben; nor likewise did de man as sat smoking and drinking at de +table look like the chief ob de angels." + +"In what part of the ship were you when you recovered your +consciousness?" inquired Ishmael, who wished to have a clear idea of +the "situation." + +"In de cap'n's cabin, Marse Ishmael. And dat was de cap'n, dough I +didn't know who he was, nor where I was, at de time. So I up and ax +him: + +"'Please, marster, if you please, sir, to tell me is I to go to +hebben or t'other place?' + +"'Oh! you've come to, have you?' says he, and he takes a pipe from +de table and he whistles. + +"And den a bad-lookin' man comes down. And says de captain to him: + +"'Jack, bundle dis 'oman out'n here and put her into the steerage.' + +"And de ill-lookin' man he says to me: + +"'Come along, blacky!' + +"And so I up and followed him to de deck, 'cause why not? What was +de use o' resistin'? 'Sides which, I t'ought by going farder I might +fine out more. And sure 'nough so I did! for soon as ebber I got on +deck, de fuss person I see was Jim. Which soon as ebber I see him, +and he see me, he run, de poor boy, and cotch me 'round de neck, and +hugged and kissed me, and said says he: + +"'Oh, my mammy! is dis you?' + +"And says I: + +"'Yes, Jim, it's me! I died down dere, in a wault, in de bottom o' +de castle. When did you die, Jim?' + +"'Am I dead, mammy?' says he. + +"'Why, to be sure you are,' says I, 'else how you come here?' + +"'And dat's true enough,' says he. 'On'y I didn't know I was dead +till you told me, mammy. Well, if I'm dead, I s'pose I must 'a' died +sudden. Cause I know I was well and hearty enough; on'y dat I was +troubled 'bout you, mammy; and I went to sleep in my bed and when I +waked up I was here.' + +"Well, while Jim was talkin' I heerd de man, Jack, say: + +"'Go along den, you cuss! dere's your frien's.' + +"And I looked up and dere he was a-pushing Sally along towards us! + +"'And, oh, Sally,' says I, 'are you dead too?' + +"'No, Aunt Katie, I aint dead; but I'm stole! And I s'pects you all +is too!' And den she boo-hoo-ed right out. + +"'Sally,' says I, 'you is dead!' + +"'No, I aint, Aunt Katie, I's stole!' she said, crying as if her +heart would break. + +"'Sally,' says I, 'you's dead! Now don't 'ny it! 'Cause what would +be de use? For if you aint dead, how came you here?' + +"'I know how I come here well enough. I was stole out'n my bed and +brought here. And my lordship help de t'ieves to steal me. I saw +him.' + +"'Mammy,' says Jim, 'I reckon Sally's in de right ob it. And 'deed I +hopes she is; 'cause you see if she aint dead, why no more are we; +and if she was stole, why, it's like as we was too!' And den turnin' +round to Sally, he says, says he: + +"'Sally, tell us what happened to you.' + +"So Sally she told us how she hadn't been able to sleep de night +afore; and how towards mornin' she t'ought she would get up and +dress herse'f. And jus' as she was a-puttin' on her shoes, all ob a +sudden de door opens and in walks my lordship, follyed by two men! +which she was so 'stonished she could do nothing but stare, 'till my +lordship sprung at her t'roat and put somefing to her nose, as made +her faint away. Which ob course it mus' a been chloe-fawn." + +"Of course," said Ishmael; "but go on with your statement." + +"Well, and Sally tole me how, when she come to herself, she was in +dis wessel. But she says she wasn't 'ceived one bit. She 'membered +eberyting. And she could swear to de men as stole her, which dey was +my lordship--and a perty lordship he is!--and de captain o' de +wessel and de fust mate." + +"Sally will be a most invaluable witness against those felons Judge +Merlin, if she can be found and taken to England," whispered +Ishmael. + +The old man nodded assent. And Katie continued: + +"Well, childun, afore I heerd Sally's 'scription o' how dey sarved +her, I could a sword as we was all dead, and on our woyage cross de +riber of Jordan. But arter dat I was open to conwiction; which you +know, Marse Ishmael, I was allers ob a lib'ral, 'lightened turn o' +mind! And so I gib in as we was all alibe." + +"Well, and what then, Katie? How did you reconcile yourself to your +lot?" + +"Well, Marse Ishmael, you know how it is wid us poor cullered folks, +as can't eben call our childun our own? Well, seeing as we was in de +hand o' de spoiler, we laid low and said nothin'. What would a been +de use o' makin' a fuss dere? We couldn't get out'n de wessel if +dey'd let us, 'less we had gone inter de water. So we 'signed +ourselves to carcumstances and did de bes' we could till we arribed +out here to dese Wes' Stingy Islands and was put up for sale. Den we +spoke; but we might jus' as well a held our tongues; for as I telled +you afore, dese barbariums don't unnerstan' one blessed word o' good +Christian talk. And so, Marse Ishmael, spite o' all we could say, +poor Jim was knocked down to a sinner-done as libe in de country, +which sinner-done took him off dere. And Sally she was sole to a +sinner-done as libs near de Captain General's palace. Dese +barbariums calls all de ladies and gemmen sinner-dones an' sinner- +doners. And I was give away to a 'fernal low shopkeeper near de +quays." + +"Now, Judge Merlin," said Ishmael, "that we have heard her story, we +must take very prompt measures." + +"What would you do, Ishmael?" + +For all answer, Ishmael rang the bell and ordered a carriage to be +brought to the door immediately. That done, he turned to the judge +and said: + +"We must take Katie with us, ask Mr. Brudenell to accompany us, and +drive first to the office of our consul. We shall require official +assistance in the recovery of these servants. We must be quick, for +we must get all this business settled in time for the sailing of the +'Cadiz,' in which we must return to England, and take these negroes +with us. We must at any cost; even if we have to purchase them back +at double the money for which they were sold. For you see that their +testimony is all we require to overthrow Lord Vincent and vindicate +his wife." + +"Oh, the infernal villain! Do you think, Ishmael, that I shall be +contented with simply overthrowing him in the divorce court? No! By +all that is most sacred, I will kill him!" thundered the judge. + +"We will not have any divorce trial," said Ishmael firmly. "We will +not have your daughter's pure name dragged through the mire of a +divorce court; we will have Lord Vincent and his accomplices +arrested and tried; the valet for murder, and the viscount and the +opera singer for conspiracy and kidnaping. We have proof enough to +convict them all; the valet will be hanged; and the viscount and the +opera singer sentenced to penal servitude for many years. Will not +that be sufficient punishment for the conspirators. And is it not +better that the law should deal out retributive justice to them, +than that you should execute unlawful vengeance?" inquired the young +man. + +"But my daughter! My daughter!" + +"Your daughter shall be restored to you; her dower recovered; her +name preserved; and her honor perfectly, triumphantly vindicated." + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVI. + +ON THE VISCOUNTS TRACK. + + Vengeance to God alone belongs; + But when I think of all my wrongs + My blood is liquid flame! + --_Marmion._ + + + +While Ishmael and Judge Merlin still conversed the carriage was +announced. A message was dispatched to Mr. Brudenell; but the +messenger returned with the news that the gentleman had gone out. + +Therefore Ishmael and the judge, taking Katie with them, entered the +carriage and gave the order to be driven to the American consul's +office. + +The way was long, the carriage slow, and the judge boiling over with +rage and impatience. + +It was well for Judge Merlin that he had Ishmael Worth beside him to +restrain his passion and guide his actions. + +During the ride the young lawyer said: + +"In conducting this affair, Judge Merlin, Lady Vincent's welfare +must be our very first consideration." + +"Oh, yes, yes!" + +"To do her any good we must act with promptitude." + +"Of course." + +"But to act with promptitude, great sacrifices must be made." + +"What sacrifices?" + +"In the first place, you must lay aside your desire for vengeance +upon the villainous kidnapers who brought your old servants here and +sold them." + +"Ah, but, Ishmael, I cannot bear to let them go unpunished." + +"Believe me, no crime ever goes unpunished. These men, sooner or +later, will be brought to justice. But if you attempt to prosecute +them, you will be detained here for days, weeks, and perhaps even +months. For, once having laid so grave a charge against any man, or +set of men, you would be compelled to remain as a prosecuting +witness against them. And the delay would be almost fatal to Lady +Vincent, suffering as she must be the most extreme agony of +suspense." + +"I see! I see! Poor Claudia! she must be my only thought! I must +leave the smuggler to the justice of Heaven. But it is a sacrifice, +Ishmael." + +"A necessary one, sir; but there is still another that you must make +in order to hasten to the rescue of Lady Vincent." + +"And that?" + +"Is the sacrifice of a large sum of money. A large sum, even for a +man of fortune like yourself, judge." + +"And that fortune is not nearly so considerable as it is supposed to +be, Ishmael. When I had paid over my daughter's dower, I left myself +but a moderate independence." + +"Nevertheless, judge, if it should take the whole of your funded +property, you will gladly devote it to the vindication of your +daughter's honor. We must be in England with our witnesses in time +to arrest Lord Vincent and his accomplices before he has an +opportunity of bringing on the divorce suit." + +"Certainly." + +"To do this you will have to expend a large sum of money in the +repurchasing of the negroes; for you must be aware that their +present owners, having bought them in good faith, will not +relinquish them without a struggle, which would involve you in a +long lawsuit, the issue of which would be very doubtful; for you +must be aware that there are many knotty points in this case. Now, I +put the question to you, whether you can, with safety to Lady +Vincent, remain here for weeks or months, either as prosecutor in +the criminal trial of the smugglers or as plaintiff in a civil suit +with the purchasers of Lady Vincent's servants?" + +"I cannot." + +"Then do not attempt either to punish the kidnapers or wrest the +slaves from the hands of their present owners. Our plan will be +simply this: Take the consul with us to identify us, go to these +owners, explain the facts, and offer to repurchase the negroes at +once. They will, no doubt, gladly come to terms, rather than risk a +lawsuit in which they would probably lose their purchase-money." + +"I see. Yes, Ishmael. You are wise and right, as you always are," +said the judge, with an air of conviction. + +"All this business may be arranged in time for us to take passage on +the 'Cadiz,' that sails on Saturday. Now, here we are at the +consul's office," said Ishmael, as the carriage stopped at the door +of the American consulate. + +Leaving Katie in the carriage they alighted and entered. The consul +was engaged, so that they were detained in the anteroom nearly half +an hour; at the end of which four or five gentlemen were seen to +issue from the inner room, and then the doorkeeper, with a bow, +invited Judge Merlin's party to pass in. + +Philip Tourneysee, the American consul for Havana at that time, was +the eldest son of that General Tourneysee whom the reader has +already met at the house of Judge Merlin in Washington. He had +sought his present appointment because a residence in the West +Indies had been recommended for his health. He was a slight, +elegant, refined-looking man, with a clear complexion, bright auburn +hair, and dark hazel eyes. The fine expression of his countenance +alone redeemed it from effeminacy. + +On seeing Judge Merlin enter with his party he arose smilingly to +receive them. + +"You are surprised to see me here again so soon, Philip," said the +judge, as he seated himself in the chair placed for him by the +consul. + +"I cannot see you too often, judge," was the courteous answer. + +"Hem! This is my friend, Mr. Worth, of the Washington bar. Mr. +Worth, Mr. Tourneysee, our consul for the port of Havana," said the +judge, with all his old-fashioned formality. + +The gentlemen thus introduced bowed, and the consul offered a chair +to his second visitor and then seated himself and looked attentive. + +"We have come about the most awkward business that ever was taken in +hand," said the judge; "the strangest and most infamous, also, that +ever came before a criminal tribunal. But let that pass. What would +you say, for instance, to the fact of an English nobleman turning +slave-trader--and not only slave-trader, but slave-stealer?" + +The consul looked perplexed and incredulous. + +"I will tell you all about it," said the judge, who immediately +commenced and related to the astonished consul the history of the +abduction and sale of the three negroes by Lord Vincent, and their +subsequent transportation to Cuba and second sale at Havana by the +smugglers. + +"You will, of course, cause instant search to be made for the guilty +parties, and I will certainly give you every assistance in my power, +both in my public capacity and as your private friend. We will go to +work at once," said the consul warmly, placing his hand upon the +bell. + +"No," said the judge, arresting his motion. "I have consulted with +my friend and counsel, Mr. Worth, and we have decided that the +smugglers, who are, after all, but the subordinates in this guilty +confederacy, must go unpursued and unpunished for the present." + +"How?" inquired the consul, turning to Ishmael, as if he doubted his +own ears. + +"Yes, sir," said Ishmael calmly, "circumstances into which it is not +necessary that we should now enter, render it absolutely necessary +that we should be in England as soon as possible. It is equally +necessary that we should take the negroes with us, not only as +witnesses against their first abductor as to the fact of the +abduction, but also as to other transactions of which they were +cognizant previous to that event. We must therefore avoid lawsuits +which would be likely to detain us here. We cannot delay our +departure either to prosecute the smugglers for kidnaping, or to sue +the purchasers for the recovery of the negroes. We must leave the +smugglers to the retribution of Providence, and we must pay the +purchasers for the negroes we wish to carry away with us. What, +therefore, we would ask of your kindness is this--that you will go +with us to the purchasers of these negroes and identify us, so as to +smooth the way for a negotiation of our difficulties." + +"Certainly, certainly. Let me see. I have an appointment here at two +o'clock, but at three I will join you at any place you may name." + +"Would our hotel be a convenient rendezvous for you?" + +"Perfectly." + +"Then we will detain you no longer," said Ishmael, rising. + +The judge followed his example. + +And both gentlemen shook hands with the consul and departed. + +"I think," said Ishmael, as they took their seats in the carriage, +"that we should take Katie immediately back to her owner. I +understand from her that he is a man in the humbler walks of life, +and therefore I think that he might be willing to close with us for +a liberal advance upon the price paid the smuggler." + +"Do so, if you please, Ishmael; I trust entirely to your +discretion," answered the judge. + +"Katie," said Ishmael to the old woman, who had never left the +carriage, "can you direct us the way to find the man who bought +you?" + +"Not to save my precious life, couldn't I, honey. Because you see, I +nebber can t'ink o' de barbareous names dey has to de streets in dis +outlan'ish place. But I knows where I is well 'nough. An' I knows +where it is--de shop, I mean. And so if you'll put me up alongside +ob de driver I can point him which way to go an' where to stop," +said Katie. + +This proposition was agreed to. The carriage was stopped and Katie +was let out and enthroned upon the seat beside the coachman, a +Spaniard, whom she proceeded to direct more by signs and gestures +than by words. + +After a very circuitous route through the city they turned into a +narrow street and stopped before a house partly confectionery and +partly tobacco shop. + +They alighted and went in, and found the proprietor doing duty +behind his counter. + +The study of the Spanish language had been one of the few +recreations Ishmael had allowed himself in his self-denying youth. +He had afterwards improved his opportunities by speaking the +language with such Spaniards as he met in society in Washington. He +therefore now addressed the tobacconist in that tongue, and +proceeded to explain the business that brought himself and his +friend to the shop. + +The tobacconist, who was the ordinary, small, lean, yellow specimen +of the middle class of Cubans, courteously invited the "senors" into +the back parlor, where they all seated themselves and entered more +fully into the subject, Ishmael acting as interpreter between the +judge and the tobacconist, whose name they discovered to be +Marinello. + +Marinello expressed himself very much shocked to find that his +purchase of the woman was illegal, if not positively felonious; and +that an appeal to the law would probably deprive him of his bargain, +and possibly criminate him as the accomplice of the slave stealer. + +He said that he had given eight hundred dollars for the woman Katie, +who had been extolled by the trader as a most extraordinary cook. +And a "most extraordinary" one, he declared, he found her to be, for +she did not appear to know beef from mutton or rice from coffee. And +in fact she was good for nothing; for even if he sent her on an +errand, as on this occasion, she would stay forever and one day +after, and charge her sloth upon her infirmities. She had been a +bitter bargain to him. + +Judge Merlin smiled; he knew Katie to be one of the best cooks in +this world and to be in the enjoyment of perfect health, and so he +supposed that the cunning old woman had taken a lesson from the +sailor's monkey, who could talk, but wouldn't, for fear he should be +made to work. And that she had feigned her ignorance and ill health +to escape hard labor for one who she knew could have no just claim +to her services. + +Ishmael, speaking for Judge Merlin, now explained to the tobacconist +that this woman Katie had been a great favorite with the mistress +from whom she was stolen; that they were on their way to see that +lady, that they wished to take the woman with them; that they would +rather repurchase her than lose time by suing to recover her; and +finally, that they were willing to give him back the money that he +had paid for Katie, provided that he would deliver her up to them at +once. + +Marinello immediately came to terms and agreed to all they proposed. +He accompanied them back to the hotel, where he received eight +hundred dollars and left Katie. + +"That is a 'feat accomplished,'" said Ishmael gayly, as he returned +to Judge Merlin's room, after seeing Marinello out; "and now we may +expect Mr. Tourneysee every moment." + +And in fact while he spoke the door was opened and Mr. Tourneysee +was announced. + +"I am up to time," he said, smiling, as he entered. + +"With dramatic punctuality," said Ishmael, pointing to the clock on +the mantel-piece, which was upon the stroke of three. + +"Yes," said the consul, smiling. + +"We have done a good stroke of business since we left you. We have +bought Katie back from her new master at the same price he gave for +her, and he was very glad to get out of the affair so happily," said +Ishmael. + +"Ah! that was prompt indeed. I wish you equal good speed with the +other purchasers of stolen slaves. By the way, where do we go +first?" + +"I think we had best call on the lady who bought the girl Sally; +from her--Sally, I mean--we might learn the name and residence of +the gentleman who bought Jim, and of which we are at present in +ignorance." + +"Who is the lady, and where does she live?" + +"We do not know her name either; Katie could not tell us; but she +lives in the city, and Katie can direct the coachman where to drive. +And now as the carriage is at the door, I think we had better start +at once." + +"I think so, too," said the judge. + +And accordingly the whole party went downstairs and re-entered the +carriage, with the exception of Katie, who again mounted the box +beside the driver for the purpose of directing him. + +Katie, who could not, if it were to save her life, remember the name +of any place or person in that "barbareous" land, as she called it, +yet possessed the canine memory of localities; so she directed the +coachman through the shortest cut of the city towards the beautiful +suburb Guadaloupe, and then to an elegant mansion of white granite, +standing within its own luxuriant grounds. + +On seeing the carriage draw up and stop before the gate of this +aristocratic residence, the young consul suddenly changed color and +said: + +"This is the palace of the Senora Donna Eleanora Pacheco, Countess +de la Santa Cruz." + +"You know this lady?" inquired the judge. + +Mr. Tourneysee bowed. + +The porter threw open the great gate, and the carriage rolled along +a lovely shaded avenue, up before the white marble facade of the +palace, where it stopped. + +"If you please, I will send your cards in with my own. As I am known +to the senora, it may insure you a speedier audience." + +"We thank you very much," said Ishmael, placing his own and the +judge's cards in the hands of the consul, who alighted, went up the +marble steps to the front door, and rang. + +A footman opened the door, took in the cards, and after a few +moments returned. + +"The countess will see the senors," was the message that the consul +smilingly brought back to his friends in the carriage. + +Then all alighted and went into the house. + +The same footman, a jet black young negro, in gorgeous livery of +purple and gold, led them into a small, elegantly furnished +reception room, where, seated on a sofa, and toying with a fan, was +one of the loveliest little dark-eyed Creoles that ever was seen. + +She did not rise, but extended her hand with a graceful gesture and +gracious smile to welcome her visitors. + +Tourneysee advanced, with a deep and reverential bow, that would +have done honor to the gravest and most courteous hidalgo of that +grave and courteous people. + +"Senora," he said, with great formality, "I have the honor to +present to your ladyship Chief Justice Merlin, of the United States +Supreme Court. Judge Merlin, the Countess de la Santa Cruz." + +The judge made a profound bow, which the lady acknowledged by a +gracious bend of the head. + +With the same serious and stately formality, which was certainly not +natural to the young Marylander, but which was assumed, in deference +to the grave character of Spanish etiquette, Mr. Tourneysee next +presented: + +"Mr. Worth, of the Washington bar." + +The low obeisance of this visitor was received with even a more +gracious smile than had been vouchsafed to that of the judge. + +When they were seated, in accordance with the lady's invitation, the +conversation turned upon the ordinary topics of the day: the +weather; the opera; the last drawing room at the Government Palace; +the new Captain General and his beautiful bride, etc., etc., etc. + +The judge fidgeted; Ishmael was impatient; the consul perplexed. It +was necessary to speak of the affair that brought them there. Yet +how was it possible without offense to introduce any topic of +business in that bower of beauty, to that indolent Venus, whose only +occupation was to toy with her fan; whose only conversation was of +sunshine, flowers, music, balls, and brides? + +Clearly neither the judge nor the consul had the courage to obtrude +any serious subject upon her. The disagreeable task was at length +assumed by Ishmael, who never permitted himself to shrink from a +duty merely because it was an unpleasant one. + +Taking advantage, therefore, of a break in the conversation, he +turned to the lady and, speaking with grave courtesy, said: + +"Will the senora pardon me for beseeching her attention to an affair +of great moment which has brought us to her presence?" + +The "senora" lifted her long, curled lashes until they touched her +brows, and opened wide her large, soft, dark eyes in childish +wonder. "An affair of great moment!" What could it be? A masked +ball? a parlor concert? private theatricals? a--what? She could not +imagine. Dropping her eyelids demurely, she answered softly: + +"Proceed, senor." + +Ishmael then briefly explained to her the business upon which they +had come. + +The senora was as sensible as she was beautiful, and as benevolent +as she was sensible. She listened to the story of the negroes' +abduction with as much sympathy as curiosity, and at the end of the +narrative she exclaimed: + +"What villains there are in this world!" + +Ishmael then delicately referred to their wish to purchase the girl +Sally. + +The senora promptly assented to the implied desire. + +"It was my steward, Miguel Manello, who bought her for me. I did not +particularly want her. And I find her of very little use to me. She +cannot understand one word that is said to her. And she does nothing +from morning until night but weep, weep, weep tears enough to float +away the house." + +"Poor girl!" muttered Ishmael. + +"So if the senor wishes to recover her he can take her now, or at +any time." + +Ishmael delicately hinted at the purchase money. + +"Oh, I know nothing about such matters. I will send my steward to +wait on the senor at his hotel this evening. The senor can then +arrange the matter with him." + +Ishmael expressed his thanks, arose, and bowed as if to take leave. +But the lady waved her hand, and said in a sweet but peremptory +manner: + +"Be seated, senor." + +With another inclination of the head, Ishmael resumed his seat. The +lady rang a silver bell that stood on a stand at his right hand and +brought to her presence the gorgeous, sable footman. + +"Serve the senors with refreshments," was the order given and +promptly obeyed. + +An elegant little repast was set before them, consisting of +delicious coffee, chocolate, fresh fruits, cakes, and sweetmeats. +And only when they had done full justice to these delicacies would +their hostess permit them to retire. + +Again Ishmael bowed with profound deference, expressed his thanks on +the part of himself and his friends, and finally took leave. + +On going from the room they noticed a person, who, from the extreme +quietness of her manner, had escaped their observation until this +moment. She was a woman of about sixty years of age, clad in the +habit of a lay-sister of the Benedictine Order, and seated within a +curtained recess, and engaged in reading her "office." She was +probably doing duty as duenna to the beautiful widow. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVII. + +STILL ON THE TRACK. + + One sole desire, one passion now remains, + To keep life's fever still within his veins,-- + Vengeance! Dire vengeance on the wretch who cast + On him and all he loved that ruinous blast. + --_Moore_. + + + +Our party drove back to the hotel to await the coming of the steward +with Sally. Mr. Brudenell had not yet returned. + +Ishmael sent for the clerk of the house and bespoke proper +accommodations for the servants. + +But Katie rebelled, and protested that she would not leave her old +master until bedtime, when she should insist upon his locking her in +her bedroom and taking charge of the key, for fear she should be +bewitched and stolen again. + +At about six o'clock Miguel Manello arrived, having Sally in charge. +According to instructions left with the waiters they were +immediately shown up to the apartments of Judge Merlin. + +Miguel Manello, a little, dried-up, mahogany-colored old man with +blue-gray hair, came in, bowing profoundly. + +Sally followed him, but suddenly stopped, opened her mouth and eyes +as wide as they could be extended, and stood dumb with astonishment. + +As she could not speak a word of Spanish, nor the steward of +English, she could not be made to understand where he was bringing +her. So she had not the remotest suspicion that she was approaching +her master until she actually stood in his presence. Astonishment +makes people break into exclamations; but Sally it always struck +speechless. So it had been with her when the viscount and his +accomplices entered her room that night of the abduction. So it was +with her now that she was brought unexpectedly to the presence of +the beloved old master whom she had never hoped to see again on this +side of the grave. + +How long she might have remained standing there, dumfounded, had she +not been interrupted, is not known; for old Katie made a dash +forward, caught her in an embrace, kissed her, burst into tears, and +said: + +"Oh, Sally, it is all come right! Ole marster done come here and he +gwine to buy us all back and take us to my ladyship, and we gwine be +witness ag'in my lordship and de shamvally--which I hopes dey'll be +hung, and likewise de whited saltpeter as is de wuss ob de t'ree!" + +The tears began to steal down poor Sally's cheeks and she looked +appealingly from old Katie to Judge Merlin and Ishmael, as if to +entreat confirmation of the good news. + +"It is all quite true, Sally. You are to return to England with us, +and then, I hope, we shall all come back to old Maryland, never to +leave it again," said Ishmael. + +"Oh, Marse Ishmael, dat would be like coming out'n purgatory into +heaben! Thank de Lord!" fervently exclaimed the girl, while tears-- +tears of joy--now streamed down her cheeks. + +"There, now, Sally; go with your aunty into the next room, and have +a glorious old talk, while we settle some business with the +steward," said Ishmael, pointing to the door of the anteroom. + +When they had retired he beckoned the steward to approach. Miguel +Manello advanced with a series of genuflexions, and laid upon the +table a document which proved to be a bill of sale for the girl, +Sally. + +"The senor will perceive," he said, "that I paid the trader twelve +hundred dollars for the negress. My mistress, the Senora Donna +Eleanora Pacheco, has instructed me to deliver the girl up to the +senor at his own price. But the senor will not, perhaps, object to +paying the same sum I paid for the girl." + +"Certainly not," answered Ishmael. + +Judge Merlin produced the money, and the sale was immediately +effected. The steward took up his hat to depart, but Ishmael made a +sign for him to stop. + +"You were present at the sale of this girl?" + +"Assuredly, senor; since I purchased her." + +"There was an old woman sold at the same time?" + +"Yes, senor; the one that I found in here." + +"Exactly. There was also a young man?" + +"Yes, senor." + +"Can you tell me who became his purchaser?" + +"Certainly, senor. He was bought by the Senor Don Filipo Martinez, +who lives in the Suburb Regla." + +"Can you give me directions how to find the place?" + +"Certainly, senor. I will write it down, if the senor will permit me +the use of his writing-case." + +Ishmael placed a chair at the table, and signed for the steward to +take it. Miguel Manello sat down, wrote out the directions, handed +them to Ishmael, and then with a deep bow took his leave. + +When they were alone Ishmael said: + +"The Suburb Regla is on the other side of the harbor. We cannot with +propriety visit it this evening. In the morning we will set out +early. We must either make a long circuit by land, or else take the +shorter cut across the harbor. I think the last mentioned the best +plan." + +"I agree with you," said the judge; "but I fear we are greatly +trespassing on the time and the official duties of our friend," he +added, turning with a smile to the consul. + +"Oh, not at all! I am sufficiently attentive to my business to +afford to take a day now and then, when necessity demands it," +replied Mr. Tourneysee pleasantly, as he arose and bid his friends +good-evening. + +He had scarcely left the scene when the door opened and the truant, +Herman Brudenell, entered. + +"You are a pretty fellow to back your friends. Here we have been +overwhelmed with business and beset with adventures, and you gone!" +exclaimed the judge, whose spirits were much elated with the +successes of the day. "Give an account of yourself, sir!" he added. + +"Well," said Mr. Brudenell, throwing himself into a chair and +setting his hat upon the table with a wearied, but cheerful air, "I +have been walking around the city to see all that was interesting in +it. I visited the cathedral, where the ashes of Columbus repose; saw +the Government Palace; the Admiralty; the Royal Tobacco Factory; +several interesting old churches, and so forth. Last of all, I ran +up against a very dear friend of mine, whose acquaintance I made at +the court of Queen Isabella when I was at Madrid, some years ago. +And Don Filipo insisted on my returning home with him to the Suburb +Regla, where he has a beautiful house standing in the midst of +equally beautiful grounds. Well, I dined there; and I got away as +soon after dinner as I decently could." + +"'Don Filipo? Suburb Regla?'" repeated Judge Merlin, as his thoughts +ran upon the purchaser of the negro boy Jim. + +"Yes. Do you know him? Senor Don Filipo Martinez--" + +"No, not personally; we have heard of him, though. Sit still, +Brudenell, I have got something to tell you. We have met some old +acquaintances also since you left us," said the judge. + +"Ah, who are they? The Tourneysees, I presume." + +"We have met the Tourneysees of course; but we have met others." + +"Then you will have to tell me, judge, for I should never be able to +guess among your thousands of friends and acquaintances who were the +individuals encountered here." + +"What would you say to me if I should tell you that Ishmael met our +old Katie in the street and brought her hither?" + +"I should say that you or I were mad or dreaming," said Mr. +Brudenell, staring at the judge. + +"And yet I tell you the sober truth. That infamous villain, Malcolm, +Lord Vincent, taking advantage of the opportunities afforded by his +residence on a remote part of the sea coast, and his connection with +a crew of smugglers, actually succeeded in kidnaping Lady Vincent's +three servants and selling them to the trader, who brought them to +this island and sold them again." + +"Am I awake?" exclaimed Mr. Brudenell, in amazement. + +"As much as any of us, I suppose. There are times when I fancy +myself in a strange dream." + +"What could have been the man's motive for such a crime?" + +"Partly, no doubt, cupidity; for he is as mean as marsh mud! partly +revenge; for he hates these negroes for their devotion to their +mistress; but mostly caution; for one of these negroes became +possessed of a secret compromising the reputation, and even the +personal liberty of the viscount." + +"Good Heavens! I never heard of such a transaction in all my life. +Do give me the particulars of this affair." + +"By and by. Just now I must tell you that, with the aid of our +consul, who has just left us, we have ferreted out the purchasers of +the negroes, and we have just repurchased two of them--old Katie and +Sally; who are at this present moment in the next room, enjoying +their reunion." + +"But--why the deuce did you repurchase these negroes, when, by +appealing to the law, and proving their felonious abduction and +illegal sale, you might have recovered possession of them without +paying a dollar?" + +"Yes, I might; but then again I mightn't, as the children say. In +the first impetuosity of my anger, at discovering these crimes, I +would have instantly sued for the recovery of the negroes, and +sought out and prosecuted the traders, had it not been for Ishmael. +God bless that young man, how much I owe him! He interposed his +warning voice and wise counsels. He indicated several questionable +features in the case, that would make the issue of any lawsuit that +I might bring for the recovery of the negroes very uncertain. He +reminded me that if I involved myself in any lawsuit, either civil +or criminal, it would detain me on the island for weeks or months, +while it is of the utmost importance that I should be at the side of +my injured child. I could but acknowledge the truth and justice of +his argument, and therefore I have, at some sacrifice of money and +temper, repurchased the negroes." + +"And looking at the affair from Ishmael's point of view, I think you +have done quite right, sir," said Mr. Brudenell. + +"And there is another consideration," put in Ishmael. "Judge Merlin +mentioned to you, as one of the motives that instigated Vincent to +the perpetration of the crime, the fear of the negroes, who had +become possessed of a secret involving the liberty of the viscount. +This secret was neither more nor less than the knowledge of a +conspiracy formed by the viscount and two of his accomplices against +the honor of Lady Vincent. Thus, you see, it is absolutely necessary +that these negroes should be taken to England without delay as +witnesses--" + +"In the divorce trial, certainly." + +"No; not in the divorce trial; though their testimony in such a +trial would be conclusive for the lady. But we wish, if possible, to +prevent the divorce trial. We will not have the daughter of Randolph +Merlin assailed in such unseemly manner. No woman, however innocent +she may be, comes out unscarred from such a struggle; for the simple +reason that the bare fact of such a suit having brought against her +attaches a life-long reproach to her." + +"There is truth in what you say, Ishmael, but I do not see how the +trial is to be avoided, since Lord Vincent is determined to sue for +a dissolution of his marriage." + +"In this way, sir. By placing Lord Vincent hors-du-combat at the +very onset. When we reach Edinboro' our first visit will be to a +magistrate's office, where we will lodge information and cause +warrants to be issued for the arrest of Lord Vincent and his +accomplices upon the charge of conspiracy and kidnaping. Do you +suppose that Lord Vincent, lodged in jail and awaiting his trial for +abduction and conspiracy, will be in a condition to prosecute his +suit for divorce?" + +"Certainly not. I see that you are right, Ishmael. But poor Claudia! +In any case, how she must suffer." + +"Heaven comfort her! Yes. But we chose the least of two evils for +her. Delivered from the fiend who has tormented her for so long a +time, and restored to her native country and to the bosom of her +family, we will hope that Lady Vincent's youth will enable her to +rally from the depressing influences of these early troubles, and +that she will yet regain her peace and cheerfulness." + +"Heaven grant it, Heaven grant it!" said the judge fervently. "Oh, +Ishmael," he continued, "when I think that I shall have my child +back again, I almost feel reconciled to the storm of sorrow that +must drive her for shelter into my arms. Is that selfish? I do not +know. But I do know that I shall love her more, indulge her more +than I ever did before. She must, she shall be, satisfied and happy +with me." + +Ishmael pressed his hand in silent sympathy, and then to divert his +thoughts from a subject fraught with so much emotion he said: + +"It occurs to me, judge, to say that Mr. Brudenell will probably be +able very much to facilitate our negotiations with his friend, Don +Filipo." + +"Yes, I should think he would," replied the judge, with difficulty +tearing his thoughts from the image of his daughter restored to his +home, sitting by his fireside, or at the head of the table; "yes, I +should think Brudenell would be able to smooth our way in that +quarter." + +"What is that, Ishmael? What are you both talking of in connection +with myself and friend?" demanded Mr. Brudenell. + +"Why, sir, your friend, Senor Don Filipo Martinez, is just precisely +the same gentleman who became the purchaser of the boy Jim. We +intend to pay him a visit to-morrow, for the purpose of trying to +repurchase the boy. It is rather a delicate matter to propose to a +Spanish hidalgo; and therefore we feel very much pleased to find +that he is a friend of yours, and we hope that your introduction +will recommend us to a favorable hearing." + +"Certainly, I will go with you and introduce you. But I do not think +your cause needs my advocacy; and I am very much mistaken in my +estimation of Don Filipo's character, if when he has heard all the +facts he does not at once deliver the negro boy into your hands and +decline to accept any payment." + +"But to that I would never consent," said the judge. + +"I do not see how you can help it, if you cannot get your witness on +any other terms. Don Filipo is a Spanish nobleman; he has high ideas +of honor. The manner in which he will look upon this affair will be +probably this--he will see that he has been deceived into the +purchase of stolen property, and into a sort of unconscious +complicity with the thieves. He will drop the property 'like a hot +potato,' as the Irish say. In other words, he would consider his +honor ineffaceably stained by either keeping the boy on the one hand +or receiving any payment on the other. Don Filipo would lose ten +times the amount of the purchase money rather than suffer the shadow +of a shade of reproach to rest for one instant on his 'scutcheon." + +"I think if it is as Mr. Brudenell says, judge, that you had better +not make any difficulty about this 'point of honor' with the Senor +Don Filipo. Get the negro back on his own terms. Afterwards, when +you reach England you can easily and delicately remunerate him by +sending him a complimentary present of equal or greater value than +the purchase money he refuses, supposing that he does refuse it," +said Ishmael. + +"He will refuse it," persisted Mr. Brudenell. + +"That will do, Ishmael. You have shown me a way out of this +difficulty. And now suppose we ring for supper? We have had nothing +since breakfast except the light repast set before us by the Senora +Donna--et cetera." + +Ishmael touched the bell, which brought up a waiter. Judge Merlin +ordered supper to be served immediately. When it was ready he called +in Katie and Sally to wait on the table--to remind him of old times, +he said. + +After supper he sent for the housekeeper and gave his two female +servants into her charge, requesting her to see that their wants +were supplied. And Katie, now that she had Sally with her, went away +willing enough without insisting on being locked in her bedchamber +for safe-keeping. And soon after this our wearied party separated +and retired to rest. + +The next morning, directly after an early breakfast, they set off +for the Suburb Regla, calling on their way at the office of the +consul, to discharge that gentleman from the duty of accompanying +them; a measure now rendered unnecessary by the presence of Mr. +Brudenell, and the fact of the latter being an intimate friend of +Don Filipo, and therefore quite competent to indorse these +strangers. + +Mr. Tourneysee was excessively busy, and was very glad to be +released from his promise to attend his friends. He gave them, +however, his best wishes for their success, bid them adieu, and +suffered them to depart. + +It was about eleven o'clock in the forenoon when they reached the +residence of Don Filipo. It was an imposing edifice, built of white +granite, and standing within its own spacious grounds. A broad +avenue, paved with granite, and shaded with tropical trees, led up +to the front of the house. + +Arrived here, Mr. Brudenell alighted from his carriage, rang the +doorbell, and sent in the cards of his party with his own. In a few +minutes they were admitted by a mulatto footman, in rich though +plain livery, who conducted them to a handsome library, where Don +Filipo stood ready to receive them. + +The Senor Don Filipo Martinez, Marquis de la Santo Espirito, was not +a creole. That any spectator might know at a glance. He was, as has +been said, a Spanish hidalgo, of the glorious old Castilian order. +He had been born and brought up near the Court of Madrid; he had +graced an enviable position about the person of his sovereign; and +lately, he had been sent out to fill a responsible office in the +government of the island. He was even now talked of as the next +Captain General. + +He was a very distinguished-looking man, somewhat past middle age, +with a tall, finely proportioned though very spare form; a long, +thin face, Roman nose, piercing black eyes, heavy black eyebrows, +olive complexion, and iron-gray hair and beard. + +He advanced with grave and stately courtesy to welcome his visitors, +whom Mr. Brudenell presented in due order. + +When they were all seated, Mr. Brudenell undertook at once to +introduce the subject of the business upon which they had come. + +Don Filipo gave the speaker his most serious attention, and heard +the narrative with surprise and mortification, somewhat modified by +his habitual and dignified self-restraint. + +At its conclusion, he turned to Judge Merlin, and said: + +"I am deeply grieved, senor, in having done you, however +unconsciously, so great a wrong. I must pray you to accept my +apologies, and the only atonement I can make you--the restitution of +your slave." + +"Sir, I am pained that you should accuse yourself so unjustly; I +cannot feel that you have done me any wrong, or owe me any apology, +or restitution. I shall be very glad to get the boy back; and I +thank you heartily for your willingness to give him up. But I am +quite willing and ready to refund to you the purchase money paid for +him," said Judge Merlin. + +"Senor, it is impossible for me to receive it," answered Don Filipo +gravely. + +"But, sir, I cannot think of permitting you to be the loser by this +transaction. I really must insist upon you accepting the purchase +money." + +"Senor, it is impossible for me to do so," very gravely replied Don +Filipo. + +"But, my dear sir, pray reflect. You have actually disbursed a large +sum of money in the purchase of this boy. I do but offer you your +own. I pray you accept it." + +"It is impossible, senor," very, very gravely replied the Spaniard. + +And at that moment Judge Merlin caught the eye of Ishmael fixed upon +him with an anxious gaze. This gaze caused Judge Merlin to glance up +at the face of his interlocutor. + +The countenance of Don Filipo had assumed a severe and haughty +aspect, although his words and tones were still courteous and +gentle, as he repeated: + +"It is impossible, senor." + +And then Judge Merlin seemed to understand that to continue to press +money upon this proud old Castilian nobleman would be simply to +insult him. + +With a deep bow, he said: + +"I yield the point to you, Senor Don Filipo. And must remain your +debtor for this great favor." + +The stern face of the old Castilian melted into a fascinating smile, +as he offered his hand to the judge, and said courteously: + +"I esteem myself happy in being able to restore to the senor his +slave. The boy is absent now exercising my favorite saddle horse; +but as soon as he returns he shall be sent to the senor." + +Our party then arose to depart; but Don Filipo would not allow them +to go before they had partaken of a tempting repast of cakes, +fruits, sweetmeats, and wine. + +Then, with a real regret at parting with this "fine old Spanish +gentleman," they took leave and returned to their hotel. + +In the course of the afternoon Jim arrived in the custody of Don +Filipo's steward, and was regularly delivered over to the safe- +keeping of Judge Merlin. + +The meeting of poor Jim with his old master and friends, and with +his mother and his sweetheart, was at once so touching and so +absurd, that it inclined the spectator at the same time to tears and +laughter. + +"Now," said Judge Merlin, as they sat together in his rooms that +evening, "our work is over. And this is Tuesday evening, and we +cannot sail until Saturday morning! What the deuce shall we do with +the three intervening days?" + +"To-morrow," answered Ishmael, "we had better see to providing +ourselves with an outfit for the voyage. Remember that since our +wardrobe was lost on the 'Oceana,' we have had nothing but the +single change provided us by the captain of the 'Santiago.'" + +"True, we must have an outfit. The purchase of that will occupy one +day; but there will be still two left to dispose of." + +"On Thursday we can spend the morning in seeing whatever is +interesting in the city and its suburbs, and in the evening you know +we are engaged to dine with Mr. Tourneysee." + +"Exactly! But what shall we do on Friday?" + +"Continue our sight-seeing through the city in the morning, and have +Mr. Tourneysee and the Senor Don----" + +"Et cetera, to dine with us in the evening. Is that what you mean, +Ishmael?" + +"Yes, sir." + +"That will do then. Now we will go to bed," said the judge, rising +and taking his bedroom candle. + +And that was the signal for the party to disperse and go to rest. + +The remainder of the week was passed in the manner sketched out by +Ishmael. Nevertheless the three days of waiting seemed to the +anxious father of Claudia three years in length. On Saturday morning +our whole party, consisting now of three gentlemen and four +servants, embarked on the "Cadiz" for Europe. + +Mr. Tourneysee and Don Filipo "Et cetera," as the judge called him, +accompanied them to the steamer, and remained with them to the +latest possible moment. Then with many fervent wishes for their +prosperity in the voyage, the two gentlemen took leave of our party +and went on shore. The steamer sailed at nine o'clock. When it was +well under way Ishmael looked around among his fellow-passengers, +and was pleased to recognize many of the companions of his +disastrous voyage on the "Oceana." Among the others was the family +of Dr. Kerr. Later in the day, as Ishmael and his shadow, the +professor, were standing leaning over the bulwarks of the ship and +watching the setting sun sink into the water, leaving a trail of +light upon the surface of the sea, he heard a familiar voice +exclaim: + +"Fader Abraham! Tere ish tat yunk shentleman ant hish olt man +again!" + +And Ishmael turned and saw the German Jew standing near him. Ishmael +smiled and held out his hand; and Isaacs came and grasped it, +expressing his pleasure in having "von drue shentleman" for his +fellow-passenger once more. And from this day quite a friendship +grew up between the young Christian and the old Jew. Without making +the least effort to do so, Ishmael won his entire confidence. + +Isaacs, reserved and uncommunicative with everyone else, seemed to +find pleasure in talking to Ishmael. + +Among other voluntary revelations, Isaacs informed Ishmael that he +was going to England to see his niece, who was "von gread laty." She +was the daughter, he said, of his only sister, who had been the wife +of a rich English Jew. She had married an Englishman of high rank; +but her husband, as well as her father and mother, was dead; all +were dead; and she was living in widowhood and loneliness; and, ah! +a great wrong had been done her! And here the Jew would sigh +dismally and shake his head. + +Now Ishmael, in the delicacy of his nature, would receive all the +Jew's voluntary communications and sympathize with all his +complaints, without ever asking him a question. And thus, as the Jew +never happened to mention the name of his niece, and Ishmael never +inquired it, he remained in ignorance of it. + +The voyage of the "Cadiz," considering the season of the year, might +be said to have been very prosperous. The weather continued clear, +with a light wind from the northwest, alternating with calms. Our +party having served out their time at seasickness on the "Oceana," +were not called to suffer any more from that malady on this voyage. + +On the fourteenth day out they arrived at Cadiz, whence they took a +steamer bound for Liverpool, where they landed on the first of +February, late in the night. + +They went to a hotel to spend the remaining hours in sleep. And the +next morning, after a hurried breakfast, eaten by candlelight, they +took the express train for Edinboro'. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVIII. + +CLAUDIA AT CAMERON COURT. + + Sweet are the paths--oh, passing sweet, + By Esk's fair streams that run + O'er airy steep, thro' copsewood deep, + Impervious to the sun. + + There the rapt poet's step may rove, + And yield the muse the day; + There beauty led by timid love + May shun the tell-tale ray. + --_Scott_. + + + +Cameron Court, the favorite seat of Berenice, Countess of +Hurstmonceux, was situated about seven miles south of Edinboro', on +the north banks of the Esk. It was an elegant modern edifice, raised +upon the ruins of an ancient castle, overhanging a perpendicular +precipice, with a sheer descent of several hundred feet to the +river. It looked down upon the course of the Esk, winding between +rocks of lofty height, whose sides were fringed with a tangled mass +of shrubs, ferns, and thistles, and whose summits were crowned with +thickets of hazel, pine, and birch. On still higher ground, behind +the house, and sheltering it from the northern blast, stood a thick +wood of cedar, beech, and fir trees. Many winding footpaths led +through this wood, and down the rocks and along the edge of the +river. A wilder, more picturesque and romantic spot could scarcely +have been found for a dwelling-place. + +In summer, green with foliage, bright with blooming flowers, and +musical with singing birds and purling brooks, it was beautiful! But +in winter, bound in ice, mantled with snow, and gemmed with frost, +it was sublime! + +Such was the aspect of the place without; while within were +collected all the comforts, luxuries, and elegances that wealth, +taste, and intellect could command. + +Within a short distance of this charming residence stood Craigmillar +Castle, an old ruin, memorable from having been the first residence +of Mary Queen of Scots after her return from France; and also her +favorite retreat when driven to seek repose from the clashing +antagonisms of her court at Holyrood. + +Nearer still, on the banks of the Esk, stood Roslyn Castle and +Chapel, famous in song and story for "the lordly line of high St. +Clair"; and Hawthornden, remarkable for its enormous artificial +caves, hewn out of the solid foundation rocks, and used as a place +of refuge during the barbarous wars of by-gone ages; and many other +interesting monuments of history and tradition. + +To this attractive home Lady Hurstmonceux had brought Claudia late +one winter afternoon. + +At that hour, between the thickness of the Scotch mist and the low, +gathering shadows of the night, but little could be seen or surmised +of the scenery surrounding the house. + +But Claudia keenly appreciated the comfort and elegance of the well- +warmed and brightly lighted rooms within. + +Not that they were more luxurious or more splendid than those she +had left forever behind at Castle Cragg, but they were--oh, so +different! + +There all the magnificence was tainted with the presence of guilt; +here all was pure with innocence. There she had been "under the +curse"; here she was "under the benediction." There she had been +tormented by a devil; here she was comforted by an angel. And this +is scarcely putting the comparison, as it existed in her experience, +too strongly. + +Even when she had been alone and unprotected at the hotel, she had +experienced a rebound of spirits from long depression, a joyous +sense of freedom--only from the single cause of getting away from +Castle Cragg and its sinful inmates. But now, added to that were the +pleasure of friendship, the comfort of sympathy, and security of +protection. Relief, repose, satisfaction--these were the sensations +of Claudia in taking up her temporary abode at Cameron Court. The +very first evening seemed a festive one to her, who had been so +lonely, so wretched, and so persecuted at Castle Cragg. + +The countess took her to a bright, cheerful suite of apartments on +the second floor, whose French windows opened upon a balcony +overlooking the wild and picturesque scenery of the Esk. + +And when she had laid off her bonnet and wrappings her hostess took +her down to a handsome dining room, where an elegant little dinner +for two was served. + +Ah! very different was this from the horrible meals at Castle Cragg, +or even from the lonely ones at Magruder's Hotel. + +Berenice possessed the rare gift of fascination in a higher degree +than any woman Claudia had ever chanced to meet. And she exerted +herself to please her guest with such success that Claudia was +completely charmed and won. + +After dinner they adjourned to a sumptuous apartment, called in the +house "my lady's little drawing room." Here everything was collected +that could help to make a winter evening pass comfortably and +pleasantly. + +The Turkey carpet that covered the floor was a perfect parterre of +brilliant flowers wrought in their natural colors; and its texture +was so fine and thick that it yielded like moss to the footstep. +Crimson velvet curtains, lined with white satin and fringed with +gold, draped the windows and excluded every breath of the wintry +blast. Many costly pictures, rare works of art, covered the walls. A +grand piano-forte, a fine harp, a guitar, and a lute were at hand. +Rich inlaid tables were covered with the best new books, magazines, +and journals. Indian cabinets were filled with antique shells, +minerals, ossifications, and other curiosities, Marble stands +supported vases, statuettes, and other articles of vertu. Lastly, +two soft, deep, easy-chairs were drawn up before the glowing fire; +while over the mantelpiece a large cheval glass reflected and +duplicated all this wealth of comfort. + +With almost motherly tenderness the beautiful countess placed her +guest in one of these luxurious chairs and put a comfortable foot +cushion under her feet. Then Berenice took the other chair. Between +them, on a marble stand, stood a vase of flowers and the countess' +work-box. But she did not open it. She engaged her guest in +conversation, and such was the charm of her manners that the evening +passed like a pleasant dream. + +And when Claudia received the kiss of Berenice and retired for the +night, it was with the sweet feeling of safety added to her sense of +freedom. And when she awoke in the morning, it was to greet with joy +her new life of sympathy, security, and repose. + +As soon as she rang her bell she was attended by a pretty Scotch +girl, who informed her that her ladyship's luggage had arrived, and +had been placed in the hall outside her apartments to await her +ladyship's orders. + +Claudia, when she was dressed, went to look after it and found, to +her surprise, not only her large trunk from Magruder's, but also her +numerous boxes from Castle Cragg. + +Upon inquiry she discovered that the boxes had been forwarded from +the castle to the hotel, and sent on with the trunk. + +She did not stop to inspect any part of her luggage, but went +downstairs into the breakfast parlor, where she found Lady +Hurstmonceux presiding over the table, and waiting for her. + +Berenice arose and met her guest with an affectionate embrace, and +put her into the easiest chair nearest the fire; for it was a bitter +cold morning, and the snow lay thick upon the ground and upon the +tops of the fir trees that stood before the windows, like footmen +with powdered heads. + +On turning up her plate Claudia found a letter. + +"It is from Jean Murdock, dear. Read it; it refers no doubt to the +boxes she has forwarded," said Lady Hurstmonceux. + +Claudia smiled, bowed, broke the seal, and read as follows: + + "Castle Cragg, Thursday Morning. +"Me Leddy: I hae the honor to forward your leddyship's boxes fra the +castle. I hope your leddyship will find a' richt. There hae been +unco ill doings here sin your leddyship left. Me laird hae gane his +ways up to Lunnun; but hae left the player bodie, Guid forgie him, +biding her lane here. And she has guided us a' a sair gate sin' she +hae held the reins. Auld Cuthbert wouldna bide here longer gin it +wer' na for the luve o' the house; na mare would I. I must tell your +leddyship about the visit of the poleece, whilk I understand were +sent by your leddyship's ain sel'. They cam' the same day your +leddyship left. Me laird was going away; and me laird's carriage +stood at the door; and just as he was stepping into the carriage +they cam' up and spake till him. And then his lairdship laughed, and +invited them to enter the house, and walk into the library. And he +sent Auld Cuthbert to fetch me. And when I went into the library, +his lairdship said till me: + +"'Murdock, these people have come about some gorillas that are said +to be missing. What about them?' + +"'If your lairdship means the puir negro bodies, I dinna ken; I hae +nae seen ane of them the day,' I answered. An noo, me leddy, ye maun +e'en just forgie' an auld cummer like mesel' gin she writes you a' +that followed, e'en though it should cut you to the heart; for ye +ought to ken weel the ways o' your bitter ill-wishers. Aweel, then, +and when I had answered me laird, he turned to the poleecemen and +said: + +"'The truth is, Mr. Murray, that you have been deceived by a vera +artful party. I may just as well tell you now what in a few days +will be the talk of every taproom in the United Kingdom. When I was +in America I was regularly taken in by a beautiful adventuress, whom +I found--worse luck--in the best circles there. I married the +creature and brought her to this castle, which she has dishonored.' +And here, me leddy, he gave the poleeceman an exaggerated account of +the finding of Frisbie in your leddyship's room. And then he rang +the bell, and sent for the player bodie and her friend, who cam' in +and confeermed a' that he tauld the poleeceman. And then me laird +spake up and said that the negroes had run off wi' a large quantity +of jewelry and plate; that he had nae doubt but your leddyship had +gi'e them commission to purloin it; that your leddyship's visit and +compleent to the poleece was naught but a blind to deceive them; and +finally that he demanded to have a warrant issued for the arrest of +the negroes on the charge of theft. + +"Aweel, me leddy, ye ken that your leddyship and your puir serving +bodies are strangers here, and me laird and a' his family are well +kenned folk, and, mare than that, they are o' the auld nobility-- +mare the shame for me laird, na better to do honor till his race. +And sae the lang and short o' it is, he talked over the poleecemen, +sae that instead of pursuing their investigations in the castle, +they went off with me laird to have warrants out for the +apprehension of the puir negro folk, whilk I believe to be as +innocent of theft as I mysel' or auld Cuthbert. And noo, me leddy, I +hae telled ye a', thinking till mesel' that ye ought to ken it. And +sae maun e'en just commit your ways to the Lord, and put your trust +intil him. Auld Cuthbert and mesel' pray for your leddyship ilka +day, that ye may be deleevered fra the spoilers, and fra a' those +wha gang about to wark you wae. Me laird hae gane his ways up to +Lunnun, as I tauld your leddyship. And the player quean and her +cummer hae possession o' the house, and guide a' things their ain +gait, wae's me! Gin I suld hear onything anent your leddyship's puir +negro folk, I will mak' haste to let your leddyship ken. Auld +Cuthbert begs permission to send his duty and his prayers for your +leddyship's happiness. And I mysel' hae the honor to be your +honorable leddyship's + "Obedient humble servant to command, + "Jean Murdock." + +When Claudia had finished reading this letter she passed it with a +sad smile to Lady Hurstmonceux, who, as soon as she had in her turn +perused it, tossed it upon the table, saying, scornfully: + +"'Whom the gods wish to destroy they first make mad!' Lord Vincent +appears to me to have lost his reason. He thinks that he is weaving +a net of circumstantial evidence around you for your ruin, when he +is, in fact, only involving himself in intricacies of crime which +must inevitably prove his destruction." + +"I cannot, oh, I cannot, see it in the same light that you do! It +seems to me that he has succeeded in making me appear guilty," said +Claudia, with a shudder. + +"Ah, let us not talk of it, since talking will do no good; at least +not now. When your father comes, then we will talk and act," said +the countess soothingly, as she set a cup of fragrant coffee before +her guest. + +Now I do not know whether you care to be informed how Claudia passed +her time during the five weeks of her sojourn at Cameron Court, so I +shall make the description of her visit a short one. + +In the first place, you may be sure, from what you have already seen +of Lady Hurstmonceux, that she would not allow her guest to mope. + +As soon as the snow ceased to fall and the sky cleared, with a sharp +northwest wind that froze the river hard, the countess took her +guest out to learn the exhilarating art of skating, and in this way +they employed an hour or two of each morning. The remainder of the +day would be passed in needlework, reading, music, and conversation. + +When the weather moderated and the ice was unsafe for skating, they +substituted riding and driving excursions, and visited all the +remarkable places in the neighborhood. + +They visited Roslyn Castle and went down into those fearful vaults, +three tiers under ground, and listened to the guide who told them +traditions of the princely state kept up by the ancient lords of +Roslyn, who had noblemen of high degree for their carvers and +cupbearers; and of those ladies of Roslyn, who never moved from home +without a train of two hundred waiting gentlewomen and two hundred +mounted knights. + +They visited Roslyn Chapel and admired the unequaled beauty of its +architecture, and gazed at the wondrous chef d'oeuvre--the +"apprentice's pillar"--and heard the story how a poor but gifted +boy, hoping to please, had designed and executed the work during the +absence of his master, who, on returning and seeing the beautiful +pillar, fell into a frenzy of envious rage and slew his apprentice. + +They visited the ruins of Craigmillar Castle and stood in the little +stone den, seven feet by four, which is known as "Queen Mary's +bedroom." They saw those deep, dark dungeons where in the olden +times captives pined away their lives forgotten of all above ground; +they saw the "execution room," with its condemned cell, its chains +and staples, its instruments of torture, its altar and its block. + +It was indeed a + + --"Dire dungeon, place of doom, + Of execution, too, and tomb!" + +where, in those savage times, great criminals and innocent victims +were alike condemned unheard, and secretly shrived, beheaded, and +buried. + +They passed on to a still more terrible dungeon among those dread +vaults--a circular stone crypt surrounded by tall, deep, narrow +niches, in which human beings had been built up alive. + +With a shudder Claudia turned from all these horrors to the +countess: + +"It is said that our country has no past, no history, no monuments. +I am glad of it. Better her past should be a blank page than be +written over with such bloody hieroglyphics as these. When I +consider these records and reflect upon the deeds of this crime- +stained old land, I look upon our own young nation as an innocent +child. Let us leave this place. It kills me, Berenice." + +On Sunday morning at the breakfast table Lady Hurstmonceux proposed, +as the day was fine, that they should drive into Edinboro' and +attend divine services at St. Giles' Cathedral, interesting from +being the most ancient place of worship in the city; a richly +endowed abbey and ecclesiastical school in the Middle Ages; and at a +later period, after the Reformation, the church, from which. John +Knox delivered his fierce denunciation of the sins and sinners of +his day. + +All this Berenice told Claudia at the breakfast table, seeking to +draw her thoughts away from the subject of her own position. + +But at the invitation from Lady Hurstmonceux to attend a Christian +place of worship Claudia looked up in surprise and exclaimed +impulsively: + +"But I thought--" + +And there she stopped and blushed. + +Lady Hurstmonceux understood her, smiled, and answered: + +"You thought that I was a Jewess. Well, I was born and brought up in +the Jewish faith. But it is now many years, Lady Vincent, since I +embraced the Christian religion." + +"I am very glad! I am very, very glad! Ah! I am but a poor, unworthy +Christian myself, yet I do rejoice in every soul converted to +Christ," said Claudia warmly, clasping the hand of her hostess; and, +while holding it, she continued to say: "I do love to live in an +atmosphere of Christianity, and I hate to live out of it. That was +one reason, among others, why I was so unutterably wretched at +Castle Cragg. They were such irredeemable atheists. There was never +a visit to church, never a prayer, never a grace, never a chapter +from the Bible, never any sort of acknowledgment of their Creator, +never the slightest regard to his laws. Lord Vincent and Mrs. Dugald +would sit down and play cards through a whole Sabbath evening, as +upon any other. Oh, it was dreadful. Looking back upon my life among +them, I wonder--yes, wonder--how I ever could have lived through it! +Coming from that place to this, Lady Hurstmonceux, is like coming +from something very like hell to something very like heaven." + +"You were tortured in many ways, my poor Claudia. You are now off +the rack, that is all. And now, I suppose, we are to go to St. +Giles'?" + +"If you please, yes; I should like to do so." + +Lady Hurstmonceux rang the bell and ordered the carriage. And then +the friends arose from the breakfast table and retired to prepare +for church. + +They enjoyed a beautiful drive of seven miles through a wildly +picturesque country, and entered the town and reached the church in +time for the opening of the services. + +The preacher of the day was a very worthy successor of John Knox, +having all the faith and hope, and a good deal more of charity than +that grand old prophet of wrath had ever displayed. + +This was the first divine worship that Claudia had engaged in for +many months. It revived, comforted, and strengthened her. + +She left the church in a better mood of mind than she had perhaps +ever experienced in the whole course of her life. Her inmost thought +was this: + +"God enriched my life with the most bountiful blessings. But by sins +turned them all into curses and brought my sorrows upon me. I will +repent of my sins, I will accept my sorrows. God from his own mercy +and not from my deserts has brought me thus far alive through my +troubles; he has raised up a friend to succor me. I will bow down in +penitence, in humility, in gratitude before him, and I will try to +serve him truly in the future, and I will trust all that future to +him." + +They reached home to a late dinner, and spent the evening in such +serious reading and conversation and sacred music as befitted the +day. Not one dull hour had Claudia experienced during her residence +at Cameron Court. + +On Monday, which was another fine winter day, the countess said to +her guest: + +"This is the day of each week that I always devote to my poor. Would +you like to drive around with me in the pony chaise and make +acquaintance with the peasantry of Scotland? You will find them a +very intelligent, well-educated class." + +"Thank you, I should enjoy the drive quite as much as any that we +have yet taken," said Claudia. + +And accordingly after breakfast the ladies set out upon their +rounds. Berenice did not go empty-handed. Hampers of food and +bundles of clothing filled up every available space in the carriage. +It was a very pleasant drive. To every cottage that the countess +entered she brought relief, comfort, and cheerfulness. + +The children greeted her with glad smiles; the middle-aged with warm +thanks; and the old with fervent blessings. Not from one humble +homestead did she turn without leaving some token of her passage; +with one family she would leave the needed supply of food; with +another the necessary winter clothing; with another, wine, medicine, +or books. With others, very poor, she would leave a portion of all +these requisites. + +Finally, when the sun was sinking to his setting behind the Pentland +Hills, she returned home with her guest. + +"I must thank you for a very pleasant day, Lady Hurstmonceux. One of +the pleasantest I have ever passed in my life. For I have witnessed +and I have felt more real pleasure to-day than I ever remember to +have experienced before. You have conferred much happiness to-day. +If you dispense as much on every Monday, as I suppose you do, the +aggregate must be very great," said Claudia, with enthusiasm, as +they sat together at tea that evening in "my lady's little drawing +room." + +For some minutes Berenice did not reply, and when she did, she spoke +very seriously. + +"If there is one thing more than another for which I thank God, it +is for making me one of his stewards. Do you suppose, Claudia, that +I hold all the wealth that he has entrusted to me, as my own, to be +used for my own exclusive benefit? Oh, no! I feel that I am but his +almoner, and I am often ashamed of taking as I do, the lion's share +of the good things," she added, glancing around upon the luxuries +that encompassed her. + +The next day Lady Hurstmonceux proposed another excursion. + +"I will not take you to visit any romantic old ruin this morning; +but to vary the programme I will take you to see an interesting +living reality." + +And accordingly the carriage was ordered and they drove out to New +Haven, a fishing village within three miles of Edinboro', and yet as +isolated and as primitive in its manners and customs as the most +remote hamlet in the country. + +There Claudia was amused and interested in watching the coming in of +the fishing boats, and observing the picturesque attire of the fish- +wives, and listening to the deafening clatter of their tongues as +they chaffered with the fishermen, while lading their baskets. + +This was another pleasant day for Claudia. + +But it would stretch this chapter to too great a length to describe +each day of her sojourn at Cameron Court. + +Let it suffice to say in general terms that the countess kept her +guest usefully employed or agreeably entertained during the whole of +her visit. There was neither a tedious nor a fatiguing hour in the +five weeks of her sojourn. + +Every Sunday they attended divine worship at "St. Giles' Cathedral," +commonly called "John Knox's church." Every Monday they went their +rounds among the poor. Other days in the week they visited +interesting and remarkable places in and around Edinboro'. And thus +cheerfully passed the days. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIX. + +SUSPENSE. + + Wait, for the day is breaking, + Tho' the dull night be long, + Wait, Heav'n is not forsaking + Thy heart--be strong! be strong! + --_Anon_. + + + +As the time approached when Claudia might reasonably expect a reply +to the letter she had written to her father, she naturally became +very anxious. + +Would he answer that last urgent appeal by letter or in person? that +was the question she was forever asking of herself. + +And the response of her heart was always the same; he would lose no +time in writing, he would hasten at once to her relief. + +Ah! but if he should be ill, or--even dead? What then? Claudia's +anxiety grew daily more acute. + +She had heard nothing of the fate of her negroes. She learned by a +second letter from Jean Murdock that Mrs. Dugald still remained at +Castle Cragg, "lording it o'er a'," as the housekeeper expressed it. +And she saw by the "Times" that Malcolm, Viscount Vincent, had filed +a petition for divorce from his viscountess. That was all. + +The fourth week had nearly gone by when one morning, on coming to +the breakfast table, Claudia found lying beside her plate a foreign +letter. + +At the very first glance at its superscription she recognized her +father's firm handwriting, and with an irrepressible cry of joy she +snatched it up. + +It was the short letter Judge Merlin had hastily penned on the eve +of his journey to Washington. It merely stated that he had just that +instant taken her letters from the post office; and that, in order +to save the immediately outgoing mail, he answered them without +leaving the office, to announce to her that he should sail for +England on the "Oceana," that would leave Boston on the following +Wednesday. And then, with strong expressions of indignation against +Lord Vincent, sorrow for Claudia's troubles, and affection for +herself, the letter closed. + +"Oh, Berenice, Berenice! I am so happy; so very happy!" exclaimed +Claudia wildly. "My father has written to me! he is well! he is +coming! he is coming! he will be here in a few days! in a very few +days! for this letter was written in the post office, to save the +very last mail that came by the steamer immediately preceding the +'Oceana'! Oh, Berenice, I could cry with joy!" + +"I congratulate you with all my heart, dear Claudia. Yes, I should +think your father would now be here in two or three days, at +farthest," said Lady Hurstmonceux. + +"And oh, how shall I get ovor the interval? Ah, Berenice, indulge +me! Let us go down, to Liverpool to meet my father!" + +"My dear, I would do so in a moment, only I think it the worst plan +you could pursue. In your circumstances, dearest Claudia, we must +not go journeying through the country. We must live very quietly. +And besides, though the 'Oceana' may reasonably be expected in two +or three days, there is no reason in the world why she might not +arrive to-day, or to-night. In which case, by going down to +Liverpool, we shall be most likely to miss your father, who would be +steaming up here." + +"Certainly, certainly! I see the reasonableness of your views; but +how, then, shall I get over the intervening time?" + +"I might propose for you excursions to many interesting places in +the vicinity of Edinboro' which you have not seen; but that we must +not go far from home, while expecting Judge Merlin. We must not +happen to be absent when your father arrives." + +"Oh, no! we must not risk such a thing, I know. Well, I will wait as +patiently as I can." + +"And I will tell you what you may do, meantime. To-day you shall +superintend in person the preparation of a suite of rooms for your +father. You shall let my housekeeper into the secret of all his +little tastes, and they shall be considered in the arrangements. +That will occupy one day. To-morrow, you know, is Sunday, and we +must go to church. That will occupy the second. The next day, +Monday, we will make our weekly round among the poor. That will +occupy the third day, to the exclusion of everything else. For if +there is one employment more than another that will make us forget +our personal anxieties, it is ministering to the wants of others. +And, in all human probability, before Monday evening Judge Merlin +will be here." + +"Yes, yes! Oh, my dear father! I can scarcely realize that I shall +see him so soon," said Claudia, with emotion. + +The countess' programme was carried out. Claudia spent that day in +superintending the arrangements of a handsome suite of rooms for her +father. + +On Sunday they went to church. But the text was an unfortunate one +for Claudia's spirits. It was taken from James iv. 13: "Ye know not +what shall be on the morrow." And the subject of the discourse was +on the vanity of human expectations and the uncertainty of human +destiny. Claudia returned home greatly depressed; but that +depression soon yielded to the cheerfulness of Lady Hurstmonceux's +manner. + +On Monday they made their rounds among the poor; and Claudia forgot +her anxieties and felt happy in the happiness she saw dispensed +around her. + +Yes, the programme of the countess was carried out, but her +previsions were not realized. Judge Merlin did not come that +evening, nor on the next morning, nor on the next evening. + +On Wednesday morning Claudia, as usual, seized the "Times" as soon +as it was brought in, and turned eagerly to the telegraphic column. +But there was no arrival from America. Glancing farther down the +column, she suddenly grew pale and exclaimed: + +"Oh, Berenice!" + +"What is it, dear?" inquired the countess. + +Claudia read aloud the paragraph that had alarmed her: + +"The 'Oceana' is now several days overdue. Serious apprehensions are +entertained for her safety." + +"Do not be alarmed, my dear. At this season of the year the steamers +are frequently delayed beyond their usual time of arrival," said the +countess, with a cheerfulness that she was very far from really +feeling. + +"But if there should have been an accident!" + +"My dear, that line of steamers has never had an accident. And their +good fortune is not the effect of luck, but of the great care +bestowed by the company and its officers upon the safety of those +who trust to them their lives and goods. Reassure yourself, +Claudia." + +But that was easier said than done. Three or four more of anxious +days and nights passed, during which Claudia watched the papers for +the arrival of the ocean steamers; but all in vain, until the +Saturday morning of that week, when, as usual, she opened the +"Times" and turned to the telegraphic column. + +She could scarcely repress the cry of anguish that arose to her lips +on reading the following: + +"Arrival of the ocean steamers. The screw propeller 'Superior,' with +New York mails of the 15th, has reached Queenstown. On the Banks of +Newfoundland she passed the wreck of a large steamer, supposed to be +the 'Oceana.'" + +"Oh, Berenice! Oh, Berenice! Can this be true? Oh! Speak a word of +hope or comfort to me!" cried Claudia, wringing her hands in the +extremity of mental agony. + +"My dear, let us still hope for the best. There is no certainty that +it is the wreck of the 'Oceana.' There is no certainty that the +'Oceana' is wrecked at all. She is delayed; that is all which is +known. And that is often the case with the ocean steamers at this +season of the year, as I told you before," said the countess, trying +to inspire Claudia with a hope that she herself scarcely dared to +indulge. + +But Claudia's face was drawn with anguish. + +"Oh, the suspense, the terrible agony of suspense! It is worse than +death!" she cried. + +The countess essayed to comfort her, but in vain. + +All that day, and for many succeeding ones, Claudia was like a +victim stretched upon the rack. The torture of uncertainty was +harder to endure than any certainty; it was, as she said, "worse +than death," worse than despair! Some two weeks passed away, during +which her very breath of life seemed almost suspended in the agony +of hope that could not die. + +At length one morning, on descending to the breakfast parlor, she +found Lady Hurstmonceux reading the "Times." + +"Any news?" inquired Claudia, in a faint voice. + +The countess looked up. Claudia read the expression of her face, +which seemed to say, prepare for good news. + +"Oh, yes, there is! there is!" exclaimed Claudia, suddenly snatching +the paper, and turning to the telegraphic column, and then, with a +cry of joy, sinking into her seat. + +"Let me read it to you, my dear, you are incapable of doing so," +said Berenice, gently taking the paper from her hand and reading +aloud the following paragraph: + +"News of the 'Oceana.'--The Oriental and Peninsular Steam Packet +Company's ship 'Albatross' has arrived at Liverpool, bringing all +the passengers and crew of the 'Oceana,' wrecked on the banks of +Newfoundland. They were picked up by the 'Santiago,' bound for +Havana, and taken to that port, whence they sailed by the 'Cadiz' +for the port of Cadiz, whence lastly they were brought by the +'Albatross' to Liverpool. Among the passengers saved were Chief +Justice Merlin of the United States Supreme Court, Ishmael Worth, +Esquire, a distinguished member of the Washington bar, and Professor +Erasmus Kerr, of the Glasgow University. The shipwrecked passengers +have all arrived in good health and spirits, and have already +dispersed to their various destinations." + +"This is too much joy! Oh, Berenice, it is too much joy!" cried +Claudia, bursting into tears and throwing herself into the arms of +Lady Hurstmonceux, and weeping freely on the sympathetic bosom of +that faithful friend. + +"Claudia, dear," whispered that gentle lady, "go to your room and +shut yourself in, and kneel and return thanks to God for this his +great mercy. And so shall your spirits be calmed and strengthened." + +Claudia ceased weeping, kissed her kind monitress, and went and +complied with her counsel. And very fervent was the thanksgiving +that went up to Heaven from her relieved and grateful heart. She had +finished her prayers and had arisen from her knees and was sitting +by her writing-table indulging in a reverie of anticipation, when a +bustle below stairs attracted her attention. + +She listened. + +Yes, it was the noise of an arrival! + +With a joyous presentiment of what had come to the house, Claudia +rushed out of the room and down the stairs to the lower entrance +hall, and the next moment found herself clasped to the bosom of her +father. + +For a few moments neither spoke. The embrace was a fervent, earnest, +but silent one. + +The judge was the first to break the spell. + +"Oh, my child! my child! Thank God that I find you alive and well!" +he exclaimed, in a broken voice. + +"Oh, my father, my dear, dear father!" began Claudia; but she broke +down, burst into tears, and wept upon his bosom. + +He held her there, soothing her with loving words and tender +caresses, as he had been accustomed to do when she was but a child +coming to him with her childish troubles. When Claudia had exhausted +her passion of tears, she looked up and said: + +"But, papa, you have not been in the drawing room yet? You hare not +seen Lady Hurstmonceux?" + +"No, my dear, I have but just arrived. Claudia, immediately upon my +landing I took the first train north, and reached Edinboro' this +morning. I sent my party on to Magruder's Hotel and took a fly and +drove immediately out here. I have but just been admitted to the +house and sent my card in to the hostess. And, ah, I see that my +messenger has returned." + +A servant in livery came up, bowed, and said: + +"My lady directs me to say to you, sir, that she will see you +immediately in the drawing room, unless you would prefer to go first +to the apartments which are prepared for you, sir." + +The judge hesitated, and then turned to his daughter and whispered +the inquiry: + +"How do I look, Claudia? Presentable?" + +Lady Vincent ran her eyes over the traveler and answered: + +"Not at all presentable, papa. You look just as one might expect you +to do--black with smoke and dust and cinders, as if you had traveled +in the train all night." + +"Which of course I did." + +"And I think you would be all the better for a visit to your rooms, +papa. Come, I will show you the way, for I am as much at home here +as ever I was at dear old Tanglewood. James," she said, turning to +the footman who had brought the message, "you need not wait. I will +show my papa his rooms; but you may order breakfast for him, for I +dare say he has had none. Come, papa!" + +And so saying Claudia marshaled her father upstairs to the handsome +suite of apartments that had been made ready for him. When he had +renovated his toilet, he declared himself ready to go below and be +presented to his hostess. Claudia conducted him downstairs and into +"my lady's little drawing room." + + + + +CHAPTER XL. + +FATHER AND DAUGHTER. + + How deep, how thorough felt the glow + Of rapture, kindling out of woe; + How exquisite one single drop + Of bliss, that sparkling to the top + Of misery's cup, is keenly quaffed + Though death must follow soon the draught. + --_Moore_. + + + +The countess was sitting on one of the armchairs near the fire when +Claudia led the judge up before her, saying only: + +"Lady Hurstmonceux, my father." + +The countess arose and held out her hand with a smile of welcome, +saying: + +"It gives me much joy to see you safe, after all your dangers, Judge +Merlin. Pray sit near the fire." + +The judge retained her hand in his own for a moment, while he bowed +over it and answered: + +"I thank you for your kind expressions, dear Lady Hurstmonceux. But, +oh! what terms shall I find strong enough to thank you for the noble +support you have given my daughter in her great need?" + +"Believe me, I was very happy to be serviceable to Lady Vincent," +replied the countess gently. Then, turning to Claudia, she said: + +"Your father has probably not had breakfast." + +"No; but I assumed the privilege of ordering it for him," replied +the latter. + +"The 'privilege' was yours without assumption, my dear. You did +exactly right," said the countess. + +"I see that my daughter is quite at home with you, madam," observed +the judge. + +"Oh, I adopted her. I told her that I should be her mother until the +arrival of her father," replied Lady Hurstmonceux, smiling. + +At this moment the footman put his head in at the door to say that +the judge's breakfast was served. Lady Hurstmonceux led the way to +the breakfast parlor, and then saying: + +"You will make your father comfortable here, Claudia, I hope," she +bowed and left them alone together. + +Claudia sat down to the table and began to pour out the coffee. +James, the footman, was in attendance. + +"Dismiss the servant, my dear," said the judge, as he took his seat +as near to his daughter as the conveniences of the table would +allow. + +"You may retire, James. I will ring if you are wanted." + +The man bowed and went out. The father and daughter looked up; their +eyes met and filled with tears. + +"Oh, my child, how much we have to say to each other!" sighed the +judge. + +"Yes, but, dear papa, drink your coffee first. You really look as +though you needed it very much," replied Claudia affectionately. + +The judge complied with her advice; though, if the truth must be +told, he ate and drank indiscreetly fast in order to get through +soon and be at liberty to talk to his daughter. When he arose from +the table Claudia rang the bell for the service to be removed, and +then led the way again to my lady's little drawing room. + +It was deserted. Lady Hurstmonceux had evidently left it that the +father and daughter might converse with each other unembarrassed by +the presence of a third person. + +"My dear," said the judge, as he seated himself on the sofa beside +his daughter, wound his arm around her shoulders, and looked +wistfully into her face, "do you know that I am surprised to see you +looking so well? You must possess a great deal of fortitude, +Claudia, to have passed through so much trouble as you have and show +so few signs of suffering as you do." + +"Ah, papa! if you had arrived a few days ago and seen me then, you +would have had good cause to say I looked well. But, for the last +week, the intense anxiety I have felt on your account has worn me +considerably." + +"My poor girl! Yes, I know how that must have been. The news of the +shipwreck arrived long before we reached England, and everyone must +have given us up for lost." + +"I did not. Oh, no! I could not! I still hoped; but, oh, with what +an agony of hope!" + +"Such hope, my child, is worse than despair." + +"Oh, no! I thought so then. I do not think so now; now that I have +you beside me." + +"Now that it is ended. But, oh, my dear child, how hard it was for +you to have anxiety for my fate added to all your other troubles!" + +"Papa, anxiety for your fate was my only trouble," said Claudia +gravely. + +"How! what! your only trouble, Claudia? I do not understand you in +the least." + +"All my other troubles had passed away. And now that anxiety is at +an end, that trouble is also passed away and I have none." + +"None, Claudia? How you perplex me, my dear." + +"None, papa! I left them all behind at Castle Cragg." + +"I do not--cannot comprehend you, my dear." + +"No, papa, you cannot comprehend me; no one could possibly +comprehend me who had not been placed in something like my own +position. But--can you not imagine that when a victim has been +stretched upon the rack and tortured by executioners, it is comfort +enough simply to be taken off it? Or when a sinner has been in +purgatory tormented by fiends, it is heaven enough only to be out of +it? Oh, papa, that is not exaggeration! That is something like what +I suffered at Castle Cragg; something like what I enjoy in being +away from it. Think of it, papa," said Claudia, gulping down the +hysterical sob that arose to her throat; "think of it! me, an +honorable woman, the daughter of Christian parents, to find myself +living in the house, sitting at the table in daily communication +with creatures that no honest man or pure woman would ever willingly +approach! Think of me being not only in the company, but in the +power, and at the mercy of such wretches!" + +"'Think,' Claudia! I have thought until my brain has nearly burst. +Oh, I shall--no matter what I shall do! I will threaten no longer, +but, by all my hopes of salvation, I will act. The remorseless +monster! the infamous villain! I do not know how you lived through +it all, Claudia!" + +"I do not know myself, papa. Oh, sir, I never fully realized my life +at Castle Cragg until I got away from it and could look back on it +from a distance. For the trouble then grew around me gradually; +slowly astonishing me, if you can conceive of such a thing; +benumbing my heart; stupefying my brain; deadening my sensibilities; +else I could not have endured it so quietly. Ah, it would have ended +in death, though--death of the body, perhaps death of the soul! But +still I knew enough, felt enough, to experience and appreciate the +infinite relief. of being delivered from it. Oh, papa, looking back +upon that home of horror, that den of infamy, I understand in what +hell consists--not in consuming fire, but in the company of devils! +Oh, sir, if you could once place yourself in my position and feel +what it was for me to leave that polluted atmosphere of sensuality, +treachery, and hatred, and to come into this pure air of refinement, +truth, and love, you would understand how it is that I can feel no +trouble now!" + +"I do; but still I wonder to see you so well." + +"Oh, sir, you know, severe as my tortures were, they were only +superficial, only skin-deep; they did not reach the springs of my +spirits. That is the reason why, in being relieved, I am so +perfectly at ease." + +"Then you never loved that scoundrel, Claudia?" + +"No, father, I never loved him. Therefore, the memory of his +villainy does not haunt me, as otherwise it might. Not loving him, I +ought never to have married him. If I had not, I should have escaped +all the suffering." + +"Ah, Claudia, would to Heaven you never had married him," sighed the +judge, without intending to cast the least reproach on his daughter. + +She felt the reproach, however, and exclaimed, with passionate +earnestness: + +"Oh, father, do not blame me--do not! I could not help it! Oh, often +I have examined my conscience on that score and asked myself if I +could! And the answer has always come--no, with my nature, my +passions, my pride, my ambition, I could not help doing as I have +done!" + +"Could not help marrying a man you could not love, Claudia?" + +"No, papa, no! There were passions in my nature stronger than love. +These spurred me on to my fate. I was born with a great deal of +pride, inherited from--no one knows how many ancestors. This should +have been curbed, trained, directed into worthy channels. But it was +not. I was left to develop naturally, with the aid only of +intellectual education. I did develop, from a proud, frank, high- +spirited girl into a vain, scheming, ambitious woman. I married for +a title. And this is the end. How true is it that 'pride goeth +before a fall and a haughty temper before destruction!'" + +"Oh, Claudia, Claudia, every word you speak wounds me like a sword- +thrust! It was my 'theory' that did it all, I said I would let my +trees and my daughter grow up as nature intended them to do. And +what is the result? Tanglewood has grown into an inextricable +wilderness that nothing but a fire could clear, and my daughter's +life has run to waste!" groaned the judge, covering his face with +his hands. + +"Papa, dear, dearest papa, do not grieve so! I did not mean to give +you pain. I did not mean to breathe the slightest reflection upon so +kind a father as you have always been to me. I meant only to explain +myself a little. But I wish I had not spoken so. Forget what I have +said, papa," said Claudia, tenderly caressing her father. + +"Let it all pass, my dear child," said the judge, embracing her. + +"And, papa, my life has not run to waste; do not think it. I told +you that my troubles had not touched the springs of my soul; they +have not. Is not my mind as strong and my heart as warm and my +spirit as sweet as ever? Papa, this day I am a better woman for all +the troubles I have passed through. I have never before been much +comfort to you, my poor papa; but I will go with you to Tanglewood +and make your home happier than it has ever been since mamma died. +And you will find that my life shall be redeemed from waste." + +"Claudia, are you sure that you do not love that rascal--not even a +little?" + +"Papa, I do not even hate him; now judge if I ever could have loved +him." + +But the judge was no metaphysician, and he looked puzzled. + +"Papa, if I ever had loved that man, do you not suppose that his +unfaithfulness, neglect, and insults, to say nothing of his last +foul wrong against me, would have turned all my love into hatred? +But I never loved him, therefore all that he could do would not +provoke my hatred. Papa, he is as much below my hatred as my love." + +"Oh, Claudia, Claudia, that you should be compelled to speak so of +one whom you made your husband!" + +"Papa, dear, you asked me a question and I have replied to it +truthfully." + +"My dear, I had a motive for putting that question. I wished to know +whether a spark of love for that man survived in your heart to make +his punishment a matter of painful interest to you. For to vindicate +you, Claudia, it may become necessary to prosecute him with the +utmost rigor of the law; necessary, in fact, to disgrace and ruin +him," said the judge solemnly. + +"Papa, dear, what are you talking about? Prosecute him to the utmost +extent of the law? Disgrace and ruin him? Why, it appears to me that +you do not know the circumstances, as of course you cannot. He has +schemed so successfully, papa, that he has everything his own way. +All the evidence, the false but damning evidence, is in his favor +and against me. It seems to me, reflecting coolly upon the +circumstances, to be quite impossible that he should be punished or +I should be vindicated--in this world at least." + +"Claudia, I know more of these circumstances than you think I do. I +know more of them than you do; and I repeat that, in order to +vindicate your honor fully, it may be necessary to prosecute +Malcolm, Lord Vincent, with the utmost rigor of the law; to bring +him to the felon's dock; to send him to the hulks. Now, are you +willing that this should be done?" + +Claudia turned very pale and answered: + +"Let the man have justice, papa, if it places him on the scaffold." + +"There are two courses open to us, Claudia. The first is--simply to +let him alone until he brings his suit for divorce, and then to meet +him on that ground with such testimony as shall utterly defeat him +and destroy his plea. In that case you will be vindicated from the +charge that he has brought against you, but not from the reproach +that, however undeserved, will attach to a woman who has been the +defendant in a divorce trial, and he will go unpunished. The second +course is to prosecute him at once in the criminal court for certain +of his crimes that have come to my knowledge, and so put him out of +the possibility of suing for a divorce. And in that case your honor +would go unquestioned, and he would be condemned to a felon's fate-- +penal servitude for years. Now, Claudia, I place the man's destiny +in your hands. Shall we defend ourselves against him in a divorce +court, or shall we prosecute him in a criminal court?" + +"Papa," said Claudia, hesitating, and then speaking low, "what does +Ishmael advise?" + +"Ishmael? How did you know that he was with me, my dear?" + +"I saw his name in the list of passengers, and I knew that he had +come on with you as your private counselor." + +"Yes, he did, at a vast sacrifice of his business; but then I never +knew Worth to shrink from any self-sacrifice." + +"What is his advice?" asked Claudia, in a low voice. + +"He does more than advise; in this matter he dictates--I had almost +said he commands; at least he insists that the divorce suit shall +not be permitted to come on; that it shall be stopped by the arrest +of Lord Vincent upon criminal charges that we shall be able to prove +upon him. And that after the conviction of the viscount you shall +bring suit for a divorce from him; for that it would not be well +that your fate should remain linked to that of a felon." + +"Then, papa, let it be as Mr. Worth says; and if the prosecution +should place the viscount on the scaffold--let it place him there." + +"It will not go so far as that, my dear--not in this century. If he +had lived in the last century, and amused himself as he has done in +this, he would have swung for it, that is certain." + +"Papa, what is it that you have found out about him? Was he +implicated in the death of poor Ailsie Dunbar? And, if so, how did +you find it out? Tell me." + +"My dearest, we have both much to tell each other. But I wish to +hear your story first. Remember, Claudia, those alarming letters you +sent me were very meager in their details. Tell me everything, my +child; everything from the time you left me until the time you met +me again." + +"Papa, dear, it is a long, grievous, terrible story. I do not know +how you will bear it. You are sensitive, excitable, impetuous. I +scarcely dare to tell you. I fear to see how you will bear it. I +dread its effects upon you." + +"Claudia, my dearest, conceal nothing; tell me all; and I promise to +restrain my emotions and listen to you calmly." + +Upon this Claudia commenced the narrative of her sufferings from the +moment of parting with her father at Boston to the moment of meeting +with him at Cameron Court. The reader is already acquainted with the +story, and does not need to hear Claudia's narration. Judge Merlin +also knew much of it; as much as old Katie had been able to impart +to him; but he wished to hear a more intelligent version of it from +his daughter. It was, as she had said, a long, sorrowful, terrible +story; such as it was not in the nature of woman to recite calmly. +Some parts of it were told with pale cheeks, faltering tones, and +falling tears; other parts were told with fiery blushes, flashing +eyes, and clenched hands. + +At its conclusion Claudia said: + +"There, papa, I have hidden nothing. I have told you everything. Now +at last you will believe me when I tell you how perfectly relieved I +feel only to be out of that purgatory--only to be away from those +fiends! Now at last you will see how it is that I can say without +ruth, 'Let Malcolm, Lord Vincent, have justice, though that justice +consign him to penal servitude, or to the gallows!' But, papa, when +I said I had no trouble left, I spoke in momentary forgetfulness of +my poor servants; Heaven forgive me for it! Though, really, +uncertainty about their fate is the only care I have." + +"My dear," said the judge, who had comported himself with wonderful +calmness through the trying hour of Claudia's narration; "my dear, +cast that care to the winds. Your servants are safe and well and +near at hand." + +"'Safe and well, and near at hand!' Oh, papa, are you certain--quite +certain?" exclaimed Claudia, in joy modified by doubt. + +"Quite certain, my dearest, since I myself lodged them at Magruder's +Hotel this morning," said the judge. + +"Oh, thank Heaven!" exclaimed Claudia fervently. "But, papa, tell me +all about it. When, where, and how were they found?" + +"About three weeks ago, in Havana, by Ishmael," answered the judge, +speaking directly to the point. + +His daughter looked so amazed that he hastened to say: + +"It is easily understood, Claudia. You mentioned in the course of +your narrative that you suspected the viscount of having spirited +away the negroes. Your suspicion was correct. Through the agency of +chloroform he abducted the negroes and got them on board a West +Indian smuggler, that took them to Havana and sold them into +slavery. When we went there on the 'Santiago,' we found, recognized, +and recovered them." + +"And what was his motive--the viscount's motive, I mean--for selling +my poor negroes into slavery, and thereby committing a felony that +would endanger his reputation and liberty? It could not have been +want of money. The highest price they would bring could scarcely be +an object to the Viscount Vincent. What, then, could have been his +motive?" + +"What you mentioned that you suspected it to be, Claudia: to get rid +of dangerous witnesses against himself. But I had better tell you +the whole story," said the judge; and with that he began and related +the history of the conspiracy entered into by the viscount, the +valet, and the ex-opera singer, and overheard by Katie; the +discovery and seizure of the eavesdropper; and the abduction and +sale of the negroes. + +At the conclusion of this narrative he said + +"So you see, Claudia, that we have got this man completely in our +power. Look at his crimes. First, complicity in the murder of Ailsie +Dunbar; secondly, conspiracy against your honor; thirdly, kidnaping +and slave-trading. The man is already ruined; and you, my dear, are +saved." + +"Oh, thank Heaven, thank Heaven, that at least my name will be +rescued from reproach!" cried Claudia earnestly, clasping her hands +and bursting into tears of joy, and weeping on her father's bosom. + +"Yes, Claudia," he whispered, as he gently soothed her; "yes, my +child--thank Heaven first of all! for there was something strangely +providential in the seemingly dire misfortune that was the cause of +our being taken to Havana. For if we had not gone thither, we should +never have found the negroes; and if we had not found them, it would +have been difficult, or impossible, to have vindicated you." + +"Oh, I know it. And I do thank Heaven." + +"And, after Heaven, there is one on earth to whom your thanks are +due--Ishmael Worth. Not because he was the first to find the +negroes, for that was an accident, but because he sacrificed so much +in order to attend me on this voyage; and because he has been of +such inestimable value to me in this business. Claudia, but that I +had him with me in Havana, I should not now be by your side. But +that I had him with me, I should have plunged myself headlong into +two law cases that would have detained me in Havana for an +indefinite time. But that I had him with me to restrain, to warn, +and to counsel I should have prosecuted the smugglers for their +share in the abduction of the negroes, and I should have sued the +owners for the recovery of them. But I yielded to Ishmael's earnest +advice, and by the sacrifice of a sum of money and a desire of +vengeance, I got easy possession of the negroes and brought them on +here. You owe much to Ishmael Worth, Claudia." + +"I know it, oh, I know it! May Heaven reward him!" + +"And now our witnesses are at hand; and before night, Claudia, +warrants shall be issued for the arrest of the Viscount Vincent, +Alick Frisbie, and Faustina Dugald." + +"They can have no suspicion of what is coming upon them, and +therefore will have no chance to escape." + +"Not a bit. We shall come upon them unawares." + +"How astonished they will be." + +"Yes--and how confounded when confronted with my witnesses." + +"Papa, I am not malicious, but I think I should like to see their +faces then." + +"My dearest Claudia, you will have to imagine them. You will not be +an eye-witness of their confusion. You will not be required either +at the preliminary examination or at the trial, and it would not be +seemly that you should appear at either." + +"Oh, I know that, papa. And I am very glad that I shall not be +wanted. But will the testimony of those three negroes be sufficient +to convict the criminals?" + +"Amply. But that testimony will not be unsupported. We shall summon +the steward and housekeeper of Castle Cragg. And now, my dear, I +must leave you, if the warrants are to be issued to-day," said the +judge, rising. + +"So soon, papa?" + +"It is necessary, my dear." + +"But, at any rate, you will be back very shortly?" + +"I do not know, my child." + +"The countess expects you to make Cameron Court your home while you +remain in the neighborhood." + +"Lady Hurstmonceux has not said so to me, Claudia." + +"She has had no fit opportunity. Wait till you start to go." + +"By the way, I must take leave of my kind hostess," said the judge, +looking around the room as if in search of something or somebody. + +Claudia touched the bell. A footman entered. + +"Let the countess know that the judge is going." + +The servant bowed and withdrew, and Lady Hurstmonceux entered. + +"Going so soon, Judge Merlin?" she said. + +"Just what my daughter has this moment asked. Yes, madam; and you +will acknowledge the urgency of my business, when I tell you it is +to lodge information against Lord Vincent and his accomplices, and +procure their immediate arrest, upon the charge of certain grave +crimes that have come to my knowledge, and that I am prepared to +prove upon them." + +"You astonish me, sir. I certainly had reason to suspect Lord +Vincent and his disreputable companions, but I am amazed that in so +short a time you should have ferreted out so much." + +"It was accident, madam; or rather," said the judge, gravely bending +his head, "it was Providence. My daughter will explain the +circumstances to you, madam. And now, will you permit me once more +to thank you for your great goodness to me and mine, and to bid you +good-morning?" + +"I hope it will be only good-morning, then, judge, and not good-by. +I beg that you will return and take up your residence with us while +you remain in Scotland," said the countess, with her sweetest smile. + +"I should be delighted as well as honored, madam, in being your +guest, but I am off to Banff by the midday train." + +"Off to Banff?" repeated Berenice and Claudia, in a breath. + +"Certainly." + +"What is that for?" inquired Claudia. + +"Why, my dear, there is where I must lodge information against the +viscount and his accomplices. There is where the crimes were +committed, and where the warrants must be issued." + +"Oh, I see." + +"I had forgotten. I was thinking; or rather without thinking at all, +I was taking it for granted that it could be all done in Edinboro'," +smiled the countess. + +"Madam, I must still leave my daughter a pensioner on your kindness +for a few days," said the judge, with a bow. + +"You say that as if you supposed it possible for me to permit you to +do anything else with her," laughed the countess, holding out her +hand to the judge. He raised it to his lips, bowed over it, and +resigned it, all in the stately old-time way. Then he turned to his +daughter, embraced her, and departed. + +"Now, Claudia, tell me what the judge has found out about Vincent. +Was he implicated in that murder? I shouldn't wonder if he was," +said the countess impatiently. + +"That is just what I thought; but that is not the case. Oh, +Berenice, what a revelation it is; but I will tell you all about +it," said Claudia, + +And when they were cozily seated together beside the drawing-room +fire Claudia related the story her father had told her of the +conspiracy against her own honor, the abduction and sale of the +negroes, and the recognition and recovery of them. + +"I am not surprised at anything in that story but the providential +manner in which the servants were recovered. I believe the viscount +capable of any crime, or restrained only by his cowardice. If he +should hesitate at assassination, I believe that it would not be +from the horror of blood-guiltiness, but from the fear of the +gallows. I hope that no weak relenting, Claudia, will cause either +you or your father to spare such a ruthless monster." + +"No, Berenice, no. I have said to my father, 'Let Lord Vincent have +justice, though that justice place him in the felon's dock, in the +hulks, or on the scaffold.' No, I do not believe it would be fair to +the community to turn such a man loose upon them." + +While Lady Hurstmonceux and Lady Vincent conversed in this manner, +Judge Merlin drove to Edinboro'. + +He reached Magruder's Hotel, where he had left Ishmael Worth, the +professor, and the three negroes. + +Ishmael had lost no time; he had seen that the whole party had +breakfast; and then he had gone himself and engaged a first-class +carriage in the express train that started for Aberdeen at twelve, +noon. + +They were now therefore only waiting for Judge Merlin. And as soon +as the judge arrived the whole party started for the station, which +they reached in time to catch the train. Three hours' steaming +northward and they ran into the station at Aberdeen. The stage was +just about starting for Banff. They got into it at once, and in +three more hours of riding they reached that picturesque old town. + +Merely waiting long enough to engage rooms at the best hotel and +deposit their luggage there, they took a carriage and drove to the +house of Sir Alexander McKetchum, who was one of the most respected +magistrates of Banff. + +Judge Merlin introduced himself and his party, produced his +credentials, laid his charge, and presented his witnesses. + +To say that the worthy Scotch justice was astonished, amazed, would +scarcely be to describe the state of panic and consternation into +which he was thrown. + +Long he demurred and hesitated over the affair; again and again he +questioned the accusers; over and over again he required to hear the +statement; and slowly and reluctantly at last be consented to issue +the warrants for the apprehension of Lord Vincent, Alick Frisbie, +and Faustina Dugald. + +Ishmael took care to see that these warrants were placed in the +hands of an efficient policeman, with orders that he should proceed +at once to the arrest of the parties named within them. + +And then our party returned to their hotel to await results. + + + + +CHAPTER XLI. + +ARREST OF LORD VINCENT AND FAUSTINA. + + Our plots fall short like darts that rash hands throw + With an ill aim that have so far to go, + Nor can we long discovery prevent, + We deal too much among the innocent. + --_Howard_. + + + +Lord Vincent was at Castle Cragg. Unable to absent himself long from +the siren who was the evil genius of his life, he had come down on a +quiet visit to her. A very quiet visit it was, for he affected +jealously to guard the honor of one who in truth had no honor to +lose. The guilty who have much to conceal are often more discreet +than the innocent who have nothing to fear. + +Mrs. MacDonald was still at the castle, playing propriety to the +beauty. A very complacent person was Mrs. MacDonald. + +This precaution deceived no one. The neighboring gentry rightly +estimated the domestic life at Castle Cragg and the character of its +inmates, and refrained from calling there. + +This avoidance of her society by the county families galled +Faustina. + +"What do they mean by it?" she said to herself. "I am the Honorable +Mrs. Dugald. Ah, they think I have lost myself. But they shall know +better when they see me the Viscountess Vincent, and afterwards, no +one knows how soon, Countess of Hurstmonceux and Marchioness of +Banff! Ah, what a difference that will make!" + +And Faustina consoled herself with anticipations of a brilliant +future, in which she would reign as a queen over these scornful +prudes. But Faustina reckoned without Nemesis, her creditor. And +Nemesis was at the door. + +It was a wild night. The snowstorm that had been threatening all day +long came down like avalanches whirled before the northern blast. It +was a night in which no one would willingly go abroad; when everyone +keenly appreciated the comfort of shelter. + +Very comfortable on this evening was Mrs. Dugald's boudoir. The +crimson carpet and crimson curtains glowed ruddy red in the +lamplight and firelight. The thundering dash of the sea upon the +castle rock below came, softened into a soothing lullaby, to this +bower of beauty. + +Lord Vincent and Mrs. Dugald were seated at an elegant and luxurious +little supper that would have satisfied the most fastidious and +dainty epicure. Three courses had been removed. The fourth--the +dessert--was upon the table. Rare flowers bloomed in costly vases; +ripe fruits blushed in gilded baskets; rich wines sparkled in +antique flasks. + +On one side of the table Faustina reclined gracefully in a crimson +velvet easy-chair. The siren was beautifully dressed in the pure +white that her sin-smutted soul, in its falsehood, affected. Her +robe was of shining white satin, trimmed with soft white swan's- +down; fine white lace delicately veiled her snowy neck and arms; +white lilies of the valley wreathed her raven hair and rested on her +rounded bosom. + +She looked "divine," as her fool of a lover assured her. Yes, she +looked "divine"--as the devil did when he appeared in the image of +an angel of light. + +How did she dare, that guilty and audacious woman, to assume a dress +that symbolized purity and humility? + +Lord Vincent lolled in the other armchair on the opposite side of +the table, and from under his languid and half-tipsy eyelids cast +passionate glances upon her. + +Mrs. Macdonald had withdrawn her chair from the table and nearer the +fire, and had fallen asleep, or complacently affected to do so; for +Mrs. MacDonald was the soul of complacency. Mrs. Dugald declared +that she was a love of an old lady. + +"What a night it is outside! It is good to be here," said Faustina, +taking a bunch of ripe grapes and turning towards the fire. + +"Yes, my angel," answered the viscount drowsily, regarding her from +under his eyelids. "What a bore it is!" + +"What is a bore?" inquired Faustina, putting a ripe grape between +her plump lips. + +"That we are not married, my sweet." + +"Eh bien! we soon shall be." + +"Then why do you keep me at such a distance, my angel?" + +"Ah, bah! think of something else!" + +The viscount poured out a bumper of rich port and raised it to his +lips. + +"Put that wine down, Malcolm, you have had too much already." + +He obeyed her and set the glass untasted on the board. + +"That's a duck; now you shall have some grapes," she said, and, with +pretty, childish grace, she began to pick the ripest grapes from her +bunch and to put them one by one into the noble noodle's mouth. + +"It is nice to be here, is it not, mon ami?" she smilingly asked. + +"Yes, sweet angel!" he sighed languishingly. + +"And when one thinks of the black dark and sharp cold and deep snow +outside, and of travelers losing their way, and getting buried in +the drifts and freezing to death, one feels so happy and comfortable +in this warm, light room, eating fruit and drinking wine." + +"Yes, sweet angel! but you won't let me have any more wine," said +the viscount drowsily. + +"You have had more than enough," she smiled, putting a ripe grape +between his gaping lips. + +"Just as you say, sweet love! You know I am your slave. You do with +me as you like," he answered stupidly. + +"Now," said Faustina, her thoughts still running on the contrast +between the storm without and the comfort within, "what in this +world would tempt one to leave the house on such a night as this? + +"Nothing in the world, sweet love!" + +"Malcolm, I do not think I would go out to-night, even in a close +carriage, for a thousand pounds." + +"No, my angel, nor for ten thousand pounds should you go." + +"I like to think of the people that are out in the cold, though. It +doubles my enjoyment," she said, as she put another fine grape in +his mouth. + +"Yes, sweet love!" he answered drowsily, closing his fingers on her +hand and drawing her forcibly towards him. + +"Ah! stop!" she exclaimed, under her breath, and directing his +attention to Mrs. MacDonald, who sat with her eyes closed in the +easy-chair by the chimney corner. + +"She is asleep," said the viscount, in a hoarse whisper. + +"No, no! you are not certain!" whispered Faustina. + +"Come, come! sit close to me!" exclaimed the viscount, with fierce +vehemence, drawing her towards him. + +"You forget yourself! You are drunk, Malcolm!" cried Faustina, +resisting his efforts. + +At that moment there came a rap at the door; it was a soft, low tap, +yet it startled the viscount like a thunderclap. He dropped the hand +of Faustina and demanded angrily: + +"Who the fiend is there?" + +There was no answer, but the rap was gently repeated. + +"Speak, then, can't you? Who the demon are you?" he cried. + +"Why don't you tell them to come in?" said Faustina, in a displeased +tone. + +"Come in, then, set fire to you, whoever you are!" exclaimed Lord +Vincent. + +The door was opened and old Cuthbert softly entered. + +"What the fiend do you want, sir?" haughtily demanded the viscount; +for he had lately taken a great dislike to old Cuthbert, as well as +to every respectable servant in the house, whose humble integrity +was a tacit rebuke to his own dishonor; and least of all would he +endure the intrusion of one of them upon his interviews with +Faustina. + +"What brings you here, I say?" he repeated, + +"An'it please your lairdship, there are twa poleecemen downstairs, +wi' a posse at their tails," answered the old man, bowing humbly. + +"What is their business here?" + +"I dinna ken, me laird." + +"Something about that stupid murder, I suppose." + +Faustina started; she was probably thinking of Katie. + +"I dinna think it is onything connected wi' Ailsie's death, me +laird." + +"What then? What mare's nest have they found now, the stupid +Dogberries?" + +"I canna tak' upon mesel' to say, me laird. But they are asking for +yer lairdship and Mistress Dugald." + +"Me!" + +This exclamation came from Faustina, who turned deadly pale, and +stared wildly at the speaker. Indeed her eyes and her face could be +compared to nothing else but two great black set in a marble mask. + +"Me!" + +"Aye, mem, e'en just for yer ain sel', and na ither, forbye it be +his lairdship's sel'," replied the old man, bowing with outward +humility and secret satisfaction, for Cuthbert cordially disapproved +and disliked Faustina. + +"Horror! I see how it is! The dead body of the black woman has been +cast up by the sea, as I knew it would be, and we shall be +guillotined--no!--hanged, hanged by the neck till we are dead!" she +cried, wringing and twisting her hands in deadly terror. + +"I wish to Heaven you may be, for an incorrigible fool!" muttered +the viscount, in irrepressible anger; for, you see, his passion for +this woman was not of a nature to preclude the possibility of his +falling into a furious passion with her upon occasions like this. +"What madness has seized you now?" he continued. "There is no +danger; you have no cause to be alarmed. They have probably come +about the murder of Ailsie Dunbar, Satan burn them! Cuthbert, what +are you lingering here for? Go, see what it is!" + +The old man bowed lowly, and left the room. + +"Faustina!" exclaimed the viscount, as soon as Cuthbert had gone, +"your folly will be the ruin of us both some day--will lead to +discovery! Can you not let the black woman, as you call her, rest? +Why will you be so indiscreet?" + +"Oh, it is you who are indiscreet now," exclaimed Faustina, clasping +her hands and glancing towards Mrs. MacDonald, whose sleep seemed +too deep to be real. + +"Try to govern yourself, then!" said the viscount. + +"Ah, how can I, when I am quaking like a jelly with my terror?" + +"You should not undertake dangerous crimes unless you possess heroic +courage," said the viscount. + +"Mon Dieu! it is you who will ruin us!" cried Faustina, stamping her +small feet and pointing to Mrs. MacDonald. + +The viscount laughed. + +And at this moment old Cuthbert re-entered the room. + +"Well?" asked Lord Vincent. + +"If you please, me laird, they say they maun see yer lairdship's +sel' and the leddy," said the old man. + +"What the blazes do they want with us? Was ever anything so +insolently persistent? Go and tell the fellows that I cannot and +will not see them to-night! And if they are disappointed it will +serve them right for coming out on such a night as this, They must +have been mad!" + +"Verra weel, me laird. I'll tell them," said the old man, departing. + +"Compose yourself, Faustina, this business has no reference to you, +I assure you. When they asked for us, they merely wished to see us +to put some questions about the case of Ailsie Dunbar," said the +viscount, who had not the slightest suspicion that there was, or +could be, a warrant out for his arrest. He fancied himself entirely +secure in his crimes. He believed the negroes to be safe beyond the +sea; sold into slavery in a land of which they did not even +understand the language, and from which they never would be allowed +to return. He believed Claudia to be crushed under the conspiracy he +had formed against her. He believed her father to be far away. And +so he considered himself safe from all interruptions of his +iniquities. What was there, in fact, to arouse his fears? What had +he to dread? + +Nothing, he thought. + +And he was still laughing at Faustina's weakness as he stood with +his back to the fire, when once more the door opened and old +Cuthbert reappeared, wearing a frightened countenance and followed +by two policemen. + +Faustina shrieked with terror, covered her face with her hands, and +shrunk back in her chair. Mrs. MacDonald, aroused by the shriek from +her real or feigned sleep, opened her eyes and stared. + +But Lord Vincent, astonished and indignant, strode towards the door +and demanded of his old servant: + +"What means this intrusion, sir? Did I not order you to say to these +persons that I would not see them to-night? How dare you bring them +to this room?" + +"'Deed, me laird, I could na help it! When I gi'e them yer +lairdship's message they e'en just bid me gang before, and sae they +followed me up, pushing me to the right and left at their ain will," +said Cuthbert sullenly. + +Lord Vincent turned to the intruders and haughtily demanded: + +"What is the meaning of this conduct, fellows? Were you not told +that I would not see you to-night? How dare you push yourselves up +into the private apartment of these ladies? Leave the room and the +house instantly." + +"We will leave the room and the house, my lord; but, when we do so, +you and that lady must go with us," said the taller of the two +policemen, advancing into the room. + +"What?" demanded the viscount. + +"Mon Dieu!" shrieked Faustina. + +"Gracious, goodness, me, alive!" exclaimed Mrs. MacDonald. + +"You are wanted," answered the policeman, whose name by the way was +McRae. + +"What do you mean, fellow? Leave the room, I say, before I order my +servant to kick you out!" fiercely cried the viscount. + +The policeman immediately stepped up to the side of his lordship and +laid his hand upon his shoulder, saying: + +"Malcolm Dugald, Lord Vincent, you are my prisoner." + +"Your prisoner, you scoundrel! hands off, I say!" cried the +viscount. + +"I arrest you in the Queen's name, for the abduction and selling +into slavery of the three negroes, Catherine Mortimer, James +Mortimer, and Sarah Sims," said McRae, taking a firmer hold of his +captive. + +"Let go my collar, you infernal villain, and show me your warrant!" +thundered Lord Vincent, wrenching himself from the grasp of the +policeman. + +McRae calmly produced his warrant and placed it in the hands of the +viscount. + +Lord Vincent, astonished, terrified, but defiant, held the document +up before his dazed eyes and tried to read it. But though he held it +up with both hands close to his blanched face, it trembled so in his +grasp that he could not trace the characters written upon it. + +While he held it thus, McRae slyly drew something from his own +pocket, approached the viscount and--click! click--the handcuffs +were fastened upon the wrists of his lordship! + +Down fluttered the warrant from the relaxed fingers of the viscount, +while his face, exposed to view, seemed set in a deadly panic as he +gazed upon his captor. + +"Look to him, Ross," said McRae, addressing his comrade and pointing +to the viscount. + +Then he stepped up to the cowering form of Mrs. Dugald, who had +shrunk to the very back of her deep velvet chair. Laying his hand +upon her shoulder he said: + +"Faustina Dugald, you are my prisoner. I arrest you, in the Queen's +name, upon the charge of having aided and abetted Lord Vincent in +the abduction of--" + +"Oh, horror! let me go, you horrid brute!" cried Faustina, suddenly +finding her voice, interrupting the officer with her shrieks and +springing from under his hand. + +She rushed towards the passage door with the blind impulse of flight +and tore it open, only to find herself stopped by a posse of +constables drawn up without. They had come in force strong enough to +overcome resistance, if necessary. + +"Give yourself up, Faustina. It is the best thing you can do," said +the viscount. + +She stared wildly like a hunted hare, and then turned and made a +dash towards her bedroom door, but only to be caught in the arms of +McRae, who stepped suddenly thither to intercept her mad flight. + +He held her firmly with one hand, while with the other he drew +something from his pocket and suddenly snapped the handcuffs upon +her wrists. + +She burst into passionate tears. + +"I am sorry to do this, madam, but you forced me to it," said McRae +gravely and kindly. + +She was a pitiable object as she stood there, guilty, degraded, and +powerless. Her wreath of lilies had been knocked off and trampled +under foot in the scuffle. The bouquet of lilies that rested on her +bosom was crushed. Her lace and swan's-down trimmings were torn. Her +hair was disheveled, her face pale, and her eyes streaming with +tears. + +"Why do they make me a prisoner?" she sobbed. + +"I told you, madam, it was for your share in the abduction of--" + +"Abduction! abduction! I don't know what you mean by abduction! I +did not kill the black negro person! I did not put her into the sea! +It was Lord Vincent! I never helped him! No, not at all! He would +not let me! And if he would, I should not have done it! He did it +all himself! And it is cruel to make a poor, small, little woman +suffer for what a big man does!" she cried, amid piteous tears and +sobs. + +"Faustina! Faustina! what are you saying?" exclaimed the viscount, +in consternation. + +"The truth, my lord viscount; you know it! The truth, messieurs, I +assure you! Lord Vincent killed the black negro woman and threw her +into the sea! And I had nothing to do with, it! I did not even know +it until all was over! And I will tell you all about it, messieurs, +if you will only take these dreadful things off my poor, little, +small wrists and let me go! It is cruel, messieurs, to fetter and +imprison a poor, small little woman, for a big man's crime! Let me +go free, messieurs, and I will tell you all about him," pleaded this +weeping creature, who for the sake of her own liberty was willing to +give her lover up to death. + +But you need not be surprised at this; for I told you long ago that +there can be no honor, faith, or love among thieves, let the +biographers of the Jack Shepherds and Nancy Sykeses say what they +please to the contrary. "Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of +thistles?" The criminal is the most solitary creature upon earth; he +has no ties--for the ties of guilt are nothing; they snap at the +lightest breath of self-interest. + +Faustina's plea dismayed her accomplice and disgusted her captor. + +"Madam," said the latter, "you had better hold your peace. Your +words criminate yourself as well as Lord Vincent." + +"How do they criminate myself? Oh, mon Dieu! what shall I do, since +even my denials are made to tell against me!" she whimpered, +wringing her hands. + +"Faustina, be silent!" said the viscount sternly. + +"My lord, we are ready to remove you," said McRae, advancing toward +the viscount. + +"Where do you intend to take us then?" demanded the viscount, with a +blush of shame, though with a tone of defiance. + +"To the police station house, for the night. In the morning you will +be brought before the magistrate for examination." + +"To your beast of a station house?" said the viscount. + +The policeman bowed. + +"Ah, mon Dieu! will he take us out into the snow to-night? I cannot +go! I should freeze to death! I should perish in the storm! It would +be murder!" cried Faustina, wringing her hands. + +"You see it would be barbarous to drag a lady out in this horrible +weather. Can you not leave her here for the night? and if you +consider yourself responsible for her safe-keeping, can you not +remain and guard her?" inquired his lordship, speaking, however, +quite as much, or even more, for himself than for Faustina; for he +was well aware that, if she were left, he would be also left. + +"My lord, it is impossible. I could not be answerable for my +prisoner's safety if she were permitted to remain here all night, no +matter how well guarded she might be. It was only a few weeks ago +that a prisoner--a young girl she was, charged with poisoning-- +persuaded me to hold her in custody through the night in her own +chamber. I did so, placing a policeman on guard on the outside of +each door. And yet, during the night she succeeded in making her +escape down a secret staircase and through a subterranean passage, +and got clear off. It was in just such an ancient place as this, my +lord. I came near losing my office by it; and I made a resolution +then never to trust a prisoner of mine out of my sight until I got +him or her, as the case might be, safe under lock and key in my +station house." + +"But, mon Dieu! mon Dieu! what will become of me?" wailed Faustina. + +"It will kill her. She is very tender," urged Lord Vincent. + +"Your lordship may order your own close carriage for her use. She +may wrap up in all her furs. And though she may still suffer a good +deal from the long, cold ride, she will not freeze, I assure you," +said McRae. + +"Ah, but what do you take me for at all? I say that I did not kill +the black negro woman; Lord Vincent did it." + +"Madam, neither you nor my lord are accused of murder," said McRae. + +"Ah! what, then, do you accuse us of?" + +"You will hear at the magistrate's office, madam," said the +policeman, losing patience. + +"I say, what--whatever it was, Lord Vincent did it!" + +"Faustina, be silent! If no remnant of good faith leads you to spare +me, spare yourself at least," said the viscount. + +"Will you order your carriage?" said McRae. + +"Cuthbert, go down and have the close carriage brought around. Put +the leopard skins inside and bottles of hot water," ordered the +viscount. + +"Madam, you had better summon your maid and have your wrappings +brought to you, and anything else you may wish to take with you," +advised McRae. + +"Oh, mon Dieu! mon Dieu! must I leave this beautiful place to go to +a horrid prison. Oh, mon Dieu, mon Dieu!" wept Faustina, wringing +her hands. + +"Shall I ring for your maid?" inquired McRae. + +"No, you monster!" shrieked Faustina. "Do you think I want Desiree, +whose ears I boxed this morning, to come here to see me marched off +to prison? She would be glad, the beast! she would laugh in her +sleeve, the wretch! Madame MacDonald, will you get my bonnet and +sables?" she said, turning to her companion. + +"Yes, my dear, suffering angel, I will do all that you wish me to +do. Ah! you remind me of your countrywoman, Queen Marie Antoinette, +when she was dragged from the luxurious Tuileries to the dreary +temple," whined sympathizing Complacency. + +"Good Heaven! woman, do not speak of her. She was guillotined!" +cried Faustina, with a shiver of terror. + +"But you shall not be, my dear; you shall come out clear; and they +who have accused you shall be made ashamed," said Mrs. MacDonald, as +she passed into Faustina's dressing room. + +Presently she came forth, bearing a quilted silk bonnet, a velvet +sack, a sable cloak, a muff and cuffs, and warm gloves and fur-lined +boots, and what not; all of which she helped Faustina to put on. +While she was kneeling on the floor and putting on the beauty's +boots she said: + +"I think some of these men might have the modesty to turn their +backs, if they canna leave the room. Ah, my poor dear! now you +remind me of my own countrywoman, poor Queen Mary Stuart, when she +complained on the scaffold of having to undress before so many men! +Now you have to dress before so many." + +"Oh, God, you will be the death of me, with your guillotined women! +You turn my flesh to jelly, and my bones to gristle, and my heart to +water!" cried Faustina, with a dreadful shudder, as she rose to her +feet, quite ready, as far as dress was concerned, for her journey. + +"Will my poor, dear, suffering angel have anything else?" said Mrs. +MacDonald. + +"Yes. Oh, dear, that I should have to leave this sweet place for a +nasty prison! Yes, you may get together all that fruit and nuts and +cake and wine, and don't forget the bonbons, and have them put in +the carriage, for I don't believe I could get such things in the +horrid prison! And, stay--put me a white wrapper and a lace cap in +my little night-bag; and stop---put that last novel of Paul de Kock +in also. I will be as comfortable as I can make myself in that beast +of a place." + +"Blessed angel! what a mind you have; what philosophy; what +fortitude! You now remind me of your illustrious compatriot, Madame +Roland, who, when dragged from her elegant home to the dreadful +prison of the Conciergerie, and knowing that in a few days she must +be dragged from that to the scaffold, yet sent for her books, her +music, her birds, and her flowers, that she might make the most of +the time left," said Mrs. MacDonald, as she zealously gathered up +the desired articles. + +"Silence! I shall dash my brains out if you speak to me of another +headless woman!" shrieked Faustina, stopping both her ears. + +Old Cuthbert put his head in to say that the carriage was ready. +Lord Vincent ordered him to load himself with the luxuries that had +been provided for Faustina and put them into the carriage, and then +in returning to fetch him his overshoes, cloak, and hat. All of +these orders were duly obeyed. + +When all was ready Lord Vincent shook hands with Mrs. MacDonald was +saying: + +"We must all bow to the law, madam; but this is only a passing +cloud. We shall be liberated soon. And I hope we shall find you here +when we return." + +"Ye may be sure of that, my lord. And may Heaven grant you a speedy +deliverance," she answered. + +Faustina next came up to bid her good-by. + +"Good-by! Good-by! my sweet, suffering angel. Bear up under your +afflictions; fortify your mind by thinking of the martyred queens +and heroines who have preceded you," said Mrs. MacDonald, weeping as +she embraced Faustina. + +"Good Heaven, I shall think of none of them! I shall think only of +myself and my deliverance!" said Faustina, breaking from her. + +They went downstairs, marshaled by the policemen. They entered the +carriage, two policemen riding inside with them, and one on the box +beside the coachman. And thus they commenced their stormy night +journey. + + + + +CHAPTER XLII. + +A BITTER NIGHT. + + St. Agnes' Eve--ah, bitter chill it was! + The owl, for all his feathers, was acold, + The hare limped trembling thro' the frozen grass; + And silent was the flock in woolly fold! + --_Keats_. + + + +A freezing night. Faustina shook as with an ague-fit, and her teeth +chattered like a pair of castanets, as she crouched down in one +corner of the back seat and huddled all her wrappings close about +her. But the cold still seemed to penetrate through all her furs and +velvets and woolens and enter the very marrow of her bones. + +Beside her sat the viscount, silent, grim, and still, as though he +were congealed to ice. Before her sat the two policemen, well +wrapped up in their greatcoats and thick shawls. + +All were silent except Faustina. She shook and moaned and chattered +incessantly. Such a mere animal was this wretched woman that she was +quite absorbed in her present sufferings. While enduring this +intense cold she could not look forward to the terrors of the +future. + +"It's insufferable!" she exclaimed, fiercely stamping her feet; "can +you not make this beast of a carriage closer, then? My flesh is +stone and my blood is ice, I tell you." + +One window had been left open a little way, to let a breath of air +into the carriage, which, crowded with four persons, was otherwise +stifling. But the viscount now raised both his fettered hands and +closed up the window. The arrangement did not prove satisfactory. It +deprived the sufferers of air without making them any warmer. +Faustina shook and moaned and chattered all the same. + +"Oh, wretches!" she exclaimed, in furious disgust; "open the window +again! I am suffocated! I am poisoned! They have all been eating +garlic and drinking whisky!" + +The window was opened at her desire, but as they were then crossing +the narrow isthmus of rock that connected the castle steep with the +land, the wind, from that exposed position, was cutting sharp, and +drove into the aperture the stinging snow, which entered the skin +like needle points. + +"Ah, shut it! shut it! It kills me! It is infamous to treat a poor +little lady so!" she cried, bursting into tears. + +Again the window was closed; but not for any length of time. +Apparently she could neither bear it open nor shut. So, shaking, +moaning, and complaining, the poor creature was taken through that +long and bitter night journey which ended at last only at the +station house of Banff. + +Half dead with cold, she was lifted out of the carriage by the two +policemen who stood upon the sidewalk, where she remained, shaking, +chattering, and weeping tears that froze upon her cheeks as they +fell. + +She could see nothing in that dark street but the gloomy building +before her, dimly lighted by its iron lamp above the doorway. + +There she remained till the viscount was handed out. + +"Cuthbert," said his lordship to the old man, who had exposed +himself to the severe weather of this night and driven the carriage +for the sake of being near his master as long as possible, +"Cuthbert, take the carriage around to the 'Highlander' and put up +there for the night. We shall want it to take us back to the castle +to-morrow, after this ridiculous farce is over." + +"Verra weel, me laird," replied old Cuthbert, touching his hat with +all the more deference because his master was suffering degradation. + +"Ah! is it so? Will we really get back to the castle to-morrow?" +whimpered Faustina, shaking, chattering, and wringing her hands. + +"Of course we will," replied his lordship. + +"Ah, but how shall I get through the night? I must have a good fire +and a comfortable bed, and something warm to drink. Will you see to +it, Malcolm?" she whiningly inquired. + +"Don't be a fool!" was the gentlemanly reply; for the viscount +burned with half-suppressed rage against the woman. whose fatal +beauty had led him into all this disgrace. + +She burst into a passion of tears. + +"That is the reward I get for all my love!" she exclaimed. + +"Faustina, for your own sake, if not for any other's, exercise some +discretion!" exclaimed the viscount angrily. + +"Villain!" she screamed, in fury, "I had no discretion when I +listened to you!" + +"I wish to Heaven you had had then! I should not have been in this +mess," he replied. + +"Ah!" she hissed. "If my hands were not fettered I would tear your +eyes!" + +"Sweet angel!" sneered the viscount, in mockery and self-mockery. + +"Thsche!" she hissed, "let me at him!" + +The viscount laughed, a hard, bitter, scornful laugh. + +And at it they went, criminating and recriminating, until the empty +carriage was driven away, and the policemen took them by the +shoulders and pushed them into the station house. + +They found themselves in a large stone hall, with iron-grated +windows. It was partially warmed with a large, rusty stove, around +which many men of the roughest cast were gathered, smoking, talking, +and laughing. The walls were furnished with rude benches, upon which +some men sat, some reclined, and some lay at full length. The stone +floor was wet with the slop of the snow that had been brought in by +so many feet and had melted. In one of these slops lay a woman, dead +drunk. + +"Ah! Good God! I cannot stay here!" cried Faustina, gathering up her +skirts, as well as she could with her fettered hands, and looking +around in strong disgust. + +The viscount laughed in derision; he was angry, desperate, and he +rejoiced in her discomfiture. + +"Eh, Saunders! take these two women in the women's room," said +McRae, beckoning a tall, broad-shouldered, red-headed Scot to his +assistance. + +"Hech! it will take twa o' the strongest men here to lift yon +lassie," replied the man, lumbering slowly along towards the +prostrate woman, and trying to raise her. If he failed in lifting +her, he succeeded in waking her, and he was saluted for his pains +with a volley of curses, to which he replied with a shake or two. + +"Oh, horror! I will not stay here!" cried Faustina, stamping with +rage. + +"Attend to her, Christie. Dunlap, help Saunders to remove that +woman," said McRae. + +Two of the policemen succeeded in raising the fallen woman, and +leading her between them into an adjoining room. The man addressed +as "Christie" would have taken Faustina by the arm, and led her +after them, but that she fiercely shook herself from his grasp. + +"Follow then and ye like, lass; but gae some gait ye maun, ye ken," +said the man good-naturedly. + +She glanced around the dreary room, upon the grated windows, the +sloppy floor, the rusty stove, and the wretched men, and finally +seemed to think that she could not do better than to leave such a +repulsive scene. + +"Go along, then, and I will follow, only keep your vile hands off +me," said Faustina, gathering up her dainty raiment and stepping +carefully after her leader. As she did so she turned a last look +upon Lord Vincent. The viscount had thrown himself upon a corner of +one of the benches, where he sat, with his fettered hands folded +together, and his head bent down upon his breast, as if he were in +deep despair. + +"Imbecile!" was the complimentary good-night thrown by his angel, as +she passed out of the hall into the adjoining room. This--the +women's room--was in all respects similar to the men's hall, being +furnished with the like grated windows, rusty iron stove, and rude +benches. Along, on these benches, or on the floor, were scattered +wretched women in every attitude of self-abandonment; some in the +stupor of intoxication; some in the depths of sorrow; some in stony +despair; some in reckless defiance. + +The men who had come in with the drunken woman deposited her on one +of the benches, from which she quickly rolled to the floor, where +she lay dead to all that was passing around her. Her misfortune was +greeted with a shout of laughter from the reckless denizens of this +room; but that shout was turned into a deafening yell when their +eyes fell upon Faustina's array. + +"Eh, sirs! wha the deil hae we here fra the ball?" they cried, +gathering around her with curiosity. + +"Off, you wretches!" screamed Faustina, stamping at them. + +"Hech! but she hae a temper o' her ain, the quean," said one. + +"Ou, aye, just! It will be for sticking her lad under the ribs she +is here," surmised another. + +"Eh, sirs, how are the mighty fa'en!" exclaimed a third, as they +closed around her, and began to closely examine her rich dress. + +"Rabble! how dare you?" screamed Faustina, fiercely twitching +herself away from them. + +"Eh! the braw furs and silks! the town doesna often see the loike o' +them," said the first speaker, lifting up the corner of the rich +sable cloak. + +"Wretch, let alone!" shrieked Faustina, stamping frantically. + +The uproar brought Policeman Christie to the scene. + +"Take me away from this place directly, you beast! How dare you +bring me among such wretches?" screamed the poor creature. + +"My lass, I hae na commission to remove you. I dinna ken what ye hae +done to bring yoursel' here; but here ye maun bide till the morn," +said Christie kindly and composedly. + +"I will not, I say! What have I done to be placed among these vile +wretches?" she persisted, stamping. + +"I dinna ken, lassie, as I telled ye before; but joodging by your +manners, I suld say ye hae guided yoursel' an unco' ill gait. But +howe'er that will be, here ye maun bide till the morn. And gin ye +will heed guid counsel, ye'll haud your tongue," said Christie, at +the same time good-naturedly setting down the hamper that contained +Faustina's luxuries. She did not want it. She threw herself down +upon one of the benches and burst into a passion of tears. + +The women gathered around the hamper, and quickly tore off the lid +and made themselves acquainted with its contents. + +But Faustina did not mind. She was too deeply distressed to care +what they did. The contents of the hamper were now of no use to her. +The "good fire, the comfortable bed, the warm beverage" that she had +vehemently demanded were unattainable, she knew, and she cared for +nothing else now. + +While Faustina, regardless that her famished fellow-prisoners were +devouring her cakes, fruits, and wine, gave herself up to passionate +lamentations, another scene was going on in the men's hall. + +Lord Vincent sat gnawing his nails and "glowering" upon the floor in +his corner. From time to time the door opened, letting in a gust of +wind, sleet, and snow, and a new party of prisoners; but the +viscount never lifted his eyes to observe them. + +At length, however, he looked up and beckoned Constable McRae to his +side. + +"Here, you, fellow! I would like to see your warrant again. I wish +to know who is my accuser." + +"Judge Randolph Merlin, my lord, of the United States Supreme +Court," answered McRae, once more taking out his warrant and +submitting it to the inspection of his prisoner. + +"Ha, ha, ha!" laughed the viscount affectedly. "Randolph Merlin! He +has come to the country, I suppose, to look after his daughter; and +finding that these negroes are among the missing, has pretended to +get up this charge against me! It will not answer his purpose, +however. And I only wonder that any magistrate in his senses should +have issued a warrant for the apprehension of a nobleman upon his +unsupported charge." + +"Pray excuse me, my lord, but the charge was not unsupported," said +McRae respectfully. + +"How--not unsupported?" + +"No, my lord. The judge had for witnesses the three negroes, and--" + +"The three negroes!" exclaimed the viscount, recoiling in amazement; +but quickly recovering his presence of mind, he added: "Oh! aye! of +course! they ran off with my plate, and I suppose they have +succeeded in effectually secreting it and eluding discovery. And now +I suspect they have been looked up by their old master and persuaded +to appear as false witnesses against me. Ha, ha, ha! what a weak +device! I am amazed that any magistrate should have ventured upon +such testimony to have issued a warrant for my apprehension." + +"I beg your pardon, my lord; but theirs was not the only testimony. +There were several gentlemen present, fellow-voyagers of Judge +Merlin, who testified to the finding of the negroes in a state of +slavery in Cuba; their testimony corroborates that of the negroes," +said McRae. + +Lord Vincent went pale as death. + +"What does that mean? Oh, I see! it is all a conspiracy," he said, +with an ineffectual effort at derision. + +But at that moment there was a bustle outside; the door was thrown +open, and another prisoner was brought in by two policemen. + +"What is the matter? Who is it now?" inquired McRae, going forward. + +"We have got him, sir," said a constable. + +"Who?" demanded McRae. + +"The murderer, sir!" answered the policeman, at the same moment +dragging into view the assassin of Ailsie Dunbar, the ex-valet of +Lord Vincent, Alick Frisbie. + +Heavily fettered, his knees knocking together, pale and trembling, +the wretch stood in the middle of the floor. + +"Where did you take him?" inquired McRae. + +"At the 'Bagpipes,' Peterhead," replied the successful captor. + +"Pray, upon what charge is he arrested?" inquired the viscount, in a +shaking voice, that he tried in vain to make steady. + +"A trifle of murder, among other fancy performances," said McRae. + +At this moment Frisbie caught sight of his master and set up a howl, +through which his words were barely audible: + +"Oh, my lord, you will never betray me! You will never be a witness +against me! You will never hang me! You promised that you would +not!" + +"Hold your tongue, you abominable fool! What the fiend are you +talking about? Do you forget yourself, sir?" roared the viscount, +furious at the fatal folly of his weak accomplice. + +"Oh, no, my lord, I do not forget myself! I do not forget anything. +I beg your lordship's pardon for speaking, and I will swear to be as +silent as the grave, if your lordship will only promise not to--" + +"Will you stop short where you are, and not open your mouth again, +you insufferable idiot!" thundered the viscount. + +Frisbie gulped his last words, whined and crouched like a whipped +hound, and subsided into silence. + +And soon after this McRae and the other officers who were off duty +for the remainder of the night went home and the doors were closed. + +A miserable night it was to all within the station house, and +especially to that guilty man and woman who had been torn from their +luxurious home and confined in this dreary prison. All that could +revolt, disgust, and utterly depress human nature seemed gathered +within its walls. Here were drunkenness, deadly sickness, and +reckless and shameless profanity, all of the most loathsome +character. And all this was excruciating torture to a man like Lord +Vincent, who, if he was not refined, was at least excessively +fastidious. There was no rest; every few minutes the door was opened +to receive some new prisoner, some inebriate, or some night-brawler +picked up by the watch, and brought in, and then would ensue another +scene of confusion. + +An endless night it seemed, yet it came to an end at last, The +morning slowly dawned. The pale, cold, gray light of the winter day +looked sadly through the falling snow into the closely-grated, dusty +windows. And upon what a scene it looked. Men were there, scattered +over the floor and upon the benches in every stage of intoxication; +some stupid, some reckless, some despairing; some sound asleep; some +waking up and yawning, and some walking about impatiently. + +As the day broadened and the hour arrived for the sitting of the +police magistrate, the policemen came in and marched off the crowd +of culprits to a hall in another part of the building, where they +were to be examined. Even the women were marched out from the inner +room after the men. It seemed that all the lighter offenders were to +be disposed of first. + +Lord Vincent and Frisbie were left alone in charge of one officer. + +"When are we to be examined?" demanded the viscount haughtily of +this man. + +"I dinna ken," he answered, composedly lighting his pipe and smoking +away. + +Lord Vincent paced up and down the wet and dirty stone floor, until +at length the door opened and McRae, the officer who arrested him, +entered. + +"Ah, you have come at last. I wish to be informed why we have been +left here all this time? Everyone else has been removed," exclaimed +the viscount. + +"My lord, those poor creatures who were brought here during the +night were not arrested for any grave offense. Some were brought in +only to keep them from perishing in the snowstorm, and others for +drunkenness or disorder. The sitting police magistrate disposes of +them. They will mostly be discharged. But you, my lord, are here +upon a heavy charge, and you are to go before Sir Alexander +McKetchum." + +"Why, then, do you not conduct me there? Do you mean to keep me in +this beastly place all day?" + +"My lord, your examination is fixed for ten o'clock; it is only nine +now," said McRae, passing on to the inner room, from which he +presently appeared with Faustina. + +Wretched did the poor creature look with her pale and tear-stained +face, her reddened eyes and disheveled hair; and her rich and +elegant white evening dress with its ample skirts and lace flounces +bedraggled and bedabbled with all the filth of the station house. + +"I have had a horrid night! I have been in worse than purgatory. I +have not closed my eyes. I wish I was dead. See what you have +brought me to, Malcolm! And--only look at my dress!" sobbed the +woman. + +"Your dress! That is just exactly what I am looking at. A pretty +dress that to be seen in. What the demon do you think people will +take you for?" sneered his lordship. + +"I do not know! I do not care! poor trampled lily that I am!" + +"Poor trampled fool! Why didn't you change that Merry Andrew costume +for something plainer and decenter before you left the castle?" + +"Why didn't you tell me to do it, then? I never thought of it. +Besides, I didn't know what this beast of a station house was like. +No carpets, no beds, no servants. And I'm dying for want of them +all. And now I must have my breakfast. Why don't you order it, +Malcolm?" she whimpered. + +"I am afraid they do not provide breakfasts any more than they do +other luxuries for the guests of this establishment," replied the +viscount, with a malignant laugh. + +"But I shall starve, then," said the poor little animal, bursting +into tears. + +"I cannot help it," replied the viscount, very much in the same tone +as if he had said: "I do not care." + +But here McRae spoke: + +"My lord, there is nearly an hour left before we shall go before the +magistrate. If you wish, therefore, you can send out to some hotel +and order your breakfast brought to you here." + +"Thank you; I will avail myself of your suggestion. Whom can I +send?" inquired the viscount. + +"Christie, you can go for his lordship," said McRae to his +subordinate, who had just entered the hall. + +Christie came forward to take the order. + +"What will you have?" inquired Lord Vincent, curtly addressing his +"sweet angel." + +"Oh, some strong coffee with cream, hot rolls with fresh butter, and +broiled moor hen with currant jelly," replied Faustina. + +Lord Vincent wrote his order down with a pencil on a leaf of his +tablets, tore it out and gave it to Christie, saying: + +"Take this to the 'Highlander' and tell them to send the breakfast +immediately. Also inquire for my servant, Cuthbert Allan, who is +stopping there, and order him to put my horses to the carriage and +bring them around here for my use." + +The man bowed civilly and went out to do this errand. + +In about half an hour he returned, accompanied by a waiter from the +"Highlander," bringing the breakfast piled up on a large tray, +unfolded the cloth and spread it upon one of the benches and +arranged the breakfast upon it. + +"Did you see my servant?" inquired Lord Vincent of his messenger. + +"Yes, me laird, and gi'e him your order. The carriage will be +round," replied the man. + +As the viscount and his companion drew their bench up to the other +bench upon which their morning meal was laid, Mr. Frisbie, who had +been sitting in a remote corner of the hall with his head buried on +his knees, got up and humbly stood before them, as if silently +offering his services to wait at table. + +"He here!" exclaimed Faustina, in amazement. + +"Yes, he is in the same boat with us. Go sit down, Frisbie; we don't +need you," said Lord Vincent. And the ex-valet retired and crouched +in his corner like a repulsed dog. + +Trouble did not take away the appetite of Mrs. Dugald. It does not +ever have that effect upon constitutions in which the animal nature +largely preponderates. She ate, drank, and wept, and so got through +a very hearty repast. Lord Vincent, having swallowed a single cup of +coffee, which constituted the whole of his breakfast, sat and +watched her performances with unconcealed scorn. + +Before Faustina got through Officer McRae began impatiently to +consult his large silver turnip. + +"It is time to go," he said at length. + +But Faustina continued to suck the bones of the moor hen, between +her trickling tears. + +"We must not keep the magistrate waiting," said McRae. + +But Faustina continued to suck and cry. + +"I am sorry to hurry you, madam; but we must go," said McRae +decisively. + +"Ah, bah! what a beastly place! where a poor little lady is not +permitted to eat her breakfast in peace!" she exclaimed, throwing +down the delicate bone at which she had been nibbling, and fiercely +starting up. + +As she had not removed her bonnet and cloak during the whole night +she was quite ready. + +As they were going out Lord Vincent pointed to Frisbie and inquired: + +"Is not that fellow to go?" + +"No; he is in upon a heavier charge, you know, my lord. Your +examination precedes his," said McRae, as he conducted his prisoners +into the street, leaving Mr. Frisbie to solace himself with the +remnants of Faustina's breakfast, guarded by Christie. + +The viscount's carriage was drawn up before the door. + +"Is it hame, me laird I" inquired old Cuthbert, touching his hat, +from the coachman's box. + +"No. You are to take your directions from this person," replied his +lordship sullenly, as he hurried into the carriage to conceal +himself and his fettered wrists from the passers-by. + +McRae put Mrs. Dugald into the carriage, and then jumped up and +seated himself on the box beside the coachman, and directed him +where to drive. + +The snow was still falling fast, and the streets were nearly blocked +up. + + + + +CHAPTER XLIII. + +FRUITS OF CRIME. + + Ay, think upon the cause-- + Forget it not: when you lie down to rest, + Let it be black among your dreams; and when + The morn returns, so let it stand between + The sun and you, as an ill-omened cloud, + Upon a summer's day of festival. + --_Byron_. + + + +After a drive of about twenty minutes through the narrow streets the +carriage stopped before the town hall. McRae jumped down from the +box and assisted his prisoners to alight. + +"Will I wait, me laird?" inquired old Cuthbert, in a desponding +tone. + +"Certainly, you old blockhead!" was the courteous reply of the +viscount, as he followed his conductor into the building. + +McRae, who had Mrs. Dugald on his arm, led the way through a broad +stone passage, blocked up with the usual motley crowd of such a +place, into an anteroom, half filled with prisoners, guarded by +policemen, and waiting their turn for examination, and thence into +an inner room, where, in a railed-off compartment at the upper end, +and behind a long table, sat the magistrate, Sir Alexander +McKetchum, and his clerk, attended by several law officers. + +"Here are the prisoners, your worship," said McRae, advancing with +his charge to the front of the table. + +Sir Alexander looked up. He was a tall, raw-boned, sinewy old Gael, +with high features, a lively, red face, blue eyes, white hair and +side whiskers, and an accent as broad as Cuthbert's own. He was +apparently a man of the people. + +"Malcolm, lad, I am verra sorry to see your father's son here on +such a charge," he said. + +"I am here by your warrant, sir! it is altogether a very +extraordinary proceeding!" said the viscount haughtily. + +"Not mare extraordinary than painful, lad," said the magistrate. + +"Who are my accusers, sir?" demanded the viscount, as if he was in +ignorance of them. + +"Ye sall sune see, me laird. Johnstone, have the witnesses in this +case arrived?" he inquired, turning to one of his officers. + +"Yes, your worship." + +"Then bring them in." + +Johnstone departed upon his errand; and the magistrate turned his +eyes upon the prisoners before him. + +"Eh, it is a bonnie lassie, to be here on such a charge," he +muttered to himself, as he looked at Faustina, standing, trembling +and weeping, before him. Then beckoning the officer who had the +prisoners in charge: + +"McRae, mon, accommodate the lady with a chair. Why did ye put +fetters on her? Surely there was no need of them." + +"There was need, your worship. The 'lady' resisted the warrant, and +fought like a Bess o' Bedlam," said McRae, as he set a chair for +Faustina. + +"Puir bairn! puir, ill-guided bairn!" muttered the old man between +his teeth. But before he could utter another word Johnstone re- +entered the room, ushering in Judge Merlin, Ishmael Worth, and the +three negroes. + +"Good Heaven!" exclaimed Faustina, in horror, as her eyes met those +of Katie; "it is the ghost of the black negro woman raised from the +dead!" + +Katie heard this low exclamation, and replied to it by such +grotesque and awful grimaces as only the face of the African negro +is capable of executing. + +"No, it is herself. There are no such things as ghosts. It is +herself, and I have been deceived," muttered Faustina to herself. +And then she fell into silence. + +Perhaps Lord Vincent had not altogether credited McRae's statement, +made to him at the station house, for certainly his eyes opened with +consternation on seeing this party enter the room. + +Johnstone marshaled them to their appointed places on the right hand +of the magistrate. + +On turning around Ishmael met full the eyes of the viscount. Ishmael +gravely bowed and averted his head. He could not be otherwise than +courteous under any circumstances; and he could not bear to look +upon a fellowman in his degradation, no matter how well that +degradation was deserved. + +Judge Merlin also bowed, as he looked upon his worthless son-in-law; +but the judge's bow was full of irony as his face was full of scorn. + +The magistrate looked up from the document he was reading and +acknowledged the presence of the new arrivals with a bow. Then +turning to the prisoner he said: + +"Malcolm, lad, this is an unco ill-looking accusation they hae +brought against you; kidnaping and slave-trading, na less--a sort of +piracy, ye ken, lad! What hae ye to say till it?" + +"What have I to say to it, sir? Why, simply that it has taken me so +by surprise that I can find nothing to say but that I am astounded +at the effrontery of any man who could bring such a charge against +me, and at the fatuity, if you will excuse my terming it so, of any +magistrate who could issue a warrant against me upon such a charge," +said the viscount haughtily. + +"Nay, nay, lad! nay, nay! I had guid grounds for what I did, as ye +shall hear presently, and noo, gen ye hae na objection, we will +proceed wi' the investigation----" + +"But I have an objection, sir! I tell you this has taken me utterly +by surprise. I am totally unprepared for it. I must have time, I +must have counsel," said the viscount with much heat. + +"Then I maun remand ye for another examination," replied Sir +Alexander McKetchum coolly. + +"But I object to that, also. I object to be kept in confinement +while there is nothing proved against me, and I demand my liberty," +said the viscount insolently. + +"Why dinna ye demaund the moon and stars, laddie? I could gi'e them +to ye just as sune," replied Sir Alexander. + +"You have no right to detain me in custody!" fiercely broke forth +Lord Vincent. + +"Whisht, lad, I hae no richt to set you at leeberty." + +Here old Katie, whose eyes had been snapping whole volleys of +vindictive fire upon the prisoners, broke out into words before +Judge Merlin or Ishmael could possibly prevent her. + +"Don't you let him go, ole marse! he's one nasty, 'ceitful, lyin', +white nigger as ebber libbed! He did do it, and he needn't 'ny it, +not while I'm standin' here! Don't you let him go, ole marse! he's +cunnin' as de debbil, and he'd run away, sure as ebber you's born! +You take my 'vice and don't you let him go! he artful as ole Sam!" + +"Katie, Katie, Katie!" remonstrated Ishmael, in a low voice. + +"So he is, den! and he knows it himse'f, too! Yes, you is, you grand +vilyun! Ah, ha! 'member how you stood dere cussin' and swearin' and +callin' names, and sassin' at me, hard as ebber you could! Oh, ho! I +telled you den how it was goin' to be! You didn't beliebe me, didn't +you? Berry well, den! Now you see! now it's my turn!" + +"Katie, be silent!" ordered Judge Merlin in a low tone. + +"Yes, marse, yes, chile, I gwine be silent arter I done ease my mind +speaking. Umph, humph!" she said, turning again to the unhappy +prisoner. "Umph, humph! thought you and dat whited salt-peter was +gwine gobern de world all your own way, didn't you? Heave me down in +de wault to sleep long o' de rats, didn't you? Ah, ha! where you +sleep las' night--and where you gwine to sleep to-night? Not in your +feathery bed, dat's sartain! Send me 'cross de seas, to lib long ob +de barbariums in de Stingy Islands, didn't you? Oh, ho! where you +gwine be sent 'cross de seas? Not on a party ob pleasure, dat +sartain, too! Ebber hear tell ob Bottommy Bay, eh? Dere where you +gwine. Tell you good." + +Here Sir Alexander, who had been gazing in speechless astonishment +upon what seemed to him to be an incomprehensible phenomenon, +recovered himself, found his voice, and said to Judge Merlin, very +much as if he were speaking of some half-tamed wild animal: + +"Keep that creature quiet or she must be removed." + +"Katie," said Ishmael gently, "you would not like to be taken from +the courtroom, would you?" + +"No! 'cause I don't want to be parted from my lordship. I lubs him +so well!" replied Katie, with a vindictive snap of her eyes. + +"Then you must be silent," said Ishmael, "or you will be sent away." + +"Look here, ole marse!" said Katie, addressing the bench, "he had +his sassagefaction sassin' at me dere at Scraggy! now it's my turn! +And I gwine gib it to him good, too. Say, my lordship! sold me to a +low life 'fectioner to work in de kitchen--didn't you! Umph-humph! +What you gwine to work at? not crickets, dat's sartain! Ebber try to +take your recreation in de quarries wid a big ball and chain to your +leg, eh? And an oberseer wid a long whip, ha?" she grinned. + +"Sir, if you have been sufficiently well entertained with this +exhibition of gorilla intelligence and malignity, will you have the +goodness to put a stop to the performance and proceed with the +business of the day?" asked Lord Vincent arrogantly. + +"Aye, lad! though, as ye ask for a short delay of proceeding, in +order to get your counsel, which is but reasonable, there is no +business on hand but just to remand you and your companion--puir +lassie!--back to prison, for future examination," said the +magistrate. Then turning to a policeman, he said: "If that strange +creature becomes disorderly again, remove her from the room." + +"Nebber mind, ole marse! he no call for to take de trouble. I done +said all I gwine to say and now I gwine to shut up my mouf tight. +I'd scorn to hit a man arter he's down," said Katie, bridling with a +lofty assumption of magnanimity. And as she really did shut her +mouth fast, the point of expulsion was not pressed. + +"And noo, lad, naething remains but to send you back," said Sir +Alexander. + +"I remarked to you before, sir, that I object to be remanded to +prison, since nothing is proved against me. I totally object!" said +the viscount stubbornly. + +"Aye, lad, it appears too that ye object to maist things in legal +procedure; the whilk is but natural, ye ken, for what saith the +poet? + + "'Nae thief e'er felt the halter draw + Wi' guid opinion o' the law,'" + +replied the magistrate, with a touch of caustic humor. + +"But, sir, I am ready to give bail to any amount." + +"It will na do, lad. The accusation is too grave a one. Nae doubt ye +would gi'e me bail, and leg bail to the boot o' that. Na, Malcolm, +ye hae had your fling, lad, and noo yee'll just hae to abide the +consequences," replied the magistrate, taking up a pen to sign a +document that his clerk laid before him. + +"Then I hope, sir, that since we are to be kept in restraint, we +shall be placed in something like human quarters; and not in that +den of wild beasts, your filthy police station," said the viscount. + +"Ou, aye, surely, lad. Ye shall be made as comfortable as is +consistent wi' your safe-keeping. Christie, take the prisoners to +the jail, and ask the governor to put them in the best cells at his +disposal, as a special favor to mysel'. And ask him also in my name +to be kind and considerate to the female prisoner--puir lassie!" +said the magistrate, handing the document to the policeman in +question. + +"Ole marse--" began Katie, breaking her word, and addressing the +bench. + +"The court is adjourned," said the magistrate, rising. + +"But, ole marse--" repeated Katie. + +"Remove the prisoners," he said, coming down from his seat. + +"Yes, but, ole marse--" she persisted. + +"Dismiss the witnesses!" he ordered, passing on. + +"Laws bless my soul alive, can't a body speak to you?" exclaimed +Katie, catching hold of his coat and detaining him. + +"What is it that you want, creature?" demanded Sir Alexander, in +astonishment. + +"Only one parting word to 'lighten your mind, ole marse! Which it is +dis: Just now you called dat whited salt-peter here a pure lassie, +which, beggin' your pardon, is 'fernally false, dough you don't know +it! 'cause if she's pure, all de wus ob de poor mis'able gals ye +might pick up out'n de streets is hebbenly angels, cherrybims, and +serryfims. Dere now, dat's de trufe! Don't go and say I didn't tell +you!" And Katie let go his coat. + +And with a bow to Judge Merlin and his party as he passed them, Sir +Alexander left the room. + +The prisoners were removed--Faustina weeping, and the viscount +affecting to sneer. + +Judge Merlin and Ishmael went forth arm-in-arm. Of late the old man +needed the support of the young one in walking. Sorrow and anxiety, +more than age and infirmity, had bowed and weakened him. As the +friends walked on, their conversation turned on the case in hand. + +"The magistrate seems disposed to be very lenient," said the judge, +in a discontented tone of voice. + +"Not too lenient, I think, sir. He is evidently very kindly disposed +towards the prisoner, with whose family he seems to be personally +acquainted; but, notwithstanding all that, you observe, he is +conscientiously rigid in the discharge of his magisterial duties in +this case. He would not accept bail for the prisoner, although by +stretching a point he might have done so," replied Ishmael. + +"I wonder if he knew that? I wonder if he really knew the extent and +limit of his power as a magistrate? I doubt it. I fancy he refused +bail in order to keep on the safe side of an uncertainty. For, do +you know, he impressed me as being a very illiterate man. Why, he +speaks as broadly as the rudest Scotch laborer I have met with yet! +He must be an illiterate man." + +"Oh, no, sir; you are quite mistaken in him. Sir Alexander McKetchum +is a ripe scholar, an accomplished mathematician, an extensive +linguist, and last of all, a profound lawyer. He graduated at the +celebrated law school of Glasgow University; at least so I'm assured +by good authority," replied Ishmael. + +"And speaks in a lingo as barbarous as that of our own negroes!" +exclaimed the judge. + +Ishmael smiled and said: + +"I have also been informed that his early life was passed in poverty +and obscurity, until the death of a distant relation suddenly +enriched him and afforded him the means of paying his expenses at +the University. Perhaps he clings to his rustic style of speech from +the force of early habit, or from affection for the accent of his +childhood, or from the spirit of independence, or from all three of +these motives, or from no motive at all. However, with the style of +his pronunciation we have nothing whatever to do. All that we are +concerned about is his honesty and ability as a magistrate; and that +appears to me to be beyond question." + +"Oh, yes, yes, I dare say, he will do his duty. I am pleased that he +refused bail and remanded the prisoners." + +"Yes, he did his duty in that matter, though it must have been a +very disagreeable one. And now, sir, as the prisoners are remanded +and we have nothing more to detain us in Banff, had we not better +return immediately to Edinboro'?" suggested Ishmael; for you see, +ever since the news of his daughter's misfortunes had shaken the old +man's strength, it was Ishmael who had to watch over him, to think +for him and to shape his course. + +"Y--yes; perhaps we had. But when I return to Edinboro', I go to +Cameron Court," said the judge hesitatingly. + +"The best place for you, sir, beyond all question." + +"Yes; and by the way, Ishmael, I am charged with an invitation from +the Countess of Hurstmonceux to yourself, inviting you to accompany +me on my visit to her ladyship. Do you think you would like to +accept it?" + +"Very much indeed. I have a very pleasant remembrance of Lady +Hurstmonceux, though I doubt whether her ladyship will be able to +recollect me," said Ishmael with a smile. + +The judge was somewhat surprised at this ready acquiescence. After a +short hesitation, he said: + +"Do you know that Claudia is staying at Cameron Court?" + +"Why, certainly. It was for that reason I favored your going there. +It is, besides, under the circumstances, the most desirable +residence for Lady Vincent." + +This reply was made in so calm a manner that any latent doubt or +fear entertained by the judge that there might be something +embarrassing or unpleasant to Ishmael in his prospective meeting +with Claudia was set at rest forever. + +But how would Claudia bear this meeting? How would she greet the +abandoned lover of her youth? That was the question that now +troubled the judge. + +It did not trouble Ishmael, however. He had no doubts or misgivings +on the subject. True, he also remembered that there had been a long +and deep attachment between himself and Claudia Merlin; but it had +remained unspoken, unrevealed. And Claudia in her towering pride had +turned from him in his struggling poverty, and had married for rank +and title another, whom she despised; and he had conquered his ill- +placed passion and fixed his affections upon a lovelier maiden. But +that all belonged to the past. And now, safe in his pure integrity +and happy love, he felt no sort of hesitation in meeting Lady +Vincent, especially as he knew that, in order to save her ladyship +effectually, it was necessary that he should see her personally. + +But Ishmael never lost sight of the business immediately in hand. +Their walk from the town hall towards their hotel took them +immediately past the Aberdeen stage-coach office. Here Ishmael +stopped a moment, to secure places for himself and company in the +coach that started at eleven o'clock. + +"We shall only have time to reach the hotel and pack our +portmanteaus before the coach will call for us. It is a hasty +journey; but then it will enable us to catch the afternoon train at +Aberdeen, and reach Edinboro' early in the evening," said Ishmael. + +And the judge acquiesced. + +When they entered the inn, they found that the professor and the +three negroes were there before them. + +Ishmael gave the requisite orders, and they were so promptly +executed that when, a few minutes later, the coach called, the whole +party was ready to start. The judge and Ishmael rode inside, and the +professor and the three negroes on the outside; and thus they +journeyed to Aberdeen, where they arrived in time to jump on board +the express train that left at two o'clock for Edinboro'. They +reached Edinboro' at five o'clock in the afternoon, and drove +immediately to Magruder's Hotel. Here they stopped only long enough +to change their traveling dresses and dine. And then, leaving the +three negroes in charge of the professor, they set out in a cab for +Cameron Court. It was eight o'clock in the evening when they arrived +and sent in their cards. + +The countess and Claudia were at tea in the little drawing room when +the cards were brought in. + +"Show the gentlemen into this room," said Lady Hurstmonceux to the +servant who had brought them. + +And in a few minutes the door was thrown open and--"Judge Merlin and +Mr. Worth" were announced. + +The countess arose to welcome her guests. + +But Claudia felt all her senses reel as the room seemed to turn +around with her. + +Judge Merlin shook hands with his hostess and presented Ishmael to +her, and then, leaving them speaking together, he advanced to +embrace his daughter. + +"My dearest Claudia, all is well. We have settled the whole party, +the viscount, the valet, and the woman. They are lodged in jail, and +are safe to meet the punishment of their crimes," he said, as he +folded her to his bosom. + +But oh! why did her heart beat so wildly, throbbing almost audibly +against her father's breast? + +He held her there for a few seconds; it was as long as he decently +could, and then, gently releasing her, he turned towards Ishmael, +and beckoning him to approach, said: + +"My daughter, here is an old friend come to see you. Welcome him." + +Ishmael advanced and bowed gravely. + +"I am glad to see you, Mr. Worth," said Claudia in a low voice, as +she held out her hand. + +He took it, bowed over it, and said: + +"I hope I find you well, Lady Vincent." + +And then as he raised his head their eyes met; his eyes--those +sweet, truthful, earnest, dark eyes, inherited from his mother--were +full of the most respectful sympathy. But hers--oh, hers! + +She did not mean to look at him so; but sometimes the soul in a +crisis of agony will burst all bounds and reveal itself, though such +revelation were fraught with fate. Grief, shame, remorse, and +passionate regret for the lost love and squandered happiness that +might have been hers, were all revealed in the thrilling, pathetic, +deprecating gaze with which she once more met the eyes of her +girlhood's young worshiper, her worshiper no longer. + + "Of all sad words of tongue or pen + The saddest are these: 'It might have been.'" + +Only for an instant did she forget herself; and then Claudia Merlin +was repressed and Lady Vincent reinstated. Her voice was calm as she +replied: + +"It is very kind in you, Mr. Worth, to some so long a distance, at +so great a cost to your professional interests, for the sake of +obliging my father and serving me." + +"I would have come ten times the distance, at ten times the cost, to +have obliged or served either," replied Ishmael earnestly, as he +resigned her hand, which until then he had held. + +"I believe you would. I know you would. I thank you more than I can +say," she answered. + +"Have you been to tea, Judge Merlin?" inquired the countess +hospitably. + +"No, madam; but will be very glad of a cup," answered the judge, +pleased with any divertisement. + +Lady Hurstmonceux rang, and ordered fresh tea and toast and more +cups and saucers. And the party seated themselves. And thus the +embarrassment of that dreaded meeting was overgot. + +While they sipped their tea the judge exerted himself to be +interesting. He gave a graphic account of the scene in the +magistrate's office; the assumption of haughty dignity and defiance +on the part of the viscount; the pitiable terrors of the ex-opera +singer; the vindictive triumph of Katie; and the broad accent, +caustic humor, and official obstinacy of the magistrate. Ishmael, +when appealed to, assisted his memory. Claudia was gravely +interested. But Lady Hurstmonceux was excessively amused. + +They were surprised to hear that further proceedings were deferred; +but they at last admitted that they would be obliged to be patient +under "the law's delays." + +After tea, fearing that her guests were in danger of "moping," Lady +Hurstmonceux proposed a game of whist, saying playfully that it was +very seldom she was so fortunate as to have the right number of +evening visitors to form a rubber. + +And as no one gainsaid their hostess, the tea service was taken +away, the table cleared, and the cards brought. They seated +themselves and cut for partners; and Claudia and her father were +pitted against Lady Hurstmonceux and Ishmael. + +Do you wonder at this? Do you wonder that people who had just passed +through scenes of great trouble, and were on the eve, yes, in the +very midst of a fatal crisis, people whose minds were filled with +sorrow, humiliation, and intense anxiety, should gather around a +table for a quiet game of whist; yes, and enjoy it, too? + +Why, if you will take time to reflect, you will remember that such +things are done in our parlors and drawing rooms every day and night +in our lives. Our thoughts, our passions, our troubles, are put +down, covered over, ignored, and we--play whist, get interested in +honors and odd tricks, and win or lose the rub; or do something +equally at variance with the inner life, that lives on all the same. + +Our party spent a pleasant week at Cameron Court. + +Ishmael occupied himself with making notes for the approaching +trials, or with visiting the historical monuments of the +neighborhood. + +Judge Merlin devoted himself to his daughter. + +Lady Hurstmonceux studied the comfort of her guests, and succeeded +in securing it. + +And thus the days passed until they received an official summons to +appear before Sir Alexander McKetchum at the examination of Lord +Vincent and Mrs. Dugald. + + + + +CHAPTER XLIV. + +NEMESIS. + + With pallid cheeks and haggard eyes, + And loud laments and heartfelt sighs, + Unpitied, hopeless of relief, + She drinks the cup of bitter grief. + + In vain the sigh, in rain the tear, + Compassion never enters here; + But justice clanks the iron chain + And calls forth shame, remorse, and pain. + --_Anon_ + + + +The same carriage that brought Lord Vincent and Mrs. Dugald to the +town hall conveyed them from that place to the county jail. + +There Lord Vincent finally dismissed it, sending it home to the +castle, and instructing Cuthbert to pack up some changes of clothing +and his dressing-case and a few books and to bring them to him at +the prison. + +Mrs. Dugald at the same time stopped crying long enough to order the +old man to ask Mrs. MacDonald to put up all that might be necessary +to her comfort for a week, and dispatch it by the same messenger +that should bring Lord Vincent's effects. + +These arrangements concluded, the carriage drove away and Policeman +McRae conducted his prisoners into the jail. He took them first into +the warden's room, where he produced the warrant for their commital +and delivered them up. + +The warden, "Auld Saundie Gra'ame," as he was familiarly styled, was +a tall, gaunt, hard-favored old Scot, who had been too many years in +his present position to be astonished at any description of prisoner +that might be confined to his custody. In his public service of more +than a quarter of a century he had had turned over to his tender +mercies more than one elegantly dressed female, and many more than +one titled scamp. So, without evincing the least surprise, he simply +took the female prisoner, named in the warrant "Faustina Dugald," to +be--just what she was--a fallen angel who had dropped into the +clutches of the law; and the male prisoner, named in the warrant +"Malcolm Dugald, Viscount Vincent," to be--what he was--a noble +rogue, guilty of being found out. + +While he was reading the warrants, entering their names in his +books, and writing out a receipt for their "bodies," Lord Vincent +stood with his fettered hands clasped, his head bowed upon his +chest, and his countenance set in grim endurance; and Faustina stood +wringing her hands, weeping, and moaning, and altogether making a +good deal of noise. + +"Whisht, whisht, bairnie! dinna greet sae loud! Hech! but ye mak' +din eneugh to deave a miller!" expostulated the warden, as he handed +the receipt to McRae and turned his regards to the female prisoner. + +But the only effect of his words upon Faustina was to open the +sluices of her tears and make them flow in greater abundance. + +"Eh, lassie, 'tis pity of you too! But hae ye ne'er been tauld that +the way o' the transgreesor is haird? and the wages o' sin is +deeth?" said the "kindly" Scot. + +"But I do not deserve death! I never did kill anybody myself!" +whimpered Faustina. + +"Wha the de'il said ye did? I was quoting the Book whilk I greatly +fear ye dinna aften look into, or ye would na be here noo." + +"But I have no right to be here. I never did anything, I, myself, to +deserve such treatment. It was Lord Vincent's fault. It was he who +brought me to this!" whined Faustina. + +"Nae doobt! nae doobt at a'! He's ane o' the natural enemies o' your +sex, ye ken. And ye suld o' thocht o' that before ye trusted him sae +far." + +"I did not trust him at all. And I do not know what you mean by your +insinuations, you horrid old red-headed beast!" cried Faustina. + +"Whisht! whisht! haud your tongue, woman! Dinna be sae abusive! Fou' +words du nae guid, as I aften hae occasion to impress upon the +malefactors that are brocht here for safe-keeping," said the jailer, +as he turned and looked around upon the underlings in attendance. +Then beckoning one of the turnkeys to him, he said: + +"Here, Cuddie, tak' this lass into the north corridor o' the women's +ward; and when ye hae her safe in the cell, ye maun knock off the +irons fra her wrists. Gang wi' Cuddie, lass; an dinna be fashed; +he's nae a bad chiel." + +Cuddie, a big, honest, good-natured looking brute, took a bunch of +great keys from their hook on the wall and signing for his prisoner +to follow him, turned to depart. + +But Faustina showed no disposition to obey the order. And McRae, who +had lingered in the room, now turned to the warden and said: + +"If you please, sir, Sir Alexander McKetchum desired me to request +you to put these prisoners into as comfortable quarters as you could +command, consistent with their safe custody." + +"Sir Alexander would do weel to mind his ain business. Wha the de'il +gi'e him commission to dictate to me?" demanded the old Scot +wrathfully. + +"Nay, sir, he only makes the request as a personal favor," said +McRae deprecatingly. + +"Ou, aye, aweel, that's anither thing. Though there's nae muckle of +choice amang the cells, for that matter; forbye it's the four points +o' the compass, nor', sou', east, and wast. The jail is square and +fronts nor', and the cells range accordingly. There's nae better +than the nor' corridor o' the women's ward. Tak' the lass awa, +Cuddie." + +Cuddie laid his hand not unkindly on the shoulder of his prisoner, +and Faustina, seeing at last that resistance was quite in vain, +followed him out. + +"Noo, Donald, mon," said the jailer, beckoning another turnkey, +"convey his lairdship to the sou-wast corner cell in the men's ward. +It has the advantage of twa windows and mare sunshine than fa's to +the lot o' prison cells in general. And when ye get him there +relieve him o' his manacles." + +The officer addressed took down his bunch of keys, and turned to his +prisoner. But Lord Vincent did not wait for the desecrating hand of +the turnkey to be laid upon his shoulder. With a haughty gesture and +tone he said: + +"Lead the way, fellow; I follow you." + +And Donald bowed and preceded his prisoner as if he had been a head- +waiter of a fashionable hotel, showing an honored guest to his +apartments. + +When they were gone the old warden turned to the policeman: + +"Will it gae hard wi' them, do ye think, McRae?" + +"I think it will send them to penal servitude for twenty years or +for life." + +Meanwhile Cuddie conducted his prisoner through long lines of close, +musty, fetid passages, and up high flights of cold, damp stone +stairs, to the very top of the building, where the women's wards +were situated. + +Here he found a stout old woman, in a linen cap, plaid shawl, and +linsey gown, seated at an end window, with her feet upon a foot- +stove, and her hands engaged in knitting a stocking. + +She was Mrs. Ferguson, the female turnkey. + +"Here, mither, I hae brocht you anither prisoner," said Cuddie, +coming up with his charge. + +The old woman settled her spectacles on her nose, and looked up, +taking a deliberate survey of the newcomer, as she said: + +"Hech! the quean is unco foine; they be braw claes to come to prison +in. Eh, Cuddie, I wad suner hae any ither than ane o' these hizzies +brocht in." + +"But, mither, the word is that she maun be made comfortable," said +Cuddie. + +"Ou, aye--nae doobt! she will be some callant's light o' luve, wha +hae a plenty o' siller!" replied the old woman scornfully, as she +rose from her place and led the way to the door of a cell about +halfway down the same corridor. + +"Ye'll pit her in here. It will be as guid as anither," she said. + +Cuddie detached a certain key from his bunch and handed it to her. +She opened the door, and they entered. The cell was a small stone +chamber, six feet by eight, with one small grated window, facing the +door. On the right of the window was a narrow bed, filling up that +side of the cell; on the left was a rusty stove; that was all; there +was no chair, no table, no strip of carpet on the cold stone floor; +all was comfortless, desolate. + +Faustina burst into a fresh flood of tears as she threw herself upon +the wretched bed. + +"Let me tak' aff the fetters," said Cuddie gently. + +Faustina arose to a sitting position, and held up her hands. + +Cuddie, with some trouble, got them off, but so awkwardly that he +bruised and grazed her wrists in doing so, while Faustina wept +piteously and railed freely. Cuddie was too good-natured to mind +the railing, but the dame fired up: + +"Haud your growlin', ye ne'er-do well! Gin ye had your deserts, for +a fou'-mouthed jaud, ye'd be in a dark cell on bread and water!" + +"Whisht! whisht, mither! Let her hae the length o' her tongue, puir +lass! It does her guid, and it does me na hurt. There, lass--the +airns are aff, and if you'll o'ny put your kershief aroun' your +bonnie wrists they'll sune be weel eneugh." + +"Take me away! take me away from that horrid ol woman!" cried +Faustina, turning her wrath upon the dame and appealing to Cuddie. + +"Whisht! dinna ye mind her. She's a puir dolted auld carline," said +Cuddie, in a voice happily too low to reach the ear of said +"carline." + +"Ye maunna guid her siccan a sair gait, mither," said Cuddie, as +they left the cell. + +"I doobt she has guided hersel' an uco' ill ane," retorted the dame. + +Faustina was left sitting on the side of the hard bed, weeping +bitterly. She did not throw off her bonnet or cloak. She could not +make herself at home in this wretched den. Besides, it was bitterly +cold; there was no fire in the rusty stove and she wrapped her +sables more closely around her. + +She remained there in the same position, cowering, shivering and +weeping, for two or three miserable hours, when she was at length +broken in upon by the old dame, who brought in her prison dinner-- +coarse beef broth, in a tin can, with an iron spoon, and a thick +hunk or oatmeal bread on a tin plate. + +"What is that!" ask Faustina. + +"Your dinner. Is it na guid o' the authorities to feed the like o' +you for naething?" + +"My dinner! ugh! Do you think I am going to swallow that swill--fit +only for pigs?" exclaimed Faustina, in disgust. + +"Hech, sirs! what's the warld comming to? It is guid broose, verra +guid broose, that many an honest woman would be unco glad to hae for +hersel' and her puir bairns, forbye _you!_" said the dame +wrathfully. + +"Take it away! the sight of it makes me ill!" + +"Verra weel; just as you please. I'll set it here, till ye come to +your stomach," said the dame, setting the can and plate down upon +the stone floor, for there was no other place to put them. + +"I want a fire--I am frozen!" cried Faustina. + +"Why did na ye say sae before?" growled the dame, going out. + +In a few minutes she came back, bringing coals and kindlings and +lighted the fire, and then retreated as sullenly as she had entered. +Faustina drew near the stove, and sat down upon the floor to hover +over it. + +When she grew warm her eyes began to glitter dangerously. She turned +herself around and surveyed the place. Like the frozen viper thawed +to life, her first instinct was to bite. + +"I would like to set fire to the prison !" she said. + +But a moment's reflection proved to her the folly of this impulse. +If she should use the fire in her stove for such incendiary +purposes, herself would be the only thing burned up; the cell of +stone and its furniture of iron would escape with a smoking. + +She put off her bonnet and her sables--the first time since the +night before, and she threw herself upon the bed, and lay there in a +torment until six o'clock in the evening, when the door was once +more unlocked by the dame, who brought her the prison supper--a tin +can of oatmeal porridge. + +"Here's your parritch; ye may eat it or leave it, just as ye +please," said the woman, setting the can on the floor. + +"I want some tea! I will have none of your filthy messes! Bring me +some tea!" cried Faustina. + +"I wish ye may get it, lassie, that's a'," answered the dame, as she +went out and locked the door behind her. + +That was the last visit Faustina had that night. She lay on her hard +bed, weeping, moaning, and lamenting her fate, until the last light +of day died out of the narrow window, and left the cell in darkness, +but for the dim red ray in the corner, that showed where the fire in +the rusty stove burned. And still she lay there, until the pangs of +hunger began to assail her. These she bore some time before she +could overcome her repugnance to the prison fare. At length, +however, she arose and groped her way about the stone floor until +she found the can of beef broth, which, upon trying, she discovered +to taste better than it looked. She ate it all; then she ate the +hunk of bread; and finally she finished with the oatmeal porridge. +And, then, without undressing, she threw herself on the outside of +her bed; and, overcome with fatigue, distress, and vigilance, she +fell into a deep sleep that lasted until the morning. + +It might have lasted much longer, but she was aroused about seven +o'clock, by the entrance of her keeper, bringing her breakfast. + +"Eh!" said the dame, glancing at the empty cans, "but I thocht ye +would come to your stomach. Here's your breakfast." + +Faustina raised herself up and gazed around in a bewildered way, but +she soon recollected herself, and looked inquiringly at her keeper. + +"It's your breakfast," said the latter; "it's guid rye coffee, +sweeted wi' treacle, and a braw bit o' bannock." + +"I want water and soap and towels," said Faustina, in an angry, +peremptory manner. + +"Ou, aye, nae doobt; and ye would like a lady's maid, and perfumery +'till your toilet. Aweel, there is a stone jug and bowl of water, +and a hempen clout ahint the stove, gin that will serve your +purpose," said the dame, setting down the breakfast, and gathering +the empty cans from the floor as she left the cell. + +Faustina, poor wretch, made such a toilet as her rude providings +enabled her to do, and then, with what appetite she might, made her +morning meal. And then she sat on the edge of her bed and cried and +wished herself dead. + +At about eleven o'clock she heard footsteps and voices approaching +the cell. And the door was opened by the turnkey, who ushered in +Mrs. MacDonald, followed by a servant from the castle, bringing a +large box and a basket. + +The servant set down his burdens and retired with the turnkey, who +immediately locked the door. + +And not until then, when they were left alone, did this precious +pair of female friends rush into each other's arms, Faustina +bursting into tears and sobbing violently on the bosom of Mrs. +MacDonald, and Mrs. MacDonald wheedling, caressing, and soothing +Faustina. + +"Mine pet, mine darling, mine bonny bairn," were some of the +epithets of endearment bestowed by the lady upon her favorite. + +"Oh, madame, what a purgatory of a place, and what demons of +people!" Faustina cried. + +"Yes, my sweet child, yes, I know it! but bear up!" + +"Nothing fit to eat, or drink, or sleep on, or sit down, or even to +wash with; and no one to speak a civil word to me!" wailed Faustina, +still dwelling upon present inconveniences rather than, thinking of +the future perils. + +"Yes, my dear, yes, I know; but now, sit you down and see what I +have brought you," said Mrs. MacDonald, gently forcing Faustina to +seat herself upon the side of the bed. + +"Look at my poor dress," said Faustina, pointing down to the +delicate white evening dress in which she had been arrested, and +which was now crumpled, torn, and stained. + +"Eh, but that's a woeful sight! But I thought of it, my bairn, and I +have brought you a plain black silk and white linen collars and +sleeves. Let me help you to change your dress, and I will take that +white one home with me." + +Faustina agreed to this, and when the change was effected she +certainly presented a more respectable appearance. + +Mrs. MacDonald next unpacked the large basket, taking from it a +dressing-case, furnished with every requisite for the toilet; a +work-box, with every convenience for a lady's busy-idleness; and a +writing-desk, with every necessary article for epistolary +correspondence. + +"Now where shall I put them?" she inquired, looking around upon the +bare cell. + +"Ah, the beastly place!" exclaimed Faustina; "there is no table, no +stand; you will have to leave them on the floor or set them on the +window sill." + +Mrs. MacDonald ranged them on the floor, against the wall, under the +window. + +And then she rolled up the spoiled evening dress and crowded it into +the empty basket. Next she took the trunk and pushed it under the +bed, saying: + +"In that trunk, my dear, you will find every requisite change of +clothing. The basket I will take back." + +"Ah, but I want many more things beside clothing. I want tea and +coffee. I want bed linen and china; and--many more things," said +Faustina impatiently, + +"And you shall have everything you want, my dear. Your purse is in +your writing desk. There are a hundred and forty guineas in it. +Money will buy you all you want. And I will see it brought," said +Mrs. Dugald, going to the cell door and rapping. + +Dame Ferguson came and unlocked it. + +"I wish to come out," said Mrs. MacDonald. + +"Aye, me leddy," said the dame, courtesying and making way for the +visitor to pass; for the carriage, with the Hurstmonceux arms +emblazoned upon its panels, the servant in the livery of the Earl of +Hurstmonceux, and the haughty air of the lady visitor, all impressed +the female turnkey with a feeling of awe. + +"I wish to speak with you, dame," said Mrs. MacDonald. + +"Aye, me leddy, and muckle honor till me!" replied the woman, with +another low courtesy, as she led the way to her seat at the window +at the extreme end of the corridor. + +"I wish to bespeak your attention to the lady I have just left," +said Mrs. MacDonald. + +"Aye, me leddy! Ye will be ane o' the beneevolent leddies wha gang +about, seeking for the lost sheep o' the house o' Israel, meaning +sic puir misguided lasses as yon! Ye'll be aiblins, ane o' the leddy +directors o' the Magdalen Hospital?" said Mrs. Ferguson. + +"The--what? I don't know what you mean, woman. I am speaking to you +of a lady-the Honorable Mrs. Dugald." + +"A leddy? The Honorable Mistress Dugald? Ou! aye! forgi'e me, your +leddyship. I'm e'en but a puir, auld, doitted bodie. I e'en thocht +ye were talking o' yon misguided quean in the cell. The Honorable +Mistress Dugald. She'll be like yoursel', intereested in yon lassie; +and aiblins ain o' the leddy direectors o' the Magdalen." + +"I think you are a fool. The misguided lassie, as you have the +impudence to call her, is no misguided lassie at all. She is the +Honorable Mrs. Dugald, of Castle Cragg," said Mrs. MacDonald +impatiently. + +"Wha--she--the lass in yon cell, the Honorable--Mistress--Dugald?" + +"Herself!" + +"Hech, that's awfu'l" + +"So I wished to give you a hint to treat her with the consideration +due to her rank." + +"Eh, sirs! but that's awfu'!" repeated the dame, unable to overget +her astonishment. + +"She has money enough to pay for all that she requires and to reward +those who are kind to her besides," continued Mrs. MacDonald. + +"Nae doobt! nae doobt! bags o' gowd and siller! bags o' gowd and +siller! What a puir, auld, doitted, fule bodie I was, to be sure," +said the dame, in a tone of regret. + +"Now, I want to know whether she cannot have a few comforts in her +cell, if she is able and willing to pay for them, and to reward her +attendants for bringing them?" + +"And what for no? The bonny leddy sail hae a' that she craves, whilk +is consistent wi' her safe-keeping." + +"And certainly her friends would ask no more." + +"What would her leddyship like to begin wi'?" + +"She is to remain here for a week; therefore she would like to have +her cell fitted up comfortably. She will want a piece of carpeting +to cover the floor; some nice fine bedding and bed linen; a toilet +service of china; a single dinner and tea service of china; and a +silver fork and spoon. Can you recollect all these articles?" + +"What for no?" + +"But stay, I forgot; she will want a small table and an easy-chair +and footstool. Can you remember them all?" + +"Ilk a ane!" + +"Twenty pounds, I should think, would cover the whole expense. Here +is the money; take it and send out and get the things as soon as you +can," said Mrs. MacDonald, putting two ten-pound notes in the hand +of the dame. + +"I'll has them all in by twal' o' the clock," answered the dame +zealously. "Be guid till us! The Honorable Mrs. Dugald! Yon quean! +Who'd hae thocht it? But what will be the reason they pit the bonny +leddy in prison? It's wonderfu'! It canna be for ony misdeed?" + +"No, dame, it is for no misdeed. Ah! you have not read history, or +you would know that ladies of the highest rank, even queens and +princesses, have been sometimes put in prison." + +"Guid be guid till us! For what crime, gin your leddyship pleases?" + +"For no crime at all. They have been accused of treason, or +conspiracy, or something." + +"And sic will be the case wi' this puir leddy?" + +"Yes," said Mrs. MacDonald, whose regard for the truth was not of +the strictest description. + +"And what did they do wi' the puir queens?" + +"Cut off their heads." + +"Hech! that was awfu'! And what will they do wi' this puir leddy?" + +"Release her after a while, because they can prove nothing against +her, and because she has powerful friends." + +"Eh, but that's guid." + +"And those friends will well reward such of the officers of the +prison as shall be kind to her during her incarceration," said Mrs. +MacDonald meaningly. "And now I will trouble you to unlock the door +and admit me for a few minutes to see Mrs. Dugald." + +"Surely, me leddy," said the dame, with alacrity. + +When Mrs. MacDonald found herself once more alone with her friend +she said: + +"You will have everything you may require for your comfort in the +course of a few hours; and you will have no more trouble from the +insolence of your attendant. I have arranged all that. And now, my +dear, I am going to see the viscount. What message have you for +him?" + +"None at all. I hate him; he has brought me to this! And he deceived +me about the black woman's death and nearly frightened me into +illness. Ah! the beast!" exclaimed Faustina, with a vehemence of +spite that quite astounded her visitor. + +"My dear," she said, after she had in some degree recovered her +composure and collected her faculties, "that there is something very +dreadful in this arrest no one can doubt; some charge of kidnaping +in which you are both said to be implicated. But let us hope that +the charge will be disproved; let us say that it will; in which +case, will it be well for you to quarrel with the viscount? Think of +it, and send him some kind message." + +"I cannot think, and I will not send him any message," persisted +Faustina. + +"Then I must think for you. Good-by for a little while, my pet. I +will be with you again before I leave town," said Mrs. MacDonald, as +she left the cell. + +She proceeded immediately to the warden's office, and requested +permission to visit the Viscount Vincent in his cell. + +"Auld Saundie Gra'am," as he was called, beckoned the turnkey of the +ward in which the viscount was confined, and ordered him to conduct +the lady to Lord Vincent's cell. The man took down his bunch of keys +and, with a bow, turned and preceded Mrs. MacDonald upstairs to a +corridor on the second floor, flanked each side with grated doors. + +The visitor followed her conductor up the whole length of this +corridor to a corner door, which he unlocked to admit the visitor. +As soon as she passed in he locked the door on her and remained +waiting on the outside. + +Mrs. MacDonald found herself in the presence of Lord Vincent. As the +cell occupied by the viscount was in the angle of the building it +possessed the advantage of two small windows, one with a southern +and one with a western outlook. And the sun shone in all day long, +giving it a more cheerful aspect than usually belongs to such dreary +places. It was furnished with the usual hard narrow bed and rusty +iron stove. Besides this, it had the unusual convenience of a chair, +upon which the viscount sat, and a table at which he wrote. + +In one corner of the cell was old Cuthbert, kneeling down over an +open trunk from which he was unpacking his master's effects. As Mrs. +MacDonald entered the viscount arose, bowed, and handed her to the +solitary chair with as much courtly grace as though he had been +doing the honors of his own drawing-room. + +"I find you more comfortable, or rather, as I should say, less +uncomfortable, than I found Mrs. Dugald, poor child," said the +visitor, after she sank into a seat. + +"Yes, thanks to the chance that left my pocketbook in my pocket," +answered the prisoner, with a defiant smile, as he seated himself on +the side of the cot. + +"I found her with scarcely the decent necessities of life; but I +have sent out to purchase for her what is needful, poor angel." + +The smile died out of the viscount's face, which became pale, cold, +and hard as marble. He made no reply. + +"She sent you many kind messages," began Mrs. MacDonald; but the +viscount interrupted her. + +"Madam," he said, "I wish never to hear that woman's name mentioned +in my hearing again." + +"Eh, but that is strange! You will have had a misunderstanding." + +"A misunderstanding! I tell you, madam, that her base cowardice, her +shameful treachery, and her utter selfishness have disgusted me +beyond measure." + +"Eh, me! friends should na quarrel that length either. You have both +had your tempers severely tried. When you get out of this trouble +you will be reconciled to each other." + +"Never! I loathe that woman! And if I were free to-day, my first act +should be to hurry to Castle Cragg and bar the doors against her re- +entrance there. And my second should be to send all her traps after +her." + +Finding at length that it was worse than useless to speak one word +in favor of Faustina while the viscount was in his present mood of +mind, Mrs. MacDonald turned the conversation by: + +"Well, my lord, I hope you have taken proper precautions for your +defense at the preliminary examination." + +"I have engaged counsel, who is even now at work upon my case." + +"And I trust, my lord, that you have summoned the earl. His presence +here would be a tower of strength to you." + +"I am aware of that. I do not, however, know exactly where to put my +hand down upon my father. I telegraphed to his London bankers to-day +to know his address. The answer came that he was at St. Petersburg +at the last advices. I shall cause a telegram to be sent to him +there, in the care of our minister. It may or may not find him." + +"And now, my lord, what can I do for you?" said Mrs. MacDonald, +rising. + +"Nothing, whatever, my dear madam, except to return to the castle +and remain there and keep it warm for me against I get back," said +the viscount courteously, rising to see his visitor to the door of +the cell--a distance of eight feet from the spot where they stood. + +Mrs. MacDonald went back to the cell of Faustina, where she remained +until the comforts she had sent her were brought in. Then she +superintended their arrangement, and even assisted with her own +hands in the laying down of the strip of carpet, the making of the +bed, and the adjusting of the table. + +"There, my dear," she said, when all was done; "I think you are now +as tidy and as comfortable as it is possible to be in such a place +as this." + +"Thank you," said Faustina; "but since you have been in here this +last time you have not once mentioned Lord Vincent's name. I suppose +you have a reason for your reticence. I suppose he has been speaking +ill of me. It would be like him, to bring me into this trouble and +then malign me." + +"No, my darling, he has not breathed a syllable of reproach against +you. He has spoken of you most considerately. He has charged me with +many affectionate messages to you," said this disinterested +peacemaker, whose personal interests were all at stake in the +quarrel between the viscount and his fellow-prisoner. + +"I don't want to hear his messages. I hate the sound of his name, +and I wish I had never seen the sight of his face. But, Mrs. +MacDonald, I thank you for the kindness you have shown me," said +Faustina. + +Mrs. MacDonald kissed her by way of answer. And then she sent out +and ordered a luxurious little dinner, which was promptly brought +and served in the cell. And after dinner they had a dessert of +fruit, and after that coffee, just as they bad been accustomed to +have these things at Castle Cragg. + +Coffee cup in hand, Mrs. MacDonald remained chatting with her friend +until the hour arrived for locking up the prison for the night. +Then, with a promise to return the next day, and to come every day, +she took leave and departed, returning to Castle Cragg in the family +carriage, driven by old Cuthbert. + +This day was a fair sample of all the days passed in prison by the +Viscount Vincent and Mrs. Dugald up to the time of the preliminary +examination before the magistrate. + +The viscount occupied himself with writing, making notes for his +defense, or holding consultation with his counsel. As he had plenty +of ready money, he did not want any comfort, convenience, or luxury +that money could provide. The earl, his father, however, did not +arrive, and had not even been heard from. + +Faustina passed her days in prison in eating, drinking, sleeping, +and repining. Mrs. MacDonald came in every day to see her, and +always stayed and dined with her. Mrs. MacDonald rather liked the +daily airing she got in her ride to and fro between the castle and +the prison. She liked also the epicurean dinners that Faustina would +buy and pay for, and thus she was a miracle of constancy and +fidelity. + +Old dame Ferguson was their attendant. She also was bought with +money. And from having been the arrogant mistress of her prisoner, +she was now the humble slave of her "leddyship,"--that being the +title to which she had advanced Mrs. Dugald. + +Thus the days passed, bringing at length the important morning upon +which the preliminary examination was to be held, in which it was to +be decided whether these prisoners should be honorably discharged or +whether they should be committed to jail to stand their trial upon +the charge of kidnaping and conspiracy. + +The Earl of Hurstmonceux had not yet been heard from; but the +Viscount Vincent had prepared himself with the best defense possible +to be got up in his case. + +Judge Merlin and his witnesses had been duly notified to appear; and +they were now in town, lodging at the very house from which the +prisoners obtained their recherche meals. + + + + +CHAPTER XLV. + +THE VISCOUNT'S FALL. + + They that on glorious ancestors enlarge + Produce their debt instead of their discharge. + --_Young_. + + + +The viscount ordered his carriage to be in readiness to convey him +to the magistrate's office. Old Cuthbert was punctual. And +accordingly on the morning in question Lord Vincent, and Faustina, +attended by Mrs. MacDonald, and the policemen that had them in +custody, entered the carriage and were driven to the town hall. + +Here again, as on a former occasion, the viscount, in alighting, +ordered the coachman to keep the carriage waiting for him. Then he +and his party passed through the same halls and ante-chambers, +guarded by policemen, and entered the magistrate's office. + +Sir Alexander McKetchum was already in his seat on the little raised +platform. His clerk sat at a table below him. On his right hand +stood several officers of the law. On his left hand stood Judge +Merlin, Ishmael Worth, and the witnesses that had been summoned for +the prosecution. + +The Policeman McRae led his charge up in front of the magistrate, +and taking off his hat, said: + +"Here are the prisoners, your worship." + +Lord Vincent, as with the purpose of proving himself a gentleman at +least in external manners, even under the most trying circumstances, +advanced and bowed to the magistrate. + +Sir Alexander acknowledged his salute by a nod, and then said: + +"Noo, then, as ye are here, me laird, we may as weel proceed wi' the +investigation." + +"I beg your pardon, sir; I am expecting my counsel," said the +viscount. + +"Aweel! I suppose we maun wait a bit," said the magistrate. + +But at this moment the counsel for the prisoner hurried into the +office. + +"We have waited for you, Mr. Bruce," said the viscount +reproachfully. + +"I am very sorry that you should have been obliged to do so, my +lord! But the truth is, I have been to the telegraph office, to send +a message of inquiry at the last moment to your lordship's London +bankers, to ask if the Earl of Hurstmonceux had yet been heard from. +I waited for the answer, which has but just arrived, and which has +proved unsatisfactory." + +"The earl has not written to his London bankers, then?" + +"No, my lord." + +"Are you ready for the examination?" + +"Quite, my lord." + +"Aweel, then, I suppose we may proceed," said Sir Alexander. + +"At your worship's convenience," replied Mr. Bruce, with a bow. + +And thereupon the proceedings commenced. The magistrate took up the +warrant that had been issued for the arrest of the prisoners, and +read it to them aloud. Then addressing them both, he said: + +"Malcolm, Laird Vincent, and you, Faustina Dugald, are herein +charged wi' having felonious conspired against the guid character o' +Claudia, Viscountess Vincent, and to farther said conspiracy, wi' +having abducted and sold into slavery the bodies of three negroes, +named herein--Catherine Mortimer, James Mortimer, and Sarah Sims; +whilk are felony against the peace and dignity o' the Queen's +majesty, and punishable by penal servitude, according to the statute +in sich cases made and provided. What hae ye to say for yoursel's in +answer to this charge?" + +"I deny it _in toto_. And I think it infamous that I should be +called to answer such an insulting charge," said the viscount with a +fine assumption of virtuous indignation. + +"And sae do I think it infamous; I agree wi' ye there, lad! But as +to whilk pairty the infamy attaches to, there we may differ," said +the magistrate, nodding. + +The viscount drew himself up in haughty silence, as though he +disdained farther reply. + +"And noo, Faustina Dugald, what hae ye to say for yoursel'?" + +"I did not conspire! I did not abduct! I did not sell into slavery +any negro bodies! I did not do anything wrong! Not I myself!" cried +Faustina vehemently, + +"There, there, that will do. We will hear the testimony on this +case. Let Ishmael Worth, of Washington, come forward," said the +magistrate. + +Ishmael advanced, bowed to the magistrate, and stood waiting. + +"Ross, administer the oath," said the magistrate. + +The clerk took a copy of the Holy Scriptures and held them towards +Ishmael, at the same time dictating the oath, according to the +custom of such officials. + +But Ishmael, at the very onset, courteously interrupted him by +saying gently: + +"I am conscientiously opposed to taking an oath; but I will make a +solemn affirmation of the truth of what I am about to state." + +There was some objection made by the counsel for the prisoners, some +hesitation upon the part of the clerk, some consultation with the +magistrate; and finally it was decided that Mr. Worth's solemn +affirmation should be accepted in lieu of an oath. + +"I am sorry," said Ishmael courteously, "to have made this +difficulty about a seemingly small matter; but in truth, no point of +conscience is really a small matter." + +"Certainly no," responded the magistrate. + +Ishmael then made his formal affirmation, and gave in his testimony. +First of all he identified the negroes--Catherine Mortimer, James +Mortimer, and Sarah Sims--as the servants, first of Judge Randolph +Merlin, of Maryland, and of his daughter Claudia, Lady Vincent. Then +he testified to the fact of the finding of the negroes, each in a +state of slavery, in the island of Cuba; their recovery by Judge +Merlin; and their return, in his company, to Scotland. + +At the conclusion of this evidence the counsel for the prisoners +made some sarcastic remarks about the reliability of the testimony +of a witness who refused to make his statement upon oath; but he was +sharply rebuked for his pains by the magistrate. + +"Judge Randolph Merlin will please to come forward," was the next +order of the clerk. + +"I have no conscientious scruples about taking an oath, though I +certainly honor the scruples of others. And I am ready to +corroborate upon oath the testimony of the last witness," said Judge +Merlin, advancing and standing before the magistrate. The oath was +duly administered to him, and he began his statement. + +He also identified the three negroes as his own family servants, who +were transferred to his daughter's service on the occasion of her +marriage with Lord Vincent, and who were taken by her to Scotland. +He likewise testified to the facts of finding the three negroes in +the city of Havana in a condition of slavery, and the repurchasing +and transporting them to Scotland. + +The counsel for the accused took various exceptions to the evidence +given in by this witness; but his exceptions were set aside by the +magistrate as vexatious and immaterial. + +Then he cross-examined the witness as severely as if the case, +instead of being in a magistrate's office, were before the Lords +Commissioners of the Assizes. But this cross-examination only had +the effect of emphasizing the testimony of the witness, and +impressing the facts more firmly upon the mind of the magistrate. +And then, as the counsel could make nothing by perseverance in this +course, he permitted the witness to sit down. + +"Catherine Mortimer will come forward," said the clerk. + +"That's me! I's got leabe to talk at last!" said old Katie, with a +malignant nod at the accused. And she stepped up, folded her arms +upon her bosom, threw back her head, and stood with an air of +conscious importance most wonderful to behold. + +"Your name is Catherine Mortimer?" said the clerk. + +"Yes, young marse--yes, honey, dat my name--Catherine Mortimer. +Which Catherine were the name giben me by my sponsibles in baptism; +and Mortimer were de name 'ferred upon me in holy matrimony by my +late demented 'panion; which he was de coachman to ole Comedy +Burghe, as fought de Britishers in the war of eighteen hundred and +twelve." + +"What the de'il is the woman talking about?" here put in the +magistrate. + +"She is giving testimony in this case," sarcastically answered the +counsel for the accused. + +"My good woman, we don't want to hear any of your private history +previous to the time of your first landing on these shores. We want +to know what happened since. Your name, you say, is Catherine +Mortimer--" + +"Hi, young marse, what I tell you? Sure it is; Catherine Mortimer, +'spectable widder 'oman, 'cause Mortimer, poor man, died of +'sumption when he was 'bout forty-five years of age, which I hab +libed ebber since in 'spectable widderhood, and wouldn't like to see +de man as would hab de imperance to ax me to change my condition," +said Katie, rolling herself from side to side in the restlessness of +her intense self-consciousness. + +"Catherine Mortimer, do you understand the nature of an oath?" +inquired the clerk. + +"Hi, young marse, what should 'vent me? Where you think I done been +libbin all my days? You mus' think how I's a barbarium from the +Stingy Isles!" replied Katie indignantly. + +"I ask you--do you understand the nature of an oath, and I require +you to give a straightforward answer," said the clerk. + +"And I think it's berry 'sultin' in you to ax a' spectable colored +'oman any such question. Do I understan' de natur' ob an oaf? You +might 's well ax me if I knows I's got a mortal soul to be save'! +Yes, I does unnerstan' de natur' ob an oaf. I knows how, if anybody +takes a false one, which it won't be Catherine Mortimer, they'll go +right straight down to de debbil--and serbe 'em right!" + +"Very well, then," said the clerk. And he put a small Bible into her +hand and dictated the usual oath, which she repeated with an awful +solemnity of manner that must have carried conviction of her perfect +orthodoxy to the minds of the most skeptical cavilers. + +"Your name, you say, is Catherine Mortimer?" said the clerk, as if +requiring her to repeat this fact also under oath. + +The repetition of the question nettled Katie. + +"My good g'acious alibe," she said, "what I tell you? You think you +gwine catch me in a lie by 'peating of questions ober and ober in +dat a way? Now look here, young marse, I aint been tellin' of you no +lies, and if I was a-lying, you couldn't catch me dat a way, 'cause +I'se got too good a membery, dere! So, now I tell you ag'in my name +is Catherine Mortimer, and like-wise it aint Gorilla, as my lordship +and his shamwally used to call me. I done found out what dat means +now! It means monkey! which is a 'fernally false! 'cause my fambily +aint got no monkey blood in 'em. 'Dough I'd rather be a monkey dan a +lordship, if I couldn't be no better lordship den some!" said Katie, +with a vindictive nod of her head towards the viscount. + +"What is the creature discoorsing anent?" inquired the perplexed +magistrate. + +"She is giving in her evidence," replied the counsel for the +accused. + +"You dry up! Who's you? Mus' be my lordship's new shamwally making +yourself so smart. Reckon I'll give evidence enough to fix you and +my lordship out!" snapped Katie. + +"Now, then, tell us what you know of this case," said the clerk. + +"What I know ob dis case? Why, in de fus' place, I know how my +lordship dere--and a perty lordship he is--and de oder shamwally, +which I don't see here present, and dat whited saltpeter, ought +ebery single one ob dem to be hung up as high as Harem. Dere! dat +what I know; and I hope you'll do it, ole marse!" said Katie +vindictively. + +"Whisht, whisht, my good woman! Ye are no here to pronounce +judgment, but to gi'e testimony. Confine yoursel' to the facts!" +said the magistrate. + +But this order was more easily made than obeyed. It was very +difficult for Katie to confine herself to the statement of facts, +for the reason that she seemed to imagine herself prosecutor, +witness, judge, jury, and executioner all rolled into one. It took +all the tact of the clerk to get from her what could be received as +purely legal evidence. + +Katie's testimony would be nothing new to the reader. Her statement +under oath to the magistrate was the same in effect that she had +made to Judge Merlin. And although it was rather a rambling +narrative, mixed up with a good deal of bitter invective against the +accused, and gratuitous advice to the bench, and acute suggestions +of the manner of retribution that ought to be measured out to the +culprits, yet still the shrewd magistrate managed to get from it a +tolerably clear idea of the nature of the conspiracy formed against +the honor of Lady Vincent and the motive for the abduction of the +negroes. And although the counsel for the accused labored hard to +get this evidence set aside, it was accepted as good. + +"James Mortimer," called the clerk. + +And Jim walked forward and stood respectfully waiting to be +examined. + +The clerk, after putting the same questions to Jim that he had put +to Jim's mother, and receiving the most satisfactory answers, +administered the usual oath and proceeded with the examination. + +Jim said he was the son of the last witness, and he corroborated the +statements made by her, as far as his own personal experience +corresponded with hers. And although he was severely cross-examined, +he never varied from his first story, and his testimony was held +good. + +"Sarah Sims," was the next called. + +And Sally advanced modestly and stood respectfully before the +magistrate. + +Having satisfactorily answered the preliminary questions that were +put to her, she took the prescribed oath with a deep reverence of +manner that prepossessed everyone, except the accused and their +counsel, in her favor. + +And then she gave her testimony in a clear, simple, concise manner, +that met the approval of all who heard her. The counsel for the +accused cross-examined her with ingenuity, but without success. + +Sally's testimony was decidedly the most conclusive of any given by +the three negroes. And she was allowed to sit down. + +Then the counsel for the accused arose and made a speech, in which +he ingeniously sought to do away with the effect of all the evidence +that had been given in against the prisoners. He took exception to +Ishmael's evidence because Mr. Worth had declined to give it under +oath; to Judge Merlin's, because, he said, that ancient man was so +well stricken with years as to be falling into his dotage; to old +Katie's, because most decidedly he declared she was totally +unreliable, being half monkey, half maniac, and whole knave; to +Jim's, because he averred him to be wholly under the influence of +others; to Sally's, for the same reason. It would be monstrous, he +said, to send a nobleman and a lady to trial upon such evidence as +had been given in by such witnesses as had appeared there. And he +ended by demanding that his clients should be instantly and +honorably discharged from custody, and particularly that they should +not be remanded. + +And he sat down. + +"Dinna ye fash yersel', laddie! I hae na the least intention to +remaund the accused. I s'all commit them for trial," said the +magistrate. Then looking down upon his clerk, he said: + +"Ross, mon, mak' out the warrants." + +A perfect storm of remonstrance, strange to witness in a +magistrate's office, arose. The lawyer sprang upon his feet and +vehemently opposed the committal. Lord Vincent indignantly exclaimed +against the outrage of sending a nobleman of the house of +Hurstmonceux to trial. Faustina went into hysterics, and was +attended by Mrs. MacDonald. + +Meanwhile the clerk coolly made out the warrants and placed them in +the hands of McRae for execution. That prompt policeman proceeded to +take possession of his prisoners. But the storm increased; +Faustina's screams awoke the welkin; Lord Vincent's loud +denunciation accompanied her in bass keys; the lawyer's wild +expostulations and gesticulations arose above all. + +Sir Alexander had borne all this tempestuous opposition very +patiently at first; but the patience of the most long-suffering man +may give out. Sir Alexander's did. + +"McRae, remove the prisoners. And, laddie," he said to the +denunciatory lawyer, "gin ye dinna haud your tongue, I'll commit +yoursel' for contempt!" + +Lord Vincent, seeing that all opposition must be worse than vain, +quietly yielded the point and followed his conductor. But Faustina's +animal nature got the ascendency, and she resisted, fought and +screamed like a wildcat. It took half a dozen policemen to put her +into the carriage, and then the handcuffs had to be put on her. + +As soon as quiet was restored another case was called on. It was +that of Frisbie, the ex-valet, charged with the murder of Ailsie +Dunbar. + + + + +CHAPTER XLVI + +THE FATE OF THE VISCOUNT. + + Oh, vanity of youthful blood, + So by misuse to poison good. + Reason awakes and views unbarred + The sacred gates she wished to guard, + Sees approach the harpy law, + And Nemesis beholds with awe, + Ready to seize the poor remains + That vice has left of all his gains. + Cold penitence, lame after-thought, + With fear, despair, and horror fraught, + Call back the guilty pleasures dead, + Whom he has robbed and whom betrayed! + --Bishop Hoadley. + + + +When the carriage containing the prisoners reached the jail, they +were taken out to be conducted to the warden's office. The viscount, +who was in a mood of suppressed fury, was attended by Policeman +McRae and followed by old Cuthbert, broken-hearted by the dishonor +of his master. + +Faustina, who had raged herself into a state of exhaustion and +consequently of quietude, was attended by policeman Christie and +supported by Mrs. MacDonald who tenderly soothed and flattered her. + +It was a busy day in the warden's office, and the warden had but +little time to bestow on these interesting prisoners. + +"And sae they ha'e committed ye for trial, me laird, mair's the +pity; and the puir lassie too; me heart is sair for her," said Auld +Saundie Gra'ame, as they were led up to his desk to have their names +re-entered upon the prison-books. + +"It was a most unwarrantable proceeding! a monstrous abuse of +office! an outrage that should be punished by immediate +impeachment!" burst forth the viscount, in a fury. + +"As to that, me laird, I ha'e never yet seen the prisoner enter +these wa's wi' ony verra great esteem for the authorities that sent +him here," dryly replied Auld Saundie. + +Then turning to an under-warden he said: + +"Ye'll convey the prisoners back to the cells occupied by them +before." + +And Faustina was carried back to the woman's ward, followed by the +sympathizing Mrs. MacDonald, who promised to remain with her until +the hour of closing up. + +And the viscount, attended by Cuthbert, was conducted to his corner +cell, there to abide until the day of trial. + +Old Cuthbert remained with his master until he was summoned to drive +Mrs. MacDonald back to the castle. + +Several days passed. Every morning Mrs. MacDonald, driven by +Cuthbert in the family carriage, came to town, to spend the day in +the cell with Faustina, while Cuthbert remained in attendance upon +the viscount. And every evening she returned to the castle. + +The Earl of Hurstmonceux did not come. But news at length came of +him. His bankers wrote that he was out on his yacht, his exact +latitude being unknown. + +Lord Vincent, now that he was fully committed for trial, really did +not seem to be anxious for his father's return. Perhaps he would +rather not have met the earl under the present circumstances. He +held daily consultations with his counsel. These were entirely +confidential. Being assured by Mr. Bruce that it was essentially +necessary the counsel should be in possession of all the facts, the +prisoner made a tolerably clean breast of it, at least so far as the +abduction of the negroes was concerned; he exercised some little +reticence in the matters of his relations with Faustina and his +conspiracy against Lady Vincent. + +Mr. Brace of course put the fairest construction upon everything; +but still he could not help feeling the darkest misgivings as to the +result of the approaching trial. And the viscount, rendered keenly +observant by intense anxiety, detected these doubts in the mind of +his counsel, and became daily more despairing. + +He looked forward to the dishonor of a public trial with burning +indignation; to the possible, nay probable, conviction and sentence +that might follow with shrinking dread, and to the execution of that +sentence with stony horror. + +Penal servitude! Great Heaven! penal servitude for him, so high- +born, so fastidious, so luxurious in all his habits! Penal servitude +for him, the Viscount Vincent! + +He had often made one of a party of sight-seers, visiting the +prisons, the hulks, the quarries, where the prisoners were confined +at work. He had seen them in the coarse prison garb, working in +chains, under the broiling sun of summer, and under the bitter cold +of winter. He had seen them at their loathsome meals and in their +stifling sleeping pens. He had gazed upon them with eyes of haughty, +cold, unsympathizing curiosity. To him and his friends they formed +but a spectacle of interest or amusement, like a drama. + +And now to think that he might, nay, probably would, soon make one +of their shameful number! The Viscount Vincent working in chains; +gazed at by his former companions; pointed out to curious strangers! +That was the appalling picture forever present to his imagination. + +How bitterly he deplored the crimes that had exposed him to this +fate. How deeply he cursed the siren whose fatal beauty had lured +him to sin. How passionately he longed for death, as the only +deliverance from the memory of the past, the terrors of the present, +the horrors of the future. Day and night that appalling future +stared him in the face. Day and night the picture of himself working +in chains, pointed out, stared at, was before his mind's eyes. + +By day it obtruded between him and the face of any visitor that +might be with him. Even when in consultation with his counsel his +mind would wander from the subject in hand, and his imagination +would be drawn away to the contemplation of that dread picture. + +By night it would rise up in the darkness and nearly drive him mad. + +He could not eat, he could not sleep. He passed his days in pacing +to and fro in his narrow cell, and his nights in tossing about upon +his restless bed. His sufferings were pitiable, and his worst enemy +must have felt sorry for him. + +His condition moved the compassion of the warden, and every +indulgence that was in the power of old Saundie to bestow was +granted to him. And as he was not yet absolutely convicted, but only +waiting his trial, these indulgences were considerable. Old Cuthbert +was allowed to visit him freely during the day, and to bring him +anything in the way of food, drink, clothing, books, stationery, +etc., that he required. And very little supervision was exercised +over these matters. + +Meantime as the Assizes were sitting, and the docket was not very +full, it was thought that the trial would soon come on. + +On the Wednesday following the committal of the viscount the trial +of the murderer, Frisbie, which stood before that of his master on +the docket, did come on. The detective police had been busy during +the interval between Frisbie's arrest and arraignment, and they had +succeeded in collecting a mass of evidence and a number of witnesses +besides old Katie. + +Frisbie, however, was defended by the best counsel that mere money +could procure. There are many among the best lawyers who will not +take up a bad case at any price. But Frisbie, as I said, had the +best among the unscrupulous that money could buy. His master of +course paid the fees. His counsel very gratuitously instructed him +to plead "Not Guilty," and of course he did plead "Not Guilty." And +his counsel did the best thing they could to establish his +innocence. But the evidence against him was conclusive. And on the +morning of the second day of his trial Frisbie was found guilty and +sentenced to death. But a short period between sentence and +execution was then allowed in Scotland. The execution of Frisbie was +fixed for the Monday following his conviction. + +From the hour that Frisbie had been brought to trial the viscount +had experienced the most vehement accession of anxiety. He refused +all food during the day, and he paced the floor of his cell all +night. And well he might; for he knew that on that trial revelations +would be made under oath that would not tend to whiten Lord +Vincent's character. + +On Thursday noon Mr. Bruce entered his cell. + +"Is the trial--" began the viscount; but he could not get on; his +intense emotion choked him. + +"The trial is over; the jury brought in their verdict half an hour +ago," replied the counsel gravely. + +"And Frisbie is--For Heaven's sake speak!" gasped the viscount. + +"Frisbie is convicted!" said the lawyer. + +Lord Vincent, pale before, turned paler still as he sank into the +chair and gazed upon the lawyer, who was greatly wondering at the +excessive emotion of his client. + +"When is the execution fixed to take place?" + +"On Monday, of course." + +"Is there--can there be any hope of a pardon for him?" + +"Not the shadow of a hope." + +"Or--of a commutation of his sentence?" + +"It is madness to think of it." + +"Is there no chance of a respite?" + +"I tell you it is madness, and worse than madness, to imagine such a +thing as a pardon, a commutation, or even a respite for that wretch. +The crime brought home to him was one of the darkest dye--the base +assassination of the girl that loved and trusted and was true to +him. To fancy any mercy possible for that miscreant, except it be +the infinite, all-embracing, all-pardoning mercy of God, is simply +frenzy." + +"And the execution is to take place on Monday. The time is very +short," said the viscount, falling into a reverie. + +The lawyer began to speak of the viscount's own affairs; he +mentioned several circumstances connected with the viscount's case +that had become known to himself only through the testimony of +certain witnesses on Frisbie's trial, and he wished to consult the +viscount upon them. + +But Lord Vincent seemed to act very strangely; he was absent-minded, +stupid, distracted--in fact altogether unfit for consultation with +his counsel. + +And so, after a few unsuccessful attempts to rouse him, gain his +attention, and fix it upon the subject at issue, the lawyer arose, +said that he would call again the next morning, and bowed and left +the cell. + +The shame the viscount suffered was in the knowledge of the +dishonorable facts relating to himself that had been brought to +light on Frisbie's trial; the great dread he felt was that Frisbie, +at the near approach of death, would open his heart and make a full +confession; and his horrible certainty was that such a confession +was all that was wanted to ensure his own conviction. + +Again on this Thursday night he could not sleep, but paced the +narrow limits of his cell the whole night through, in unutterable +agony of mind. Never was the appalling vision of himself in the +shameful prison garb, working in chains, pointed out as an +interesting object and gazed at by curious strangers, so awfully +vivid as upon this night. + +The next morning, when his old servant Cuthbert entered the cell as +usual, he was frightened at his master's dreadful looks. + +"Will I call a doctor to your lairdship?" inquired the old man. + +"No, Cuthbert; I am not ill. I am only suffering for want of rest. I +have not been able to sleep since Frisbie's arraignment. He is +convicted, you know." + +"Aye, me laird, I ken a' anent it. My brither Randy was on the jury, +and he tauld me it a' ower a pot o' ale in the taproom o' the +'Highlander,' where I was resting while my horses fed," said the old +man gravely. + +A dark, crimson flush overspread the face of the viscount. Cuthbert +had heard all about it. Cuthbert had heard, then, those disgraceful +revelations concerning himself. He need not have blushed before +Cuthbert. That loyal-hearted old servant could not have been brought +to believe such evil of his beloved young master, as all that came +to. And his next words proved this. + +"There must 'a' been a deal o' fause swearing, me laird," he said. + +The viscount looked up and caught at the words. + +"Yes, Cuthbert, a great deal of false swearing, indeed, as far as I +am concerned, in that testimony." + +"Aye, me laird! I tauld them so in the taproom. There was a wheen +idle loons collected there, drinking and smoking and talking anent +the business o' their betters. And they were a' unco' free in their +comments. But when they mentioned your lairdship's name in +connection wi' sic infamy, I tauld them a' weel that they were a +pack o' fause knaves to believe sic lees." + +"Yes. The execution is to take place on Monday morning, Cuthbert." + +"Aye, me laird. I hope the puir, sinfu' lad will mak' guid use o' +the short time left him and repent o' a' his misdeeds, and seek his +peace wi' his Maker," said the old man solemnly. + +The viscount heaved a heavy sigh; a sigh that seemed laden with a +weight of agony. + +"Cuthbert," he said, "you know that I may not go to see the +condemned man, being a prisoner myself; but you, being a fellow- +servant, and at liberty, may be permitted to do so. I wish to charge +you with a note to deliver to him; but you must deliver it secretly, +Cuthbert; secretly, mind you." + +"Yes, me laird." + +The viscount sat down to his little table and wrote the following +note: + +"Frisbie: While there is life there is hope; therefore make no +confession; for if you do, that confession will destroy your last +possibility of pardon or commutation. + "Vincent." + +He folded and sealed this note and delivered it to Cuthbert, saying: + +"Conceal it somewhere about your person, and go to the warden's +office and ask leave to see your old fellow-servant, and no doubt +you will get it. And when you see him deliver this note secretly, as +I told you." + +"Verra weel, me laird," said the old man, going and knocking on the +door of the cell to be let out. The turnkey opened the door, +released him, and locked it again. And the viscount, left alone, +paced up and down the floor in unutterable distress of mind. An hour +passed and then Cuthbert re-entered the cell, wearing a frightened +visage. + +"Well, Cuthbert, well! did you find an opportunity of delivering the +note?" + +"Yes, me laird, I did," said the old man hesitatingly. + +"Secretly?" + +"Y-yes, me laird!" + +The viscount looked relieved of a great fear. He saw the great +disturbance of his servant's face, but ascribed it to the effect of +his interview with the condemned man, and sympathy for his awful +position, and he inquired: + +"How did Frisbie look, Cuthbert?" + +"Like a ghaist; na less! pale as deeth; trembling like a leaf about +to fa'! and waefully distraught in his mind!" + +"Did he get an opportunity of reading my note while you were with +him?" + +"Oh, me laird, I maun just tell you! I hope there was na ony great +secret in that same note." + +The viscount started and stared wildly at the speaker, but then +everything alarmed Lord Vincent now. + +"What do you mean?" he asked: + +"Oh, me laird! I watched my opportunity, and I gi'e him the note in +secrecy, as your lairdship tauld me; and I stooped and whispered +till him in his lugs to keep the note till he was his lane, and read +it then. But the doitted fule, gude forgi'e me, didna seem to +compreheend; but was loike ane dazed. He just lookit at me and then +proceeded to open the note before my face. Whereupon the turnkey lad +takit it out fra his hand, saying that the prisoner, being a +condemned man, maunna receive ony faulded paper that hadna passit +under the observation of the governor, because sic faulded packets +might contain strychnine or other subtle poison. And sae he took +possession o' your note, me laird, before the prisoner could read a +word of it; and said he maun carry it to the governor whilk I +suppose he did." + +To see the consternation of the viscount was dreadful. + +"Oh, Cuthbert, Cuthbert, the cowardice of that miserable wretch will +ruin me!" he exclaimed bitterly. + +"Oh, me laird, dinna rail at the puir sinfu' soul for cowardice. +Sure mesel' would be a coward gin I had the waefu' woodie before my +ees. 'Deed, me laird, and me heart is sair for the mischance o' the +note." + +"It cannot be mended now, Cuthbert." + +The time was drawing near for the closing of the prison doors, and +the old man took a dutiful leave of his master and departed. + +On his way downstairs he was called into the warden's office, and +while there he was severely reprimanded for conveying letters to the +convict, and forbidden under pain of punishment to repeat the +offense. The old man bore the rebuke very patiently, and at the +lecture that was bestowed upon him he humbly bowed and took his +leave. + +This night the viscount, exhausted by long vigilance and fasting and +by intense anxiety, threw himself upon his bed and slept for a few +hours. The next morning, Saturday, in his restless trouble he arose +early. And in the course of the day he questioned everyone who came +into his cell concerning the state of mind of the condemned man. + +Some could give him no news at all; others could tell him something; +but they differed in their accounts of Frisbie--one saying that he +had asked for the prison chaplain, who had gone in to him; a second +that he was very contrite; a third that he was only terribly +frightened; a fourth that he was as firm as a rock, declined to +confess his guilt and persisted in declaring his innocence. The +viscount endeavored to believe the last statement. + +The miserable day passed without bringing anything more satisfactory +to Lord Vincent. And the night that followed was a sleepless one to +him. + +Sunday came; the last day of life that was left to the wretched +valet. On Sunday it was obligatory upon all the prisoners confined +in that jail to attend divine service in the prison chapel. They had +no choice in this matter; unless they were confined to their beds by +illness they were obliged to go. + +On this particular Sunday no prisoner felt disposed to place himself +on the sick list. Quite the contrary. For, on the other hand, many +prisoners who were really ill, in the infirmary, declared themselves +well enough to get up and go to chapel. + +The reason of their sudden zeal in the performance of their +religious duties was simply this: The "condemned sermon," as it was +called, was to be preached that day. And the condemned man, who was +to be executed in the morning, was to be present under guard. And +people generally have a morbid curiosity to gaze upon a man who is +doomed to death. + +Lord Vincent was ill enough to be exempt from the duty of appearing +in the chapel, and haughty enough to recoil from mixing publicly +with his fellow-prisoners; but he was intensely anxious to see +Frisbie and judge for himself, from the man's appearance, whether he +seemed likely to make a confession. + +And so, when the turnkey whose duty it was to attend to this ward +came around to unlock the doors and marshal the prisoners in order +to march them to the chapel, Lord Vincent, without demur, fell into +rank and went with them. + +The chapel was small, and the prisoners present on this day filled +it full. The set to which Lord Vincent belonged were marched in +among the last. Consequently they sat at the lower end of the +chapel. + +Lord Vincent's height enabled him to look over the heads of most +persons present. And he looked around for Frisbie. At length he +found him. + +The condemned pew was immediately before the pulpit, facing the +preacher. In it sat Frisbie, unfettered, but guarded by two +turnkeys, one of whom sat on each side of him. But Frisbie's back +was towards Lord Vincent, and so the viscount could not possibly get +a glimpse of the expression of his face. + +He next looked to see if he could find the selfish vixen who had +lured him to his ruin, and whom he now hated with all the power of +hatred latent in his soul. But a partition eight feet high, running +nearly the whole length of the chapel and stopping only within a few +feet of the pulpit, separated the women's from the men's side of the +church, so that even if she had been present he could not have seen +her. + +"The wages of sin is death." + +Such was the text from which the sermon was preached to the +prisoners that day. But the viscount heard scarcely one word of it. +Intensely absorbed in his own reflections, he paid no attention to +the services. At their close he bent his eyes again upon the form of +Frisbie. + +His perseverance was rewarded. As they arose to leave the chapel +Frisbie also arose and turned around. And the viscount got a full +view of his face--a pale, wild, despairing face. + +"He is desperately frightened, if he is not penitent. That is the +face of a man who, in the forlorn hope of saving his life, will deny +his guilt until the rope is around his neck, and then, in the +forlorn hope of saving his soul, confess his crime under the +gallows," said the viscount to himself, as he was marched back to +his cell. + +In that the viscount wronged Frisbie. The great adversary himself is +said to be not so black as he is painted. + +That same night, that last solemn night of the criminal's life, the +prison chaplain stayed with the wretched man. Mr. Godfree was a +fervent Christian; one whose faith could move mountains; one who +would never abandon a soul, however sinful, to sink into perdition +while that soul remained in its mortal tenement. Such men seem to +have a Christ-conferred power to save to the uttermost. + +He kept close to Frisbie; he would not permit himself to be +discouraged by the sinfulness, the cowardice, and the utter baseness +of the poor wretch. He pitied him, talked to him, prayed with him. + +With all his deep criminality Frisbie was certainly not hardened. He +listened to the exhortations of the chaplain, he wept bitterly, and +joined in the prayers. And in the silence of that night he made a +full confession to the chaplain, with the request that it might be +made public the next day. + +He confessed the murder of Ailsie Dunbar; but he denied that the +crime had been premeditated, as it had been made to appear at the +trial. He killed her in a fit of passion, he said; and he had never +known an hour's peace since. Remorse for the crime and terror for +its consequences had made his life wretched. His master, Lord +Vincent, he said, had been an eye-witness to the murder; but had +withheld himself from denouncing him, because he wanted to use the +power he had thus obtained to compel him to enter a conspiracy +against Lady Vincent. And here followed a full account of the plot +and its execution. + +Frisbie went on to say that nothing but the terrors of death induced +him to become a party to that base conspiracy against the honor of a +noble lady, and that he had suffered almost as much remorse for his +crimes against Lady Vincent as for his murder of Ailsie Dunbar. + +All this Mr. Godfree took down in short-hand from the lips of the +conscience-stricken man. + +And then, as Frisbie expressed the desire to spend the remainder of +the night in devotion, Mr. Godfree decided to remain with him. He +read aloud to the convict portions of Scripture suited to his sad +case; he prayed fervently with him for the pardon of his sins; and +then he sang for him a consoling hymn. + +Oh, strangely sounded that sacred song arising in the deep silence +of the condemned cell. So the night passed there. + +But how did it pass in the viscount's cell? Sleeplessly, anxiously, +wretchedly, until long after midnight, when he fell asleep. He was +awakened by a sound of sawing, dragging, and hammering, that seemed +to be in the prison yard beneath his windows. It continued a long +time, and effectually banished slumber from his weary eyes. + +What could they be doing at that unusual hour? he asked himself. And +he crept from his bed and peeped through the grated window. But the +night was over-clouded and deeply dark from that darkness that +precedes the dawn. He could see nothing, but he could hear the sound +of voices amid the noise of work; although the words, at the +distance his window was from the ground, were inaudible. + +He lay down again no wiser than he had risen up. After an hour or +two the noise ceased, and he dropped into that sleep of prostration +that more resembles worn-out nature's swooning than healthy slumber. + + + + +CHAPTER XLVII. + +THE EXECUTION. + + What shall he be, ere night?--Perchance a thing + O'er which the raven flaps her funeral wing. + --_Byron_. + + + +It was broad daylight when the viscount was again awakened, and this +time by the solemn tolling of the prison bell. He sprang out of bed +and looked out of the window and recoiled in horror. There in the +angle of the prison yard stood the gallows, grimly painted black. +That was what the carpenters had been at work on all night. + +And the tolling of the prison bell warned him that the last hour of +the condemned man had come; that he was even now leaving his cell +for the gallows. Lord Vincent staggered back and fell upon his bed. +In the fate of Frisbie he seemed to feel a forewarning of the +certain retribution that was lying in wait for himself. + +There came a sound of footsteps along the passage. They paused +before his cell. Someone unlocked the door. And, to the viscount's +astonishment, the procession that was on its way to the gallows +entered his presence. There was Frisbie, still unbound, but guarded +by a half a dozen policemen and turnkeys, and attended by the +undersheriff of the county, and the warden and the chaplain of the +prison. + +Lord Vincent stared in astonishment, wondering what brought them +there; but he found no words in which to put the question. + +The chaplain constituted himself the spokesman of the party. + +"My lord, this unhappy man wishes to see you before he dies; and the +sheriff has kindly accorded him the privilege," said Mr. Godfree. + +Lord Vincent looked from the chaplain to the prisoner in perplexity +and terror. What could the condemned man, in the last hour of his +life, want with him? + +Frisbie spoke: + +"My lord, I am a dying man; but I could not meet death with guilty +secrets on my soul. My lord, I have told everything, the whole truth +about the death of poor Ailsie, and the plot against my lady. I +could not help it, my lord. I could not leave the world with such +wrong unrighted behind me. I could not so face my Creator. I have +come to tell you this, my lord, and ask you to forgive me if, in +doing this, I have been compelled to do you harm," said the man, +speaking humbly, deprecatingly, almost affectionately. + +"God forgive you, Frisbie, but you have ruined me!" was the somewhat +strange reply of the viscount, as he turned away; for it seemed to +those who heard him that he was asking the Lord to forgive the +sinner, not for his sins, but for his confession of them. + +The procession of death left the cell; the door was locked, and the +viscount was alone again--alone, and in utter, irremediable despair. + +He sat upon the side of the bed, his hands clasped and his chin +dropped upon his breast until the bell of the prison chapel suddenly +ceased to toll. Then he looked up. It was all over. The judicial +tragedy had been enacted. And he arose and went to the grated window +and looked out. + +No, oh, Heaven, it was not all over! That group around the foot of +the gallows; that cart and empty coffin; that shrouded and bound +figure, convulsed and swaying in the air--blasted his sight. With a +loud cry he dashed his hand up to his eyes to shut out the horrible +vision, and fell heavily upon the floor. He lay there as one dead +until the turnkey brought his breakfast. Then he got up and threw +himself upon the bed. He eagerly drank the coffee that was brought +to him, for his throat was parched and burning; but he could not +swallow a mouthful of solid food. + +"Bring me the afternoon paper as soon as it is out," he said to the +turnkey, at the same time handing him a half-crown. The man bowed in +silence and took his breakfast tray from the table and withdrew. + +For some reason or other, perhaps from the fear of coming in contact +with the preparations for the execution, Mrs. MacDonald did not +present herself at the prison until nearly noon, so that the prison +clock was actually on the stroke of twelve when old Cuthbert was +admitted to his master's cell. On entering and beholding his master, +the old man started and exclaimed in affright: + +"Gude guide us, me laird, what has come over ye?" + +"Nothing, Cuthbert, but want of rest. What is that you have in your +hand?" + +"The evening paper, me laird, that ane o' the lads gi'e me to bring +your lairdship." + +"Have you looked at it?" demanded the viscount anxiously, for he +could not bear the idea of his old servant's reading the confession +of Frisbie, that was probably in that very paper. "Have you looked +at it, I ask you?" he repeated fiercely. + +"Nay, no, me laird. I hanna e'en unfaulded it," said the old man +simply, handing the paper. + +The viscount seized it, threw himself on the chair, and opened it; +but instead of reading the paper he looked up at old Cuthbert, who +was standing there watching his master, with the deepest concern +expressed in his venerable countenance. + +"There, get about something; do anything! only don't stand there and +stare at me, as if you had gone daft!" angrily exclaimed Lord +Vincent. + +The old man turned meekly, and began to put things straight in the +cell. The viscount searched and found what he had feared to see. Ah! +well might he dread the eye of old Cuthbert on him while he read +those columns. + +Yes, there it was; the account of the last hours of Alick Frisbie by +the pen of the chaplain! the night in the cell, the scene of the +execution, and, last of all, the confession of the culprit with all +its shameful revelations. The viscount, with a feverish desire to +see how deeply he himself was implicated, and to know the worst at +once, read it all. How far he was implicated indeed! He was steeped +to the very lips in infamy. + +Why, the crime for which Frisbie had suffered death, the murder of +that poor girl, committed in a paroxysm of passion, and repented in +bitterness, and confessed in humility, seemed only a light offense +beside the deep turpitude, the black treachery, of that long +premeditated, carefully arranged plot against Lady Vincent, in which +the viscount was the principal and the valet only the accomplice. +The plot was revealed in all its base, loathsome, revolting details. +The reader knows what these details were, for he has both seen them +and heard of them. But can he imagine what it was to the viscount to +have them discovered, published, and circulated? + +When Lord Vincent had read this confession through he knew that all +was forever over with him; he knew that at that very hour hundreds +of people were reading that confession, shuddering at his guilt, +scorning his baseness, and anticipating his conviction; he knew as +well as if he had just heard the sentence of the court what that +sentence would be. Penal servitude for life! + +Deep groans burst from his bosom. + +"Me laird, me laird, you are surely ill," said the old man +anxiously, coming forward. + +"Yes, Cuthbert, I am ill; in pain." + +"Will I call a doctor?" + +"No, Cuthbert; a doctor is not necessary; but attend to me a moment. +They let you bring me anything you like unquestioned, do they not?" + +"Aye, surely, me laird; for you are no under condemnation yet; but +only waiting for your honorable acquittal." + +"Cuthbert, I think you have a brother who is a chemist in town, have +you not?" + +"Ou, aye, me laird. Joost Randy, honest man." + +The viscount sat down and wrote a line on a scrap of paper and gave +it to the old man. + +"Now, Cuthbert, take this to your brother. Be sure that you let no +one see that bit of paper, and when you get the medicine that I have +written for, put it in your bosom and don't take it out until you +come back to me and we are alone. Now, Cuthbert, I hope you will be +more canny over this affair than you were over the affair of the +note I sent to Frisbie, which you permitted to fall into the hands +of Philistines." + +"Ah, puir Frisbie, puir lad! Gude hae mercy on him! I'll be carfu', +me laird; though it was no me, but puir Frisbie himsel', that let +the bit note drap. But I'll be carefu', me laird, though 'deed I +dinna see the use o' concealment, sin' naebody ever interferes wi' +onything I am bringing your lairdship." + +"But they might interfere with this because it is medicine; for they +might think that no one but the prison doctor has a right to give +medicine here." + +"Ou, aye--I comprehend, me laird, that sic might be the case where +the medicament is dangerous. But will this be dangerous?" + +"Why, no; it is nothing but simple laudanum. You know how good +laudanum is to allay pain; and that there is no danger at all in +it." + +"No, me laird, gin ane doesna tak' an ower muckle dose." + +"Certainly, if one does not take an overdose; but I have knowledge +enough not to do that, Cuthbert." + +"Surely, me laird. I'll gae noo and get it," replied the old man, +taking up his hat, and knocking at the door to be released. The +turnkey opened promptly, and Cuthbert departed on his errand. + +When the viscount was left alone he resumed his restless pacing up +and down the narrow limits of his cell and continued it for a while. +Then he sat down to his little table, drew a sheet of paper before +him, and began to write a letter. + +He was interrupted by the unlocking of his cell door. Hastily he +turned the paper with the blank side up and looked around. It was +Mr. Bruce, his counsel. The lawyer looked unusually grave. + +"Well," he said, as soon as he was left alone with his client, "the +poor devil Frisbie is gone." + +"Yes," responded the viscount, in a low voice. + +"That is an ugly business of the confession." + +"Very; the man was mad," said the viscount. + +"Not unlikely; but I wish we may be able to persuade the jury that +he was so; or else to induce the judges to rule his evidence out +altogether." + +"Can that be done? I mean can the judges be induced to rule out the +confession as evidence?" inquired the viscount, sudden hope lighting +up his hitherto dejected countenance. + +"I fear not; I fear that our chance is to persuade the jury that the +man was insane or mendacious--in a word, to impeach his rationality +or his truthfulness, one or the other; we must decide which stand we +are to take, which call in question." + +"You might doubt either his sanity or his truth with equally good +cause. He was always a fool and always a liar. When is the trial to +come on?" + +"That is just what I came to speak to you about. It is called for +to-morrow at ten." + +"To-morrow at ten?" + +"Yes." + +"Are you quite ready with the defense?" + +"I was until this nasty business of Frisbie's confession turned up. +I shall have to take a copy of the paper containing it home with me +to-night, and study it, to see how I can pull it to pieces, and +destroy its effects upon the jury. Have you got it here?" said Mr. +Bruce, taking up the afternoon paper that lay upon the table. + +"Yes." + +"Have you done with it?" + +"Yes." + +The lawyer folded up the paper and put it in his pocket, and took +his hat to depart. + +"Mr. Bruce," said the viscount earnestly, "I am about to ask you a +question, which I must entreat you to answer truthfully: What are +the chances of my acquittal?" + +The lawyer hesitated and changed color. The eyes of the viscount +were fixed earnestly upon him. The eyes of the counsel fell. + +"I see; you need not reply to my question. You think my chance a bad +one," said Lord Vincent despondently. + +"No, my lord; I did not mean to give you any such impression," said +Mr. Bruce, recovering himself and his professional manners. "Before +this troublesome confession of Frisbie's your chance was an +excellent one--" + +"But since?" + +"Well, as I say, that is an ugly feature in the case; but I will do +my best. And to say nothing of my own poor abilities, my colleagues, +Stair and Drummond, are among the most successful barristers in the +kingdom. They are always safe to gain a verdict where there is a +verdict possible to be gained." + +"Yes; I know that I have the best talent in the Three Kingdoms +engaged in my defense," said the viscount; but he said it with a +profound sigh. + +"I will look in upon you again early to-morrow morning, before we go +into court," said Mr. Bruce, as he bowed himself out. + +This interview with his counsel had only tended to confirm the fears +of the viscount and deepen his despondency, for, notwithstanding the +guarded words of the lawyer, Lord Vincent saw that he had well-nigh +given up all for lost. With a deep groan he sat down to the table +and resumed the writing of his letter. He had not written many +minutes when he was startled by the opening of the door. He hastily +concealed his writing under a piece of blotting paper, and nervously +turned to see who was the new intruder. + +It was old Cuthbert, come back from his errand. + +As soon as the door was closed upon them, the old man approached his +master. + +"Have you got the medicine, Cuthbert?" + +"Aye, me laird," replied the servant, taking a bottle, rolled in a +white paper, from his pocket, and handing it to his master. Some +instinct made the viscount conceal the bottle in his own bosom. + +"And here, me laird, are two letters the turnkey gave me to hand to +your lairdship. He tauld me they had just been left at the warden's +office for you," said Cuthbert, laying two formidable-looking +epistles before his master. + +Lord Vincent recognized in the superscription of the respective +letters the handwriting of his counsel, Mr. Drummond and Mr. Stair. +He hastily opened them one after the other. Several banknotes for a +large amount rolled out of each. Surprised, he rapidly cast his eyes +over each in turn. And his face turned to a deadly whiteness. The +two letters were in effect the same. It seemed as though the +writers, though not in partnership, had acted in concert on this +occasion. They each respectfully begged leave to return their +retaining fees and retire from the defense of the viscount. Since +reading the confession of the convict, Alick Frisbie, they could not +conscientiously act as counsel for Lord Vincent. Such was the +purport, if not the exact words of the two letters. + +"Me laird, me laird, ye are ill again!" said old Cuthbert, anxiously +approaching his master. + +"Yes; the pain has returned." + +"Will ye no tak' some o' the medicine noo?" + +"No, Cuthbert; not until I retire for the night," answered the +viscount; but he withdrew the bottle from his bosom, and took it to +the wash-basin and washed off the label and then threw it--the +label--into the fire. + +Cuthbert watched him, and wondered at this proceeding, but was too +respectful to express surprise or make inquiries. And at this moment +the turnkey entered with Lord Vincent's supper, that had been +brought from the "Highlander"; and while he arranged it on the table +he warned Cuthbert that the prison doors were about to be closed for +the night, and that Mrs. MacDonald was waiting for him to drive her +back to the castle. Upon hearing this the old man took a respectful +leave of his master and departed. The turnkey remained in attendance +upon the prisoner, kindly pressing him to eat. + +But Lord Vincent swallowed only a little tea, and then pushed the +food from him. The turnkey took away the service, locked the +prisoner in for the night, and went to the warden's office. + +"Weel, Donald, what is it, mon?" inquired the warden. + +"An ye please, sir, I'm no easy in my mind about me Laird; Vincent," +said the turnkey. + +"Why, what ails me laird?" + +"Why, sir, he is joost like ane distraught!" + +"On, aye, it will be the confession o' the malefactor, Frisbie, that +has fasht him; as weel it may!" + +"He's war nor fasht; he looks joost likely to do himsel' a +mischief," said Christie, shaking his head. + +"Heeh! an that be sae we maun be carefu'! Are there any sharp-edged +or pointed instruments in his cell?" + +"Naught but his penknife. I was minded to bring it away, but I did +na." + +"Eh, then we will pay him a visit in his cell," said the warden, +rising. + +The turnkey led the way upstairs, and they entered the prisoner's +cell. The viscount, who was sitting at the table with his head +leaning upon his hand, looked up at this unusual visit. His face was +deadly pale; but beyond that the warden noticed nothing amiss in his +appearance, and that paleness was certainly natural in a prisoner +suffering from confinement and anxiety. There is usually but scant +ceremony observed between jailer and prisoner; nevertheless, in this +case Auld Saundie Gra'ame actually apologized for his unseasonable +visit. + +"Me laird," he said, "I hae a verra unpleasant duty to perform here. +Donald reports that ye are no that weel in your mind. And sic being +the case, I maun, in regard to your ain guid and safety, see till +the removal of a' edged tools and sic like dangerous weapons." + +"Take away what you please; I have no objection," said the viscount +indifferently. + +Whereupon the warden and turnkey made a thorough search of the room; +took away his razors and scissors from his dressing-case, and his +penknife and his eraser from his writing desk. + +"I shall take guid care of a' these articles, me laird, and return +them to you safe, ance you are out o' these wa's," said the warden. + +The viscount made no reply. + +"And ye maun ken that I only remove them to prevent ye doin' +yoursel' a mischief in your despondency," he continued. + +The viscount smiled with a strange, derisive, triumphant expression; +but still did not reply in words. + +"And gin ye will heed guid counsel, ye will na gi'e yoursel' up to +despair. Despair is an unco ill counselor, and the de'il is aye +ready to tak' advantage of its presence. Guid nicht, me laird, and +guid rest till ye," said Auld Saundie, as he withdrew himself and +his subordinate from the cell, and locked his prisoner in finally +for the night. + +When he got back to his office he summoned all of his officers +around him and spoke to them. + +"Lads, I ha'e sair misgivings anent yon Laird Vincent. Ye maun be +verra carefu'! Ye mauna let his mon Cuthbert tak' onything in, until +it ha'e passed muster under me ain twa een. And you, Donald, maun +aye gang in wi' Cuthbert or ony ither, gentle or simple, wha gaes to +see me laird, and bide in the cell wi' them to watch that the +visitor gi'es naething unlawfu' or daungerous to the prisoner. An +ounce o' prevention, ye ken, lads, is better than a pund o' cure!" + +And having given this order, the warden dismissed his subordinates +to their various evening duties. + +Yes, an ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure! But it +is a pity the honest warden had not known when to apply the +preventive agent. + +Meanwhile, how had Faustina borne her imprisonment? + +Why, excellently. Not that she had any patience, or courage, or +fortitude, for she had not the least bit of either, or any other +sort of heroism. But, as I said before, she was such a mere animal +that, so long as she was made comfortable in the present, she felt +no trouble on the score of the past or the future. + +After her first fit of howling, weeping, and raging had exhausted +itself, and she had seen that her violence had no other effect than +to injure her cause, she resigned herself to circumstances and made +herself as comfortable as possible in her cell. The expenditure of a +few pounds had procured her everything she wanted, except her +liberty; and that she did not feel the want of, as a creature with +more soul might have done. + +Any chance visitor who might have gone into Faustina's cell would +have been astonished to see it fitted up as a tiny boudoir, and +would have required to be told that there was no law to prevent a +prisoner, unconvicted and waiting trial, from fitting up her cell as +luxuriously as she pleased to do, if she had money to pay the +expense and friends to take the trouble. And Faustina had freely +spent money and freely used Mrs. MacDonald. + +The floor of her cell was covered with crimson carpet, the festooned +window with a lace curtain, and ornamented with a bouquet of +flowers. A soft bed, with fine linen and warm coverlids, stood in +one corner; a toilet table and mirror draped with lace, in another; +a small marble washstand, with its china service, in a third; and a +French porcelain stove in the fourth. A crimson-covered easy-chair +and tiny stand filled up the middle of the small apartment. + +And here, always well dressed, Faustina sat and read novels, or +worked crochet, and gossiped with Mrs. MacDonald all day long. And +here her epicurean meals, shared by her friend and visitor, were +brought. + +And here Mrs. MacDonald petted and soothed and flattered her with +the hopes of a speedy deliverance. + + + + +CHAPTER XLVIII. + +NEWS FOR CLAUDIA. + + Oh, in their deaths, remember they are men, + Strain not revenge to wish their tortures grievous. + --_Addison_. + + + +Death--even the most serene and beautiful death, coming to a good +old man at the close of a long, beneficent life--is awful. Sudden +and violent death, falling upon a strong young man in the midst of +his sins and follies, is horrible. But perhaps the most appalling +aspect under which the last messenger can appear is that of a +deliberately inflicted judicial death. + +Such a doom, pronounced upon the greatest sinner that ever lived, +must move the pity of his bitterest enemy. + +The family at Cameron Court formed a Christian household. They +received the news of Frisbie's conviction with solemn, compassionate +approbation. Justice approved the sentence; but mercy pitied the +victim. And they passed the day of his execution in a Sabbath +stillness. + +They were glad when the day was over; glad when the late evening +mail brought the afternoon papers from Banff, announcing that the +tragedy was finished; glad to read there that the sinner had +repented, confessed, and died, hoping in the mercy of the Father, +through the atonement of sin. + +Each one breathed a sigh of infinite relief to find that this sinner +had not endangered his soul by impenitently rushing from man's +temporal to God's eternal condemnation. + +No one failed to see the immense importance of Frisbie's dying +confession as evidence for the prosecution in the approaching trial +of the Viscount Vincent and Faustina Dugald; or the fatal effect it +must have upon the accused; yet no one spoke of it then and there. +The day of stern retributive justice was not the time for unseemly +triumph. + +They separated for the night, gravely and almost sadly. + +Claudia went up to her room, where her women, Katie and Sally, +reinstated in her service, were in attendance. Sally, as usual, was +silent and humble; Katie, equally as usual, talkative and +dictatorial. + +"And so de shamwally is hung at last! serbe him right; and I hopes +it did him good; an' I wish it was my lordship an' de whited salt- +peter along ob him!" she said, folding her arms ever her fat bosom +and rolling herself from side to side with infinite satisfaction. + +"For shame, Katie, to triumph so over a dead man! I should have +thought a good Christian woman like you would have prayed for him +before he died," said Claudia gravely. + +"'Deed didn't I! An' I aint gwine to do it nuther. I aint gwine to +bother my Hebbenly Master 'bout no sich grand vilyan! dere now!" + +"Oh, Katie, Katie, I am afraid you are a great heathen!" + +"Well, den, I just ruther be a heathen dan a whited salt-peter, or a +shamwally, or a lordship either, if I couldn't do no more credit to +it dan some," said Katie, having, as usual, the last word. + +Claudia longed to be alone on this night; so she soon dismissed her +attendants, closed up her room, put out all her lights, and lay down +in darkness, solitude, and meditation. + +Strange! but on this night her thoughts, and even her sympathies, +were with Lord Vincent in his prison cell. Why should she think of +him? Why should she pity him? She had never loved him, never even +fancied that she loved him, even in the delusive days of courtship; +or in the early days of marriage; and she had despised and shunned +him in the miserable days of their estranged life at Castle Cragg. +Why, then, as she lay there in the darkness, silence, and solitude +of her own chamber, should her imagination hover over him? Why did +she contemplate him in sorrow and in compassion? + +Because in that dreary cell she saw the twofold man--the man that he +ought to have been, and the man that he was; because she was his +wife, and though she had never loved him, yet with better treatment +she might have been won to do so; and finally, because she was a +woman, and therefore full of sympathy with every sort of suffering. + +She knew that the dying confession of Frisbie would seal Lord +Vincent's fate. And she contemplated that fate as she had never done +before. + +Penal servitude. + +Why it had seemed a mere, empty phrase until now. Now it was an +appalling reality brimful of horror, even for the coarsest, dullest, +and hardest criminal; but of how much more for him. + +Lord Vincent in the prison garb, working in chains; inquired after +by curious sight-seers; and pointed out to strangers as the felon- +viscount. + +She meditated on the effect all this would have on him, in the +unspeakable misery it would inflict upon his vain, insolent, self- +indulgent organization; and she marveled how he would ever endure +it. + +And she thought of the dishonor this would reflect upon herself as +his wife. And she shrunk shudderingly away from the burning shame of +living on, the wife of a felon. + +In the deep compassion she could not but feel for him, and in the +intense mortification she anticipated for herself, she earnestly +wished that in some manner he might escape the degrading penalty of +his crimes. + +In these harassing thoughts and distressing feelings Claudia lay +tossing upon her restless bed until long after midnight, when at +length she dropped into a deep and dreamless sleep. + +Now the circumstance that I am about to relate will be interpreted +in a different manner by different people. Rationalists who pin +their faith on Sir Walter Scott and his "Demonology" will say it was +only an optical illusion; the incredulous, who believe in nothing, +will declare it was but a dream; while Spiritualists, who follow Mr. +Robert Dale Owen in his "Footprints on the Boundaries of Another +World," will be ready to declare that it was the apparition of a +spirit; I commit myself to no opinion on the subject. + +But when Claudia had slept soundly for three hours she was aroused +by hearing her name called; she awoke with a violent start; she sat +upright in bed, and stared right before her with fixed eyes, pallid +face, and immovable form, as though she were suddenly petrified. + +For there at the foot of the bed, between the tall posts, in the +division formed by the festoons of the curtains, stood the figure of +the Viscount Vincent. His face was pale, still, stern, like that of +a dead man; one livid hand clutched his breast, the other was +stretched towards her; and from the cold, blue, motionless lips +proceeded a voice hollow as the distant moan of the wintry wind +through leafless woods: + +"Claudia, the debt is paid!" + +With these words the vision slowly dissolved to air. Then, and not +until then, was the icy spell that bound all Claudia's faculties +loosened. She uttered piercing shriek upon shriek that startled all +the sleepers in the house, and brought them rushing into her room. +Katie and Sally being the nearest, were the first to enter. + +"For Marster's sake, my ladyship, what is the matter?" inquired the +old woman, while Sally stood by in a dumb terror. + +"Oh, Katie, Katie! it was Lord Vincent! He has contrived to make his +escape in some manner! He is out of prison! he is in this very +house! he was in this room but a minute ago, though I do not see him +now! and he spoke to me!" + +"My goodness gracious me alibe, Miss Claudia, honey, it couldn't a +been he! he's locked up safe in jail, you know! It mus' a been his +sperrit!" said superstitious Katie, with the deepest awe. + +"Claudia, my dearest, what is the matter? What is all this? What has +happened?" anxiously inquired the Countess of Hurstmonceux, as, +hastily wrapped in her dressing-gown, she hurried into the chamber +and up to Claudia's bedside. + +"Come closer, Berenice; stoop down; now listen! The viscount has +broken prison! he was here but a moment ago! and he is gone! but his +unexpected appearance in this place and at this hour, looking as he +did so deathly pale, so livid and so corpse-like, frightened me +nearly out of my senses, and I screamed with terror. I--I tremble +even yet." + +"My dearest Claudia, you have been dreaming. Compose yourself," said +Lady Hurstmonceux soothingly. + +"My dearest Berenice, it was no dream, believe me. I was indeed +asleep, fast asleep; but I was awakened by hearing myself called by +name--'Claudia, Claudia, Claudia,' three times. And I opened my eyes +and sat up in bed, and saw standing at the foot, looking at me +between the curtains, Lord Vincent." + +At this moment Judge Merlin, in his dressing-gown and slippers, came +slowly into the chamber, looking around in a bewildered way and +saying: + +"They told me the screams proceeded from my daughter's apartment. +What is the matter here? Claudia, my dear, what has happened? What +has frightened you?" he inquired, approaching her bedside. + +"Oh, my poor papa, have you been disturbed, too? How sorry I am!" +said Claudia. + +"Never mind me, my dear! What has happened to you?" + +"Lady Vincent has been frightened by a disagreeable dream, sir," +replied Lady Hurstmonceux, answering for her friend. + +"My dear lady, you here!" exclaimed the judge, seeing her for the +first time since he entered the room. + +"I am a light sleeper," smiled the countess. + +"I am very sorry, papa, that I aroused the house in this manner," +said Claudia, with real regret in her tone. + +"It was not like you to do so, for a dream, my dear," replied the +judge gravely. + +"It was no dream, papa! it was no dream, as the result will prove." + +"What was it then, my dear?" + +"It was the Viscount Vincent!" + +"The Viscount Vincent!" exclaimed the judge, in astonishment. + +"Yes, papa; he has contrived to escape and to enter this house and +this very room. It was his sudden appearance that frightened me into +the screaming fit that alarmed the household; and for which I am +very sorry." + +"The Viscount Vincent here! But how on earth could he have escaped +from prison?" + +"I do not know, papa. I only know by the evidence of my own senses +that he has done so." + +"My dearest Claudia, believe me, you have been dreaming. Judge +Merlin, if you knew the great strength and security of our prisons, +you would also know how impossible it would be for any prisoner to +escape," said Lady Hurstmonceux, addressing in turn the father and +the daughter. + +"Berenice, that I have not been dreaming to-morrow will show. For +to-morrow you and all concerned will know that Lord Vincent has +escaped from prison. But my dear Berenice, and you, my dearest +father, promise to me one thing; promise me not to give Lord Vincent +up to justice; but to suffer him to get away from the country, if he +can do so. That is doubtless all that he proposes to himself to do. +And such exile will be punishment enough in itself for him, +especially as it will involve the resignation of his rank, title, +and inheritance. So let him get away if he can. He can work no +further woe for me. Frisbie's dying confession has killed off all +his calumnies against me. He is harmless henceforth. So leave him to +God," pleaded Claudia. + +"I am willing to do, or leave undone, whatever you please, my dear; +but--do you really think that you actually did see the viscount, and +that you did not only dream of seeing him?" inquired the judge, +unable to get over his amazement. + +"Yes, papa; I saw him; and to-morrow will prove that I did so," said +Claudia emphatically. + +Lady Hurstmonceux smiled incredulously, for she did not reflect that +there were more ways than one of breaking out of prison. + +"But supposing it to have been the viscount; and supposing that he +had succeeded in bursting locks and bars and eluding guards and +sentinels; why should he have come here, of all places in the world? +What could have been his motive in so risking a recapture?" inquired +the judge, who seemed inclined to investigate the affair then and +there. + +"I do not know, papa. I have not had time to think. I was so +astonished and even frightened at his mere appearance that I never +asked myself the reason of it," answered Claudia. + +"Did you not ask him?" + +"No, papa. I only screamed." + +"Did he not speak to you?" + +"Yes, papa." + +"What did he say?" + +"Papa, I had better tell you just how it happened," answered +Claudia, giving the judge a detailed account of the dream, vision, +or ghost, as the reader chooses to call it; but which she persisted +in declaring to be the viscount himself in the flesh. + +"It is most extraordinary! How did he get out? Lady Hurstmonceux, +had we not better have the house searched for him?" inquired the +judge. + +"It shall be done if you please, judge; though I think it +unnecessary." + +"Papa, no! he went as he came. Let him go. I hope he will be clear +of the country before to-morrow morning." + +At this moment the clock struck five, although it was still pitch- +dark and far from the dawn of day. + +"There! I declare it is to-morrow morning already, as the Irish +would say. Lady Hurstmonceux, do not let me keep you up any longer. +I know your usual hour for rising at this season of the year is +eight o'clock. You will have three good hours' sleep before you yet. +Papa, dear, go to bed or you will make yourself ill." + +"Are you sure you will not have anything before I go, Claudia?" +inquired the countess. + +"Nothing whatever, dear; I think I shall sleep." + +Lady Hurstmonceux stooped and kissed her friend, and then, with a +smile and a bow to the judge, she retired from the room. + +"Do you think now that you will rest, Claudia?" inquired the judge. + +"Yes, papa, yes. Go to rest yourself." + +He also stooped and kissed her, and then left the chamber. + +"Go to bed, Katie and Sally," said Claudia to her women. + +"'Deed 'fore de Lord aint I gwine to no bed to leabe you here by +yourse'f. I don't want you to see no more sperrits," replied Katie. +And she left the room for a few minutes and returned dragging in her +mattress, which she spread upon the floor, and upon which she threw +herself to sleep for the remainder of the dark hours. + +Lady Vincent submitted to this intrusion, because she knew it would +be utterly useless to expostulate. But Sally began to whimper. + +"Now, den, what de matter long o' you? You seen a sperrit too?" +demanded Katie. + +"I's feared to sleep by myse'f, for fear I should see somethin'," +wept Sally. + +"Den you lay down here by me," ordered Katie. + +And thus it was that Lady Vincent's two women shared her sleeping +room the remainder of that disturbed night--to be disturbed no +longer; for, whether it was owing to the presence of the negroes or +not, Claudia slept untroubled by dream, vision, or apparition, until +the daylight streaming through one window, that had been left +unclosed, awakened her. + +It was ten o'clock, however, before the family assembled at the +breakfast table, where they were engaged in discussing the affair of +the previous night, and in each maintaining his or her own opinion +as to its character; Claudia persisting that it was the Viscount +Vincent in person that she had seen; Berenice contending that it was +a dream; and the judge hesitating between two opinions; Ishmael +silent. + +"A very few hours will now decide the question," said Claudia, +abandoning the discussion and beginning to chip her egg. At this +moment came a sound of wheels on the drive before the house, +followed by a loud knock at the door. + +"There! I should not in the least wonder if that is a detachment of +police coming to tell us that Lord Vincent has broken prison, and +bringing a warrant to search this house for him," said Claudia, half +rising to listen. + +A servant entered the room and said: + +"Sergeant McRae is out in the hall, asking to see his honor the +judge." + +"I thought so," said Claudia briskly. + +The judge went out to see the sergeant of police. + +Claudia and Berenice suspended their breakfast, and waited in +intense anxiety the result of the interview. + +Some little time elapsed, perhaps fifteen or twenty minutes, though +the impatience of the ladies made it seem an hour in length; and +then the door slowly opened and the judge gravely re-entered the +breakfast room. + +"It is as I said. The Viscount Vincent has broken jail and they have +come here with a search warrant to look for him!" exclaimed Claudia, +glancing up at her father as he approached; but when she saw the +expression of profound melancholy in his countenance, she started, +turned pale, and cried: + +"Good Heaven, papa, what--what has happened?" + +"Partly what you have anticipated, Claudia. The Viscount Vincent has +broken out of prison, but not in the manner you supposed," solemnly +replied the judge, taking his daughter's arm and leading her to a +sofa and seating her upon it. + +Lady Hurstmonceux, startled, anxious, and alarmed, followed and +stood by her and held her hand. And both ladies gazed inquiringly +into the disturbed face of the old man. + +"There is something--something behind! What is it, papa? The +viscount has broken jail, you say! Has he--has he--killed one of the +guards in making his escape?" inquired Claudia, in a low, awe- +stricken voice. + +"No, my dear, he has not done that. He has escaped the tribunal of +man to rush uncalled to the tribunal of God," said the judge +solemnly. + +Claudia, though her dilated eyes were fixed in eager questioning on +the face of her father, and though her ears were strained to catch +his low-toned words, yet did not seem to gather in his meaning. + +"What--what do you say, papa? Explain!" she breathed in scarcely +audible syllables. + +"The Viscount Vincent is dead!" + +"Dead!" ejaculated Claudia. + +"Dead!" echoed the countess. + +"Dead, by his own act!" repeated the judge. + +Claudia sank back in the corner of the sofa and covered her face +with her hands--overcome, not by sorrow certainly, but by awe and +pity. + +Berenice sat down beside the newly made widow, and put her arms +around her waist, and drew her head upon her bosom. Judge Merlin +stood silently before them. The only one who seemed to have the full +possession of his faculties was Ishmael. + +He quietly dismissed the gaping servants from the room, closed the +doors, and drew a resting-chair to the side of his old friend, and +gently constrained him to sit down in it. And then he was about to +glide away when the judge seized his hand and detained him, saying +imploringly: + +"No, no, Ishmael! no, no, my dearest young friend! do not leave us +at this solemn crisis." + +Ishmael placed his hand in that of the old man, as an earnest of +fidelity, and remained standing by him. + +After a little while Claudia lifted her head from the bosom of Lady +Hurstmonceux, and said: + +"Oh, papa, this is dreadful!" + +"Dreadful, indeed, my dear." + +"That any human being should be driven to such a fate!" + +"To such a crime, Claudia," gravely amended the judge. + +"Crime, then, if you will call it so. But I do not wonder at it. May +God in his infinite mercy forgive him!" fervently prayed Claudia. + +"Amen!" deeply responded the judge. + +"Papa, they say that suicides are never forgiven--can never be +forgiven--because their sin is the last act of their life, affording +no time for repentance. Yet who knows that for certain? Who knows +but in the short interval between the deed and the death, there may +not be repentance and pardon?" + +"Who knows, indeed! 'With God all things are possible.'" + +"Oh, papa, I hope he repented and is pardoned!" + +"I hope so too, Claudia." + +She dropped her head once more upon the bosom of Lady Hurstmonceux, +in pity and in awe; but not in sorrow, for his death was an infinite +relief to her and to all connected with him. After a little while +she raised her head again, and in a low, hushed voice, inquired: + +"Papa, at what hour did he die?" + +"Between four and five o'clock this morning, my dear." + +"Between four and five o'clock this morning! Good Heavens!" +exclaimed Claudia and Berenice simultaneously, starting and gazing +into each other's faces. + +"What is the matter?" gravely inquired the judge. + +"That was the very hour in which Claudia was awakened by her strange +dream!" replied Lady Hurstmonceux. + +"Oh, papa! that was the very hour in which I saw Lord Vincent +standing at the foot of my bed!" exclaimed Claudia, with a shudder. + +"How passing strange!" mused the judge. + +"Oh, papa! can such things really be? can a parting spirit appear to +us the moment it leaves the body?" inquired Claudia, in an awe- +struck manner. + +"My dear if anyone had related to me such a strange circumstance as +this, of which we are all partly cognizant, I should have +discredited the whole affair. As it is, I know not what to make of +it. It may have been a dream; nay, it must have been a dream; yet, +even as a dream, occurring just at the hour it did, it was certainly +an astonishing and a most marvelous coincidence." + +Again Claudia dropped her head upon the supporting bosom of Lady +Hurstmonceux, but this time it was in weariness and in thought that +she reposed there. + +A few minutes passed, and then, without lifting her head, she +murmured: + +"Tell me all about it, papa; I must learn some time; as well now as +any other." + +"Can you bear to hear the story now, Claudia?" + +"Better now, I think, than at a future time; I am in a measure +prepared for it now. How did it happen, papa?" + +The judge drew closer to his daughter, took her hand in his, and +said: + +"I will tell you, as McRae told me, my dear. You must know that from +the time Lord Vincent read the published confession of Frisbie, in +the afternoon papers, he became so much changed in all respects as +to excite the attention, then the suspicion, and finally the alarm +of his keepers. At six o'clock after the turnkey, Donald, had paid +his last visit to his prisoner, and locked up the cell for the +night, he reported the condition of Lord Vincent to the governor of +the jail. Mr. Gra'ame, on hearing the account given by Donald, +determined to curtail many of the privileges his lordship had +hitherto, as an untried prisoner, enjoyed. Among the rest he +determined that nothing more should be carried to his lordship in +his cell that he, the governor, had not first examined, as a +precautionary measure against drugs or tools, with which the +prisoner might do himself a mischief." + +"I should think they ought to have taken that precaution from the +first," said Claudia. + +"It is not usual in the case of an untried prisoner; but, however, +the governor of Banff jail seemed to think as you do, for he farther +determined to make a special visit to the prisoner that night, to +search his cell and remove from it everything with which he might +possibly injure himself. And accordingly the governor, accompanied +by the turnkey, went to the cell and made a thorough search. They +found nothing suspicious, however. But in their late though +excessive caution they carried away, not only the prisoner's razor, +but his pen-knife and scissors. And then they left him." + +"And after all, left him with the means of self-destruction," +exclaimed Claudia. + +"No, they did not. You shall hear. About eight o'clock that night, +as the watchman of that ward was pacing his rounds, he heard deep +groans issuing from Lord Vincent's cell. He went and gave the alarm. +The warden, the physician, and the turnkey entered the cell +together. They found the viscount in the agonies of death." + +"Great Heavens! Alone and dying in his cell!" + +"Yes; and suffering even more distress of mind than of body. When it +was too late, he regretted his rash deed. For he freely confessed +that being driven to despair and almost if not quite to madness, by +the desperate state of his affairs, he had procured laudanum through +the agency of his servant, having persuaded the old man that he +merely wanted the medicine to allay pain." + +"Poor, poor soul!" + +"Cuthbert, simple and unsuspicious, and as easily deceived as a +child, brought the laudanum to him and bid him adieu for the night. +And it was in the interval between the last visit of the turnkey and +the special visit of the governor that the prisoner drank the whole +of the laudanum. And then to prevent suspicion he washed the label +from the bottle and poured in a little ink from his inkstand. So +that when the governor made his visit of inspection, although he +actually handled that bottle, he took it for nothing else but a +receptacle for ink." + +"Oh, how dreadful! how dreadful, that anyone should exercise so much +calculation, cunning, and foresight for the destruction of his own +soul!" moaned Claudia. + +"Yes; he himself thought so at last; for no sooner did the poison +begin to do its work, no sooner did he feel death approaching, than +he was seized with horror at the enormity of his own crime, and with +remorse for the sins of his whole life. It would seem that in that +hour his eyes were opened for the first time, and he saw himself as +he really was, a rampant rebel against all the laws of God and on +the brink of eternal perdition. It was the great agony of mind +produced by this view of himself and his condition that forced from +him those deep groans that were heard by the night-watch, who +brought the relief to him." + +"Then he must have repented. Oh! I hope that God forgave him!" +prayed Claudia, with earnest tones and clasped hands. + +"You may be sure that God did forgive him if he truly repented! +Certainly it seemed that he repented; for he begged for antidotes, +declaring that he wished to live to atone for the sins of his past. +Antidotes were administered, but without the least good effect. And +when he repeated his earnest wish to be permitted to live that he +might 'atone by his future life for the sins of his past,' the +physician, who is a good man, sent for the chaplain of the jail, a +fervent Christian, who told the prisoner how impossible it was for +him, should he have a new lease of life, to atone, by years of +penance, for the smallest sin of his soul; but pointed him at the +same time to the One Divine Atoner, who is able to save to the +uttermost. The chaplain remained praying with the dying man until +half-past four o'clock this morning, when he breathed his last. That +is all, Claudia." + +"Oh, papa, you see he did repent; and I will hope that God has +pardoned him," said Claudia earnestly; but she was very pale and +faint, and she leaned heavily upon the shoulder of Lady +Hurstmonceux. + +"My dearest Claudia, let me lead you to your room; you require +repose after this excitement," said the countess, giving her arm to +the new widow. + +Claudia arose; but the judge gently arrested her progress. + +"Stay, my dear! One word before you go. The business of McRae here +was not only to announce the death of Lord Vincent, but also the +approaching trial of Faustina Dugald. It comes on at ten o'clock to- +morrow morning. You are summoned as a witness for the prosecution. +Therefore, my dear, we must leave Edinboro' for Banff by the +afternoon express train." + +"Oh, papa! to appear in a public court at such a time!" exclaimed +Claudia, with a shudder. + +"I know it is hard, my dear. I know it must be dreadful; but I also +know that the way of Justice is like the progress of the Car of +Juggernaut. It stops for nothing; it rolls on in its irresistible +course, crushing under its iron wheels all conventionalities, all +proprieties, all sensibilities. And I know also, my daughter, that +you are equal to the duties, the exertions, and the sacrifices that +Justice requires of you. There, go now! take what repose you can for +the next few hours, to be ready for the train at six o'clock," said +the judge, stooping, and pressing a kiss upon his daughter's brow, +before the countess led her away. + +"Ishmael," said the judge, as soon as they were alone, "do you know +what you and I have got to do now?" + +"Yes, sir," said the young man solemnly, "I know." + +"That poor, unhappy man in yonder prison has no friend or relative +to claim his body, his father being absent; and if we do not claim +it, it will be ignominiously buried by the prison authorities within +the prison walls." + +"I thought of that, but waited for your suggestion. If you please I +will see the proper authorities to-morrow and make arrangements with +them." + +"Do, my dear young friend," said the judge, wringing his hand as he +left him. + +Amid the great crises of life its small proprieties must still be +observed. This the Countess of Hurstmonceux knew. And, therefore, as +soon as she had seen Claudia reposing on her comfortable sofa in her +chamber, she ordered her carriage and drove to Edinboro', and to a +celebrated mourning warehouse where they got up outfits on the +shortest notice, and there she procured a widow's complete dress, +including the gown, mantle, bonnet, veil, and gloves, and took them +home to Claudia. For she knew that if Lady Vincent were compelled to +appear in the public courtroom the next day, she must wear widow's +weeds. + +When she took these articles into Claudia's room and showed them to +her, the latter said: + +"My dear Berenice, I thank you very much for your thoughtful care. +But do you know that it would seem like hypocrisy in me to wear this +mourning?" + +"My dearest Claudia, conventionalities must be observed though the +heavens fall. You owe this to yourself, to society, and even to the +dead--for in his death he has atoned for much to you." + +"I will wear them then," said Claudia. + +And there the matter ended. + +Meanwhile, the news of Lord Vincent's death had got about among the +servants. Katie and Sally also had heard of it. + +So that when Lady Vincent rang for her women to come and pack up her +traveling trunk to go to Banff, Katie entered full of the subject. + +"So my lordship has gone to his account, and all from takin' of an +overdose of laudamy drops. How careful people ought to be when they +meddles long o' dat sort o' truck. Well, laws! long as he's dead and +gone I forgibs him for heavin' of me down to lib long o' de rats, +and den sellin' ob me to de barbariums in de Stingy Isles. 'Deed +does I forgibs him good too. and likewise de shamwally while I'se +got my hand in at forgibness," she said. + +"That's right, Katie. Never let your hatred follow a man to the +grave," said Claudia. + +"I wouldn't forgib 'em if dey wasn't dead, dough. 'Deed wouldn't I. +I tell you all good too. And if dey was to come back to life I would +just take my forgibness back again. And it should all be just like +it was before," said Katie, sharply defining her position. + +Claudia sadly shook her head. + +"That is a very questionable species of forgiveness, Katie," she +said. + +That afternoon the whole party, including the Countess of +Hurstmonceux, who declared her intention of supporting Claudia +through the approaching ordeal, left Cameron Court for Edinboro', +where they took the six o'clock train for Banff, where they arrived +at ten the same evening. + +They went to the "Highlander," where they engaged comfortable +apartments and settled themselves for a few days. + + + + +CHAPTER XLIX. + +THE FATE OF FAUSTINA. + + Oh, what a fate is guilt! How wild, how wretched! + When apprehension can form naught but fears. + --_Howard_. + + + +Early the next morning Ishmael went over to the prison to see the +governor relative to the removal of the body of the unhappy Vincent. +But he was told that the old Earl of Hurstmonceux had arrived at +noon on the previous day and had claimed the body of his son and had +it removed from the prison in a close hearse at the dead of night, +to escape the observation of the mob, and conveyed to Castle Cragg, +where, without any funeral pomp, it would be quietly deposited in +the family vault. + +With this intelligence Ishmael came back to Judge Merlin. + +"That is well! That is a great relief to my mind, Ishmael," said the +judge, and he went to convey the news to Lady Vincent and the +countess. + +At nine o'clock Katie, Sally, and Jim, who were all witnesses for +the prosecution in the approaching trial of Faustina Dugald, were +dispatched to the courthouse, under the escort of the professor. + +At half-past nine Judge Merlin, Ishmael Worth, Lady Vincent, and the +Countess of Hurstmonceux entered a close carriage and drove to the +same place. + +What a crowd! + +It is not every day that a woman of high rank stands at the bar of a +criminal court to answer to a charge of felony. And Faustina was a +woman of high rank, at least by marriage. She was the Honorable Mrs. +Dugald; and she was about to be arraigned upon several charges, the +lightest one of which, if proved, would consign her to penal +servitude for years. + +The world had got wind of this trial, and hence the great crowd that +blocked up every approach to the courthouse. + +Two policemen had to clear a way for the carriage containing the +witnesses for the prosecution to draw up. And when it stopped and +its party alighted, the same two policemen had to walk before them +to open a path for their entrance into the courthouse. + +Here every lobby, staircase, passage, and anteroom was full of +curious people, pressed against each other. These people could not +get into the courtroom, which was already crowded as full as it +could be packed; nor could they see or hear anything from where they +stood; and yet they persisted in standing there, crowding each other +nearly to death, and stretching their necks and straining their eyes +and ears after sensational sights and sounds. + +Through this consolidated mass of human beings the policemen found +great difficulty in forcing a passage for the witnesses. But at +length they succeeded, and ushered the party into the courtroom, and +seated them upon the bench appointed to the use of the witnesses for +the prosecution. + +The courtroom was even more densely packed than the approaches to it +had been. It was scarcely possible to breathe the air laden with the +breath of so many human beings. But for the inconvenience of the +great crowd and the fetid air, this was an interesting place to pass +a few hours in. + +The Lord Chief Baron, Sir Archibald Alexander, presided on the +bench. He was supported on the right and left by Justices Knox and +Blair. Some of the most distinguished advocates of the Scottish bar +were present. + +The prisoner had not yet been brought into court. A few minutes +passed, however, and then, by the commotion near the door and by the +turning simultaneously of hundreds of heads in one direction, it was +discovered that she was approaching in custody of the proper +officers. Room was readily made for her by the crowd dividing right +and left and pressing back upon itself, like the waves of the Red +Sea, when the Israelites passed over it dryshod. And she was led up +between two bailiffs and placed in the dock. Then for the first time +the crowd got a good view of her, for the dock was raised some three +or four feet above the level of the floor. + +She was well dressed for the occasion, for if there was one thing +this woman understood better than another, it was the science of the +toilet. She wore a dark-brown silk dress and a dark-brown velvet +bonnet, and a Russian sable cloak, and cuffs, and muff, and her face +was shaded by a delicate black lace veil. + +Mrs. MacDonald, who had followed her into the court, was allowed to +sit beside her; a privilege that the lady availed herself of, at +some considerable damage to her own personal dignity; for at least +one-half of the strangers in the room, judging from her position +beside the criminal, mistook her for an accomplice in the crime. + +After the usual preliminary forms had been observed, the prisoner +was duly arraigned at the bar. + +When asked by the clerk of arraignments whether she were guilty or +not guilty, she answered vehemently: + +"I am not guilty of anything at all; no, not I! I never did conspire +against any lady! My Lord Viscount Vincent and his valet Frisbie did +that! And I never did abduct and sell into slavery any negro +persons! My Lord Vincent and his valet did that also! It was all the +doings of my lord and his valet, as you may know, since the valet +has been guillotined and my lord has suffocated himself with +charcoal! And it is a great infamy to persecute a poor little woman +for what gross big men did! And I tell you, messieurs--" + +"That will do! This is no time for making your defense, but only for +entering your plea," said the clerk, cutting short her oration. + +She threw herself into a chair and burst into tears, and sobbed +aloud while the Queen's Solicitor, Counselor Birnie, got up to open +the indictment setting forth the charges upon which the prisoner at +the bar had been arraigned. + +At the end of the opening speech he proceeded to call the witnesses, +and the first called to the stand was: + +"Claudia Dugald, Viscountess Vincent." + +Judge Merlin arose and led his daughter to the stand, and then +retired. + +Claudia threw aside her deep mourning veil, revealing her beautiful +pale face, at the sight of which a murmur of admiration ran through +the crowded courtroom. + +The oath was duly administered, Claudia following the words of the +formula, in a low, but clear and firm voice. + +Oh! but her position was a painful one! Gladly would she have +retired from it; but the exactions of justice are inexorable. It was +distressing to her to stand there and give testimony against the +prisoner, which should cast such shame upon the grave of the dumb, +defenseless dead; yet it was inevitable that she must do it. She was +under oath, and so she must testify to "the truth, the whole truth, +and nothing but the truth!" + +Then being questioned, she spoke of the sinful league between. +Faustina Dugald, the prisoner at the bar, and the deceased Viscount +Vincent; she then related the conversation she had overheard between +these two accomplices on the very night of her first arrival home at +Castle Cragg; that momentous conversation in which the first germ of +the conspiracy against her honor was formed; being further +questioned, she acknowledged the complete estrangement between +herself and her husband, and the actual state of widowhood in which +she had lived in his house, while his time and attention were all +devoted to her rival, the prisoner at the bar. + +Here Claudia begged leave to retire from the stand; but of course +she was not permitted to do so; the Queen's Solicitor had not done +with her yet. She was required to relate the incidents of that +evening when the valet Frisbie was dragged from his hiding-place in +her boudoir by the Viscount Vincent. And amid fiery blushes Claudia +detailed all the circumstances of that scene. She was but slightly +cross-questioned by the counsel for the prisoner, and without +effect, and was finally permitted to retire. Her father came and led +her back to her seat. + +The housekeeper of Castle Cragg was the next witness called, and she +testified with a marked reluctance, that only served to give +additional weight to her statement, to the sinful intimacy between +the deceased viscount and the prisoner at the bar. + +Following her came old Cuthbert, who sadly corroborated her +testimony in all respects. + +Next came other servants of the castle, all with much dislike to do +the duty, speaking to the one point of the fatal attachment that had +existed between Lord Vincent and Mrs. Dugald. + +And then at length came Katie. Now we all know the facts to which +Katie would bear testimony, and the style in which she would do it; +and so we need not repeat her statement here. It was sufficiently +conclusive to insure the conviction of the prisoner, even if there +had been nothing to support it. + +But the most fatal evidence was yet to be produced: The Reverend +Christian Godfree, chaplain of the jail, was called to the stand and +duly sworn. And then a manuscript was placed in his hand, and he was +asked if he could identify that as the veritable last confession +made by the convict, Alick Frisbie, in his cell, on the night +previous to his execution. Mr. Godfree carefully examined it and +promptly identified it. + +But here the counsel for the prisoner interposed, and would have had +the confession ruled out as evidence; and a controversy arose +between the prosecution and the defense, which was at last decided +by the bench, who ordered that the confession of Alick Frisbie +should be received as evidence in the case of Faustina Dugald. + +And then the Queen's Solicitor, taking the paper from the witness, +proceeded to read the confession with all its deeply disgraceful +revelations. From it, the complicity of Faustina Dugald in the +conspiracy against Lady Vincent was clearly shown. Having read it +through, the solicitor called several witnesses from among the +servants of the castle, who swore to the signature at the bottom of +the confession as the handwriting of Alick Frisbie. And then the +solicitor passed the paper to the foreman of the jury, that he might +circulate it among his colleagues for their examination and +satisfaction. The solicitor then summed up the evidence for the +prosecution and rested the case. + +Mr. Brace, leading counsel for the prisoner, arose and made the best +defense that the bad case admitted of. He tried to pull to pieces, +destroy, and discredit the evidence that had been given in; but all +to no purpose. He next tried to engage the sympathy of the judge and +jury for the beauty and misfortunes of his client; but in vain. +Finally, he called a number of paid witnesses, who testified chiefly +to the excellent moral character of Mrs. Faustina Dugald, seeking to +make it appear quite impossible that she should do any wrong +whatever, much less commit the crimes for which she stood arraigned; +and also to the malignant envy, hatred, and malice felt by every +servant at Castle Cragg and every witness for the prosecution +against the injured and unhappy prisoner at the bar, seeking to make +it appear that all their testimony was nothing but malignant calumny +leveled against injured innocence. + +But, unfortunately for the defense, the only impression these +witnesses made upon the judge and the jury was that they--the +witnesses--were about the most shameless falsifiers of the truth +that ever perjured themselves before a court of justice. + +The counsel for the prisoner went over the evidence for the defense +in an eloquent speech, which was worse than wasted in such evil +service. + +The Queen's Solicitor had, as usual, the last word. + +The Lord Chief Baron then summed up the evidence on either side and +charged the jury. And the charge amounted in effect to an +instruction to them to bring in a verdict against the prisoner. And +accordingly the jury retired and consulted about twenty minutes, and +then returned with the verdict: "Guilty." + +The Lord Chief Baron arose to pronounce the sentence of the law. + +The clerk of the arraigns ordered the prisoner to stand up. + +"What are they going to do now?" nervously inquired Faustina, who +did not in the least understand what was going on. + +"Nothing much, my dear; his lordship the judge is going to speak to +you from the bench. That is all," said Mrs. MacDonald, as she helped +the prisoner to her feet; for Mrs. MacDonald never hesitated to tell +a falsehood for the sake of keeping the peace. + +Faustina stood up, looking towards the bench with curiosity, +distrust, and fear. + +The Lord Chief Baron began the usual prosing preamble to the +sentence, telling the prisoner of the enormity of the crime of which +she had been accused; of the perfect impartiality of the trial to +which she had been subjected; the complete conclusiveness of the +evidence on which she had been convicted; and so forth. He gave her +to understand that the court might easily sentence her to fifteen or +twenty years' imprisonment; but that, in consideration of her early +youth and of her utter failure to carry out her felonious purposes +to their completion, he would assign her a milder penalty. And he +proceeded to sentence her to penal servitude for the term of ten +years. The Lord Chief Baron resumed his seat. + +Faustina threw a wild, perplexed, appealing glance around the +courtroom, and then, as the truth of her doom entered her soul, she +uttered a piercing shriek and fell into violent hysterics. And in +this condition she was removed from the court to the jail, there to +remain until she should be transported to the scene of her +punishment. + +"We have nothing more to do here, Judge Merlin. Had you not better +take Lady Vincent back to the hotel?" suggested Ishmael. + +The judge, who had been sitting as if spellbound, started up, gave +his arm to his daughter, and led her out of the court and to the fly +that was in attendance to convey them back to the "Highlander." +Ishmael followed, with the countess on his arm. And the professor, +having the three negroes in charge, brought up the rear. Judge +Merlin, Ishmael, Claudia and the countess entered the fly. The +professor and his charges walked. And thus they reached the +"Highlander," where the news of Faustina Dugald's conviction had +preceded them. + +The trial had occupied the whole day. It was now late in the +evening; too late for our party to think of going on to Edinboro' +that night. Besides, they all needed rest after the exciting scenes +of the day; and so they determined to remain in Banff that night. + + + + +CHAPTER L. + +LADY HURSTMONCEUX'S REVELATION. + + For life, I prize it, + As I weigh grief which I would spare; for honor, + 'Tis a derivative from me to mine, + And only that I stand for. + --_Shakspeare_. + + + +That same evening, while our party was assembled at tea in their +private parlor, at the "Highlander," a letter was brought to Judge +Merlin. + +It was a formidable-looking letter, with a black border an inch wide +running around the envelope, and sealed with a great round of black +wax, impressed with an earl's coronet. The judge opened it and read +it and passed it to Ishmael. + +It proved to be a letter from the Earl of Hurstmonceux and addressed +to Judge Merlin. I have not space to give the contents of this +letter word for word. + +It set forth, in effect, that under the recent distressing +circumstances it would be too painful to the Earl of Hurstmonceux to +meet Judge Merlin in a personal interview, but that the earl wished +to make an act of restitution, and so, if Judge Merlin would +dispatch his solicitor to London to the chambers of the Messrs. +Hudson, in Burton Street, Piccadilly, those gentlemen, who were the +solicitors of his lordship, would be prepared to restore to Lady +Vincent the fortune she had brought in marriage to her husband, the +late Lord Vincent. + +"You will go to London and attend to this matter for me, Ishmael?" +inquired the Judge, as he received the letter back, after the young +man had read it. + +"Why, certainly, Judge Merlin. Who should act for you but myself?" +said Ishmael, with an affectionate smile. + +"But it may be inconvenient for you to go just now?" suggested the +judge. + +"Oh, no, not at all! In fact, judge, I was intending to go up to +London to join Mr. Brudenell there in a very few days. I was only +waiting for this trial to be concluded before setting out," smiled +Ishmael. + +"Papa, what is it that you are talking about? What letter is that?" +inquired Claudia, while Lady Hurstmonceux looked the question she +forbore to ask. + +For all answer the judge placed the letter in the hands of his +daughter, and then, turning to the countess, said: + +"It is a communication from Lord Hurstmonceux, referring us to his +solicitors in London, whom he has instructed to make restitution of +the whole of my daughter's fortune." + +"The Earl of Hurstmonceux is an honorable man. But he has been +singularly unfortunate in his family. His brother and his sons, who +seem to have taken more after their uncle than their father, have +all turned out badly and given him much trouble," said the countess. + +"His brother? I know of course the career of his sons; but I did not +know anything about his brother," said Judge Merlin. + +"He was the Honorable Dromlie Dugald, Captain in the Tenth +Highlanders, a man whose society was avoided by all good women. And +yet I had cause to know him well," answered the countess, as a cloud +passed over her beautiful face. + +"You, Berenice!" said Claudia, looking up in surprise; for it was +passing strange to hear that pure and noble woman acknowledge an +acquaintance with a man of whom she had just said that every good +woman avoided his society. + +"I!" repeated the counters solemnly. + +There was certainly fate in the next words she spoke: + +"This Captain Dugald was a near relative and great favorite with my +first husband, the old Earl of Hurstmonceux; chiefly, I think, for +the exuberant gayety of temper and disposition of the young man, +that always kept the old one amused. But after the earl married me +he turned a cold shoulder to the captain, and complimented me by +being jealous of him. This occasioned gossip, in which my good name +suffered some injustice." + +The countess paused, and turned her beautiful eyes appealingly to +Ishmael, saying: + +"When you shall become one of the lawgivers of your native country, +young gentleman, I hope that the crime of slander will be made a +felony, indictable before your criminal courts." + +"If I had the remodeling of the laws," said Ishmael earnestly, +"slander should be made felonious and punishable as theft is." + +"But, dear Berenice, the gossip of which you speak could have done +you no lasting injury," said Claudia. + +"'No lasting injury.' Well, no eternal injury, I hope, if you mean +that," sighed the countess. + +"No, I mean to say that a woman like yourself lives down calumny." + +"Ah! but in the living it down, how much of heartwasting." + +The countess dropped her head upon her hand for a moment, while all +her long black ringlets fell around and veiled her pale and +thoughtful face. Then, looking up, she said: + +"I think I will tell you all about it. Something, I know not what, +impels me to speak tonight, in this little circle of select friends, +on a theme on which I have been silent for years. Claudia, my +dearest, if the jealousy of my old husband and the gossip of my +envious rivals had been all, that would not have hurt me so much. +But there was worse to come. The wretch, denied admittance to our +house, pursued me with his attentions elsewhere; whenever and +wherever I walked or rode out he would be sure to join me. I have +said such was his evil reputation, that his society would have +brought reproach to any woman, under any circumstances; judge you, +then, what it must have brought upon me, the young wife of an old +man!" + +"Had you no male relative to chastise the villain and send him about +his business?" inquired the judge. + +Berenice smiled sadly and shook her head. + +"My husband and my father were both very old men," she said; "I had +but one resource--to confine myself to the house and deny myself to +visitors. We were then living in our town house in Edinboro'. There +my old husband died, and there I spent the year of my widowhood. +There my father came to me, and also my kinsman Isaacs." + +"Isaacs!" impulsively exclaimed Ishmael, as his thoughts flew back +to his Hebrew fellow-passenger. + +"Yes; did you know him?" + +"I knew a Jew of that name; most probably the same; but I beg your +pardon, dear lady; pray proceed with your narrative." + +"I mentioned my kinsman Isaacs, because I always suspected him to be +a party to a stratagem formed by Captain Dugald at that time to get +me into his power. Captain Dugald scarcely let the first six months +of my widowhood pass by before he began to lay siege to my house; +not to me personally; for I always denied myself to him. But he came +on visits to my kinsman Isaacs, with whom he had struck up a great +intimacy. He had much at stake, you see, for in the first place he +did me the honor to approve of me personally, and in the second +place he highly approved of my large fortune. So he persevered with +all the zeal of a lover and all the tact of a fortune-hunter. +Several times, through the connivance of my kinsman, he contrived to +surprise me into an interview, and upon each occasion he urged his +suit; but of course, in vain. Captain Dugald was what is called a +'dare-devil,' and I think he rather gloried in that name. He acted +upon the maxim that 'all stratagems are fair in love as in war.' And +he resorted to a stratagem to get me into his power, and reduce me +to the alternative of marrying him or losing my good name forever." + +"Good Heaven! he did not attempt to carry you off by violence," +exclaimed Claudia. + +The countess laughed. + +"Oh, no, my dear! Such things are never attempted in this age of the +world. Captain Dugald was far too astute to break the laws. I will +tell you just how it was, as it came to my knowledge. My town house +fronted immediately on Prince's Street. You know what a thoroughfare +that is? My bedroom and dressing room were on the second floor--the +bedroom being at the back, and the dressing room in front, with +three large windows overlooking the street. Large double doors +connected the bedroom with the dressing room. I am thus particular +in describing the locality that you may better understand the +villainy of the stratagem," said the countess, looking around upon +her friends. + +They nodded assent, and she resumed: + +"From some peculiar sensitiveness of temperament, I can never sleep +unless every ray of light is shut out from my chamber. Thus, at +bedtime I have all my windows closed, their shutters fastened and +their curtains drawn, lest the first dawn of morning should awaken +me prematurely. Another constitutional idiosyncrasy of mine is the +necessity of a great deal of air. Therefore I always had the doors +between my bedroom and my dressing room left open." + +"After all, that is like my own need; I require a great deal of air +also," said Claudia. + +"Well, now to my story. On a certain spring morning, in the +beginning of the second year of my widowhood, I was awakened very +early by a glare of light in my bedroom. On looking up, I saw +through the open doors connecting my bedroom with my dressing room +that the three front windows of the dressing room, overlooking the +street, were open, and all the morning sunlight was pouring in. My +first emotion was anger with my maid for opening them so soon to +wake me up. I got out of bed, slipped on a dressing-gown and went +into the front room. Now judge what my feelings must have been to +see there Captain Dugald in his shirt-sleeves, standing before one +of the front windows deliberately brushing his hair, in the full +view of all the passengers of the street below." + +"Great Heaven!" exclaimed Claudia. + +"I could not speak," continued the countess. "I could only stand and +gaze at the man in speechless amazement. But he was not dismayed. He +burst into a loud laugh, and laughed himself out of breath--for he +was a great laugher. When he found his tongue, he said to me: + +"'You had as well give in now, my lady. The fortress is sapped, the +mine is exploded. The city is taken. Hundreds of people, passing up +and down the street before this house, have looked up at these +windows and seen me standing here half-dressed. And they have formed +their opinions, and made their comments, and circulated their news +accordingly; and so, if our marriage be not published this morning, +you may judge what the consequences will be--to yourself.'" + +"What a villain!" said Judge Merlin. + +"Astonishment had struck me dumb in the first instance; and anger +kept me silent," continued the countess. "I know what I ought to +have done. I know that I ought to have summoned the police and given +the man in charge on the spot, as a common burglar and housebreaker: +only you see I did not think of it at the time. I only rang the +bell, and then, without waiting the arrival of my servant, I opened +the door and pointed silently to it. He made no motion to go; on the +contrary, he began to defend his act, to plead his cause, and to +urge his suit. He said 'that all stratagems were fair in love and +war'; that it was now absolutely necessary for my fair name that we +should be immediately married; that the bride he had won by fraud +should be worn with faithfulness. But, with an unmoved countenance, +I only pointed to the door, until my servant came in answer to the +bell. Then I told that servant to show Captain Dugald out, and if he +refused to go to summon assistance and eject him. Seeing that I was +determined to be rid of him, he put on his coat, and, laughing at my +discomfiture, took his departure. Then I instituted inquiries; but +failed to gain any information respecting his means of entrance and +concealment in my apartments. I strongly suspected my kinsman Isaacs +of being the accomplice of Captain Dugald; but I had no means of +ascertaining the fact by questioning him, as he went away that same +morning and never returned. The adventure, of course, did me some +harm at the time; but the unprincipled hero of it reaped no +advantage. He doubtless thought me another Lucretia, who would +sacrifice the reality to preserve the semblance of honor. He hoped +to find in me one who, in the base fear of being falsely condemned, +would marry a man I despised, and thus really deserve condemnation. +He was disappointed! From that hour I forbade him the house, and I +have never seen him since. A year later I married another," added +the countess, in a voice so subdued that, at the close of the +sentence, it gradually sank into silence. + +Ishmael's beautiful eyes had been bent upon her all the time; now +his whole face lighted up with a smile as of a newly inspired, +benevolent hope. + +"You were right-entirely right, Lady Hurstmonceux, in thus +vindicating the dignity of womanhood. And I do not believe that any +lasting blame, growing out of a misunderstanding of the +circumstances, could have attached to you," said Ishmael earnestly. + +"No, indeed, there was not. And soon after that event I left +Edinboro' for the south coast of England, and at Brighton"--here the +voice of the countess sank almost to an inaudible whisper--"at +Brighton I met and married another. And now let us talk of something +else, Ishmael," she concluded, turning an affectionate glance upon +the sympathetic face of the young man. For there was a wonderful +depth of sympathy between this queenly woman of forty-five and this +princely young man of twenty-two. On her side there was the royal, +benignant, tender friendship with which such sovereign ladies regard +such young men; while, on his side, there was the loyal devotion +with which such young men worship such divinities. Such a friendship +is a blessing when it is understood; a curse when it is +misapprehended. + +Ishmael turned the conversation to the subject of the act of +restitution proposed by the Earl of Hurstmonceux. + +Ishmael now possessed the only clear, cool, and undisturbed +intelligence of the whole party, who were all more or less shaken by +the terrible events of the last few days. He had to think for them +all. He announced his intention of departing for London on the +ensuing Friday morning, and warned the judge that he should require +his final instructions for acting in concert with the solicitors of +the Earl of Hurstmonceux. + +The judge promised that these should be ready, in writing, to place +in his hands at the moment of his departure. + +"And while I am in London, had I not better see the agents of the +ocean steamers, and ascertain how soon we can obtain a passage home +for our whole party? The termination of these trials, and the +restitution of Lady Vincent's estate, really leave us nothing to do +here; and we know that Lady Vincent is pining for the repose of her +native home," said Ishmael. + +"Certainly, certainly, Ishmael! The execution of Frisbie, the death +of the viscount, the conviction of Mrs. Dugald, and the act of the +Earl of Hurstmonceux, really, as you say, leave us free to go home. +I myself, as well as Claudia, pine for my home. And you, Ishmael, +though you have not said so, have sacrificed already too much of +your professional interests to our necessities. You should be at +your office. What on earth is becoming of your clients all this +time?" + +"I dare say they are taken good care of, sir. Do not think of me. +Believe me, I have no interests dearer to my heart than the welfare +and happiness of my friends. Then I shall engage a passage for us +all, in the first available steamer?" + +"I--I think so, Ishmael. There is nothing to keep us here longer +that I know of; we have nothing to do," said the judge hesitatingly. + +"I have something yet to do, before I return home," smiled Ishmael, +with a quick and quickly withdrawn glance in the direction of the +countess; "but I shall do it before we go, or if not I can remain +behind for another steamer." + +"No, no, Ishmael! You have stayed long with us; we will wait for +you. What do you say, Claudia?" + +Claudia said nothing. + +Ishmael replied: + +"I shall endeavor to accomplish all that I propose in time to +accompany you, Judge Merlin. But if I should not be able to do so, +still I think that you had better all go by the first steamer in +which you can get a passage. You should, if possible, cross the +ocean before March sets in, if you would have anything like a +comfortable voyage." + +"Heavens, yes! you are right, Ishmael. Our late voyage should teach +me a lesson. I must not expose Claudia to the chances of such +shipwreck as we suffered," said the judge gravely. + +Ishmael turned and looked at Claudia. She had not once spoken since +her name had been introduced into the conversation. She had sat +there with her elbow on the table and her head bowed upon her hand, +in mournful silence. She was looking perfectly beautiful in her +widow's dress and cap--perfectly beautiful with that last divine, +perfecting touch that sorrow gives to beauty. Surely Ishmael thought +so as he looked at her. She lifted her drooping lids. Their eyes +met; hers were suffused with tears; his were full of earnest +sympathy. + +"You shall not be exposed to shipwreck, Lady Vincent," he said, in a +voice rich with tenderness. + +Slowly and mournfully she shook her head. + +"There are other wrecks," she said: + + "'And I beneath a rougher sea, + O'erwhelmed in deeper gulfs may be.'" + +The last words were breathed in a scarcely audible voice, and her +head sank low upon her hand. + +With a profound sigh, that seemed to come from the very depths of +his soul, Ishmael turned away. Passing near the Countess of +Hurstmonceux, he bent his head and murmured: + +"Lady Vincent seems very weary." + +The countess took the hint and rang for the bedroom candles, and +when they were brought, the party bade each other goodnight, +separated, and retired. + +Early the next morning they set out for Edinboro', where they +arrived about midday. + +The Countess of Hurstmonceux's servants, who had received +telegraphic orders from her ladyship, were waiting at the station +with carriages. The whole party entered these and drove to Cameron +Court, where they arrived in time for an early dinner. + +After this, Ishmael and Judge Merlin were closeted in the library, +and engaged upon the preliminary measures for a final arrangement +with the Earl of Hurstmonceux's solicitors. + +The judge, in his good opinion of the earl, would have trusted to a +simple, informal rendition of his daughter's fortune; but Ishmael, +the ever-watchful guardian of her interests, warned her father that +every legal form must be scrupulously observed in the restoration of +the property, lest in the event of the death of the Earl of +Hurstmonceux his brother and successor, the disreputable Captain +Dugald, should attempt to disturb her in its possession. + +The judge acquiesced, and this business occupied the friends the +whole of that afternoon. In the evening they joined the ladies at +their tea-table, in the little drawing room. After tea, when the +service was removed, they gathered around the table in social +converse. + +A servant brought in a small parcel that looked like a case of +jewelry done up in paper, and laid it before the countess. + +She smiled, with a deprecating look, as she took it up and opened it +and passed it around to her friends for inspection. It was a +miniature of the countess herself, painted on ivory. It was a +faithful likeness, apparently very recently taken; for, on looking +at it, you seemed to see the beautiful countess herself on a +diminished scale, or through an inverted telescope. + +"It has been making a visit," smiled the countess. "A poor young +artist in Edinboro' is getting up a 'Book of Beauty' on his own +account. He came here in person to beg the loan of one of my +portraits to engrave from. I gave him this, because it was the last +I had taken. I gave it to him because a refusal from me would have +wounded his feelings and discouraged his enterprise. Otherwise, I +assure you, I should not have let him have it for any such purpose +as he designed. For the idea of putting my portrait in a 'Book of +Beauty' is a rich absurdity." + +"Pardon me; I do not see the absurdity at all," said Ishmael +earnestly, as in his turn he received the miniature and gazed with +admiration on its beautiful features. + +"Young gentleman, I am forty-five," said the countess. + +Ishmael gave a genuine start of surprise. He knew of course that she +must have been of that age, but he had forgotten the flight of time, +and the announcement startled him. He soon recovered himself, +however, and answered with his honest smile: + +"Well, my lady, if you are still beautiful at forty-five, you cannot +help it, and you cannot prevent artistic eyes from seeing it. I, as +one of your friends, am glad and grateful for it. And I hope you +will remain as beautiful in form as in spirit even to the age of +seventy-five, or as long after that as you may live in this world." + +"Thank you, Mr. Worth. I really do value praise from you, because I +know that it is sincere on your part, if not merited on mine," said +Lady Hurstmonceux. + +Ishmael bowed low and in silence. Then he resumed his contemplation +of the picture. And presently he looked up and said: + +"Lady Hurstmonceux, I am going to ask you a favor. Will you lend me +this picture for a week?" + +The countess was a little surprised at the request. She looked up at +Ishmael before answering it. + +Their eyes met. Some mutual intelligence passed in those meeting +glances. And she then answered: + +"Yes, Mr. Worth. I will intrust it to you as long as you would like +to keep it; without reserve, and without even asking you what you +wish to do with it." + +Again Ishmael bowed, and then he closed the case of the miniature +and deposited it in his breast-pocket. + +"I hope that youth is not falling in love with his grandmother. I +have heard of such things in my life," thought the judge crossly +within himself, for the judge was growing jealous for Claudia. He +had apparently forgotten the existence of Bee. + +As Ishmael was to leave Cameron Court at a very early hour of the +morning, before any of the family would be likely to be up to see +him off, he took leave of his friends upon this evening, and retired +early to his room to complete his preparations for the journey. + + + + +CHAPTER LI + +ISHMAEL'S ERRAND. + + I tell thee, friend, I have not seen + So likely an ambassador of love; + A day in April never came so sweet, + To show that costly summer was at hand. + --_Shakespeare._ + + + +Ishmael left Edinboro' by the earliest express train for London, +where he arrived at nightfall. + +He took a cab and drove immediately to Morley's Hotel in the Strand, +where Herman Brudenell was stopping. + +Carpet-bag in hand, Ishmael was shown into that gentleman's sitting +room. + +Mr. Brudenell sat writing at a table, but on hearing Mr. Worth +announced and seeing him enter, he started up, threw down his pen, +and rushed to welcome the traveler. + +"My dear, dear boy, a thousand welcomes!" he exclaimed, heartily +shaking Ishmael's hands. + +"I am very glad to come and see you again, sir. I hope that you are +quite well?" said Ishmael, cordially responding to this warm +welcome. + +"As well as a solitary man can be, my dear boy. How did you leave +our friends? In good health, I trust," + +"Yes; in tolerably good health, considering the circumstances. They +are of course somewhat shaken by the terrible events of the last few +days." + +"I should think so. Heaven! what an ordeal to have passed through. +Poor Claudia. How has she borne it all?" + +"With the most admirable firmness. Claudia-Lady Vincent, I should +say--has come out of her fiery trial like refined gold," said +Ishmael warmly. + +"A fiery trial, indeed. Ishmael, I have read the full account of the +Banff tragedy, as they call it, in all the morning papers; no two of +them agreeing in all particulars. The account in the 'Times' I hold +to be the most reliable; it is at least the fullest--it occupies +nearly two pages of that great paper." + +"You are right; the account in the 'Times' is the true one." + +"But, bless my life, I am keeping you standing here, carpet-bag in +hand, all this time! Have you engaged your room?" + +"No; they say the house is full." + +"Not quite! Mine is a double-bedded chamber. You shall share it with +me, if you like. What do you say?" + +"Thank you, I should like it very much." + +"Come in, then, and have a wash and a change of clothes; after which +we will have supper. What would you like?" + +"Anything at all. I know they cannot send up a bad one here." + +Mr. Brudenell touched the bell. The waiter speedily answered it. + +"Supper directly, James. Four dozen oysters; a roast fowl; baked +potatoes; muffins; a bottle of sherry; and, and, black tea!--that is +your milksop beverage, I believe, Ishmael," added Mr. Brudenell, in +a low voice, turning to his guest. + +"That is my milksop beverage," replied Ishmael good-humoredly. + +The waiter went away on his errand. And Mr. Brudenell conducted +Ishmael into the adjoining chamber, where the young man found an +opportunity of renovating his toilet. When they returned to the +sitting room they found the supper served and the waiter in +attendance, but it was not until the traveler had done full justice +to this meal, and the service was removed, and the waiter was gone, +and the father and son were alone together, that they entered upon +the confidential topics. + +Mr. Brudenell questioned Ishmael minutely upon all the details of +the Banff tragedy. And Ishmael satisfied him in every particular. +One circumstance in these communications was noticeable--Mr. +Brudenell, in all his questionings, never once mentioned the name of +the Countess of Hurstmonceux. And even Ishmael avoided bringing it +into his answers. + +When Mr. Brudenell had learned all that he wanted to know, Ishmael +in his turn said: + +"I hope, sir, that the business which brought you to England has +been satisfactorily settled?" + +Mr. Brudenell sighed heavily. + +"It has been settled, not very satisfactorily, but after a fashion, +Ishmael. I never told you exactly what that business was. I intended +to do so; and I will do it now." + +Mr. Brudenell paused as if he were embarrassed, and doubtful in what +terms to tell so unpleasant a story. Ishmael settled himself to +attend. + +"It was connected with my mother and sisters, Ishmael. They have +been living abroad here for many years, as you have perhaps heard." + +"Yes." + +"And they have been living far above their means and far above mine. +And consequently debts and difficulties and embarrassments have +come. Again and again I have made large sacrifices and settled all +claims against them. I am sorry to say it of my mother and sisters, +Ishmael; but if the truth must be told, their pride and extravagance +have ruined them and me, so far as financial ruin goes. If that had +been all, it might have been borne. But there was worse to come. +About a year ago my sister Eleanor--who had reached an age when +single women begin to despair of marriage--formed the acquaintance +of a disreputable scoundrel, one Captain Dugald, a younger brother, +I hear, of the present Earl of Hurstmonceux--" + +"Captain Dugald! I have heard of him!" exclaimed Ishmael. + +"No doubt, most people have. He is rather a notorious character. +Well, my infatuated sister took a fancy to the fellow; misled him +into the belief that she was the mistress of a large fortune; and +played her cards so skillfully that--well, in a word, the handsome +scamp ran off with her, or rather she ran off with him; for she +seems all through to have taken the initiative in her own ruin." + +"But I do not understand why she should have run off? She was of +ripe age and her own mistress. Who was there to run from?" + +"Her mother, her mother; who could not endure the sight of Captain +Dugald, and who had forbidden him her house." + +"Ah!" + +"Well, they were married at Liverpool. He took her to the United +States. At my mother's request I followed them there to reclaim my +sister, for report said that the captain had already another wife +when he married Eleanor. This report, however, I have ascertained to +be without foundation. I could not find them in the United States, +and soon gave up the search. Captain Dugald had no love for my +sister. He appears to have treated her brutally from the first hour +that he got her into his power. And when he learned that she had +deceived him,--deceived him in every way, in regard to her fortune, +in regard to her age, in regard to her very beauty, which was but +the effect of skillful dress,--he conceived a disgust for her, +abused her shamefully, and finally abandoned her in poverty, in +sickness, and in debt." + +"Poor, unhappy lady; what else could she have expected? She must +have been mad," said Ishmael. + +"Mad--madness don't begin to explain it. She must have been +possessed of a devil. When thus left, she sold a few miserable +trinkets of jewelry his cupidity had spared her, and took a steerage +passage in one of our steamers and followed him back to England; but +here lost sight of him, for it seems that he is somewhere on the +Continent. She came to my mother's house in London in the condition +of a beggar, knowing that she was a pauper, and fearing that she was +not a wife. In this state of affairs my mother wrote, summoning me +to her assistance. I came over as you know. I have ascertained that +my sister's marriage is a perfectly legal one; but I have not +succeeded in finding her scoundrel of a husband and bringing him to +book. He is still on the Continent somewhere; hiding from his +creditors, it is said." + +"And his unhappy wife?" + +"Is on her voyage to America. I have sent them all home, Ishmael. +They must live quietly at Brudenell Hall." + +"But now that the Viscount Vincent is dead, and Captain Dugald +becomes the heir presumptive to the earldom of Hurstmonceux, his +prospects are so much improved that I should think he would return +to England without fear of annoyance from his creditors; such gentry +being usually very complaisant to the heirs of rich earldoms." + +"I doubt if he will live to inherit the title and estate, Ishmael. +He is nearly eaten up by alcohol. Eleanor, I know, will not live +long. She is in the last stage of consumption. Her repose at +Brudenell Hall may alleviate her sufferings, but cannot save her +life," said Mr. Brudenell sadly. "I have only waited until your +business here should be concluded, Ishmael, in order to return +thither myself. You have nothing more to do. however, but to act for +Judge Merlin in this matter of restitution, and then you will be +ready to go, I presume." + +"Yes; I have something else to do, sir. I have to expose a villain, +to vindicate a lady, and to reconcile a long-estranged pair," +replied Ishmael, in a nervous tone, yet with smiling eyes. + +"Why, what have you been doing but just those things? What was Lord +Vincent? What was Claudia? What was your part in that affair? Never, +since the renowned Knight of Mancha, the great Don Quixote, lived +and died, has there been so devoted a squire of dames, so brave a +champion of the wronged, as yourself, Ishmael," said Mr. Brudenell. + +"You may laugh, but you shall not laugh me out of my next +enterprise, or 'adventure,' as the illustrious personage you have +quoted would call it. And, by the way, do you know anything of a +fellow-passenger of ours in the late voyage, the German Jew, Ezra +Isaacs?" + +"No; why?" + +"I need him in the prosecution of this adventure." + +"I have not seen him since we parted at Liverpool. I know nothing +whatever about him." + +"Well, then, after I have been at the chambers of Messrs. Hudson, I +must go to Scotland Yard, and put the affair in the hands of the +detectives, for have Isaacs hunted up I must." + +"Is he the villain you are about to expose?" + +"No; but he has been the tool of that villain, and I want him for a +sort of state's evidence against his principal." + +"Ah! I wish you joy of your adventure, Ishmael. It reminds one +forcibly of the windmills," said Mr. Brudenell. + +Ishmael laughed good-humoredly. + +"I think it will do so, sir, when you find that the objects that you +have been mistaking for giants are only windmills after all," he +said. + +"I do not understand you, my dear fellow." + +Ishmael took from his breast-pocket the miniature of the Countess of +Hurstmonceux, and opening it and gazing upon it, he said: + +"This is the likeness of the injured lady whose honor I have sworn +to vindicate." + +"Is it Claudia's?" inquired Mr. Brudenell, stretching his hand for +it. + +"No. it is not Lady Vincent's. Pardon me, upon second thoughts, sir. +I wish to tell you this lady's story before I show you her +portrait," answered Ishmael, shutting the case and returning it to +his pocket. + +Mr. Brudenell sat back, looking puzzled and attentive. + +"This lady was the young and beautiful widow of an aged peer. She +was as pure and noble as she was fair and lovely. She was sought in +marriage by many attractive suitors; but in vain, for she would not +bestow her hand where she could not bestow her heart. Among the most +persevering of these suitors was a profligate fortune-hunter, who, +as the near relative of her late husband, had the entre into her +house--" + +"Ah! I think I have heard this story before," said Mr. Brudenell, +with the slightest possible sneer on his handsome lip. + +"One side of it, sir, the false side. Hear the other, and the true +one. The beautiful widow repulsed this suitor in disgust, and +peremptorily forbade him the house. Determined not to be baffled, he +resorted to a stratagem that should have sent him to the hulks--that +did, in fact, banish him from all decent society. Are you listening, +sir?" + +"With all my soul," said Mr. Brudenell, whose mocking sneer had +disappeared before an earnest interest. + +"By tempting the cupidity of a poor kinsman, who was a member of the +young widow's family, he managed to get himself secretly admitted to +her house and concealed in her dressing room, whose front windows +overlooked the street. In the morning this man opened one of these +windows, and stood before it half-dressed, in full view of the +street, brushing his hair for the entertainment of the passers-by. +The glare of light from the open window, shining through the open +door into the adjoining bedchamber of the sleeping beauty, awakened +her. At sight of the sacrilegious intruder, she was so struck with +consternation that she could not speak. He took advantage of his +position and her panic, to press his repugnant suit. He plead that +his ardent passion and her icy coldness had driven him to +desperation and to extremity. He argued that all stratagems were +fair in love. He begged her to forgive him and to marry him, and +warned her that her reputation was irretrievably compromised if she +did not do so." + +Ishmael paused, and looked to see what effect this story was having +upon Mr. Brudenell. Herman Brudenell was listening with breathless +interest. + +Ishmael continued, speaking earnestly, for his heart was in his +theme: + +"But the beautiful and spirited young widow was not one to be +terrified into a measure that her soul abhorred. Her first act, on +recovering the possession of her senses, was to ring the bell and +order the ejectment of the intruder; and despite his attempts at +explanation and remonstrance, this order was promptly obeyed, and +the lady never saw him afterward. Soon after this she left Edinboro' +for the south of England. At Brighton she met with a gentleman who +afterward became her husband. But ah! this gentleman, some time +subsequent to their marriage, received a one-sided account of that +affair in Edinboro'. He was then young, sensitive, and jealous. He +believed all that was told him; he asked no explanation of his young +wife; he silently abandoned her. And she--faithful to the one love +of her life--has lived through all her budding youth and blooming +womanhood in loneliness and seclusion, passing her days in acts of +charity and devotion. Circumstances have lately placed in my power +the means of vindicating this lady's honor, even to the satisfaction +of her unbelieving husband." + +Ishmael paused, and looked earnestly into the troubled face of +Herman Brudenell. + +"Ishmael," he exclaimed, "of course I have known all along that you +have been speaking of my wife, Lady Hurstmonceux. If you have not +been deceived; if the truth is just what it has been represented to +you to be; if she was indeed innocent of all complicity in that +nocturnal visit; then, Ishmael, I have done her a great, an +unpardonable, an irreparable wrong." + +"You have done that lovely lady great wrong indeed, sir; but not an +unpardonable, not an irreparable one. She will be as ready to pardon +as you to offer reparation. And in her lovely humility she will +never know that there has been anything to pardon. Angels are not +implacable, sir. If you doubt my judgment in this matter, look on +her portrait now," said Ishmael, taking her miniature once more from +his coat-pocket, opening it, and laying it before Herman Brudenell. + +Mr. Brudenell slowly raised it, and wistfully gazed upon it. + +"Is it a faithful portrait, Ishmael?" he asked. + +"So faithful that it is like herself seen through a diminishing +glass." + +"She is very, very beautiful--more beautiful even than she was in +her early youth," said Mr. Brudenell, thoughtfully gazing upon the +miniature. + +"Yes, I can imagine that she is more beautiful now than she was in +her early youth; more beautiful with the heavenly beauty of the +spirit added to the earthly beauty of the flesh. Look at that +picture, dear sir; fancy those charming features, living, smiling, +speaking, and you will be better able to judge how beautiful is your +wife. Oh, sir! I think that in the times past you never loved that +sweet lady as she deserved to be loved; but if you were to meet her +now, you would love her as you never loved her before." + +"If I were to meet her? Why, supposing that I have wronged her as +much as you say, how could I ever venture to present myself before +her?" + +"How could you ever venture? Oh, sir! because she loves you. There +are women, sir, who love but once in all their lives, and then love +forever. The Countess of Hurstmonceux is one of these. Sir, since I +have lived in daily companionship with her, I have been led to study +her with affectionate interest. I have read her life as a wondrous +poem. Her soul has been filled with one love. Her heart is the +shrine of one idol. And oh, sir! believe me the future holds no hope +of happiness so sweet to that lovely lady as a reunion with the +husband of her youth." + +"Ah, Ishmael! if I could believe this, my own youth would be +restored; I should have a motive to live. You said, just now, that +in the old sad times I had not loved this lady as she deserved to be +loved. No--I married her hastily, impulsively--flattered by her +evident preference for me; and just as I was beginning to know all +her worth and beauty, lo! this fact of the nocturnal sojourn of the +profligate Captain Dugald came to my knowledge--came to my knowledge +with a convincing power, beyond all possibility of questioning. Oh, +you see, I discovered the bare fact, without the explanation of it! +I believed myself the dupe of a clever adventuress, and my love was +nipped in the bud. If I could believe otherwise now,--if I could +believe that she was innocent in that affair, and that she has loved +me all these years, and been true to that love, and is ready and +willing to forgive and forget the long, sorrowful past,--Ishmael, +instead of being the most desolate, I should be the most contented +man alive. I should feel like a shipwrecked sailor, long tossed +about on the stormy sea, arriving safe at home at last!" said Mr. +Brudenell, gazing most longingly upon the picture he held in his +hand. + +Ishmael was too wise to interrupt that contemplation by a single +word at this moment. + +"The thought that such a woman as this, Ishmael,--so richly endowed +in beauty of form and mind and heart,--should be my loving companion +for life, seems to me too great a hope for mortal man to indulge." + +Ishmael did not speak. + +"But here is the dilemma, my dear boy! either she did deceive me, or +she did not. If she did deceive me, lovely as she is, I wish never +to see her again. If she did not deceive me, then I have wronged her +so long and so bitterly that she must wish never to see me again!" +sighed Mr. Brudenell, as he mournfully closed the case of the +miniature. + +Then Ishmael spoke: + +"Oh, sir! I have resolved to vindicate the honor of this lady, and I +will do it. Soon I will have the German Jew, Ezra Isaacs, looked up; +for he it was who, tempted by the false representations of Captain +Dugald, secretly admitted him to her house and concealed him in her +dressing room. And he shall be brought to confess it. Then you will +see, sir, the perfect innocence of the countess. And for the rest, +if you wish to prove her undiminished love; her perfect willingness +to forget the past; her eagerness for a reconciliation--go to her, +prove it all; and, oh, sir, be happier in your sober, middle age +than ever you hoped to be, even in your sanguine youth." + +The young man spoke so fervently, so strongly, so earnestly that Mr. +Brudenell seized his hand, and gazing affectionately in his eloquent +face, said: + +"What a woman's advocate you are, Ishmael!" "It is because a woman's +spirit has hovered over me, from the beginning of my life, I think." + +"Your angel mother's spirit, Ishmael. Ah, brighter, and sweeter and +dearer than all things in my life, is the memory of that pastoral +poem of my boyish love. It is the one oasis in the desert of my +life." + +"Forget it, dear sir; forget it all. Think of your boyhood love as +an angel in heaven, and love her only so. Do this for the sake of +that sweet lady who has a right to your exclusive earthly devotion." + +"Oh strange, and passing strange, that Nora's son should advocate +the cause of Nora's rival!" said Herman Brudenell wonderingly. + +"Not Nora's rival, sir. An angel in heaven, beaming in the light of +God's smile, can never have a rival--least of all, a rival in a +pilgrim of this earth. For the rest, if Nora's son speaks, it is +because Nora's spirit inspires him," said Ishmael solemnly. + +"Your life, indeed, seems to have been angel-guided, and your +counsels angel-inspired, Ishmael; and they shall guide me. Yes, +Nora's son; in this crisis of my fate your hand shall lead me. And I +know that it will lead me into a haven of rest." + +Soon after this the father and son retired for the night. + +Ishmael, secure in his own happy love and easy in his blameless +conscience, soon fell asleep. + +Herman Brudenell lay awake, thinking over all that he had heard; +blaming himself for his share of the sorrowful past, and seeing +always the figure of the beautiful countess in her years of lonely +widowhood. It is something for a solitary and homeless man, like +Herman Brudenell, to discover suddenly that he has for years been +the sole object of a good and beautiful woman's love, and to know +that a home as happy and a wife as lovely as his youthful +imagination ever pictured were now waiting to receive him, if he +would come and take possession. + +Early the next morning Ishmael arose, refreshed, from a good night's +rest; but Mr. Brudenell got up, weary, from a sleepless pillow. + +It was to be a busy day with Ishmael, so, after a hasty breakfast, +he took a temporary leave of Mr. Brudenell and set out. His first +visit was to the chambers of the Messrs. Hudson, solicitors, Burton +Street, Piccadilly. Where all parties are agreed business must be +promptly dispatched, despite of even the law's proverbial delays. +The Earl of Hurstmonceux and Judge Merlin were quite agreed in this +affair of restitution, and therefore their attorneys could have +little trouble. + +As the reader knows, upon the marriage of the Viscount Vincent and +Claudia Merlin, there had been no settlements; therefore the whole +of the bride's fortune became the absolute property of the +bridegroom. Subsequently, Lord Vincent had died intestate; therefore +Claudia as his widow would have been legally entitled to but a +portion of that very fortune she herself had brought to him in +marriage; all the rest falling to the viscount's family, or rather +to its representative, the Earl of Hurstmonceux. It was this legal +injustice that the earl wished to rectify, by making over to Lady +Vincent all his right, title, and interest in the estate left by the +deceased Lord Vincent. This business he had intrusted to his +solicitors, giving them full power to act in his name, and Ishmael, +with the concurrence of Judge Merlin, made it his business to see +that every binding, legal form was observed in the transfer, so that +Lady Vincent should rest undisturbed in her possessions by any +grasping heir that might succeed the Earl of Hurstmonceux. + +When this arrangement with the Messrs. Hudson was satisfactorily +completed, Ishmael entered a cab and drove to Scotland Yard. He +succeeded in obtaining an immediate interview with Inspector +Meadows, to whose hands he committed the task of looking up the +German Jew, Ezra Isaacs. Next he drove to Broad Street, to the +agency of a celebrated line of ocean steamers. After looking over +their programme of steamers advertised to sail, and reading the list +of passengers booked for each, he found that he could engage berths +for his whole party in a fine steamer to sail that day fortnight, +from Liverpool for New York. He secured the berths by paying the +passage money down and taking tickets at once. Finally, he re- +entered the cab and drove back to his hotel. He found that Mr. +Brudenell had walked out. That did not surprise Ishmael. Mr. +Brudenell generally did walk out. Like all homeless, solitary, and +unoccupied men, Mr. Brudenell had formed rambling habits; and had he +been a degree or so lower in the social scale, he must have been +classed among the vagrants. + +Ishmael sat down in the unoccupied parlor to write to Judge Merlin. +He told the judge of the satisfactory completion of his business +with the solicitors of the Earl of Hurstmonceux; and that he had the +documents effecting the restitution of Lady Vincent's property in +his own safe-keeping; that he did not like to trust them to the +mail, but would bring them in person when. he should return to +Edinboro', which would be as soon as a little affair that he had in +hand could be arranged; and he hinted that Mr. Brudenell would +probably accompany him to Scotland. Finally, he informed the judge +that he had engaged passages for their party in the ocean mail +steamer "Columbus," to sail on Saturday, the 15th, from Liverpool +for New York. He ended with sending affectionate respects to Lady +Vincent and the Countess of Hurstmonceux. Being anxious to catch the +afternoon mail at the last moment, Ishmael did not intrust the +delivery of this letter to the waiters of the hotel, but took his +hat and hurried out to post it himself. By paying the extra penny +exacted for late letters he got it into the mail and then walked +back to the hotel. + +Mr. Brudenell had returned, and at the moment of Ishmael's entrance +he was in solemn consultation with the waiter about the dinner. +After dinner that day Ishmael went out to visit the tower of London, +to him the most interesting of all the ancient buildings in that +ancient city. At night he went with Mr. Brudenell to the old classic +Drury Lane Theater to see Kean in "Richard III." After that +intellectual festival they returned to Morley's to supper and to +bed. On Sunday morning they attended divine service at St. Paul's. +The next morning, Ishmael, with Mr. Brudenell, paid a visit to +Westminster Abbey, where the tombs of the ancient kings and warriors +engaged their attention nearly the whole day. It was late in the +afternoon when they returned to Morley's, where the first thing +Ishmael heard was that a person was waiting for him in the parlor. + +Mr. Brudenell went directly to his chamber to change his dress, but +Ishmael repaired to the parlor, where he expected to see someone +from Scotland Yard. + +He found the German Jew sitting there. + +"Why, Isaacs? Is this you, already? I am very glad to see you! Mr. +Meadows sent you, I suppose?" said Ishmael, advancing and shaking +hands with his visitor. + +"Mishter Meators? Who is he? No, Mishter Meators tit not zend me +here; no one tit; I gome myzelf. I saw your name in te list of +arrivals at dish house, bublished in tish morningsh babers. Ant I +zaid--dish is te name of von drue shentlemans; ant I'll gall to see +him; and here I am," replied the Jew, cordially returning Ishmael's +shake of the hand. + +"Thank you, Isaacs, for your good opinion of me. Sit down. I have +been very anxious to see you, to speak to you on a subject that I +must broach at once, lest we should be interrupted before we have +discussed it," said Ishmael, who was desirous of bringing Isaacs to +confession before the entrance of Mr. Brudenell. + +"Sbeak ten!" said the Jew, settling himself in the big armchair. + +"Isaacs, you had a beautiful kinswoman of whom you used to speak to +me on our voyage; but you never told me her name," said Ishmael +gravely, seating himself near the Jew. + +"Titn't I, verily? Vell, her name vas Berenice, daughter of Zillah; +Zillah vas mine moder's shister, and vas very fair to look upon. She +marriet mit a rish Lonton Shew, and tiet leafing von fair daughter +Berenice, mine kinsvoman, who marriet mit an English lort; very olt, +very boor, put very mush in love mit my kinsvoman. He marriet her +pecause zhe was fair to look upon and very rish; her fader made her +marry him pecause he was a lort; he zoon tied and left her a witow, +ant zhe never marriet again; zhe left te country and vas away many +years ant I have nod zeen her zince. My fair kinswoman! Zhe hat a +great wrong done her!" said the Jew, dropping his chin upon his +chest and falling into sad and penitential reverie. + +"Yes, Isaacs," said Ishmael, rising and laying his hand solemnly on +the breast of the Jew. "Yes, Isaacs, she had a great wrong done her, +a greater wrong than even you can imagine; a wrong so great in its +devastating effects upon her life that you cannot even estimate its +enormity! But, Isaacs, you can do something to right this wrong!" + +"I! Fader Abraham, what can I?" exclaimed the Jew, impressed and +frightened by the earnestness of Ishmael's words. + +"You can make a full disclosure of the circumstances under which the +miscreant Dromlie Dugald obtained access to Lady Hurstmonceux's +private apartments." + +The Jew gazed up in the young man's face, as though he was unable to +withdraw his eyes; he seemed to be held spellbound by the powerful +magnetism of Ishmael's spirit. + +"Isaacs," continued the young man, "whatever may be the nature of +these disclosures, I promise you that you shall be held free of +consequences-I promise you; and you know the value of my promise." + +The Jew did not answer and did not remove his eyes from the earnest, +eloquent face of Ishmael. + +"So you see, Isaacs, that your disclosures, while they will deliver +the countess from the suspicions under which her happiness has +drooped for so many years, can do you no injury And now, Isaacs, I +ask you, as man speaking to man, a question that I adjure you to +answer, as you shall answer at that great day of account, when quick +and dead shall stand before the bar of God, and the secret of all +hearts shall be revealed--did you admit Dromlie Dugald to the +private apartments of the Countess of Hurstmonceux, without the +knowledge or the consent of her ladyship?" + +"Cot forgive me, I tit!" exclaimed the Jew, in a low terrified +voice. + +"That will do, Isaacs," said Ishmael, ringing the bell. + +A waiter came. + +"Is there an unoccupied sitting room that I can have the use of for +a short time?" inquired Ishmael. + +"Yes, sir." + +"Show me to it immediately, then." + +The waiter led the way, and Ishmael, beckoning the Israelite to +accompany him, followed to a comfortable little parlor, warmed by a +bright little fire, such as they kept always ready for chance +guests. + +"Writing materials, James," said Ishmael. + +The man went for them; and while he was gone, Ishmael said: + +"We might have been interrupted in the other room, Isaacs; that is +the reason why I have brought you here." + +When the waiter had returned with the writing materials, and +arranged them on the table, and again had withdrawn from the room, +Ishmael drew a chair to the table, seated himself, took a pen, and +said: + +"Now Isaacs, sit down near me, and relate, as faithfully as you can, +all the circumstances attending the concealment of Dromlie Dugald in +Lady Hurstmonceux's apartments." + +The Jew, as if acting under the spell of a powerful spirit, did as +he was ordered. He drew a chair to the table, seated himself +opposite Ishmael, and--to use a common phrase--"made a clean breast +of it." + +I will not attempt to give his confession in detail. I will only +give the epitome of it. He acknowledged that he had been bribed by +Captain Dugald to favor his (the captain's) addresses to the +beautiful young widow. But he solemnly declared that he had supposed +himself to be acting as much for the lady's good as for his own +interest, when he took the captain's money and admitted him freely +to the house of his kinswoman, where he himself was staying, a +temporary guest, and where he received her suitor as his visitor. + +Farther, he more solemnly declared that on that fatal evening when +he secretly admitted the captain to the house, and guided him to the +boudoir of the countess, he had not the remotest suspicion of the +nefarious purpose of the suitor. He thought Dugald merely wished +for an opportunity for pressing his suit. He had no idea that the +unscrupulous villain designed to conceal himself in the closet of +the dressing room, and so pass the night in Lady Hurstmonceux's +apartments, and show himself in the morning in dishabille at her +open window, for the benefit of all the passengers through the +street. + +He affirmed that when in the morning he heard of this infamous abuse +of confidence on the part of his patron, he had not had courage to +meet his kinswoman at breakfast, but had decamped from the house in +great haste, and had never seen the countess since that eventful +day. + +He said that he had heard how much she had suffered from the affair, +at least for a short time; and that afterwards he had heard she had +left the country; that he had since supposed the whole circumstance +had been forgotten, and he did not even now understand how his +disclosures should serve her, since no one now remembered the +escapade of Captain Dugald. + +As Isaacs spoke, Ishmael took down the statement in writing. When it +was finished he turned to the Jew and said: + +"You are mistaken in one thing--nay, indeed, in two things, Isaacs! +The first is, in the supposition that your disclosures cannot now +serve the countess, since the world has long ago done her full +justice. It is true that the world has done her full justice, for +there is no lady living more highly esteemed than is the Countess of +Hurstmonceux. So if the world were only in question, Isaacs, I need +never have troubled you to speak. But there is an individual in +question; and this brings me to your second mistake in the matter; +namely, in the supposition that the countess never married again. +She did marry again; hut, a few months subsequent to her marriage, +her husband heard the story of Captain Dugald's adventure, as it was +then circulated and believed; and he thought himself the dupe of a +cunning adventuress, and estranged himself from his wife from that +day until this." + +"Fader Abraham!" exclaimed the Jew, raising both his hands in +consternation. + +"Providence has lately put me in possession of all the facts in this +case, and has enabled me to pave the way for a reconciliation +between the long-severed pair--supposing that you will have the +moral courage to do your kinswoman justice." + +"Fader Abraham, I vill do her shustice! I vill do her more as +shustice. I vill tell te whole truth. I vill tell more as te whole +truth, and shwear to it. I vill do anyding. I vould do anyding alt +te time, if I had known it," said the Jew earnestly. + +"Thank you, Isaacs, I only want the simple truth; more than that +would do us harm instead of good. This is the simple truth, I hope, +that I have taken down from your lips?" + +"Yesh, tat ish te zimple truth!" + +"I will read the whole statement to you, Isaacs, and then you will +be able to see whether I have taken down your words correctly," said +Ishmael. And he took up the manuscript and read it carefully +through, pausing frequently to give the Jew an opportunity of +correcting him, if necessary. + +"Dat ish all right," said Isaacs, when the reading was finished. + +"Now sign it, Isaacs." + +The Jew affixed his signature. + +"Now, Isaacs that is all I want of you for the present; but should +you be required to make oath to the truth of this, I suppose that +you will be found ready to do so." + +"Fader Abraham! yes, I vill do anyding at all, or anyding else, to +serve mine kinswoman," said the Jew, rising. + +"Thank you, Isaacs. Now tell me where I shall find you, in case you +shall be wanted?" + +"I am lotging mit mine frient, Samuel Phineas, Butter Lane, +Burrough." + +"I will remember. Thank you, Isaacs. You have done your kinswoman +and her friends good service. She will be grateful to you. I have no +doubt she will send for you. Would you like to come to her?" + +"Mit all my feet. Vere ish she?" + +"At her country-seat, Cameron Court, near Edinboro'." + +"I ton't know id." + +"No, you don't know it. It is a comparatively recent purchase of her +ladyship, I believe," said Ishmael, rising to accompany the Jew from +the room. + +As they went out they rang the bell, to warn the waiter that they +had evacuated the apartment. In the hall Isaacs bade him good- +afternoon, and Ishmael turned into the sitting room occupied in +common by himself and Mr. Brudenell. He found the table laid for +dinner and Mr. Brudenell walking impatiently up and down the floor. + +"Ah, you are there! I was afraid you would be late, and the fish and +the soup would be spoiled, but here you are in the very nick of +time," he said, as he touched the bell. "Dinner immediately," he +continued, addressing himself to the waiter, who answered his +summons. But it was not until after dinner was over, and the cloth +removed, and Mr. Brudenell had finished his bottle of claret and +smoked out his principe, that Ishmael told him of his interview with +Isaacs, and laid the written statement of the Jew before him. Mr. +Brudenell read it carefully through, with the deepest interest. When +he had finished it, he slowly folded it up and placed it in his +breast pocket, dropped his head upon his chest, and remained in deep +thought and perfect silence. + +After the lapse of a few moments Ishmael spoke: + +"If you think it needful, sir, Isaacs is ready to go before a +magistrate and make oath to the truth of that statement." + +"It is not needful, Ishmael; I have not the least doubt of its +perfect truth. It is not of that I am thinking; but--of my wife. How +will she receive me? One thing is certain, that having deeply +injured her, I must go to her and acknowledge the wrong and ask her +forgiveness. But, oh, Ishmael, what atonement will that be for years +of cruel injustice and abandonment? None, none! No, I feel that I +can make her no atonement," said Mr. Brudenell bitterly. + +"No, sir; you can make her no atonement, but--you can make her +happy. And that is all she will need," said Ishmael gravely and +sweetly. + +"If I thought I could, Ishmael, I would hasten to her at once. In +any case, however, I must go to her, acknowledge the wrong I have +done her and ask for pardon. But, ah! how will she receive me?" + +"Only go and see for yourself, sir, I implore you," said Ishmael +earnestly. + +"When do you return to Scotland, Ishmael?" + +"When you are ready to accompany me, sir; I am waiting only for +you," answered Ishmael, smiling. + +"Then we will go by the early express train to-morrow morning," said +Mr. Brudenell. + +"Very well, sir; I shall be ready," smiled Ishmael. + +Mr. Brudenell rang for tea. And when it was set on the table he +ordered the waiter to call him at five o'clock the next morning, to +have his bill ready, and get a fly to the door to take them to the +Great Northern Railroad Station in time to meet the six o'clock +express train for Edinboro'. + +After tea the two gentlemen remained conversing some little time +longer, and then retired to their bed-chamber, where, being without +the help and hindrance of a valet, they packed their own +portmanteaus. And then they went to bed early in order to secure a +long and good night's rest, preparatory to their proposed journey of +the next morning. + + + + +CHAPTER LII. + +THE MEETING OF THE SEVERED PAIR. + + For she is wise, if I can judge of her; + And fair she is, if that mine eyes be true; + And true she is as she hath proved herself; + And therefore like herself, wise, fair, and true + She shall be placed within my constant soul. + --_Shakspeare_ + + + +Ishmael and Mr. Brudenell arose before the waiter called them. They +dressed quickly, rang, and ordered breakfast, and had time to eat it +leisurely before the hour at which the cab was ordered to take them +to the railway station. They caught the six o'clock express on the +point of starting, and had just settled themselves comfortably in a +first-class carriage when the train moved. + +There is a difference in the time kept even by express trains. This +one seemed to be the fastest among the fast, since it steamed out of +the London station at six in the morning and steamed into the +Edinboro' station at four in the afternoon. + +Ishmael called a cab for himself and fellow-traveler. And when they +had taken their seats in it, he gave the order, "To Magruder's +Hotel." And the cab started. + +"I think, sir," said the young man to the elder, "as we are in such +good time, we had better go to my rooms at Magruder's and renovate +our toilets before driving out to Cameron Court and presenting +ourselves to Lady Hurstmonceux." + +"Yes, yes, certainly, Ishmael; for really I think after that dusty, +smoky, cindery day's journey we should be all the better for soap +and water and clean clothes. I don't know how I look, my dear +fellow, but, not to flatter you, you present the appearance of a +very interesting master chimney-sweep!" replied Mr. Brudenell. + +Ishmael laughed. + +Ah, yes; Herman Brudenell jested on the same principle that people +are said to jest on their way to execution. Now, when he was so near +Cameron Court and the Countess of Hurstmonceux, how ill at ease he +had become; how he dreaded, yet desired, the interview that was to +decide his fate. + +The distance between the railway station and Magruder's Hotel was so +short that it was passed over in a few minutes. Ishmael paid and +dismissed the cab, and the two gentlemen went in. Ishmael's rooms in +that house had never been given up; they had been kept for the use +of his party, on their journeyings through the city. He conducted +Mr. Brudenell to these rooms, and then ordered luncheon as soon as +it could be served, and a fly in half an hour. Twenty minutes they +gave to that "renovation" of the toilet advised by Ishmael, ten +minutes to a simple luncheon of cold meat and bread, and then they +entered the fly. + +Ishmael gave the order, "To Cameron Court." + +As they moved on Mr. Brudenell said: + +"There are several points upon which I would like to consult you, +before presenting myself to the countess.' + +"Yes, sir," said Ishmael, looking up with a smile full of earnest +encouragement. + +"But, like all procrastinating natures, I have deferred the task +until the last moment." + +"There has been no better opportunity than the present, sir." + +"That is true. Well, Ishmael, the first doubt that troubles me is +this: That I should not, perhaps, intrude upon the countess, without +first writing and apprising her of my intended visit. My appearance +will be unexpected, startling, even embarrassing to her." + +"No, sir, no; trust me it will not. If I have read that gentle +lady's heart aright, she has been always hoping to see you; and, +with the expectation that is born of hope, she has been always +looking for you. No strange, unnatural appearance will you seem to +Lady Hurstmonceux, believe me, sir. And, moreover, she has reason to +expect you now. Listen, sir. It was on the day after I heard her +story of Captain Dugald's midnight visit and the evil it brought +her, I begged from her the loan of that miniature which I showed +you. And I do think she half suspected the use that I was about to +put it to. She loaned it to me freely, without question and without +reserve, and she knew at the time that I was going directly to your +presence; and finally, on the day before yesterday, when writing to +Judge Merlin, I mentioned my hope that you would accompany me to +Edinboro'. So you see, sir, Lady Hurstmonceux is not entirely +unprepared to receive you." + +"Ah, but how will she receive me, Ishmael? And how, indeed, shall I +present myself to her?" + +"She will welcome you with joy, sir; believe it. But you need not +take her by surprise, sir, even supposing that she does not expect +you. Indeed, in no event would it be well that you should risk doing +so. When we reach Cameron Court you can remain in the fly, while I +go in, and to her ladyship alone announce your arrival." + +"Thank you, Ishmael. Your plan is a good one and I will adopt it. +And now another thing, my dear boy. Ishmael, you have always refused +to be publicly acknowledged as my son--" + +"You know why, sir; I will not have unmerited reproach thrown upon +my sainted mother's memory. She was a martyr to your mistake; it +must never be supposed that she was a victim to her own weakness." + +"Enough, Ishmael, enough! I will not urge the point, although Heaven +only knows how great is the sacrifice I make in resigning the hope +that you would take my name and inherit what is left of the family +estates. But, there, Ishmael, I will say no more upon that point. +You will continue to bear your mother's name--the name that you have +already made famous, and that, I feel sure, you will make +illustrious. So no more of that. But what I wished particularly to +consult you about is the propriety of confiding to the countess the +secret of our relationship. Ishmael, it shall be just as you +please." + +"Then, sir, tell her all. Have no secrets from the countess, she +merits all your confidence; but tell her the circumstances under +which you married my dear mother, that Nora Worth may be held +blameless by her forever," said Ishmael solemnly. + +It was strange to hear this middle-aged gentleman seeking counsel +from this young man; but so it was that all who were brought within +the circle of Ishmael's influence consulted him as an early +Christian might have consulted a young St. John. Ishmael had not the +experience that only age can bring; but he had that clear, strong, +moral and intellectual insight which only purity of heart and life +can give, and hence his counsels were always wise and good. + +It was six o'clock when the carriage reached Cameron Court. When the +carriage drew up before the principal entrance Ishmael observed that +Mr. Brudenell had become very much agitated. + +"Compose yourself, dear sir; compose yourself with the reflection +that it is only a loving woman you are about to meet; a woman who +loves you constantly and will welcome you with delight. Remain here +until I go in and announce your visit; then I will return for you," +he said, pressing Mr. Brudenell's hand as he left the carriage. + +The professor opened the door for Mr. Worth. There was no regular +porter at Cameron Court, but Dr. James Morris was acting in that +capacity. + +"All well, professor?" + +"All well, sir. The judge and Lady Vincent have gone out for an +airing in the close carriage. We expect them, back to dinner, which +will be served presently. You are just in time, sir." + +Ishmael was for once glad to hear that the judge and his daughter +were absent and that the countess was alone. But then, suddenly he +reflected that this latter supposition was not so certain, and he +anxiously inquired: + +"Is the countess at home, professor?" + +"Yes, sir; her ladyship is in the library, reading." + +"Alone?" + +"Quite alone, sir." + +"That will do; I can find her," said Ishmael, ascending the stairs +and turning in the direction of the library, which was situated on +the first floor. + +Berenice, dressed in a rich, but simply made, black velvet robe, +with delicate white lace under-sleeves and collar, sat near the +centre table before the fire, reading. Her head was bent over her +book, and her rich black ringlets fell forward, half shading her +beautiful dark face. She raised her eyes when Ishmael entered, and +seeing who it was, she threw aside her book and started up to meet +him. + +"Welcome, Mr. Worth; welcome back again," she said, offering her +hand. + +Ishmael took that beautiful little brown hand and held it within his +own as he said: + +"Thank you, Lady Hurstmonceux. I am really very glad to get back. +But--" + +"What, Mr. Worth?" + +"I do not come alone, Lady Hurstmonceux!" + +Her countenance suddenly changed. Her voice sank to at whisper as +she inquired: + +"Who is with you?" + +Dropping his voice to the low tone of hers, Ishmael answered: + +"Mr. Brudenell." + +The countess snatched her hand from his grasp, threw herself into +the nearest chair, covered her face with her hands, and so remained +for several minutes. At last Ishmael approached and leaned over her, +and, speaking in a subdued and gentle voice, said: + +"This visit is not wholly unexpected, Lady Hurstmonceux?" + +"No, no, Mr. Worth," she murmured, without removing the shield of +her hands. + +"Nor unwelcome, I hope?" + +"No, oh, no!" she said, dropping her hands now and looking up, pale, +and faintly smiling. + +"You will see him then?" said Ishmael, speaking, as he had spoken +throughout the interview, in a low, gentle tone. + +"Presently. Give me a little time. Oh, I have waited for him so +long, Ishmael," she said, with an involuntary burst of confidence. +But then everyone, even the most reserved, confided in Ishmael +Worth. + +"I have waited for him so long, so long!" she repeated. + +"He has come at last, dearest lady; come to devote his life to you, +if you will accept the offering," Ishmael murmured, bending over +her. + +"Oh, Mr. Worth, I am sure that I owe this happiness to you," the +countess exclaimed fervently, clasping his hand and holding it while +she repeated, "' Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be +called the children of God.'" + +Lowly and reverently Ishmael bowed his head at the hearing of these +words. + +"Where is he, Mr. Worth?" at length breathed Berenice. + +"In the carriage outside, awaiting your pleasure." + +"Bring him to me, then," she said, pressing his hand warmly before +she relinquished it. + +Ishmael returned that pressure, and then went out to speak to Mr. +Brudenell. + +"Come in, sir. She invites you," he said. + +Herman Brudenell stepped out of the carriage and entered with +Ishmael. He threw his eyes around upon the magnificence that +surrounded him. Was all this really to be his own? the gift of that +sweet lady's slighted love? He could scarcely believe it. + +Ishmael led him through the halls and upstairs to the library. + +"She is in there alone," he whispered. + +"Go in with me, Ishmael," whispered the other. But Ishmael shook his +head, smiled, opened the door, announced, "Mr. Brudenell, Lady +Hurstmonceux," shut it and retired. + +Herman Brudenell found himself alone in the library with his long- +neglected wife. She was sitting in the armchair, where Ishmael had +left her. She arose to meet her visitor; then suddenly turned deadly +pale and sunk back in her chair, overcome by her emotions, but even +in so sinking she stretched her hands out to him in welcome, in +invitation, in entreaty. + +Slowly and deferentially he approached this woman, so holy in her +immortal love. And dropping on one knee, beside her chair, he bent +his head and murmured in a broken voice: + +"Berenice, Berenice--can you forgive all these long, long years of +cruel injustice?" + +"Oh, bless you; bless you, Herman, for coming at last. I am so glad +to see you!" she said, drawing his bowed head to her bosom, dropping +her face caressingly upon it and bursting into tears. A few minutes +passed and he was sitting by her side, with her hand clasped in his, +telling her the story of the sinful and sorrowful past, and +imploring her forgiveness. + +Would she forgive him? + +Reader, Berenice was one of those women whom the wisdom of this +world can never understand; one of those women who love purely and +passionately; who love but once and love forever. She loved Herman +Brudenell; and in saying this I answer all questions. She would not +acknowledge that she had anything to forgive; she was glad to give +him herself and all that she possessed; she was glad to make him the +absolute master of her person and her fortune. And in giving all she +received all, for as she loved she was happy. After some little time +had elapsed, and they had both recovered from the agitation of the +meeting, the countess looked up at him and inquired: + +"Who is Ishmael Worth? Who is this young man, so stately, yet so +gracious? so commanding, yet so meek? who walks among other men as a +young king should, but as a young king never does. Who is he?" + +"He is my son," said Herman Brudenell, proudly but shyly; "my son, +the child of that unfortunate marriage contracted when I supposed +that you were lost to me; lost to me in every way, my Berenice. That +marriage of which I have already told you. Do you forgive me, for +him also, Berenice?" + +"I congratulate you on him, for he is a son to be very proud of. I +glory in him, for he is now my son also," said this generous woman +fervently. + +Herman Brudenell raised her hand and pressed it to his lips. + +"Oh, Herman, I knew it! I knew it twenty years ago, when I went to +the Hill Hut and begged the babe to bring up as my own," she said. + +"You did, Berenice? How divinely good you are." + +"Good! Why, I only sought my own comfort in the babe. You were lost +to me for the time, and your child was the best consolation I could +have found. However, his stern kinswoman would not let me have him; +would not even let me help him; denied that he was yours, and almost +turned me out of doors." + +"That was so like Hannah." + +"But now at last he is mine; my gifted son. How I shall rejoice in +him." + +"He is yours, Berenice, as far as the most profound esteem and love +can make him yours. But Ishmael will never consent to be publicly +acknowledged by me," said Herman Brudenell sorrowfully. + +"But why?" inquired the countess, in astonishment. + +"For his mother's sake. Ishmael cherishes the most chivalric +devotion for his angel mother, and I think also for all mortal +women, for her sake. He bears her name, and is fond of it and will +ever bear it, that whatever fame he may win in this world may be +identified with it. He has vowed, with the blessing of Heaven, to +make the name of Worth illustrious, and he will do so." + +"A chivalric devotion, truly; and how beautiful it is. He is +already, though so young, a distinguished member of the Washington +bar, I hear. How did he get his education and his profession--that +poor boy, whom I remember in his childhood as tramping the country +with the old odd-job man--that very 'professor' who attends him as +his servant now? You found him and educated him at last, I suppose, +Herman?" + +A fiery flush arose to Mr. Brudenell's brow, displacing its habitual +paleness. + +"No, Berenice, no! Not to me, not to any human being does Ishmael +owe education or profession; but to God and to himself alone. Never +was a boy born in this world under more adverse circumstances. His +birth, in its utter destitution, reminds me (I speak it with the +deepest reverence) of that other birth in the manger of Bethlehem. +His infancy was a struggle for the very breath of life; his +childhood for bread; his youth for education; and nobly, nobly has +he sustained this struggle and gloriously has he succeeded. We are +yet in our prime, my dear Berenice, and I feel sure that, if we live +out the three-score years and ten allotted as the term of human +life, we shall see Ishmael at the zenith of human greatness." + +So carried away had Mr. Brudenell been in making this tribute to +Ishmael that he had forgotten to explain the circumstances that +would have exonerated him from the suspicion of having culpably +neglected his child. Berenice brought him back to his recollection +by saying: + +"But I am sure you must have made some provision for this boy; how +was it then that he never derived any benefit from it? How was it +that he was left from the hour of his birth to suffer the cruelest +privations, until the age of seven years, when he began to support +himself, and to help support his aunt!" + +"You are right, Berenice; I made a provision for him; but I left the +country, and he never had the good of it. I will explain how that +was by and by; but I believe the loss of it was providential. I +believe it was intended from the first that Ishmael should 'owe no +man anything,' for life, or bread, or education, or profession; but +all to God and God's blessing on his own efforts. He is self-made. I +know no other man in history to whom the term can be so perfectly +well applied." + +"Will you tell me all you know of his early struggles? I am so +interested in this stately son of yours," said Berenice, who, while +admiring Ishmael herself, saw also that he was the theme above all +others that Mr. Brudenell loved to dwell upon. + +Herman Brudenell told the story of Ishmael's heroic young life, as +he had gathered it from many sources. And Berenice listened in +admiration, in wonder, and sometimes in tears. And yet it was only +the plain story of a poor boy who struggled up out of the depths of +poverty, shame, and ignorance, to competence, honor, and +distinction; a story that may be repeated again in the person of the +obscurest boy that reads these lines. + +After a little while, given to meditation on what she had heard, +Berenice, with her hand still clasped in that of Herman Brudenell, +looked up at him and said: + +"Your mother and sisters?" + +Slowly and sadly Mr. Brudenell shook his head: + +"Ah, Berenice! I shall have to tell you now of a family self marred, +as a set-off to the boy self-made." + +And then he told the grievous story of the decadence of the +Brudenell ladies, not, of course, forgetting the mad marriage of +Eleanor Brudenell with the profligate Captain Dugald. + +While Bernice was still wondering over these family mistakes and +misfortunes, a footman opened the door and said: + +"My lady, dinner is served." + +"Have Judge Merlin and Lady Vincent returned from their drive?" +inquired the countess. + +"Yes, my lady; the judge and her ladyship are in the drawing room +with Mr. Worth." + +"Mr. Brudenell, will you give me your arm?" said the countess, +rising, with a smile. + +Herman Brudenell bowed and complied. And they left the library and +passed on to the little drawing room. As they entered they saw Judge +Merlin, Ishmael, and Claudia standing, grouped in conversation, near +the fire. + +The situation of this long-severed and suddenly reunited pair was +certainly rather embarassing, especially to the lady; and to almost +any other one it would have been overwhelming. But Berenice was a +refined, cultivated, and dignified woman of society; such a woman +never loses her self-possession; she is always mistress of the +situation. Berenice was so now. But for the bright light in her +usually pensive dark eyes, and the rosy flush on her habitually pale +cheeks, there was no difference in her aspect, as, with her hand +lightly resting on Mr. Brudenell's arm, she advanced towards the +group. + +Claudia turned around, not altogether in surprise, for Ishmael had +thoughtfully prepared them all for this new addition to the family +circle. + +"Lady Vincent, I believe you have already met my husband, Mr. +Brudenell," said the countess, gravely presenting him to her guest. +And the form of her words purposely revealed the reconciliation that +had just been sealed. + +"Oh, yes, I know Mr. Brudenell well, and I am very glad to see him +again," said Claudia, offering her hand. + +"I had the honor of passing some weeks in Lady Vincent's company at +her father's house in Washington," said Mr. Brudenell, gravely +bowing. He next turned and shook hands with Judge Merlin. But the +old man retained his hand, and took also that of the countess, and +as the tears sprang to his aged eyes, he said: + +"Dear Brudenell, and dearest lady, I sympathize with you in this +reunion with all my heart. May you be very happy; God bless you!" +and pressing both their hands, he relinquished them. + +Mr. Brudenell and the countess simultaneously bowed in silent +acknowledgment of this benediction. + +Claudia involuntarily looked up to Ishmael's face; their eyes met-- +hers betraying the yearning anguish of a famishing heart, and his +the most earnest sympathy, the most reverential compassion. Why did +Claudia look at him so? Ah! because she could not help it. What was +she dreaming of? Perhaps of another possible reunion, that should +compensate her for all the woeful past, and bless her in all the +happy future. + +A moment more, and the folding doors connecting The drawing room +with the dining room were thrown open. + +"Mr. Brudenell, will you take Lady Vincent in to dinner?" said the +countess, with a smile, as she herself gave her hand to Ishmael. + +And thus they passed into the dining room. + +But for the sadness of one mourning spirit present, the dinner was a +pleasant one. And the reunion in the drawing room that evening was +calmly happy. + + + + +CHAPTER LIII + +HOME AGAIN. + + Home again! home again! + From a foreign shore! + And oh, it fills my heart with joy + To greet my friends once more. + + Music sweet! music soft! + Lingers round the place; + And oh, I feel the childhood's charm, + That time cannot efface! + --_M. S. Pike_. + + + +It had been decided in consultation between Judge Merlin and Ishmael +that, under existing circumstances, it would be proper for their +party to shorten their visit to Cameron Court, and leave the +recently reconciled pair to the enjoyment of their own exclusive +company. + +And accordingly, while they were all seated at luncheon the next +day, Wednesday, Judge Merlin announced their departure for Thursday +morning. + +This announcement was met by a storm of hospitable expostulation. +Both the countess and Mr. Brudenell strongly objected to the early +departure of their visitors, and urged their prolonged stay. + +But, to all this friendly solicitation, the judge replied: + +"My dear countess, painful as it will be for us all to leave Cameron +Court, there are imperative reasons for our doing so. It is not only +that we have engaged our passages on the steamer that sails on the +15th of this month of February, but that unless we really do sail on +that day, we shall not have sufficient time to cross the ocean and +get into port before the stormy month of March sets in." + +"But this is only Wednesday. The 'Columbus' does not sail until +Saturday after next. You might stay with us a week longer, and then +have abundant time to run down to Liverpool and get comfortably +embarked," said the countess. + +"Thank you, dear lady; but the truth is, I wish to show my daughter +London before we sail," replied the judge. + +"The truth is," said the countess, smiling, "that you are all weary +of Cameron Court. Well, so I will no longer oppose your departure. +Very early in life I learned the twofold duty of hospitality: 'to +greet the coming, speed the parting guest.'" + +"Lady Hurstmonceux, we are not weary of Cameron Court. On the +contrary we are attached to it, warmly attached to it; we have been +happier here than we could have been anywhere else, while under our +adverse circumstances. And we shall take leave of you, madam, with +the deepest regret--regret only to be softened by the hope of seeing +you some time in America," said the judge gravely. + +The countess bowed and smiled, but did not in any other manner +reply. + +"Oh, Berenice; dear Berenice! You will come out to see us, some +time, will you not?" urged Claudia. + +The countess looked toward her husband with that proud, fond +deference which loving wives glory in bestowing, and she said: + +"When Mr. Brudenell visits his mother and sisters I shall of course +accompany him, and we shall spend a portion of our time at +Tanglewood, if you will permit us." + +"Berenice, Berenice; what words you use! We know how happy we should +be to see you," said Claudia. + +"And how honored," said the judge. + +Lady Hurstmonceux smiled on Claudia and bowed to the judge. And then +the circle arose from the luncheon table and dispersed. + +That day Ishmael wrote to Bee, announcing the speedy return of +himself and his party, and Judge Merlin wrote to his manager, Reuben +Gray, to have the house at Tanglewood prepared for the reception of +himself and daughter on or before the 1st of March. + +Early on Thursday morning our party took a most affectionate leave +of their friends at Cameron Court, and set out in one of the +countess' carriages for the railway station at Edinboro', which they +reached in time to catch the ten o'clock express for London. + +A twelve hours' flight southward brought them into that city. It was +ten o'clock, therefore, when they ran into the King's Cross Station. +There they took a fly to Morley's Hotel, in the Strand, where they +arrived about eleven o'clock. They engaged a suite of apartments, +and settled themselves there for a week. A very brief epitome must +describe their life in London during that short period. + +It was Thursday night when they arrived. + +On Friday morning they visited the Tower, taking the whole day for +the study of that ancient fortress and its awful traditions; and in +the evening they went to Drury Lane, to see Kean in "Macbeth." + +On Saturday morning they went to Westminster Abbey, and in the +evening to Covent Garden. + +On Sunday they attended divine service at St. Paul's, morning and +afternoon, and they spent the evening at home. + +On Monday they visited the two Houses of Parliament, and in the +evening they wed to the Polytechnic. + +On Tuesday they went over the old prison of Newgate, and in the +evening they heard a celebrated philanthropist lecture at Exeter +Hall. + +On Wednesday they went down to Windsor and went over Windsor Castle, +park, and forest, and they spent the evening looking over the +illustrated guidebooks that described these places. + +On Thursday morning they returned to London, and employed the day in +shopping and other preparations for their homeward voyage; and +Ishmael, among his more important purchases, did not forget the +dolls for little Molly, nor the box of miniature carpenter's tools +for Johnny. They passed this last evening of their stay quietly at +home. + +On Friday morning they left London for Liverpool, where they arrived +at nightfall. They put up at the "Adelphi," the hotel favored by all +American travelers, and where they found all their national tastes +gratified. + +Early on Saturday morning they embarked on their homeward-bound +steamer and sailed from England. They were blessed with one of the +most favorable voyages on record; the wind was fair, the sky was +blue, and the sea smooth from the beginning to the end of their +voyage, and on the evening of the tenth day out they ran safely into +the harbor of New York. This was Thursday, the 25th of February. + +The evening mail for the South had not yet gone; and, while waiting +in the office of the Custom House, Ishmael wrote to Bee, announcing +the safe arrival of his party; and the judge dashed off a few lines +to Reuben Gray, warning him to have all things ready to receive the +returning voyagers. + +Only one night they rested in the city, and then on Friday morning +they left New York, taking the shortest route to Tanglewood--namely, +by railroad as far as Baltimore, and then by steamboat to Shelton, +on the Potomac. + +Our whole party landed at Shelton on Saturday evening. The judge +dispatched a messenger on horseback from the little hotel to +Tanglewood, to order Reuben Gray to have the fires kindled and +supper ready against their arrival, and then, after some little +search,--for the hamlet boasted few hackney coaches,--they found a +carriage for the judge and his companions and a wagon for the +servants and the luggage. It was nine o'clock when they reached +Tanglewood. + +Hannah and Reuben were standing out under the starlight, listening +for the sound of wheels, and they ran forward to greet them as they +alighted from the carriage. + +"Oh, welcome; welcome home, sir! Thank God, I receive you safe +again!" exclaimed Reuben Gray, as he grasped the judge's extended +hand and wept for joy. + +"Thank you, thank you, Gray. I'm happy to be home once more." + +"Oh, my boy; my boy! Do I see you again? Do I really see you again? +Thank Heaven; oh, thank Heaven!" cried Hannah, bursting into a +passion of tears, as she threw her arms around Ishmael's neck and +was pressed to his affectionate heart. + +"God bless you, dear Aunt Hannah! I am very glad to come to you +again? How are the little ones?" + +"Oh, as well as possible, dear." + +"Speak to Lady Vincent," whispered Ishmael. + +"Madam, I am very glad to see you home once more, but sorry to see +you in such deep mourning," said Hannah respectfully. + +Judge Merlin then hurried the whole party out of the biting winter +air into the house. Here they found all ready for them; the fires +kindled, the rooms warmed, the tables set in the comfortable parlor, +and the supper ready to be dished. They took time only to make a +very slight toilet in their well-warmed chambers, and then they went +down to supper. The judge insisted that Hannah and Reuben should +join them on this occasion and remain their guests for the evening. +And what a happy evening it was. After all their weary wanderings, +perils and sorrows in foreign lands, how delightful to be at home +once more in their dear native country, gathered together under one +beloved roof, and lovingly served by their own affectionate +domestics. Ah! one must lose all these blessings for a while, in +order to truly to enjoy them. + +How earnest was the thanksgiving in the grace uttered by the judge +as they all gathered around the supper table! How earnest was the +amen silently responded by each heart! + +After supper they all went into the well warmed and lighted crimson +drawing room. And Claudia sat down before her grand piano, and tried +its keys. From long disuse it was somewhat out of tune, certainly; +but her fingers evoked from those keys a beautiful prelude, and her +voice rose in that simple, but soul-stirring little ballad, "Home +Again." + +As she sang Ishmael came up behind her, turned the leaves of her +music book, and accompanied her in his rich bass voice. At the end +of that one song she arose and closed her piano. + +"Thank you, my dear," said the judge, drawing his daughter to him +and kissing her cheek. "Your song was very appropriate; there is not +one here who could not enter into its sentiment with all his heart." + +Slowly and sadly Claudia bowed her head; and then she passed on to +one of the side tables, took up a lighted bedroom candle, bade them +all good-night and retired. + +Reuben and Hannah, who on this occasion, at Judge Merlin's request, +had remained in the drawing room, now arose and took a respectful +leave. And soon after this, Ishmael and the judge separated and +retired to their respective chambers. + +Ishmael was shown into that one which he had occupied during that +eventful first sojourn at Tanglewood. How full of the most +interesting associations, the most tender memories, that chamber +was. There was the bed upon which he had lain for weeks, a mangled +sufferer for Claudia's sake. There was the very same armchair she +had sat in hour after hour by his side, beguiling the tedious days +of convalescence by talking with him, reading to him, or singing and +playing to him on her guitar. Sigh after sigh burst from Ishmael's +bosom as he remembered these times. He went to bed, but could not +sleep; he lay awake, meditating and praying. + +While Ishmael in his lonely chamber prayed, another scene was going +on in another part of the house. + +Old Katie was holding a reception in the kitchen. All the house +servants, all the field laborers, and all the neighboring negroes-- +bond and free, male and female--were assembled at Tanglewood that +night to welcome Katie and her companions home and hear their +wondrous adventures in foreign lands. + +Katie, in the most gorgeous dress of Scotch plaid, that displayed +the most brilliant tints of scarlet, blue and yellow, purple, +orange, and green, with a snow-white turban on her head and a snow- +white kerchief around her neck, with broad gold ear-rings in her +ears and thick gold finger-rings on her fingers--sat in the seat of +honor, the chip-bottom armchair, and, for the benefit of the +natives, delivered a lecture on the manners and customs of foreign +nations, illustrated by her own experiences among them. + +Now, if Katie had only related the plain facts of her life in +Scotland and in the West India Islands, they had been sufficiently +interesting to her simple hearers, but Katie exaggerated her +adventures, wrongs, and sufferings beyond all hope of pardon. + +"I seen the Queen," she said. "She rode about in a silver coach +drawed by a hundred milk-white hosses, wid a golden, crown on her +head a yard and a half high, and more niggers to wait on her, +chillun, dan you could shake sticks at." + +The least of her fictions was this: + +"Chillun, I was fust kilt dead, den buried alibe, and kept so till +wanted; den fotch to life ag'in, and sold to pirates, and took off +to de Stingy Isles, and sold ag'in into slabery; arter which Marster +Ishmael Worf drapped right down out'n de clear sky inter de middle +ob de street, and if you don't beliebe it jes go ax Marse Ishmael +hisse'f, as nebber told a falsehood in his life." + +"And so he brought you away, Katie?" inquired Reuben's Sam, who was, +of course, present. + +"Well, I jes reckon he did some! He made dem Stingy Island +barbariums stan' roun' now, I tell you, chillun." + +Katie went on with her lecture. Her version of the fate of Lord +Vincent, Mrs. Dugald, and Frisbie was rather a free one. + +"I walked myse'f right 'traight up to de Queen soon as ebber I +totched English ground, and told her all about dem gran' willians, +and de Queen ordered de execution ob de whole lot. Which dey was all +hung up by de neck till dey was dead de berry next mornin'," she +said. + +"What, all hung so quick, Katie!" exclaimed Sam, in astonishment. + +"All hung; ebery single one ob dem. My lordship and de ehamwally and +de whited saltpeter. All hung up by de neck till dey was dead, in de +middle ob de street, right in de sight ob ebberybody going along, +and serbe 'em right and hopes it did 'em good," said Katie +emphatically. + +"That was quick work, though," said Sam dubiously. + +"Quick work? Dey deserbed it quick, and quicker dan dat. Hi, boy, +what you talkin' 'bout? Didn't dey kill me dead, and bury me alibe, +amd sell me inter slabery? You'spect how de Queen gwine let sich +going on go on while she's de mis'tess ob England? No,'deed; not +arter she see all dey made me suffer," exploded Katie. + +"'Deed, Aunt Katie, you did see heep o' trouble, didn't you?" said +one of her amazed hearers. + +"Yes; but, you see, Aunt Katie wanted to see de worl'! "Member how +she used to tell us how she wasn't a tree as couldn't be +transplanted, and how she was a libin' soul, and a p'og'essive +sperrit, and how she wanted to see somefin' ob dis worl' she libbed +in afore she parted hence and beed no more," said another. + +"Well, I reckon you has seed 'nough ob de worl' now. Hasn't you, +Aunt Katie?" inquired a third. + +"Well, I jes reckon I has, chillun. I nebber wants to see no more ob +dis worl' long as ebber I libs on dis yeth, dere. I be satisfied to +settle down here at Tanglewood for de 'mainder ob my mortal days, +and thank my 'Vine Marster down on my knees as I has got here safe," +said Katie. + +"If I was you, Aunt Katie, I'd publish my travels," said Sam. + +"I gwine to, honey, 'deed is I. I gwine to publish um good, too. I +gwine to get my extinguish friend, de professor dere, to write um +all down fur me; and I gwine to publish um good. And now, Sam, +chile, as de kettle is b'iling, I wish you jes' make de hot punch, +'cause I'se dead tired, and arter I drinks it I wants to go to bed." + +And when the punch was made and served around, this circle also +separated for the night. + +The next morning, before breakfast, Ishmael walked through the +forest to Woodside to see the little children of whom he was so +fond. They were already up and waiting for him at the gate. On +seeing him they rushed out to meet him with acclamations of joy, and +laid hold of his overcoat and began to pull him towards the house. + +Ishmael smiled on them, and talked to them, and would have taken +them up in his arms, but that his arms were already full, for under +one was Molly's family of dolls and under the other Johnny's box of +tools. Smilingly he suffered them to pull him into the house, and +push him into the arm-chair, and climb up on his knees and seize and +search his parcels. + +Molly knew her parcel by the feet of the dolls protruding through +the end of the paper, and she quickly laid hands on it, sat down +flat on the floor and tore it to pieces, revealing to her delighted +eyes: + +"Dolls, and more dolls, and so many dolls!" as she ecstatically +expressed it. Then in the midst of her bliss, she suddenly +remembered her benefactor, dropped all her treasures, jumped into +his lap, threw her arms around his neck, and said: + +"Oh, Cousin Ishmael, what pretty dolls! I will pray to the Lord to +give you a great many things for giving me theses." + +Ishmael kissed her very gravely and said: + +"Pray to the lord to give me wisdom, Molly, for that is the best of +all gifts, and I would rather a child should ask it for me than a +bishop should." + +And he sat Molly down again to enjoy her treasures. + +Meanwhile Johnny had torn open his box of miniature carpenter's +tools and run out to try their edges on the fences and out-houses; +and all without one word of thanks to the donor. Boys, you know, are +about as grateful as pigs, who devour the acorns without ever once +looking up to see whence they come. + +At the moment that Ishmael sat Molly down upon the floor, Hannah +came in from a back room, where she had been at work. + +On seeing the dolls she lifted both her hands and cried out: + +"Oh, Ishmael, Ishmael, what extravagance!" + +"Not at all, aunt. Look at little Molly! See how much happiness has +been purchased at a trifling outlay, and talk no more of +extravagance," said Ishmael, rising and taking his hat. + +"Where are you going now? You have not been here a minute," said +Hannah. + +"Pardon me, I have been here half an hour, and now I must go back to +Tanglewood, because they will wait breakfast for me there." + +"Well, I declare!" wrathfully began Hannah, but Ishmael gently +interrupted her: + +"I have bought a fine Scotch tartan shawl for you, Aunt Hannah, and +a heavy shepherd's maud for Uncle Reuben. They are such articles as +you cannot purchase in this country. I will send them to you by one +of the servants. I would have brought them myself, only you see my +arms were full." + +"Well, I should think so. Thank you, Ishmael! Thank you very much +indeed. But when are you coming here to stop a bit?" + +"Just as soon as I can, Aunt Hannah. This morning I must go to The +Beacon. You may well suppose how anxious I am to be there." + +"Humph! I thought now Mrs. Lord Vincent was a widder, all that was +over." + +"Aunt Hannah, what do you take me for?" exclaimed the young man, in +sorrowful astonishment. + +"Well, Ishmael, I didn't mean to insult you, so you needn't bite my +head off," snapped Mrs. Gray. + +"Good-by, Aunt Hannah," said Ishmael, stooping and kissing her +cheek. + +He hurried away and walked briskly through the woods and reached the +house in good time for breakfast; and a happy breakfast it was, but +for one sad face there. The old man was so delighted to be home +again, under his own forest-shaded roof, seated at his own table, +attended by his own affectionate servants, that it seemed as though +the years had rolled back in their course and restored to him all +the freshness of his youth. + +After breakfast Ishmael arose and announced his departure for The +Beacon, and requested of the judge the loan of two saddle horses. + +"Ishmael, you have refused all compensation beyond your traveling +expenses for your services; and I know, indeed, they were of a +nature that money could not repay. Yet I do wish to make you some +more substantial acknowledgment than empty words of my indebtedness +to you. Now there is my Arabian courser, Mahomet. He is a gift +worthy of even your acceptance, Ishmael. He has not his equal in +America. I refused three thousand dollars for him before I went to +Europe. I will not lend him to you, Ishmael! I will beg your +acceptance of him--there, now don't refuse! I shall never use him +again, and Claudia cannot, for he is not a lady's horse, you know." + +"I shall never ride again," here put in Claudia, in a sorrowful +voice. + +Ishmael started and turned towards her; but she had arisen from the +table and withdrawn to the window-seat. + +Judge Merlin continued to press his gift upon the young man. But +though Ishmael had almost a passion for fine horses, he hesitated to +accept this munificent present until he saw that his refusal would +give the judge great pain. Then, with sincere expressions of +gratitude, he frankly accepted it. + +The judge rang a bell and ordered Mahomet saddled and brought around +for Mr. Worth, and a groom's horse for his servant. + +Ishmael put on his riding-coat and took his hat and gloves. When the +horses were announced, Ishmael went and shook hands with his host. + +"God bless you, Ishmael; God bless you, my dear boy, for all that +you have done for me and for mine! Yea, God bless you, and speed the +time when you shall be nearer to me than at present," said the +judge, pressing both Ishmael's hands before be dropped them. + +Ishmael then crossed the room to take leave of Claudia. She was +sitting in the armchair, within the recess of the bay window; her +elbow rested on a little stand at her side, and her head was bowed +upon her hand; this was her usual attitude now. + +"Farewell, Lady Vincent," said Ishmael, in a grave, sweet voice, as +he stood before her. She raised her head and looked at him. Oh, what +a world of grief, despair, and passionate remorse was expressed in +those large, dark, tearless eyes! + +"Farewell, Lady Vincent," said Ishmael, deferentially taking her +hand. + +Her fingers closed spasmodically upon his, as though she would have +held him to her side forever. + +"Oh, must it be indeed farewell, Ishmael?" she breathed in a voice +expiring with anguish. + +"Farewell," he repeated gravely, kindly, reverentially; bowing low +over the throbbing hand he held; and then he turned and softly left +the room. + +"It is his sense of honor. Oh, it is his chivalric, nay, his +fanatical sense of honor that is ruining us! Unless Bee has the good +taste and modesty to release him voluntarily, he will sacrifice me, +himself, and her, to the Moloch, Honor," wailed Claudia, as she +dropped her head upon her hands in a grief too deep for tears. + +Was she right? + + + + +CHAPTER LIV. + +WHICH IS THE BRIDE? + + His horse went on, hoof after hoof, + Went on and never stopped, + Till down behind the Mansion roof, + At once, the red sun dropped. + + What fond and wayward thoughts will slide + Into a lover's head!-- + "Oh, Heaven!" to himself he cried, + "If--if she should be dead!" + --_Wordsworth_. + + + +Ishmael galloped along the road leading to The Beacon, followed at a +short distance by the professor, who found some difficulty in +keeping up with his master. + +Ishmael's aspect was not altogether that of a happy lover going to +see his beloved; for his countenance was thoughtful, grave, and sad. +How could it be otherwise with him, after the scene he had left? His +thoughts, his sympathies, his regrets were with Claudia, the +earliest friend of his friendless childhood; with Claudia, grand, +noble, and beautiful, even in the wreck of her happiness; with +Claudia, loving now as she had never loved before. Yes, his +thoughts, his regrets, his sympathies were with her, but where were +his love, his esteem, and his admiration? + +As he rode on the figure of Claudia, in her woe, became lost in a +shadow that was gradually stealing over his soul-one of those +mysterious shadows that approaching misfortunes are said to cast +before them. In vain he tried by reason to dispel this gloom. The +nearer he approached The Beacon, the deeper it settled upon his +spirit! + +What could it mean? Was all well at The Beacon? Was all well with +Bee? + +Reuben Gray, when questioned, had said that he had not heard from +them in a week. And what might not have happened in a week? At that +thought a pang like death shot through his heart, and he put spurs +to his horse and urged him forward at his best speed, but with all +his haste, the short February day was drawing to its close, and the +descending sun was sinking behind the mansion-house and its group of +out-buildings when Ishmael rode into the front yard, followed +closely by his servant. It was but the work of a moment to spring +from his horse, throw the reins to the professor, bound Tip the +steps to the front door and ring the bell. The door was opened by +Mr. Middleton in person. This was an unprecedented, and ominous +circumstance. + +Bee's father looked very grave as he held out his hand, saying: + +"How do you do, Ishmael? I am glad that you have all returned +safely." + +"How do you do, Mr. Middleton? I hope--I hope that I find you all +well?" said Ishmael, striving to speak composedly. + +"Y-yes. Come into the library, my young friend; I wish to speak with +you alone before you see any other member of the family," said Mr. +Middleton. + +Nearly overwhelmed with his emotions, dreading, he knew not what, +Ishmael followed Mr. Middleton into the library and dropped into the +chair that gentleman pushed towards him. + +"Bee-Bee! For Heaven's sake tell me? Is she well?" he asked. + +"Y-yes," answered Mr. Middleton hesitatingly, gravely. "Bee is +well." + +"Good Heaven, sir, can you not speak plainly? We say of the sainted +dead that they are well; that it is well with them. Oh, tell me, +tell me, is Bee alive and well?" exclaimed the young man, as drops +of sweat, forced forth by his great agony of suspense, started from +his brow. + +"Yes, yes! Bee is alive and well." + +Ishmael dropped his head upon his hands and breathed a fervent: + +"Thanks be to God!" + +"I have given you unintentional alarm, Ishmael." + +"Oh, sir, alarm does not begin to express what I have suffered. You +have wrung my heart. But let that pass, sir. What is it that you +wished to say to me?" said Ishmael, raising his head. + +"Take a glass of wine first," said Mr. Middleton, bringing a +decanter and glasses from a side-table. + +"Thank you, sir, I never touch it. Pray do not regard me; but go on +with what you were about to say." + +"I will then, Ishmael. And I hope you will forgive me if I speak +very plainly." + +"Speak then, sir; Bee's father has a holy right to speak plainly to +Bee's betrothed," replied Ishmael, wondering what portentous +communication these words prefaced. + +"It is as Bee's father, and no less as your friend, Ishmael, that I +do speak. Ishmael," continued Mr. Middleton solemnly, "we all knew +your strong, your very strong attachment to Claudia Merlin before +she became Lady Vincent--' + +"Well, sir?" said the young man gravely. + +"We all knew how nearly heart-broken you were for a considerable +time after her marriage, and indeed until you found consolation and +healing in the sympathy and affection of my daughter Beatrice." + +"Yes, sir," said Ishmael, speaking low and bending his head. + +"You possibly mistook this sisterly love of the companion of your +childhood for that deeper love that should bind husband and wife +together for time and for eternity. And you asked me to give you +Bee, and I, rashly perhaps, consented--for who could foresee the +end?" + +Ishmael grew very pale, but compressed his lips, and governed his +strong emotions. + +Mr. Middleton continued: + +"Lady Vincent fell into trouble. She needed the help of a man with a +strong arm, wise head, and pure heart. You were that man, Ishmael. +At her first cry for help wafted across the Atlantic, you threw up +all your professional prospects, left your office and your clients +to take care of themselves, and flew to her relief. It was to your +wonderful intelligence, inspired, no doubt, by your pure love, that +she owed her deliverance from all the snares laid for her +destruction. You have rescued her and brought her safely home. Are +you listening, Ishmael?" + +"I am listening, sir," answered the young man very gravely. By this +time he had begun to understand the drift of Mr. Middleton's +discourse, and had recovered his composure, and his look was +somewhat stern. + +"Well, then, in a word--Lord Vincent is dead, Claudia is free, you +have been her constant companion since her widowhood. Now, then, +Ishmael, if in these days of close companionship with Lady Vincent +your love for Claudia Merlin has revived--" + +"Mr. Middleton, how can you speak to me thus?" interrupted Ishmael, +in a stern voice, and with flashing eyes, and in very righteous +indignation. The next instant, however, he recovered himself. "I beg +your pardon, sir," he said sorrowfully. "I should not have spoken so +to the father of my betrothed--to my own father, I might almost say. +I beg your pardon sincerely." + +"Compose yourself, Ishmael, and listen to me. I speak the words of +truth and soberness, and you must hear them. I say if in these days +of intimate association with Lady Vincent your love for Claudia +Merlin has revived, you must break with Bee." + +"Mr. Middleton!" + +"Gently, Ishmael! If this is so, it cannot be helped, and none of us +blame you. The human heart should be free. Nay, it will be free. So--" + +"But, Mr. Middleton--" + +"Gently, gently, Ishmael, I beg; hear me out. I know what you were +about to say. You were about to talk of your plighted word, of +fidelity, and of honor. But I think, Ishmael, that, if it is as I +suppose, there would be more honor in frankly stating the case to +Bee, and asking for the release that she would surely give you than +there would be in marrying her while you love another. You should +not offer her a divided love. Bee is worthy of a whole heart." + +"Do I not know it?" broke forth Ishmael, in strong emotion. "Oh, do +I not know it? And do I not give her my whole, unwavering, undivided +heart? Mr. Middleton, look at me," said the young man, fixing his +truthful, earnest, eloquent eyes upon that gentleman's face. "Look +at me! It is true that I once cherished a boyish passion for Lady +Vincent--unreasoning, ardent, vehement as such boyish passions are +apt to be. But, sir, her marriage with Lord Vincent killed that +passion quite. It was dead and buried, without the possibility of +resurrection. It was impossible for me to love another man's wife. +Every honorable principle, every delicate instinct of my nature +forbade it. On her marriage day my boyish flame burned to ashes; +and, sir, such ashes as are never rekindled again. Never, under any +circumstances. It is true that I have felt the deepest sympathy for +Lady Vincent in her sorrows; but not more, sir, than it is my nature +to feel for any suffering woman; not more, sir, I assure you, than I +felt for that poor, little middle-aged widow who was my first +client; not more, scarcely so much, as I felt for Lady Hurstmonceux +in her desertion. Oh, sir, the love that I gave to Bee is not the +transient passion of a boy, it is the steadfast affection of a man. +And since the blessed day of our betrothal my heart has known no +shadow of turning from its fidelity to her. Sir, do you believe me?" + +"I do, I do, Ishmael, and I beg you to forgive me for my doubts of +you." + +"For myself, I have nothing to forgive. But, sir, I hope, I trust, +that you have not disturbed Bee with these doubts." + +"Well, Ishmael, you know, I felt it my duty gradually to prepare her +mind for the shock that she might have received had those old coals +of yours been rekindled." + +"Then Heaven forgive you, Mr. Middleton! Where is she? Can I see her +now?" + +"Of course you can, Ishmael. In any case, you should have seen her +once more. If you had been going to break with her, you would have +had to see her to ask from her own lips your release." + +"Where is she--where?" + +"In the drawing room--waiting, like the good girl that she is, to +give you your freedom, should you desire it of her." + +"I say--God forgive you, Mr. Middleton!" said Ishmael, starting off. + +Suddenly he stopped; he was very much agitated, and he did not wish +to break in on Bee in that disturbed state. He poured out a large +glass of water and drank it off; stood still a minute to recover his +composure, and then went quietly to the drawing room. Very softly he +opened the door. + +There she was. Ah, it seemed ages since he had seen her last. And +now he stood for a moment looking at her, before he advanced into +the room. + +She was standing at the west window, apparently looking out at the +wintry, red sunset. Although it was afternoon, she still wore a +long, flowing, white merino morning dress, and her bright golden +brown hair was unwound, hanging loose upon her shoulders. The beams +of the setting sun, streaming in full upon her, illumined the +outlines of her beautiful head and graceful form. A lovely picture +she made as she stood there like some fair spirit. + +Ishmael advanced softly towards her, stood behind her. + +"Bee; dear, dear Bee!" he said, putting his arms around her. + +She turned in a moment, exclaiming: + +"Dear Ishmael; dearest brother!" and was caught to his bosom. She +dropped her head upon his shoulder, and burst into a flood of tears. +She wept long and convulsively, and he held her closely to his +heart, and soothed her with loving words. It seemed she did not take +in the full purport of those words, for presently she ceased +weeping, gently disengaged herself from his embrace, and sat down +upon the corner of the sofa, with her elbow resting on his arm, and +her head leaning upon her hand. And then, as he looked at her, +Ishmael saw for the first time how changed, how sadly changed she +was. + +Bee's face had always been fair, clear, and delicate, but now it was +so white, wan, and shadowy that her sweet blue eyes seemed +preternaturally large, bright, and hollow. She began to speak, but +with an effort that was very perceptible: + +"Dear Ishmael, dearest and ever dearest brother, I did not mean to +weep so; it was very foolish; but then you know we girls weep for +almost anything, or nothing; so you--" + +Her voice sank into silence. + +"My darling, why should you weep at all? and why do you call me +brother?" whispered Ishmael, sitting down beside her, and drawing +her towards him. + +But again she gently withdrew herself from him, and looking into his +face with her clear eyes and sweet smile, she said: + +"Why? Because, dear Ishmael, though we shall never meet again after +to-day--though it would not be right that we should--yet I shall +always hold you as the dearest among my brothers. Oh, did you think; +did you think it could be otherwise? Did you think this dispensation +could turn me against you? Oh, no, no, no, Ishmael; it could not. +Nothing that you could do could turn me against you, because you +would do no wrong. You have not done wrong now, dear; do not imagine +that any of us think so. We do not presume to blame you--none of us; +not my father, not my mother--least of all myself. It was---" + +Again her sinking voice dropped into silence. "Bee; darling, darling +Bee, you do not know what you are talking about. I love you, Bee; I +love you," said Ishmael earnestly, again trying to draw her to his +heart; but again she gently prevented him, as with a wan smile, and +in a low voice, she answered: + +"I know you do, dear; I never doubted that you did. You always loved +me as if I were your own little sister. But not as you loved her, +Ishmael." + +"Bee---" + +"Hush, dear, let me speak while I have strength to do so. She was +your first love, Ishmael; your first friend, you remember. With all +her faults--and they are but as the spots upon the sun--she is a +glorious creature, and worthy of you. I always knew that I was not +to be compared to her." + +"No, Heaven knows that you were not," breathed Ishmael inaudibly, as +he watched Bee. + +"All your friends, Ishmael--all who love you and who are interested +in your welfare--if they could influence your choice, would direct +it to her, rather than to me. You are making your name illustrious; +you will some time attain a high station in society. And who is +there so worthy to bear your name and share your station as that +queenly woman?" + +"Bee, Bee, you almost break my heart. I tell you I love you, Bee. I +love you!" + +"I know you do, dear; I have said that you do; and you are +distressed about me; but do not be so, dear. Indeed I shall be very +well; I shall have work to occupy me and duties to interest me; +indeed I shall be happy, Ishmael; indeed I shall; and I shall always +love you, as a little sister loves her dearest brother; so take your +trothplight back again, dear, and with it take my prayers for your +happiness," said Bee, beginning to draw the engagement ring from her +finger. + +"Bee, Bee, what are you doing? You will not listen to me. I love +you, Bee! I love you. Hear me! There is no woman in the world that +can rival you for an instant in my heart; no, not one; and there has +never been one. That boyish passion I once cherished for another, +and that haunts your imagination so fatally, was but a blaze of +straw that quickly burned out. It was a fever common to boyhood. Few +men, arrived at years of discretion, Bee, would like to marry their +first follies--for it is a misnomer to call them first loves. Yes, +very few men would like to do so, Bee, least of all would I. What I +give you, Bee, is a constant, steadfast love, a love for time and +for eternity. Oh, my dearest, hear me, and believe me," he said, +speaking fervently, earnestly, forcibly. + +She had started and caught her breath; and now she was looking and +listening, as though she doubted the evidence of her own eyes and +ears. + +He had taken her hand and was resetting the ring more firmly on the +finger, from which, indeed, she had not quite withdrawn it. + +"Do you believe me now, dear Bee?" he softly inquired. + +"Believe you? Why, Ishmael, I never doubted your word in all my +life. But--but I cannot realize it. I cannot bring it home to my +heart yet. How is it possible it should be true? How is it possible +you should choose me, when you might marry her?" said Bee, with +large, wondering eyes. + +"How is it possible, my darling one, that you should not know how +much more lovely you are than any other girl, or woman, I have ever +seen--except one." + +"Except one, Ishmael?" she inquired, with a faint smile. + +"Except the Countess of Hurstmonceux, who is almost as good and as +beautiful as you. Bee, my darling, are you satisfied now?" + +"Oh, Ishmael, I cannot realize it. I have been schooling my heart so +long, so long, to resign you." + +"So long? How long, my dearest?" + +"Oh, ever since we heard that she was free. And that has been--let +me see--why, indeed, it has been but a week. But oh, Ishmael, it +seems to me that years and years have passed since my father told me +to prepare for a disappointment." + +"Heaven pardon him; I scarcely can," said Ishmael to himself. + +"But is it indeed true? Do you really love me best of all? And can +you be satisfied with me, with me?" + +"'Satisfied' with you, dearest? Well, I suppose that is the best +word after all. Yes, dearest; yes, perfectly, eternally satisfied +with you, Bee," he said, drawing her to his heart. And this time she +did not withdraw herself from his embrace; but, with a soft sob of +joy, she dropped her head upon his bosom. + +"You believe my love now, Bee?" he stooped and whispered. + +"Oh, yes, yes, yes, Ishmael; and I am so happy," she murmured. + +"Now then listen to me, dearest, for I have something to say to you. +Do you remember, love, that day you came to me in the arbor? I was +sleeping the heavy sleep of inebriation; and you wept over me and +veiled my humbled head with your own dear handkerchief, and glided +away as softly as you came. Do you remember, dear, that night you +sat up at your window, watching and waiting to let me in with your +own dear hand, that none should witness my humiliation? Bee, +apparently that was a compassionate sister, trying to save from +obloquy an earing brother. But really, Bee, as the truth stands in +the spiritual world, it is this: A sinner was sleeping upon one of +the foulest gulfs in the depths of perdition. A single turn in his +sleep and he would have been eternally lost; but an angel came from +Heaven, and with her gentle hand softly aroused him and drew him out +of danger. Bee, I was that sinner on the brink of eternal woe, and +you that angel from Heaven who saved him. Bee, from that day I knew +that God had sent you to be my guardian spirit through this world. +And when I forget that day, Bee, may the Lord forget me. And when I +cease to adore you for it, Bee, may the Lord cease to love me. But +as love of Heaven is sure, Bee, so is my love for you. And both are +eternal. Oh, love, bride, wife; hear me; believe me; love me!" + +"Oh, I do, I do, Ishmael, and I am so happy. And the very spring of +my happiness in the thought that I content you." + +"With an infinite content, Bee." + +"And now let us go to my dear mother; she will be so glad; she loves +you so much, you know, Ishmael," said Bee, gently releasing herself--and +looking up, her fair face now rosy with delicate bloom and the tones +of her voice thrilling with subdued joy. + +Ishmael arose and gave her his arm, and they passed out of the +drawing room and entered the morning room, where Mrs. Middleton sat +among her younger children. + +"Mamma," said Bee, "we were none of us right; here is Ishmael to +speak for himself." + +"I know it, dear; your papa has just been in here, and told me all +about it. How do you do, Ishmael? Welcome home, my son," said Mrs. +Middleton, rising and holding out her arms. + +Ishmael warmly embraced Bee's mother. + +But by this time the children had gathered around him, clamorous for +recognition. All children were very fond of Ishmael. + +While he was shaking hands with the boys, kissing the little girls, +and lifting the youngest up in his arms, Mr. Middleton came in, and +the evening passed happily. + +Ishmael remained one happy week with Bee, and then leaving her, +recovered, blooming, and happy, he returned to Washington, where he +was affectionately welcomed by the two fair and gentle old ladies, +who had put his rooms in holiday order to receive him. He returned +in good time for the opening of the spring term of the circuit +court, and soon found himself surrounded with clients, and the +business of his office prospered greatly. + + + + +CHAPTER LV. + +CONCLUSION. + + How saidst thou!-Labor:-why his work is pleasure; + His days are pleasantness, his nights are peace; + He drinks of joys that neither cloy, nor cease, + A well that gushes blessings without measure; + Yea, and to crown the cup of peace with praise, + Both God and man approve his works and ways. + --_Martin F. Tupper._ + + + +Early in the spring of the following year a great distinction +awaited Ishmael Worth. Young as he then was, he had won the +admiration and confidence of the greatest statesmen and politicians +of the day. And there were statesmen as well as politicians then. +"There were giants in those days." And from among all the profound +lawyers and learned judges of the country, young Ishmael Worth was +selected by our government as their especial ambassador to the Court +of France, to settle with the French ministry some knotty point of +international law about which the two countries were in danger of +going to war. + +Ishmael was to sail in May. His marriage with Bee had been deferred +upon different pretexts by her family; for not very willingly do +parents part with such a daughter as Bee, even to a husband so well +beloved and highly esteemed as Ishmael; and Ishmael and Bee had +reluctantly, but dutifully, submitted to their wishes, but not again +would Ishmael cross the Atlantic without Bee. So, on the 1st of May +they were very quietly married in the parish church that the family +attended. Judge Merlin and his daughter were, of course, invited to +be present at the ceremony; but both sent excuses, with best wishes +for the happiness of the young pair. Not yet could Claudia look +calmly on the marriage of Ishmael and Bee. + +On the 7th of May Ishmael and his bride sailed from New York to +Havre, for Paris. There he satisfactorily concluded the important +business upon which he had been sent, and it is supposed to have +been owing to his wise diplomacy alone, under Divine Providence, +that a war was averted, and the disputed question settled upon an +amicable and permanent basis. Having thus performed his mission, he +devoted himself exclusively to his bride. She was presented at the +French court, where her beauty, resplendent now with perfect love +and joy, made a great sensation, even in that court of beauties. She +went to some of the most select and exclusive of the ambassadors' +balls, and everywhere, without seeking or desiring such distinction, +she became the cynosure of all eyes. When the season was over in +Paris they made the tour of Europe, seeing the best that was to be +seen, stopping at all the principal capitals, and, through our +ministers, entering into all the court circles; and everywhere the +handsome person, courtly address, and brilliant intellect of +Ishmael, and the beauty, grace, and amiability of Bee, inspired +admiration and respect. They came last to England. In London they +were the guests of our minister. Here also Bee was presented at +court, where, as elsewhere, her rare loveliness was the theme of +every tongue. + +Meanwhile, Claudia, living in widowhood and seclusion, learned all +of Bee's transatlantic triumphs through the "court circulars" and +"fashionable intelligence" of the English papers; and through the +gossiping foreign letter writers of the New York journals; all of +which in a morbid curiosity she took, and in a self-tormenting +spirit studied. In what bitterness of soul she read of all these +triumphs! This was exactly what she had marked out for herself, when +she sold her soul to the fiend, in becoming the wife of Lord +Vincent! And how the fiend had cheated her! Here she was at an +obscure country house, wearing out the days of her youth in hopeless +widowhood and loneliness. This splendid career of Bee was the very +thing to attain which she had sacrificed the struggling young +lawyer, and taken the noble viscount. And now it was that very young +lawyer who introduced his bride to all these triumphs; while that +very viscount had left her to a widowhood of obscurity and reproach! +In eagerly, recklessly, sinfully snatching at these social honors +she had lost them all, while Bee, without seeking or desiring them, +by simply walking forward in her path of love and duty, had found +them in her way. But for her own wicked pride and mental short- +sightedness, she might be occupying that very station now so +gracefully adorned by Bee. + +What a lesson it was! Claudia bowed her haughty head and took it +well to heart. "It is bitter, it is bitter; but it is just, and I +accept it. I will learn of it. I cannot be happy; but I can be +dutiful. I have but my father left in this world. I will devote +myself to him and to God," she said, and she kept her word. + +There is one incident in the travels of Ishmael and Bee that should +be recorded here, since it concerns a lady(?) that figured rather +conspicuously in this history. The young pair were at Cameron Court, +on a visit to the Countess of Hurstmonceux and Mr. Brudenell, whom +they found enjoying much calm domestic happiness. Making Cameron +Court their headquarters, Ishmael and Bee went on many excursions +through the country and visited many interesting places. Among the +rest, they inspected the model Reformatory Female Prison at +Ballmornock. While they were going through one of the workrooms, Bee +suddenly pressed her husband's arm and whispered: + +"Ishmael, dear, observe that poor young woman sitting there binding +shoes. How pretty and lady-like she seems, to be in such a place as +this, poor thing!" + +Ishmael looked as desired; and at the same moment the female +prisoner raised her head; and their eyes met. + +"Come away, Bee, my darling," said Ishmael, suddenly turn his wife +around and leading her from the room. + +"She really seemed to know you, Ishmael," said Bee, as they left the +prison. + +"She did, love; it was Mrs. Dugald." + +Bee's blue eyes opened wide, in wonder and sorrow, and she walked on +in silence and in thought. + +Yes, the female prisoner, in the coarse gray woolen gown and close +white linen cap, who sat on the wooden bench binding shoes, was +Katie's "whited sepulcher." She had been sent first to the +Bridewell, where for a few days she had been very violent and +ungovernable, but she soon learned that her best interests lay in +submission; and for months afterwards she behaved so well that at +length she was sent to the milder Reformatory, to work out her ten +years of penal servitude. Here she was supplied with food, clothing, +and shelter--all of a good, coarse, substantial sort. But she was +compelled to work very steadily all the week, and to hear two good +sermons on Sunday, and as she had never in her life before enjoyed +such excellent moral training as this, let us hope that the +Reformatory really reformed her. + +Ishmael and Bee returned home in the early autumn. Almost +immediately upon his arrival in Washington, Ishmael was made +district attorney. The emoluments of this office, added to the +income from his private practice, brought him in a revenue that +justified him in taking an elegant little suburban villa, situated +within its own beautiful grounds and within an easy distance from +his office. Here he lived with Bee, as happy, and making her as +happy, as they both deserved to be. + +It was in the third winter of Claudia's widowhood that the health of +her father began to fail. A warmer climate was recommended to him as +the only condition of his prolonged life. He went to Cuba, attended +by Claudia, now his devoted nurse. In that more genial atmosphere +his health improved so much that he entered moderately into the +society of the capital, and renewed some of his old acquaintance. He +found that Philip Tourneysee had succeeded at last in winning the +heart of the pretty Creole widow, Senora Donna Eleanora Pacheco, to +whom he had been married a year. He met again that magnificent old +grandee of Castile, Senor Don Filipo Martinez, Marquis de la Santo +Espirito, who at first sight became an ardent admirer of Claudia, +and the more the Castilian nobleman of this pale pensive beauty, the +more he admired her; and the more he observed her devotion to her +father, the more he esteemed her. At length he formally proposed to +her and was accepted. And at about the same time the marquis +received the high official appointment he had been so long +expecting. Claudia, in marrying him, became the wife of the Captain +General of Cuba, and the first lady on the island. But, mark you! +she had not sought nor expected this distinction. She simply found +it in the performance of her duties; and if she did not love her +stately husband with the ardor of her youth, she admired and revered +him. In his private life she made him a good wife; in his public +career an intelligent counselor; in everything a faithful companion. +Judge Merlin spent all his winters with them in Havana; and all his +summers at Tanglewood, taken care of by Katie. + +A few words about the other characters of our story. + +Old Mrs. Brudenell and her daughters vegetated on at Brudenell Hall, +in a monotony that was broken by only three incidents in as many +years. The first was the death of poor Eleanor, whose worthless +husband had died of excess some months before; the second incident +was the marriage of Elizabeth Brudenell to the old pastor of her +parish, who repented of his celibacy because he had become infirm, +and took a wife because he required a nurse; and the third was the +visit of the Countess of Hurstmonceux and Mr. Brudenell, who came +and spent a few months among their friends in America, and then +returned to their delightful home in Scotland. + +The Middletons continued to live at The Beacon, but every winter +they spent a month at The Bee-Hive, which was the name of the +Worths' villa; and every summer Ishmael, Bee, and their lovely +little daughter, Nora, passed a few weeks amid the invigorating sea- +breezes at The Beacon. + +The professor lived with Ishmael, in the enjoyment of a vigorous and +happy old age. + +Reuben and Hannah Gray continued to reside at Woodside, cultivating +the Tanglewood estate and bringing up their two children. + +Alfred Burghe was cashiered for "conduct unworthy of an officer and +a gentleman," as the charge against him on his trial set forth; and +he and his brother have passed into forgetfulness. + +Sally and Jim were united, of course, and lived as servants at +Tanglewood, where old Katie, as housekeeper, reigned supreme. + +What else? + +Ishmael loved, prayed, and worked--worked more than ever, for he +knew that though it was hard to win, it was harder to secure fame. +He went on from success to success. He became illustrious. + +THE END + + + + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK, SELF-RAISED *** + +This file should be named 6376.txt or 6376.zip + +Project Gutenberg eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the US +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we usually do not +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + +We are now trying to release all our eBooks one year in advance +of the official release dates, leaving time for better editing. +Please be encouraged to tell us about any error or corrections, +even years after the official publication date. + +Please note neither this listing nor its contents are final til +midnight of the last day of the month of any such announcement. +The official release date of all Project Gutenberg eBooks is at +Midnight, Central Time, of the last day of the stated month. 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