The Tenant of Wildfell Hall

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Title: The Tenant of Wildfell Hall
Author: Anne Bronte
Introduction by: Mrs. Humphry Ward
Release Date: February 2, 2010 [eBook #969]
Language: English
Character set encoding: UTF-8
***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE TENANT OF WILDFELL HALL***
Transcribed from the 1920 John Murray edition by David Price, email
ccx074@pglaf.org
[Picture: Anne Brontë from a drawing by Charlotte Brontë in the
possession of the Rev. A. B. Nicholls]
THE TENANT
OF
WILDFELL HALL
BY ANNE BRONTË
WITH AN INTRODUCTION
BY MRS HUMPHREY WARD
* * * * *
LONDON
JOHN MURRAY, ALBEMARLE STREET, W.
1920
* * * * *
THIS EDITION FIRST ISSUED _March_, 1900
(Smith, Elder & Co.)
Reprinted _June_, 1906
Reprinted (John Murray) _September_, 1920
* * * * *
[All rights reserved]
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
PORTRAIT OF ANNE BRONTË _Frontispiece_
FACSIMILE OF THE TITLE-PAGE OF THE FIRST EDITION _p._ xxv
OF ‘WILDFELL HALL’
_The following Illustrations are reproduced from photographs taken by
Mr. W. R. Bland_, _of Duffield_, _Derby_, _in conjunction with Mr. C.
Barrow Keene_, _of Derby_:
MOORLAND SCENE, HAWORTH _To face p._ 14
(_with water_) 46
(_with cottage_) 100
BLAKE HALL (GRASSDALE MANOR):
THE APPROACH 206
FRONT 222
SIDE 286
INTRODUCTION
Anne Brontë serves a twofold purpose in the study of what the Brontës
wrote and were. In the first place, her gentle and delicate presence,
her sad, short story, her hard life and early death, enter deeply into
the poetry and tragedy that have always been entwined with the memory of
the Brontës, as women and as writers; in the second, the books and poems
that she wrote serve as matter of comparison by which to test the
greatness of her two sisters. She is the measure of their genius—like
them, yet not with them.
Many years after Anne’s death her brother-in-law protested against a
supposed portrait of her, as giving a totally wrong impression of the
‘dear, gentle Anne Brontë.’ ‘Dear’ and ‘gentle’ indeed she seems to have
been through life, the youngest and prettiest of the sisters, with a
delicate complexion, a slender neck, and small, pleasant features.
Notwithstanding, she possessed in full the Brontë seriousness, the Brontë
strength of will. When her father asked her at four years old what a
little child like her wanted most, the tiny creature replied—if it were
not a Brontë it would be incredible!—‘Age and experience.’ When the
three children started their ‘Island Plays’ together in 1827, Anne, who
was then eight, chose Guernsey for her imaginary island, and peopled it
with ‘Michael Sadler, Lord Bentinck, and Sir Henry Halford.’ She and
Emily were constant companions, and there is evidence that they shared a
common world of fancy from very early days to mature womanhood. ‘The
Gondal Chronicles’ seem to have amused them for many years, and to have
branched out into innumerable books, written in the ‘tiny writing’ of
which Mr. Clement Shorter has given us facsimiles. ‘I am now engaged in
writing the fourth volume of Solala Vernon’s Life,’ says Anne at
twenty-one. And four years later Emily says, ‘The Gondals still flourish
bright as ever. I am at present writing a work on the First War. Anne
has been writing some articles on this and a book by Henry Sophona. We
intend sticking firm by the rascals as long as they delight us, which I
am glad to say they do at present.’
That the author of ‘Wildfell Hall’ should ever have delighted in the
Gondals, should ever have written the story of Solala Vernon or Henry
Sophona, is pleasant to know. Then, for her too, as for her sisters,
there was a moment when the power of ‘making out’ could turn loneliness
and disappointment into riches and content. For a time at least, and
before a hard and degrading experience had broken the spring of her
youth, and replaced the disinterested and spontaneous pleasure that is to
be got from the life and play of imagination, by a sad sense of duty, and
an inexorable consciousness of moral and religious mission, Anne Brontë
wrote stories for her own amusement, and loved the ‘rascals’ she created.
But already in 1841, when we first hear of the Gondals and Solala Vernon,
the material for quite other books was in poor Anne’s mind. She was then
teaching in the family at Thorpe Green, where Branwell joined her as
tutor in 1843, and where, owing to events that are still a mystery, she
seems to have passed through an ordeal that left her shattered in health
and nerve, with nothing gained but those melancholy and repulsive
memories that she was afterwards to embody in ‘Wildfell Hall.’ She
seems, indeed, to have been partly the victim of Branwell’s morbid
imagination, the imagination of an opium-eater and a drunkard. That he
was neither the conqueror nor the villain that he made his sisters
believe, all the evidence that has been gathered since Mrs. Gaskell wrote
goes to show. But poor Anne believed his account of himself, and no
doubt saw enough evidence of vicious character in Branwell’s daily life
to make the worst enormities credible. She seems to have passed the last
months of her stay at Thorpe Green under a cloud of dread and miserable
suspicion, and was thankful to escape from her situation in the summer of
1845. At the same moment Branwell was summarily dismissed from his
tutorship, his employer, Mr. Robinson, writing a stern letter of
complaint to Bramwell’s father, concerned no doubt with the young man’s
disorderly and intemperate habits. Mrs. Gaskell says: ‘The premature
deaths of two at least of the sisters—all the great possibilities of
their earthly lives snapped short—may be dated from Midsummer 1845.’ The
facts as we now know them hardly bear out so strong a judgment. There is
nothing to show that Branwell’s conduct was responsible in any way for
Emily’s illness and death, and Anne, in the contemporary fragment
recovered by Mr. Shorter, gives a less tragic account of the matter.
‘During my stay (at Thorpe Green),’ she writes on July 31, 1845, ‘I have
had some very unpleasant and undreamt-of experience of human nature. . . .
Branwell has . . . been a tutor at Thorpe Green, and had much
tribulation and ill-health. . . . We hope he will be better and do
better in future.’ And at the end of the paper she says, sadly,
forecasting the coming years, ‘I for my part cannot well be flatter or
older in mind than I am now.’ This is the language of disappointment and
anxiety; but it hardly fits the tragic story that Mrs. Gaskell believed.
That story was, no doubt, the elaboration of Branwell’s diseased fancy
during the three years which elapsed between his dismissal from Thorpe
Green and his death. He imagined a guilty romance with himself and his
employer’s wife for characters, and he imposed the horrid story upon his
sisters. Opium and drink are the sufficient explanations; and no time
need now be wasted upon unravelling the sordid mystery. But the vices of
the brother, real or imaginary, have a certain importance in literature,
because of the effect they produced upon his sisters. There can be no
question that Branwell’s opium madness, his bouts of drunkenness at the
Black Bull, his violence at home, his free and coarse talk, and his
perpetual boast of guilty secrets, influenced the imagination of his
wholly pure and inexperienced sisters. Much of ‘Wuthering Heights,’ and
all of ‘Wildfell Hall,’ show Branwell’s mark, and there are many passages
in Charlotte’s books also where those who know the history of the
parsonage can hear the voice of those sharp moral repulsions, those
dismal moral questionings, to which Branwell’s misconduct and ruin gave
rise. Their brother’s fate was an element in the genius of Emily and
Charlotte which they were strong enough to assimilate, which may have
done them some harm, and weakened in them certain delicate or sane
perceptions, but was ultimately, by the strange alchemy of talent, far
more profitable than hurtful, inasmuch as it troubled the waters of the
soul, and brought them near to the more desperate realities of our
‘frail, fall’n humankind.’
But Anne was not strong enough, her gift was not vigorous enough, to
enable her thus to transmute experience and grief. The probability is
that when she left Thorpe Green in 1845 she was already suffering from
that religious melancholy of which Charlotte discovered such piteous
evidence among her papers after death. It did not much affect the
writing of ‘Agnes Grey,’ which was completed in 1846, and reflected the
minor pains and discomforts of her teaching experience, but it combined
with the spectacle of Branwell’s increasing moral and physical decay to
produce that bitter mandate of conscience under which she wrote ‘The
Tenant of Wildfell Hall.’
‘Hers was naturally a sensitive, reserved, and dejected nature. She
hated her work, but would pursue it. It was written as a warning,’—so
said Charlotte when, in the pathetic Preface of 1850, she was
endeavouring to explain to the public how a creature so gentle and so
good as Acton Bell should have written such a book as ‘Wildfell Hall.’
And in the second edition of ‘Wildfell Hall,’ which appeared in 1848,
Anne Brontë herself justified her novel in a Preface which is reprinted
in this volume for the first time. The little Preface is a curious
document. It has the same determined didactic tone which pervades the
book itself, the same narrowness of view, and inflation of expression, an
inflation which is really due not to any personal egotism in the writer,
but rather to that very gentleness and inexperience which must yet nerve
itself under the stimulus of religion to its disagreeable and repulsive
task. ‘I knew that such characters’—as Huntingdon and his companions—‘do
exist, and if I have warned one rash youth from following in their steps
the book has not been written in vain.’ If the story has given more pain
than pleasure to ‘any honest reader,’ the writer ‘craves his pardon, for
such was far from my intention.’ But at the same time she cannot promise
to limit her ambition to the giving of innocent pleasure, or to the
production of ‘a perfect work of art.’ ‘Time and talent so spent I
should consider wasted and misapplied.’ God has given her unpalatable
truths to speak, and she must speak them.
The measure of misconstruction and abuse, therefore, which her book
brought upon her she bore, says her sister, ‘as it was her custom to bear
whatever was unpleasant, with mild, steady patience. She was a very
sincere and practical Christian, but the tinge of religious melancholy
communicated a sad shade to her brief, blameless life.’
In spite of misconstruction and abuse, however, ‘Wildfell Hall’ seems to
have attained more immediate success than anything else written by the
sisters before 1848, except ‘Jane Eyre.’ It went into a second edition
within a very short time of its publication, and Messrs. Newby informed
the American publishers with whom they were negotiating that it was the
work of the same hand which had produced ‘Jane Eyre,’ and superior to
either ‘Jane Eyre’ or ‘Wuthering Heights’! It was, indeed, the sharp
practice connected with this astonishing judgment which led to the
sisters’ hurried journey to London in 1848—the famous journey when the
two little ladies in black revealed themselves to Mr. Smith, and proved
to him that they were not one Currer Bell, but two Miss Brontës. It was
Anne’s sole journey to London—her only contact with a world that was not
Haworth, except that supplied by her school-life at Roehead and her two
teaching engagements.
And there was and is a considerable narrative ability, a sheer moral
energy in ‘Wildfell Hall,’ which would not be enough, indeed, to keep it
alive if it were not the work of a Brontë, but still betray its kinship
and source. The scenes of Huntingdon’s wickedness are less interesting
but less improbable than the country-house scenes of ‘Jane Eyre’; the
story of his death has many true and touching passages; the last
love-scene is well, even in parts admirably, written. But the book’s
truth, so far as it is true, is scarcely the truth of imagination; it is
rather the truth of a tract or a report. There can be little doubt that
many of the pages are close transcripts from Branwell’s conduct and
language,—so far as Anne’s slighter personality enabled her to render her
brother’s temperament, which was more akin to Emily’s than to her own.
The same material might have been used by Emily or Charlotte; Emily, as
we know, did make use of it in ‘Wuthering Heights’; but only after it had
passed through that ineffable transformation, that mysterious,
incommunicable heightening which makes and gives rank in literature.
Some subtle, innate correspondence between eye and brain, between brain
and hand, was present in Emily and Charlotte, and absent in Anne. There
is no other account to be given of this or any other case of difference
between serviceable talent and the high gifts of ‘Delos’ and Patara’s own
Apollo.’
The same world of difference appears between her poems and those of her
playfellow and comrade, Emily. If ever our descendants should establish
the schools for writers which are even now threatened or attempted, they
will hardly know perhaps any better than we what genius is, nor how it
can be produced. But if they try to teach by example, then Anne and
Emily Brontë are ready to their hand. Take the verses written by Emily
at Roehead which contain the lovely lines which I have already quoted in
an earlier ‘Introduction.’ {0} Just before those lines there are two or
three verses which it is worth while to compare with a poem of Anne’s
called ‘Home.’ Emily was sixteen at the time of writing; Anne about
twenty-one or twenty-two. Both sisters take for their motive the exile’s
longing thought of home. Emily’s lines are full of faults, but they have
the indefinable quality—here, no doubt, only in the bud, only as a matter
of promise—which Anne’s are entirely without. From the twilight
schoolroom at Roehead, Emily turns in thought to the distant upland of
Haworth and the little stone-built house upon its crest:—
There is a spot, ’mid barren hills,
Where winter howls, and driving rain;
But, if the dreary tempest chills,
There is a light that warms again.
The house is old, the trees are bare,
Moonless above bends twilight’s dome,
But what on earth is half so dear—
So longed for—as the hearth of home?
The mute bird sitting on the stone,
The dank moss dripping from the wall,
The thorn-trees gaunt, the walks o’ergrown,
I love them—how I love them all!
Anne’s verses, written from one of the houses where she was a governess,
express precisely the same feeling, and movement of mind. But notice the
instinctive rightness and swiftness of Emily’s, the blurred weakness of
Anne’s!—
For yonder garden, fair and wide,
With groves of evergreen,
Long winding walks, and borders trim,
And velvet lawns between—
Restore to me that little spot,
With gray walls compassed round,
Where knotted grass neglected lies,
And weeds usurp the ground.
Though all around this mansion high
Invites the foot to roam,
And though its halls are fair within—
Oh, give me back my Home!
A similar parallel lies between Anne’s lines ‘Domestic Peace,’—a sad and
true reflection of the terrible times with Branwell in 1846—and Emily’s
‘Wanderer from the Fold’; while in Emily’s ‘Last Lines,’ the daring
spirit of the sister to whom the magic gift was granted separates itself
for ever from the gentle and accustomed piety of the sister to whom it
was denied. Yet Anne’s ‘Last Lines’—‘I hoped that with the brave and
strong’—have sweetness and sincerity; they have gained and kept a place
in English religious verse, and they must always appeal to those who love
the Brontës because, in the language of Christian faith and submission,
they record the death of Emily and the passionate affection which her
sisters bore her.
And so we are brought back to the point from which we started. It is not
as the writer of ‘Wildfell Hall,’ but as the sister of Charlotte and
Emily Brontë, that Anne Brontë escapes oblivion—as the frail ‘little
one,’ upon whom the other two lavished a tender and protecting care, who
was a witness of Emily’s death, and herself, within a few minutes of her
own farewell to life, bade Charlotte ‘take courage.’
‘When my thoughts turn to Anne,’ said Charlotte many years earlier, ‘they
always see her as a patient, persecuted stranger,—more lonely, less
gifted with the power of making friends even than I am.’ Later on,
however, this power of making friends seems to have belonged to Anne in
greater measure than to the others. Her gentleness conquered; she was
not set apart, as they were, by the lonely and self-sufficing activities
of great powers; her Christianity, though sad and timid, was of a kind
which those around her could understand; she made no grim fight with
suffering and death as did Emily. Emily was ‘torn’ from life ‘conscious,
panting, reluctant,’ to use Charlotte’s own words; Anne’s ‘sufferings
were mild,’ her mind ‘generally serene,’ and at the last ‘she thanked God
that death was come, and come so gently.’ When Charlotte returned to the
desolate house at Haworth, Emily’s large house-dog and Anne’s little
spaniel welcomed her in ‘a strange, heart-touching way,’ she writes to
Mr. Williams. She alone was left, heir to all the memories and tragedies
of the house. She took up again the task of life and labour. She cared
for her father; she returned to the writing of ‘Shirley’; and when she
herself passed away, four years later, she had so turned those years to
account that not only all she did but all she loved had passed silently
into the keeping of fame. Mrs. Gaskell’s touching and delightful task
was ready for her, and Anne, no less than Charlotte and Emily, was sure
of England’s remembrance.
MARY A. WARD.
AUTHOR’S PREFACE {1}
TO THE SECOND EDITION
While I acknowledge the success of the present work to have been greater
than I anticipated, and the praises it has elicited from a few kind
critics to have been greater than it deserved, I must also admit that
from some other quarters it has been censured with an asperity which I
was as little prepared to expect, and which my judgment, as well as my
feelings, assures me is more bitter than just. It is scarcely the
province of an author to refute the arguments of his censors and
vindicate his own productions; but I may be allowed to make here a few
observations with which I would have prefaced the first edition, had I
foreseen the necessity of such precautions against the misapprehensions
of those who would read it with a prejudiced mind or be content to judge
it by a hasty glance.
My object in writing the following pages was not simply to amuse the
Reader; neither was it to gratify my own taste, nor yet to ingratiate
myself with the Press and the Public: I wished to tell the truth, for
truth always conveys its own moral to those who are able to receive it.
But as the priceless treasure too frequently hides at the bottom of a
well, it needs some courage to dive for it, especially as he that does so
will be likely to incur more scorn and obloquy for the mud and water into
which he has ventured to plunge, than thanks for the jewel he procures;
as, in like manner, she who undertakes the cleansing of a careless
bachelor’s apartment will be liable to more abuse for the dust she raises
than commendation for the clearance she effects. Let it not be imagined,
however, that I consider myself competent to reform the errors and abuses
of society, but only that I would fain contribute my humble quota towards
so good an aim; and if I can gain the public ear at all, I would rather
whisper a few wholesome truths therein than much soft nonsense.
As the story of ‘Agnes Grey’ was accused of extravagant over-colouring in
those very parts that were carefully copied from the life, with a most
scrupulous avoidance of all exaggeration, so, in the present work, I find
myself censured for depicting _con amore_, with ‘a morbid love of the
coarse, if not of the brutal,’ those scenes which, I will venture to say,
have not been more painful for the most fastidious of my critics to read
than they were for me to describe. I may have gone too far; in which
case I shall be careful not to trouble myself or my readers in the same
way again; but when we have to do with vice and vicious characters, I
maintain it is better to depict them as they really are than as they
would wish to appear. To represent a bad thing in its least offensive
light is, doubtless, the most agreeable course for a writer of fiction to
pursue; but is it the most honest, or the safest? Is it better to reveal
the snares and pitfalls of life to the young and thoughtless traveller,
or to cover them with branches and flowers? Oh, reader! if there were
less of this delicate concealment of facts—this whispering, ‘Peace,
peace,’ when there is no peace, there would be less of sin and misery to
the young of both sexes who are left to wring their bitter knowledge from
experience.
I would not be understood to suppose that the proceedings of the unhappy
scapegrace, with his few profligate companions I have here introduced,
are a specimen of the common practices of society—the case is an extreme
one, as I trusted none would fail to perceive; but I know that such
characters do exist, and if I have warned one rash youth from following
in their steps, or prevented one thoughtless girl from falling into the
very natural error of my heroine, the book has not been written in vain.
But, at the same time, if any honest reader shall have derived more pain
than pleasure from its perusal, and have closed the last volume with a
disagreeable impression on his mind, I humbly crave his pardon, for such
was far from my intention; and I will endeavour to do better another
time, for I love to give innocent pleasure. Yet, be it understood, I
shall not limit my ambition to this—or even to producing ‘a perfect work
of art’: time and talents so spent, I should consider wasted and
misapplied. Such humble talents as God has given me I will endeavour to
put to their greatest use; if I am able to amuse, I will try to benefit
too; and when I feel it my duty to speak an unpalatable truth, with the
help of God, I _will_ speak it, though it be to the prejudice of my name
and to the detriment of my reader’s immediate pleasure as well as my own.
One word more, and I have done. Respecting the author’s identity, I
would have it to be distinctly understood that Acton Bell is neither
Currer nor Ellis Bell, and therefore let not his faults be attributed to
them. As to whether the name be real or fictitious, it cannot greatly
signify to those who know him only by his works. As little, I should
think, can it matter whether the writer so designated is a man, or a
woman, as one or two of my critics profess to have discovered. I take
the imputation in good part, as a compliment to the just delineation of
my female characters; and though I am bound to attribute much of the
severity of my censors to this suspicion, I make no effort to refute it,
because, in my own mind, I am satisfied that if a book is a good one, it
is so whatever the sex of the author may be. All novels are, or should
be, written for both men and women to read, and I am at a loss to
conceive how a man should permit himself to write anything that would be
really disgraceful to a woman, or why a woman should be censured for
writing anything that would be proper and becoming for a man.
_July_ 22_nd_, 1848.
[Picture: Facsimile of the Title-page of the First Edition]
CHAPTER I
You must go back with me to the autumn of 1827.
My father, as you know, was a sort of gentleman farmer in —shire; and I,
by his express desire, succeeded him in the same quiet occupation, not
very willingly, for ambition urged me to higher aims, and self-conceit
assured me that, in disregarding its voice, I was burying my talent in
the earth, and hiding my light under a bushel. My mother had done her
utmost to persuade me that I was capable of great achievements; but my
father, who thought ambition was the surest road to ruin, and change but
another word for destruction, would listen to no scheme for bettering
either my own condition, or that of my fellow mortals. He assured me it
was all rubbish, and exhorted me, with his dying breath, to continue in
the good old way, to follow his steps, and those of his father before
him, and let my highest ambition be to walk honestly through the world,
looking neither to the right hand nor to the left, and to transmit the
paternal acres to my children in, at least, as flourishing a condition as
he left them to me.
‘Well!—an honest and industrious farmer is one of the most useful members
of society; and if I devote my talents to the cultivation of my farm, and
the improvement of agriculture in general, I shall thereby benefit, not
only my own immediate connections and dependants, but, in some degree,
mankind at large:—hence I shall not have lived in vain.’ With such
reflections as these I was endeavouring to console myself, as I plodded
home from the fields, one cold, damp, cloudy evening towards the close of
October. But the gleam of a bright red fire through the parlour window
had more effect in cheering my spirits, and rebuking my thankless
repinings, than all the sage reflections and good resolutions I had
forced my mind to frame;—for I was young then, remember—only
four-and-twenty—and had not acquired half the rule over my own spirit
that I now possess—trifling as that may be.
However, that haven of bliss must not be entered till I had exchanged my
miry boots for a clean pair of shoes, and my rough surtout for a
respectable coat, and made myself generally presentable before decent
society; for my mother, with all her kindness, was vastly particular on
certain points.
In ascending to my room I was met upon the stairs by a smart, pretty girl
of nineteen, with a tidy, dumpy figure, a round face, bright, blooming
cheeks, glossy, clustering curls, and little merry brown eyes. I need
not tell you this was my sister Rose. She is, I know, a comely matron
still, and, doubtless, no less lovely—in your eyes—than on the happy day
you first beheld her. Nothing told me then that she, a few years hence,
would be the wife of one entirely unknown to me as yet, but destined
hereafter to become a closer friend than even herself, more intimate than
that unmannerly lad of seventeen, by whom I was collared in the passage,
on coming down, and well-nigh jerked off my equilibrium, and who, in
correction for his impudence, received a resounding whack over the
sconce, which, however, sustained no serious injury from the infliction;
as, besides being more than commonly thick, it was protected by a
redundant shock of short, reddish curls, that my mother called auburn.
On entering the parlour we found that honoured lady seated in her
arm-chair at the fireside, working away at her knitting, according to her
usual custom, when she had nothing else to do. She had swept the hearth,
and made a bright blazing fire for our reception; the servant had just
brought in the tea-tray; and Rose was producing the sugar-basin and
tea-caddy from the cupboard in the black oak side-board, that shone like
polished ebony, in the cheerful parlour twilight.
‘Well! here they both are,’ cried my mother, looking round upon us
without retarding the motion of her nimble fingers and glittering
needles. ‘Now shut the door, and come to the fire, while Rose gets the
tea ready; I’m sure you must be starved;—and tell me what you’ve been
about all day;—I like to know what my children have been about.’
‘I’ve been breaking in the grey colt—no easy business that—directing the
ploughing of the last wheat stubble—for the ploughboy has not the sense
to direct himself—and carrying out a plan for the extensive and efficient
draining of the low meadowlands.’
‘That’s my brave boy!—and Fergus, what have you been doing?’
‘Badger-baiting.’
And here he proceeded to give a particular account of his sport, and the
respective traits of prowess evinced by the badger and the dogs; my
mother pretending to listen with deep attention, and watching his
animated countenance with a degree of maternal admiration I thought
highly disproportioned to its object.
‘It’s time you should be doing something else, Fergus,’ said I, as soon
as a momentary pause in his narration allowed me to get in a word.
‘What can I do?’ replied he; ‘my mother won’t let me go to sea or enter
the army; and I’m determined to do nothing else—except make myself such a
nuisance to you all, that you will be thankful to get rid of me on any
terms.’
Our parent soothingly stroked his stiff, short curls. He growled, and
tried to look sulky, and then we all took our seats at the table, in
obedience to the thrice-repeated summons of Rose.
‘Now take your tea,’ said she; ‘and I’ll tell you what I’ve been doing.
I’ve been to call on the Wilsons; and it’s a thousand pities you didn’t
go with me, Gilbert, for Eliza Millward was there!’
‘Well! what of her?’
‘Oh, nothing!—I’m not going to tell you about her;—only that she’s a
nice, amusing little thing, when she is in a merry humour, and I
shouldn’t mind calling her—’
‘Hush, hush, my dear! your brother has no such idea!’ whispered my mother
earnestly, holding up her finger.
‘Well,’ resumed Rose; ‘I was going to tell you an important piece of news
I heard there—I have been bursting with it ever since. You know it was
reported a month ago, that somebody was going to take Wildfell
Hall—and—what do you think? It has actually been inhabited above a
week!—and we never knew!’
‘Impossible!’ cried my mother.
‘Preposterous!!!’ shrieked Fergus.
‘It has indeed!—and by a single lady!’
‘Good gracious, my dear! The place is in ruins!’
‘She has had two or three rooms made habitable; and there she lives, all
alone—except an old woman for a servant!’
‘Oh, dear! that spoils it—I’d hoped she was a witch,’ observed Fergus,
while carving his inch-thick slice of bread and butter. ‘Nonsense,
Fergus! But isn’t it strange, mamma?’
‘Strange! I can hardly believe it.’
‘But you may believe it; for Jane Wilson has seen her. She went with her
mother, who, of course, when she heard of a stranger being in the
neighbourhood, would be on pins and needles till she had seen her and got
all she could out of her. She is called Mrs. Graham, and she is in
mourning—not widow’s weeds, but slightish mourning—and she is quite
young, they say,—not above five or six and twenty,—but so reserved! They
tried all they could to find out who she was and where she came from,
and, all about her, but neither Mrs. Wilson, with her pertinacious and
impertinent home-thrusts, nor Miss Wilson, with her skilful manoeuvring,
could manage to elicit a single satisfactory answer, or even a casual
remark, or chance expression calculated to allay their curiosity, or
throw the faintest ray of light upon her history, circumstances, or
connections. Moreover, she was barely civil to them, and evidently
better pleased to say ‘good-by,’ than ‘how do you do.’ But Eliza Millward
says her father intends to call upon her soon, to offer some pastoral
advice, which he fears she needs, as, though she is known to have entered
the neighbourhood early last week, she did not make her appearance at
church on Sunday; and she—Eliza, that is—will beg to accompany him, and
is sure she can succeed in wheedling something out of her—you know,
Gilbert, she can do anything. And we should call some time, mamma; it’s
only proper, you know.’
‘Of course, my dear. Poor thing! How lonely she must feel!’
‘And pray, be quick about it; and mind you bring me word how much sugar
she puts in her tea, and what sort of caps and aprons she wears, and all
about it; for I don’t know how I can live till I know,’ said Fergus, very
gravely.
But if he intended the speech to be hailed as a master-stroke of wit, he
signally failed, for nobody laughed. However, he was not much
disconcerted at that; for when he had taken a mouthful of bread and
butter and was about to swallow a gulp of tea, the humour of the thing
burst upon him with such irresistible force, that he was obliged to jump
up from the table, and rush snorting and choking from the room; and a
minute after, was heard screaming in fearful agony in the garden.
As for me, I was hungry, and contented myself with silently demolishing
the tea, ham, and toast, while my mother and sister went on talking, and
continued to discuss the apparent or non-apparent circumstances, and
probable or improbable history of the mysterious lady; but I must confess
that, after my brother’s misadventure, I once or twice raised the cup to
my lips, and put it down again without daring to taste the contents, lest
I should injure my dignity by a similar explosion.
The next day my mother and Rose hastened to pay their compliments to the
fair recluse; and came back but little wiser than they went; though my
mother declared she did not regret the journey, for if she had not gained
much good, she flattered herself she had imparted some, and that was
better: she had given some useful advice, which, she hoped, would not be
thrown away; for Mrs. Graham, though she said little to any purpose, and
appeared somewhat self-opinionated, seemed not incapable of
reflection,—though she did not know where she had been all her life, poor
thing, for she betrayed a lamentable ignorance on certain points, and had
not even the sense to be ashamed of it.
‘On what points, mother?’ asked I.
‘On household matters, and all the little niceties of cookery, and such
things, that every lady ought to be familiar with, whether she be
required to make a practical use of her knowledge or not. I gave her
some useful pieces of information, however, and several excellent
receipts, the value of which she evidently could not appreciate, for she
begged I would not trouble myself, as she lived in such a plain, quiet
way, that she was sure she should never make use of them. “No matter, my
dear,” said I; “it is what every respectable female ought to know;—and
besides, though you are alone now, you will not be always so; you have
been married, and probably—I might say almost certainly—will be again.”
“You are mistaken there, ma’am,” said she, almost haughtily; “I am
certain I never shall.”—But I told her I knew better.’
‘Some romantic young widow, I suppose,’ said I, ‘come there to end her
days in solitude, and mourn in secret for the dear departed—but it won’t
last long.’
‘No, I think not,’ observed Rose; ‘for she didn’t seem very disconsolate
after all; and she’s excessively pretty—handsome rather—you must see her,
Gilbert; you will call her a perfect beauty, though you could hardly
pretend to discover a resemblance between her and Eliza Millward.’
‘Well, I can imagine many faces more beautiful than Eliza’s, though not
more charming. I allow she has small claims to perfection; but then, I
maintain that, if she were more perfect, she would be less interesting.’
‘And so you prefer her faults to other people’s perfections?’
‘Just so—saving my mother’s presence.’
‘Oh, my dear Gilbert, what nonsense you talk!—I know you don’t mean it;
it’s quite out of the question,’ said my mother, getting up, and bustling
out of the room, under pretence of household business, in order to escape
the contradiction that was trembling on my tongue.
After that Rose favoured me with further particulars respecting Mrs.
Graham. Her appearance, manners, and dress, and the very furniture of
the room she inhabited, were all set before me, with rather more
clearness and precision than I cared to see them; but, as I was not a
very attentive listener, I could not repeat the description if I would.
The next day was Saturday; and, on Sunday, everybody wondered whether or
not the fair unknown would profit by the vicar’s remonstrance, and come
to church. I confess I looked with some interest myself towards the old
family pew, appertaining to Wildfell Hall, where the faded crimson
cushions and lining had been unpressed and unrenewed so many years, and
the grim escutcheons, with their lugubrious borders of rusty black cloth,
frowned so sternly from the wall above.
And there I beheld a tall, lady-like figure, clad in black. Her face was
towards me, and there was something in it which, once seen, invited me to
look again. Her hair was raven black, and disposed in long glossy
ringlets, a style of coiffure rather unusual in those days, but always
graceful and becoming; her complexion was clear and pale; her eyes I
could not see, for, being bent upon her prayer-book, they were concealed
by their drooping lids and long black lashes, but the brows above were
expressive and well defined; the forehead was lofty and intellectual, the
nose, a perfect aquiline and the features, in general,
unexceptionable—only there was a slight hollowness about the cheeks and
eyes, and the lips, though finely formed, were a little too thin, a
little too firmly compressed, and had something about them that
betokened, I thought, no very soft or amiable temper; and I said in my
heart—‘I would rather admire you from this distance, fair lady, than be
the partner of your home.’
Just then she happened to raise her eyes, and they met mine; I did not
choose to withdraw my gaze, and she turned again to her book, but with a
momentary, indefinable expression of quiet scorn, that was inexpressibly
provoking to me.
‘She thinks me an impudent puppy,’ thought I. ‘Humph!—she shall change
her mind before long, if I think it worth while.’
But then it flashed upon me that these were very improper thoughts for a
place of worship, and that my behaviour, on the present occasion, was
anything but what it ought to be. Previous, however, to directing my
mind to the service, I glanced round the church to see if any one had
been observing me;—but no,—all, who were not attending to their
prayer-books, were attending to the strange lady,—my good mother and
sister among the rest, and Mrs. Wilson and her daughter; and even Eliza
Millward was slily glancing from the corners of her eyes towards the
object of general attraction. Then she glanced at me, simpered a little,
and blushed, modestly looked at her prayer-book, and endeavoured to
compose her features.
Here I was transgressing again; and this time I was made sensible of it
by a sudden dig in the ribs, from the elbow of my pert brother. For the
present, I could only resent the insult by pressing my foot upon his
toes, deferring further vengeance till we got out of church.
Now, Halford, before I close this letter, I’ll tell you who Eliza
Millward was: she was the vicar’s younger daughter, and a very engaging
little creature, for whom I felt no small degree of partiality;—and she
knew it, though I had never come to any direct explanation, and had no
definite intention of so doing, for my mother, who maintained there was
no one good enough for me within twenty miles round, could not bear the
thoughts of my marrying that insignificant little thing, who, in addition
to her numerous other disqualifications, had not twenty pounds to call
her own. Eliza’s figure was at once slight and plump, her face small,
and nearly as round as my sister’s,—complexion, something similar to
hers, but more delicate and less decidedly blooming,—nose,
retroussé,—features, generally irregular; and, altogether, she was rather
charming than pretty. But her eyes—I must not forget those remarkable
features, for therein her chief attraction lay—in outward aspect at
least;—they were long and narrow in shape, the irids black, or very dark
brown, the expression various, and ever changing, but always either
preternaturally—I had almost said diabolically—wicked, or irresistibly
bewitching—often both. Her voice was gentle and childish, her tread
light and soft as that of a cat:—but her manners more frequently
resembled those of a pretty playful kitten, that is now pert and roguish,
now timid and demure, according to its own sweet will.
Her sister, Mary, was several years older, several inches taller, and of
a larger, coarser build—a plain, quiet, sensible girl, who had patiently
nursed their mother, through her last long, tedious illness, and been the
housekeeper, and family drudge, from thence to the present time. She was
trusted and valued by her father, loved and courted by all dogs, cats,
children, and poor people, and slighted and neglected by everybody else.
The Reverend Michael Millward himself was a tall, ponderous elderly
gentleman, who placed a shovel hat above his large, square,
massive-featured face, carried a stout walking-stick in his hand, and
incased his still powerful limbs in knee-breeches and gaiters,—or black
silk stockings on state occasions. He was a man of fixed principles,
strong prejudices, and regular habits, intolerant of dissent in any
shape, acting under a firm conviction that his opinions were always
right, and whoever differed from them must be either most deplorably
ignorant, or wilfully blind.
In childhood, I had always been accustomed to regard him with a feeling
of reverential awe—but lately, even now, surmounted, for, though he had a
fatherly kindness for the well-behaved, he was a strict disciplinarian,
and had often sternly reproved our juvenile failings and peccadilloes;
and moreover, in those days, whenever he called upon our parents, we had
to stand up before him, and say our catechism, or repeat, ‘How doth the
little busy bee,’ or some other hymn, or—worse than all—be questioned
about his last text, and the heads of the discourse, which we never could
remember. Sometimes, the worthy gentleman would reprove my mother for
being over-indulgent to her sons, with a reference to old Eli, or David
and Absalom, which was particularly galling to her feelings; and, very
highly as she respected him, and all his sayings, I once heard her
exclaim, ‘I wish to goodness he had a son himself! He wouldn’t be so
ready with his advice to other people then;—he’d see what it is to have a
couple of boys to keep in order.’
He had a laudable care for his own bodily health—kept very early hours,
regularly took a walk before breakfast, was vastly particular about warm
and dry clothing, had never been known to preach a sermon without
previously swallowing a raw egg—albeit he was gifted with good lungs and
a powerful voice,—and was, generally, extremely particular about what he
ate and drank, though by no means abstemious, and having a mode of
dietary peculiar to himself,—being a great despiser of tea and such
slops, and a patron of malt liquors, bacon and eggs, ham, hung beef, and
other strong meats, which agreed well enough with his digestive organs,
and therefore were maintained by him to be good and wholesome for
everybody, and confidently recommended to the most delicate convalescents
or dyspeptics, who, if they failed to derive the promised benefit from
his prescriptions, were told it was because they had not persevered, and
if they complained of inconvenient results therefrom, were assured it was
all fancy.
I will just touch upon two other persons whom I have mentioned, and then
bring this long letter to a close. These are Mrs. Wilson and her
daughter. The former was the widow of a substantial farmer, a
narrow-minded, tattling old gossip, whose character is not worth
describing. She had two sons, Robert, a rough countrified farmer, and
Richard, a retiring, studious young man, who was studying the classics
with the vicar’s assistance, preparing for college, with a view to enter
the church.
Their sister Jane was a young lady of some talents, and more ambition.
She had, at her own desire, received a regular boarding-school education,
superior to what any member of the family had obtained before. She had
taken the polish well, acquired considerable elegance of manners, quite
lost her provincial accent, and could boast of more accomplishments than
the vicar’s daughters. She was considered a beauty besides; but never
for a moment could she number me amongst her admirers. She was about six
and twenty, rather tall and very slender, her hair was neither chestnut
nor auburn, but a most decided bright, light red; her complexion was
remarkably fair and brilliant, her head small, neck long, chin well
turned, but very short, lips thin and red, eyes clear hazel, quick, and
penetrating, but entirely destitute of poetry or feeling. She had, or
might have had, many suitors in her own rank of life, but scornfully
repulsed or rejected them all; for none but a gentleman could please her
refined taste, and none but a rich one could satisfy her soaring
ambition. One gentleman there was, from whom she had lately received
some rather pointed attentions, and upon whose heart, name, and fortune,
it was whispered, she had serious designs. This was Mr. Lawrence, the
young squire, whose family had formerly occupied Wildfell Hall, but had
deserted it, some fifteen years ago, for a more modern and commodious
mansion in the neighbouring parish.
Now, Halford, I bid you adieu for the present. This is the first
instalment of my debt. If the coin suits you, tell me so, and I’ll send
you the rest at my leisure: if you would rather remain my creditor than
stuff your purse with such ungainly, heavy pieces,—tell me still, and
I’ll pardon your bad taste, and willingly keep the treasure to myself.
Yours immutably,
GILBERT MARKHAM.
CHAPTER II
I perceive, with joy, my most valued friend, that the cloud of your
displeasure has passed away; the light of your countenance blesses me
once more, and you desire the continuation of my story: therefore,
without more ado, you shall have it.
I think the day I last mentioned was a certain Sunday, the latest in the
October of 1827. On the following Tuesday I was out with my dog and gun,
in pursuit of such game as I could find within the territory of
Linden-Car; but finding none at all, I turned my arms against the hawks
and carrion crows, whose depredations, as I suspected, had deprived me of
better prey. To this end I left the more frequented regions, the wooded
valleys, the corn-fields, and the meadow-lands, and proceeded to mount
the steep acclivity of Wildfell, the wildest and the loftiest eminence in
our neighbourhood, where, as you ascend, the hedges, as well as the
trees, become scanty and stunted, the former, at length, giving place to
rough stone fences, partly greened over with ivy and moss, the latter to
larches and Scotch fir-trees, or isolated blackthorns. The fields, being
rough and stony, and wholly unfit for the plough, were mostly devoted to
the pasturing of sheep and cattle; the soil was thin and poor: bits of
grey rock here and there peeped out from the grassy hillocks;
bilberry-plants and heather—relics of more savage wildness—grew under the
walls; and in many of the enclosures, ragweeds and rushes usurped
supremacy over the scanty herbage; but these were not my property.
Near the top of this hill, about two miles from Linden-Car, stood
Wildfell Hall, a superannuated mansion of the Elizabethan era, built of
dark grey stone, venerable and picturesque to look at, but doubtless,
cold and gloomy enough to inhabit, with its thick stone mullions and
little latticed panes, its time-eaten air-holes, and its too lonely, too
unsheltered situation,—only shielded from the war of wind and weather by
a group of Scotch firs, themselves half blighted with storms, and looking
as stern and gloomy as the Hall itself. Behind it lay a few desolate
fields, and then the brown heath-clad summit of the hill; before it
(enclosed by stone walls, and entered by an iron gate, with large balls
of grey granite—similar to those which decorated the roof and
gables—surmounting the gate-posts) was a garden,—once stocked with such
hard plants and flowers as could best brook the soil and climate, and
such trees and shrubs as could best endure the gardener’s torturing
shears, and most readily assume the shapes he chose to give them,—now,
having been left so many years untilled and untrimmed, abandoned to the
weeds and the grass, to the frost and the wind, the rain and the drought,
it presented a very singular appearance indeed. The close green walls of
privet, that had bordered the principal walk, were two-thirds withered
away, and the rest grown beyond all reasonable bounds; the old boxwood
swan, that sat beside the scraper, had lost its neck and half its body:
the castellated towers of laurel in the middle of the garden, the
gigantic warrior that stood on one side of the gateway, and the lion that
guarded the other, were sprouted into such fantastic shapes as resembled
nothing either in heaven or earth, or in the waters under the earth; but,
to my young imagination, they presented all of them a goblinish
appearance, that harmonised well with the ghostly legions and dark
traditions our old nurse had told us respecting the haunted hall and its
departed occupants.
[Picture: Moorland Scene, Haworth]
I had succeeded in killing a hawk and two crows when I came within sight
of the mansion; and then, relinquishing further depredations, I sauntered
on, to have a look at the old place, and see what changes had been
wrought in it by its new inhabitant. I did not like to go quite to the
front and stare in at the gate; but I paused beside the garden wall, and
looked, and saw no change—except in one wing, where the broken windows
and dilapidated roof had evidently been repaired, and where a thin wreath
of smoke was curling up from the stack of chimneys.
While I thus stood, leaning on my gun, and looking up at the dark gables,
sunk in an idle reverie, weaving a tissue of wayward fancies, in which
old associations and the fair young hermit, now within those walls, bore
a nearly equal part, I heard a slight rustling and scrambling just within
the garden; and, glancing in the direction whence the sound proceeded, I
beheld a tiny hand elevated above the wall: it clung to the topmost
stone, and then another little hand was raised to take a firmer hold, and
then appeared a small white forehead, surmounted with wreaths of light
brown hair, with a pair of deep blue eyes beneath, and the upper portion
of a diminutive ivory nose.
The eyes did not notice me, but sparkled with glee on beholding Sancho,
my beautiful black and white setter, that was coursing about the field
with its muzzle to the ground. The little creature raised its face and
called aloud to the dog. The good-natured animal paused, looked up, and
wagged his tail, but made no further advances. The child (a little boy,
apparently about five years old) scrambled up to the top of the wall, and
called again and again; but finding this of no avail, apparently made up
his mind, like Mahomet, to go to the mountain, since the mountain would
not come to him, and attempted to get over; but a crabbed old
cherry-tree, that grew hard by, caught him by the frock in one of its
crooked scraggy arms that stretched over the wall. In attempting to
disengage himself his foot slipped, and down he tumbled—but not to the
earth;—the tree still kept him suspended. There was a silent struggle,
and then a piercing shriek;—but, in an instant, I had dropped my gun on
the grass, and caught the little fellow in my arms.
I wiped his eyes with his frock, told him he was all right and called
Sancho to pacify him. He was just putting little hand on the dog’s neck
and beginning to smile through his tears, when I heard behind me a click
of the iron gate, and a rustle of female garments, and lo! Mrs. Graham
darted upon me—her neck uncovered, her black locks streaming in the wind.
‘Give me the child!’ she said, in a voice scarce louder than a whisper,
but with a tone of startling vehemence, and, seizing the boy, she
snatched him from me, as if some dire contamination were in my touch, and
then stood with one hand firmly clasping his, the other on his shoulder,
fixing upon me her large, luminous dark eyes—pale, breathless, quivering
with agitation.
‘I was not harming the child, madam,’ said I, scarce knowing whether to
be most astonished or displeased; ‘he was tumbling off the wall there;
and I was so fortunate as to catch him, while he hung suspended headlong
from that tree, and prevent I know not what catastrophe.’
‘I beg your pardon, sir,’ stammered she;—suddenly calming down,—the light
of reason seeming to break upon her beclouded spirit, and a faint blush
mantling on her cheek—‘I did not know you;—and I thought—’
She stooped to kiss the child, and fondly clasped her arm round his neck.
‘You thought I was going to kidnap your son, I suppose?’
She stroked his head with a half-embarrassed laugh, and replied,—‘I did
not know he had attempted to climb the wall.—I have the pleasure of
addressing Mr. Markham, I believe?’ she added, somewhat abruptly.
I bowed, but ventured to ask how she knew me.
‘Your sister called here, a few days ago, with Mrs. Markham.’
‘Is the resemblance so strong then?’ I asked, in some surprise, and not
so greatly flattered at the idea as I ought to have been.
‘There is a likeness about the eyes and complexion I think,’ replied she,
somewhat dubiously surveying my face;—‘and I think I saw you at church on
Sunday.’
I smiled.—There was something either in that smile or the recollections
it awakened that was particularly displeasing to her, for she suddenly
assumed again that proud, chilly look that had so unspeakably roused my
aversion at church—a look of repellent scorn, so easily assumed, and so
entirely without the least distortion of a single feature, that, while
there, it seemed like the natural expression of the face, and was the
more provoking to me, because I could not think it affected.
‘Good-morning, Mr. Markham,’ said she; and without another word or
glance, she withdrew, with her child, into the garden; and I returned
home, angry and dissatisfied—I could scarcely tell you why, and therefore
will not attempt it.
I only stayed to put away my gun and powder-horn, and give some requisite
directions to one of the farming-men, and then repaired to the vicarage,
to solace my spirit and soothe my ruffled temper with the company and
conversation of Eliza Millward.
I found her, as usual, busy with some piece of soft embroidery (the mania
for Berlin wools had not yet commenced), while her sister was seated at
the chimney-corner, with the cat on her knee, mending a heap of
stockings.
‘Mary—Mary! put them away!’ Eliza was hastily saying, just as I entered
the room.
‘Not I, indeed!’ was the phlegmatic reply; and my appearance prevented
further discussion.
‘You’re so unfortunate, Mr. Markham!’ observed the younger sister, with
one of her arch, sidelong glances. ‘Papa’s just gone out into the
parish, and not likely to be back for an hour!’
‘Never mind; I can manage to spend a few minutes with his daughters, if
they’ll allow me,’ said I, bringing a chair to the fire, and seating
myself therein, without waiting to be asked.
‘Well, if you’ll be very good and amusing, we shall not object.’
‘Let your permission be unconditional, pray; for I came not to give
pleasure, but to seek it,’ I answered.
However, I thought it but reasonable to make some slight exertion to
render my company agreeable; and what little effort I made, was
apparently pretty successful, for Miss Eliza was never in a better
humour. We seemed, indeed, to be mutually pleased with each other, and
managed to maintain between us a cheerful and animated though not very
profound conversation. It was little better than a _tête-à-tête_, for
Miss Millward never opened her lips, except occasionally to correct some
random assertion or exaggerated expression of her sister’s, and once to
ask her to pick up the ball of cotton that had rolled under the table. I
did this myself, however, as in duty bound.
‘Thank you, Mr. Markham,’ said she, as I presented it to her. ‘I would
have picked it up myself; only I did not want to disturb the cat.’
‘Mary, dear, that won’t excuse you in Mr. Markham’s eyes,’ said Eliza;
‘he hates cats, I daresay, as cordially as he does old maids—like all
other gentlemen. Don’t you, Mr. Markham?’
‘I believe it is natural for our unamiable sex to dislike the creatures,’
replied I; ‘for you ladies lavish so many caresses upon them.’
‘Bless them—little darlings!’ cried she, in a sudden burst of enthusiasm,
turning round and overwhelming her sister’s pet with a shower of kisses.
‘Don’t, Eliza!’ said Miss Millward, somewhat gruffly, as she impatiently
pushed her away.
But it was time for me to be going: make what haste I would, I should
still be too late for tea; and my mother was the soul of order and
punctuality.
My fair friend was evidently unwilling to bid me adieu. I tenderly
squeezed her little hand at parting; and she repaid me with one of her
softest smiles and most bewitching glances. I went home very happy, with
a heart brimful of complacency for myself, and overflowing with love for
Eliza.
CHAPTER III
Two days after, Mrs. Graham called at Linden-Car, contrary to the
expectation of Rose, who entertained an idea that the mysterious occupant
of Wildfell Hall would wholly disregard the common observances of
civilized life,—in which opinion she was supported by the Wilsons, who
testified that neither their call nor the Millwards’ had been returned as
yet. Now, however, the cause of that omission was explained, though not
entirely to the satisfaction of Rose. Mrs. Graham had brought her child
with her, and on my mother’s expressing surprise that he could walk so
far, she replied,—‘It is a long walk for him; but I must have either
taken him with me, or relinquished the visit altogether; for I never
leave him alone; and I think, Mrs. Markham, I must beg you to make my
excuses to the Millwards and Mrs. Wilson, when you see them, as I fear I
cannot do myself the pleasure of calling upon them till my little Arthur
is able to accompany me.’
‘But you have a servant,’ said Rose; ‘could you not leave him with her?’
‘She has her own occupations to attend to; and besides, she is too old to
run after a child, and he is too mercurial to be tied to an elderly
woman.’
‘But you left him to come to church.’
‘Yes, once; but I would not have left him for any other purpose; and I
think, in future, I must contrive to bring him with me, or stay at home.’
‘Is he so mischievous?’ asked my mother, considerably shocked.
‘No,’ replied the lady, sadly smiling, as she stroked the wavy locks of
her son, who was seated on a low stool at her feet; ‘but he is my only
treasure, and I am his only friend: so we don’t like to be separated.’
‘But, my dear, I call that doting,’ said my plain-spoken parent. ‘You
should try to suppress such foolish fondness, as well to save your son
from ruin as yourself from ridicule.’
‘Ruin! Mrs. Markham!’
‘Yes; it is spoiling the child. Even at his age, he ought not to be
always tied to his mother’s apron-string; he should learn to be ashamed
of it.’
‘Mrs. Markham, I beg you will not say such things, in his presence, at
least. I trust my son will never be ashamed to love his mother!’ said
Mrs. Graham, with a serious energy that startled the company.
My mother attempted to appease her by an explanation; but she seemed to
think enough had been said on the subject, and abruptly turned the
conversation.
‘Just as I thought,’ said I to myself: ‘the lady’s temper is none of the
mildest, notwithstanding her sweet, pale face and lofty brow, where
thought and suffering seem equally to have stamped their impress.’
All this time I was seated at a table on the other side of the room,
apparently immersed in the perusal of a volume of the _Farmer’s
Magazine_, which I happened to have been reading at the moment of our
visitor’s arrival; and, not choosing to be over civil, I had merely bowed
as she entered, and continued my occupation as before.
In a little while, however, I was sensible that some one was approaching
me, with a light, but slow and hesitating tread. It was little Arthur,
irresistibly attracted by my dog Sancho, that was lying at my feet. On
looking up I beheld him standing about two yards off, with his clear blue
eyes wistfully gazing on the dog, transfixed to the spot, not by fear of
the animal, but by a timid disinclination to approach its master. A
little encouragement, however, induced him to come forward. The child,
though shy, was not sullen. In a minute he was kneeling on the carpet,
with his arms round Sancho’s neck, and, in a minute or two more, the
little fellow was seated on my knee, surveying with eager interest the
various specimens of horses, cattle, pigs, and model farms portrayed in
the volume before me. I glanced at his mother now and then to see how
she relished the new-sprung intimacy; and I saw, by the unquiet aspect of
her eye, that for some reason or other she was uneasy at the child’s
position.
‘Arthur,’ said she, at length, ‘come here. You are troublesome to Mr.
Markham: he wishes to read.’
‘By no means, Mrs. Graham; pray let him stay. I am as much amused as he
is,’ pleaded I. But still, with hand and eye, she silently called him to
her side.
‘No, mamma,’ said the child; ‘let me look at these pictures first; and
then I’ll come, and tell you all about them.’
‘We are going to have a small party on Monday, the fifth of November,’
said my mother; ‘and I hope you will not refuse to make one, Mrs. Graham.
You can bring your little boy with you, you know—I daresay we shall be
able to amuse him;—and then you can make your own apologies to the
Millwards and Wilsons—they will all be here, I expect.’
‘Thank you, I never go to parties.’
‘Oh! but this will be quite a family concern—early hours, and nobody here
but ourselves, and just the Millwards and Wilsons, most of whom you
already know, and Mr. Lawrence, your landlord, with whom you ought to
make acquaintance.’
‘I do know something of him—but you must excuse me this time; for the
evenings, now, are dark and damp, and Arthur, I fear, is too delicate to
risk exposure to their influence with impunity. We must defer the
enjoyment of your hospitality till the return of longer days and warmer
nights.’
Rose, now, at a hint from my mother, produced a decanter of wine, with
accompaniments of glasses and cake, from the cupboard and the oak
sideboard, and the refreshment was duly presented to the guests. They
both partook of the cake, but obstinately refused the wine, in spite of
their hostess’s hospitable attempts to force it upon them. Arthur,
especially shrank from the ruby nectar as if in terror and disgust, and
was ready to cry when urged to take it.
‘Never mind, Arthur,’ said his mamma; ‘Mrs. Markham thinks it will do you
good, as you were tired with your walk; but she will not oblige you to
take it!—I daresay you will do very well without. He detests the very
sight of wine,’ she added, ‘and the smell of it almost makes him sick. I
have been accustomed to make him swallow a little wine or weak
spirits-and-water, by way of medicine, when he was sick, and, in fact, I
have done what I could to make him hate them.’
Everybody laughed, except the young widow and her son.
‘Well, Mrs. Graham,’ said my mother, wiping the tears of merriment from
her bright blue eyes—‘well, you surprise me! I really gave you credit
for having more sense.—The poor child will be the veriest milksop that
ever was sopped! Only think what a man you will make of him, if you
persist in—’
‘I think it a very excellent plan,’ interrupted Mrs. Graham, with
imperturbable gravity. ‘By that means I hope to save him from one
degrading vice at least. I wish I could render the incentives to every
other equally innoxious in his case.’
‘But by such means,’ said I, ‘you will never render him virtuous.—What is
it that constitutes virtue, Mrs. Graham? Is it the circumstance of being
able and willing to resist temptation; or that of having no temptations
to resist?—Is he a strong man that overcomes great obstacles and performs
surprising achievements, though by dint of great muscular exertion, and
at the risk of some subsequent fatigue, or he that sits in his chair all
day, with nothing to do more laborious than stirring the fire, and
carrying his food to his mouth? If you would have your son to walk
honourably through the world, you must not attempt to clear the stones
from his path, but teach him to walk firmly over them—not insist upon
leading him by the hand, but let him learn to go alone.’
‘I will lead him by the hand, Mr. Markham, till he has strength to go
alone; and I will clear as many stones from his path as I can, and teach
him to avoid the rest—or walk firmly over them, as you say;—for when I
have done my utmost, in the way of clearance, there will still be plenty
left to exercise all the agility, steadiness, and circumspection he will
ever have.—It is all very well to talk about noble resistance, and trials
of virtue; but for fifty—or five hundred men that have yielded to
temptation, show me one that has had virtue to resist. And why should I
take it for granted that my son will be one in a thousand?—and not rather
prepare for the worst, and suppose he will be like his—like the rest of
mankind, unless I take care to prevent it?’
‘You are very complimentary to us all,’ I observed.
‘I know nothing about you—I speak of those I do know—and when I see the
whole race of mankind (with a few rare exceptions) stumbling and
blundering along the path of life, sinking into every pitfall, and
breaking their shins over every impediment that lies in their way, shall
I not use all the means in my power to insure for him a smoother and a
safer passage?’
‘Yes, but the surest means will be to endeavour to fortify him against
temptation, not to remove it out of his way.’
‘I will do both, Mr. Markham. God knows he will have temptations enough
to assail him, both from within and without, when I have done all I can
to render vice as uninviting to him, as it is abominable in its own
nature—I myself have had, indeed, but few incentives to what the world
calls vice, but yet I have experienced temptations and trials of another
kind, that have required, on many occasions, more watchfulness and
firmness to resist than I have hitherto been able to muster against them.
And this, I believe, is what most others would acknowledge who are
accustomed to reflection, and wishful to strive against their natural
corruptions.’
‘Yes,’ said my mother, but half apprehending her drift; ‘but you would
not judge of a boy by yourself—and, my dear Mrs. Graham, let me warn you
in good time against the error—the fatal error, I may call it—of taking
that boy’s education upon yourself. Because you are clever in some
things and well informed, you may fancy yourself equal to the task; but
indeed you are not; and if you persist in the attempt, believe me you
will bitterly repent it when the mischief is done.’
‘I am to send him to school, I suppose, to learn to despise his mother’s
authority and affection!’ said the lady, with rather a bitter smile.
‘Oh, no!—But if you would have a boy to despise his mother, let her keep
him at home, and spend her life in petting him up, and slaving to indulge
his follies and caprices.’
‘I perfectly agree with you, Mrs. Markham; but nothing can be further
from my principles and practice than such criminal weakness as that.’
‘Well, but you will treat him like a girl—you’ll spoil his spirit, and
make a mere Miss Nancy of him—you will, indeed, Mrs. Graham, whatever you
may think. But I’ll get Mr. Millward to talk to you about it:—he’ll tell
you the consequences;—he’ll set it before you as plain as the day;—and
tell you what you ought to do, and all about it;—and, I don’t doubt,
he’ll be able to convince you in a minute.’
‘No occasion to trouble the vicar,’ said Mrs. Graham, glancing at me—I
suppose I was smiling at my mother’s unbounded confidence in that worthy
gentleman—‘Mr. Markham here thinks his powers of conviction at least
equal to Mr. Millward’s. If I hear not him, neither should I be
convinced though one rose from the dead, he would tell you. Well, Mr.
Markham, you that maintain that a boy should not be shielded from evil,
but sent out to battle against it, alone and unassisted—not taught to
avoid the snares of life, but boldly to rush into them, or over them, as
he may—to seek danger, rather than shun it, and feed his virtue by
temptation,—would you—?’
‘I beg your pardon, Mrs. Graham—but you get on too fast. I have not yet
said that a boy should be taught to rush into the snares of life,—or even
wilfully to seek temptation for the sake of exercising his virtue by
overcoming it;—I only say that it is better to arm and strengthen your
hero, than to disarm and enfeeble the foe;—and if you were to rear an oak
sapling in a hothouse, tending it carefully night and day, and shielding
it from every breath of wind, you could not expect it to become a hardy
tree, like that which has grown up on the mountain-side, exposed to all
the action of the elements, and not even sheltered from the shock of the
tempest.’
‘Granted;—but would you use the same argument with regard to a girl?’
‘Certainly not.’
‘No; you would have her to be tenderly and delicately nurtured, like a
hot-house plant—taught to cling to others for direction and support, and
guarded, as much as possible, from the very knowledge of evil. But will
you be so good as to inform me why you make this distinction? Is it that
you think she has no virtue?’
‘Assuredly not.’
‘Well, but you affirm that virtue is only elicited by temptation;—and you
think that a woman cannot be too little exposed to temptation, or too
little acquainted with vice, or anything connected therewith. It must be
either that you think she is essentially so vicious, or so feeble-minded,
that she cannot withstand temptation,—and though she may be pure and
innocent as long as she is kept in ignorance and restraint, yet, being
destitute of real virtue, to teach her how to sin is at once to make her
a sinner, and the greater her knowledge, the wider her liberty, the
deeper will be her depravity,—whereas, in the nobler sex, there is a
natural tendency to goodness, guarded by a superior fortitude, which, the
more it is exercised by trials and dangers, is only the further
developed—’
‘Heaven forbid that I should think so!’ I interrupted her at last.
‘Well, then, it must be that you think they are both weak and prone to
err, and the slightest error, the merest shadow of pollution, will ruin
the one, while the character of the other will be strengthened and
embellished—his education properly finished by a little practical
acquaintance with forbidden things. Such experience, to him (to use a
trite simile), will be like the storm to the oak, which, though it may
scatter the leaves, and snap the smaller branches, serves but to rivet
the roots, and to harden and condense the fibres of the tree. You would
have us encourage our sons to prove all things by their own experience,
while our daughters must not even profit by the experience of others.
Now I would have both so to benefit by the experience of others, and the
precepts of a higher authority, that they should know beforehand to
refuse the evil and choose the good, and require no experimental proofs
to teach them the evil of transgression. I would not send a poor girl
into the world, unarmed against her foes, and ignorant of the snares that
beset her path; nor would I watch and guard her, till, deprived of
self-respect and self-reliance, she lost the power or the will to watch
and guard herself;—and as for my son—if I thought he would grow up to be
what you call a man of the world—one that has “seen life,” and glories in
his experience, even though he should so far profit by it as to sober
down, at length, into a useful and respected member of society—I would
rather that he died to-morrow!—rather a thousand times!’ she earnestly
repeated, pressing her darling to her side and kissing his forehead with
intense affection. He had already left his new companion, and been
standing for some time beside his mother’s knee, looking up into her
face, and listening in silent wonder to her incomprehensible discourse.
‘Well! you ladies must always have the last word, I suppose,’ said I,
observing her rise, and begin to take leave of my mother.
‘You may have as many words as you please,—only I can’t stay to hear
them.’
‘No; that is the way: you hear just as much of an argument as you please;
and the rest may be spoken to the wind.’
‘If you are anxious to say anything more on the subject,’ replied she, as
she shook hands with Rose, ‘you must bring your sister to see me some
fine day, and I’ll listen, as patiently as you could wish, to whatever
you please to say. I would rather be lectured by you than the vicar,
because I should have less remorse in telling you, at the end of the
discourse, that I preserve my own opinion precisely the same as at the
beginning—as would be the case, I am persuaded, with regard to either
logician.’
‘Yes, of course,’ replied I, determined to be as provoking as herself;
‘for when a lady does consent to listen to an argument against her own
opinions, she is always predetermined to withstand it—to listen only with
her bodily ears, keeping the mental organs resolutely closed against the
strongest reasoning.’
‘Good-morning, Mr. Markham,’ said my fair antagonist, with a pitying
smile; and deigning no further rejoinder, she slightly bowed, and was
about to withdraw; but her son, with childish impertinence, arrested her
by exclaiming,—‘Mamma, you have not shaken hands with Mr. Markham!’
She laughingly turned round and held out her hand. I gave it a spiteful
squeeze, for I was annoyed at the continual injustice she had done me
from the very dawn of our acquaintance. Without knowing anything about
my real disposition and principles, she was evidently prejudiced against
me, and seemed bent upon showing me that her opinions respecting me, on
every particular, fell far below those I entertained of myself. I was
naturally touchy, or it would not have vexed me so much. Perhaps, too, I
was a little bit spoiled by my mother and sister, and some other ladies
of my acquaintance;—and yet I was by no means a fop—of that I am fully
convinced, whether you are or not.
CHAPTER IV
Our party, on the 5th of November, passed off very well, in spite of Mrs.
Graham’s refusal to grace it with her presence. Indeed, it is probable
that, had she been there, there would have been less cordiality, freedom,
and frolic amongst us than there was without her.
My mother, as usual, was cheerful and chatty, full of activity and
good-nature, and only faulty in being too anxious to make her guests
happy, thereby forcing several of them to do what their soul abhorred in
the way of eating or drinking, sitting opposite the blazing fire, or
talking when they would be silent. Nevertheless, they bore it very well,
being all in their holiday humours.
Mr. Millward was mighty in important dogmas and sententious jokes,
pompous anecdotes and oracular discourses, dealt out for the edification
of the whole assembly in general, and of the admiring Mrs. Markham, the
polite Mr. Lawrence, the sedate Mary Millward, the quiet Richard Wilson,
and the matter-of-fact Robert in particular,—as being the most attentive
listeners.
Mrs. Wilson was more brilliant than ever, with her budgets of fresh news
and old scandal, strung together with trivial questions and remarks, and
oft-repeated observations, uttered apparently for the sole purpose of
denying a moment’s rest to her inexhaustible organs of speech. She had
brought her knitting with her, and it seemed as if her tongue had laid a
wager with her fingers, to outdo them in swift and ceaseless motion.
Her daughter Jane was, of course, as graceful and elegant, as witty and
seductive, as she could possibly manage to be; for here were all the
ladies to outshine, and all the gentlemen to charm,—and Mr. Lawrence,
especially, to capture and subdue. Her little arts to effect his
subjugation were too subtle and impalpable to attract my observation; but
I thought there was a certain refined affectation of superiority, and an
ungenial self-consciousness about her, that negatived all her advantages;
and after she was gone, Rose interpreted to me her various looks, words,
and actions with a mingled acuteness and asperity that made me wonder,
equally, at the lady’s artifice and my sister’s penetration, and ask
myself if she too had an eye to the squire—but never mind, Halford; she
had not.
Richard Wilson, Jane’s younger brother, sat in a corner, apparently
good-tempered, but silent and shy, desirous to escape observation, but
willing enough to listen and observe: and, although somewhat out of his
element, he would have been happy enough in his own quiet way, if my
mother could only have let him alone; but in her mistaken kindness, she
would keep persecuting him with her attentions—pressing upon him all
manner of viands, under the notion that he was too bashful to help
himself, and obliging him to shout across the room his monosyllabic
replies to the numerous questions and observations by which she vainly
attempted to draw him into conversation.
Rose informed me that he never would have favoured us with his company
but for the importunities of his sister Jane, who was most anxious to
show Mr. Lawrence that she had at least one brother more gentlemanly and
refined than Robert. That worthy individual she had been equally
solicitous to keep away; but he affirmed that he saw no reason why he
should not enjoy a crack with Markham and the old lady (my mother was not
old, really), and bonny Miss Rose and the parson, as well as the
best;—and he was in the right of it too. So he talked common-place with
my mother and Rose, and discussed parish affairs with the vicar, farming
matters with me, and politics with us both.
Mary Millward was another mute,—not so much tormented with cruel kindness
as Dick Wilson, because she had a certain short, decided way of answering
and refusing, and was supposed to be rather sullen than diffident.
However that might be, she certainly did not give much pleasure to the
company;—nor did she appear to derive much from it. Eliza told me she
had only come because her father insisted upon it, having taken it into
his head that she devoted herself too exclusively to her household
duties, to the neglect of such relaxations and innocent enjoyments as
were proper to her age and sex. She seemed to me to be good-humoured
enough on the whole. Once or twice she was provoked to laughter by the
wit or the merriment of some favoured individual amongst us; and then I
observed she sought the eye of Richard Wilson, who sat over against her.
As he studied with her father, she had some acquaintance with him, in
spite of the retiring habits of both, and I suppose there was a kind of
fellow-feeling established between them.
My Eliza was charming beyond description, coquettish without affectation,
and evidently more desirous to engage my attention than that of all the
room besides. Her delight in having me near her, seated or standing by
her side, whispering in her ear, or pressing her hand in the dance, was
plainly legible in her glowing face and heaving bosom, however belied by
saucy words and gestures. But I had better hold my tongue: if I boast of
these things now, I shall have to blush hereafter.
To proceed, then, with the various individuals of our party; Rose was
simple and natural as usual, and full of mirth and vivacity.
Fergus was impertinent and absurd; but his impertinence and folly served
to make others laugh, if they did not raise himself in their estimation.
And finally (for I omit myself), Mr. Lawrence was gentlemanly and
inoffensive to all, and polite to the vicar and the ladies, especially
his hostess and her daughter, and Miss Wilson—misguided man; he had not
the taste to prefer Eliza Millward. Mr. Lawrence and I were on tolerably
intimate terms. Essentially of reserved habits, and but seldom quitting
the secluded place of his birth, where he had lived in solitary state
since the death of his father, he had neither the opportunity nor the
inclination for forming many acquaintances; and, of all he had ever
known, I (judging by the results) was the companion most agreeable to his
taste. I liked the man well enough, but he was too cold, and shy, and
self-contained, to obtain my cordial sympathies. A spirit of candour and
frankness, when wholly unaccompanied with coarseness, he admired in
others, but he could not acquire it himself. His excessive reserve upon
all his own concerns was, indeed, provoking and chilly enough; but I
forgave it, from a conviction that it originated less in pride and want
of confidence in his friends, than in a certain morbid feeling of
delicacy, and a peculiar diffidence, that he was sensible of, but wanted
energy to overcome. His heart was like a sensitive plant, that opens for
a moment in the sunshine, but curls up and shrinks into itself at the
slightest touch of the finger, or the lightest breath of wind. And, upon
the whole, our intimacy was rather a mutual predilection than a deep and
solid friendship, such as has since arisen between myself and you,
Halford, whom, in spite of your occasional crustiness, I can liken to
nothing so well as an old coat, unimpeachable in texture, but easy and
loose—that has conformed itself to the shape of the wearer, and which he
may use as he pleases, without being bothered with the fear of spoiling
it;—whereas Mr. Lawrence was like a new garment, all very neat and trim
to look at, but so tight in the elbows, that you would fear to split the
seams by the unrestricted motion of your arms, and so smooth and fine in
surface that you scruple to expose it to a single drop of rain.
Soon after the arrival of the guests, my mother mentioned Mrs. Graham,
regretted she was not there to meet them, and explained to the Millwards
and Wilsons the reasons she had given for neglecting to return their
calls, hoping they would excuse her, as she was sure she did not mean to
be uncivil, and would be glad to see them at any time.—‘But she is a very
singular lady, Mr. Lawrence,’ added she; ‘we don’t know what to make of
her—but I daresay you can tell us something about her, for she is your
tenant, you know,—and she said she knew you a little.’
All eyes were turned to Mr. Lawrence. I thought he looked unnecessarily
confused at being so appealed to.
‘I, Mrs. Markham!’ said he; ‘you are mistaken—I don’t—that is—I have seen
her, certainly; but I am the last person you should apply to for
information respecting Mrs. Graham.’
He then immediately turned to Rose, and asked her to favour the company
with a song, or a tune on the piano.
‘No,’ said she, ‘you must ask Miss Wilson: she outshines us all in
singing, and music too.’
Miss Wilson demurred.
‘She’ll sing readily enough,’ said Fergus, ‘if you’ll undertake to stand
by her, Mr. Lawrence, and turn over the leaves for her.’
‘I shall be most happy to do so, Miss Wilson; will you allow me?’
She bridled her long neck and smiled, and suffered him to lead her to the
instrument, where she played and sang, in her very best style, one piece
after another; while he stood patiently by, leaning one hand on the back
of her chair, and turning over the leaves of her book with the other.
Perhaps he was as much charmed with her performance as she was. It was
all very fine in its way; but I cannot say that it moved me very deeply.
There was plenty of skill and execution, but precious little feeling.
But we had not done with Mrs. Graham yet.
‘I don’t take wine, Mrs. Markham,’ said Mr. Millward, upon the
introduction of that beverage; ‘I’ll take a little of your home-brewed
ale. I always prefer your home-brewed to anything else.’
Flattered at this compliment, my mother rang the bell, and a china jug of
our best ale was presently brought and set before the worthy gentleman
who so well knew how to appreciate its excellences.
‘Now THIS is the thing!’ cried he, pouring out a glass of the same in a
long stream, skilfully directed from the jug to the tumbler, so as to
produce much foam without spilling a drop; and, having surveyed it for a
moment opposite the candle, he took a deep draught, and then smacked his
lips, drew a long breath, and refilled his glass, my mother looking on
with the greatest satisfaction.
‘There’s nothing like this, Mrs. Markham!’ said he. ‘I always maintain
that there’s nothing to compare with your home-brewed ale.’
‘I’m sure I’m glad you like it, sir. I always look after the brewing
myself, as well as the cheese and the butter—I like to have things well
done, while we’re about it.’
‘Quite right, Mrs. Markham!’
‘But then, Mr. Millward, you don’t think it wrong to take a little wine
now and then—or a little spirits either!’ said my mother, as she handed a
smoking tumbler of gin-and-water to Mrs. Wilson, who affirmed that wine
sat heavy on her stomach, and whose son Robert was at that moment helping
himself to a pretty stiff glass of the same.
‘By no means!’ replied the oracle, with a Jove-like nod; ‘these things
are all blessings and mercies, if we only knew how to make use of them.’
‘But Mrs. Graham doesn’t think so. You shall just hear now what she told
us the other day—I told her I’d tell you.’
And my mother favoured the company with a particular account of that
lady’s mistaken ideas and conduct regarding the matter in hand,
concluding with, ‘Now, don’t you think it is wrong?’
‘Wrong!’ repeated the vicar, with more than common solemnity—‘criminal, I
should say—criminal! Not only is it making a fool of the boy, but it is
despising the gifts of Providence, and teaching him to trample them under
his feet.’
He then entered more fully into the question, and explained at large the
folly and impiety of such a proceeding. My mother heard him with
profoundest reverence; and even Mrs. Wilson vouchsafed to rest her tongue
for a moment, and listen in silence, while she complacently sipped her
gin-and-water. Mr. Lawrence sat with his elbow on the table, carelessly
playing with his half-empty wine-glass, and covertly smiling to himself.
‘But don’t you think, Mr. Millward,’ suggested he, when at length that
gentleman paused in his discourse, ‘that when a child may be naturally
prone to intemperance—by the fault of its parents or ancestors, for
instance—some precautions are advisable?’ (Now it was generally believed
that Mr. Lawrence’s father had shortened his days by intemperance.)
‘Some precautions, it may be; but temperance, sir, is one thing, and
abstinence another.’
‘But I have heard that, with some persons, temperance—that is,
moderation—is almost impossible; and if abstinence be an evil (which some
have doubted), no one will deny that excess is a greater. Some parents
have entirely prohibited their children from tasting intoxicating
liquors; but a parent’s authority cannot last for ever; children are
naturally prone to hanker after forbidden things; and a child, in such a
case, would be likely to have a strong curiosity to taste, and try the
effect of what has been so lauded and enjoyed by others, so strictly
forbidden to himself—which curiosity would generally be gratified on the
first convenient opportunity; and the restraint once broken, serious
consequences might ensue. I don’t pretend to be a judge of such matters,
but it seems to me, that this plan of Mrs. Graham’s, as you describe it,
Mrs. Markham, extraordinary as it may be, is not without its advantages;
for here you see the child is delivered at once from temptation; he has
no secret curiosity, no hankering desire; he is as well acquainted with
the tempting liquors as he ever wishes to be; and is thoroughly disgusted
with them, without having suffered from their effects.’
‘And is that right, sir? Have I not proven to you how wrong it is—how
contrary to Scripture and to reason, to teach a child to look with
contempt and disgust upon the blessings of Providence, instead of to use
them aright?’
‘You may consider laudanum a blessing of Providence, sir,’ replied Mr.
Lawrence, smiling; ‘and yet, you will allow that most of us had better
abstain from it, even in moderation; but,’ added he, ‘I would not desire
you to follow out my simile too closely—in witness whereof I finish my
glass.’
‘And take another, I hope, Mr. Lawrence,’ said my mother, pushing the
bottle towards him.
He politely declined, and pushing his chair a little away from the table,
leant back towards me—I was seated a trifle behind, on the sofa beside
Eliza Millward—and carelessly asked me if I knew Mrs. Graham.
‘I have met her once or twice,’ I replied.
‘What do you think of her?’
‘I cannot say that I like her much. She is handsome—or rather I should
say distinguished and interesting—in her appearance, but by no means
amiable—a woman liable to take strong prejudices, I should fancy, and
stick to them through thick and thin, twisting everything into conformity
with her own preconceived opinions—too hard, too sharp, too bitter for my
taste.’
He made no reply, but looked down and bit his lip, and shortly after rose
and sauntered up to Miss Wilson, as much repelled by me, I fancy, as
attracted by her. I scarcely noticed it at the time, but afterwards I
was led to recall this and other trifling facts, of a similar nature, to
my remembrance, when—but I must not anticipate.
We wound up the evening with dancing—our worthy pastor thinking it no
scandal to be present on the occasion, though one of the village
musicians was engaged to direct our evolutions with his violin. But Mary
Millward obstinately refused to join us; and so did Richard Wilson,
though my mother earnestly entreated him to do so, and even offered to be
his partner.
We managed very well without them, however. With a single set of
quadrilles, and several country dances, we carried it on to a pretty late
hour; and at length, having called upon our musician to strike up a
waltz, I was just about to whirl Eliza round in that delightful dance,
accompanied by Lawrence and Jane Wilson, and Fergus and Rose, when Mr.
Millward interposed with:—‘No, no; I don’t allow that! Come, it’s time
to be going now.’
‘Oh, no, papa!’ pleaded Eliza.
‘High time, my girl—high time! Moderation in all things, remember!
That’s the plan—“Let your moderation be known unto all men!”’
But in revenge I followed Eliza into the dimly-lighted passage, where,
under pretence of helping her on with her shawl, I fear I must plead
guilty to snatching a kiss behind her father’s back, while he was
enveloping his throat and chin in the folds of a mighty comforter. But
alas! in turning round, there was my mother close beside me. The
consequence was, that no sooner were the guests departed, than I was
doomed to a very serious remonstrance, which unpleasantly checked the
galloping course of my spirits, and made a disagreeable close to the
evening.
‘My dear Gilbert,’ said she, ‘I wish you wouldn’t do so! You know how
deeply I have your advantage at heart, how I love you and prize you above
everything else in the world, and how much I long to see you well settled
in life—and how bitterly it would grieve me to see you married to that
girl—or any other in the neighbourhood. What you see in her I don’t
know. It isn’t only the want of money that I think about—nothing of the
kind—but there’s neither beauty, nor cleverness, nor goodness, nor
anything else that’s desirable. If you knew your own value, as I do, you
wouldn’t dream of it. Do wait awhile and see! If you bind yourself to
her, you’ll repent it all your lifetime when you look round and see how
many better there are. Take my word for it, you will.’
‘Well, mother, do be quiet!—I hate to be lectured!—I’m not going to marry
yet, I tell you; but—dear me! mayn’t I enjoy myself at all?’
‘Yes, my dear boy, but not in that way. Indeed, you shouldn’t do such
things. You would be wronging the girl, if she were what she ought to
be; but I assure you she is as artful a little hussy as anybody need wish
to see; and you’ll get entangled in her snares before you know where you
are. And if you marry her, Gilbert, you’ll break my heart—so there’s an
end of it.’
‘Well, don’t cry about it, mother,’ said I, for the tears were gushing
from her eyes; ‘there, let that kiss efface the one I gave Eliza; don’t
abuse her any more, and set your mind at rest; for I’ll promise
never—that is, I’ll promise to think twice before I take any important
step you seriously disapprove of.’
So saying, I lighted my candle, and went to bed, considerably quenched in
spirit.
CHAPTER V
It was about the close of the month, that, yielding at length to the
urgent importunities of Rose, I accompanied her in a visit to Wildfell
Hall. To our surprise, we were ushered into a room where the first
object that met the eye was a painter’s easel, with a table beside it
covered with rolls of canvas, bottles of oil and varnish, palette,
brushes, paints, &c. Leaning against the wall were several sketches in
various stages of progression, and a few finished paintings—mostly of
landscapes and figures.
‘I must make you welcome to my studio,’ said Mrs. Graham; ‘there is no
fire in the sitting-room to-day, and it is rather too cold to show you
into a place with an empty grate.’
And disengaging a couple of chairs from the artistical lumber that
usurped them, she bid us be seated, and resumed her place beside the
easel—not facing it exactly, but now and then glancing at the picture
upon it while she conversed, and giving it an occasional touch with her
brush, as if she found it impossible to wean her attention entirely from
her occupation to fix it upon her guests. It was a view of Wildfell
Hall, as seen at early morning from the field below, rising in dark
relief against a sky of clear silvery blue, with a few red streaks on the
horizon, faithfully drawn and coloured, and very elegantly and
artistically handled.
‘I see your heart is in your work, Mrs. Graham,’ observed I: ‘I must beg
you to go on with it; for if you suffer our presence to interrupt you, we
shall be constrained to regard ourselves as unwelcome intruders.’
‘Oh, no!’ replied she, throwing her brush on to the table, as if startled
into politeness. ‘I am not so beset with visitors but that I can readily
spare a few minutes to the few that do favour me with their company.’
‘You have almost completed your painting,’ said I, approaching to observe
it more closely, and surveying it with a greater degree of admiration and
delight than I cared to express. ‘A few more touches in the foreground
will finish it, I should think. But why have you called it Fernley
Manor, Cumberland, instead of Wildfell Hall, —shire?’ I asked, alluding
to the name she had traced in small characters at the bottom of the
canvas.
But immediately I was sensible of having committed an act of impertinence
in so doing; for she coloured and hesitated; but after a moment’s pause,
with a kind of desperate frankness, she replied:—
‘Because I have friends—acquaintances at least—in the world, from whom I
desire my present abode to be concealed; and as they might see the
picture, and might possibly recognise the style in spite of the false
initials I have put in the corner, I take the precaution to give a false
name to the place also, in order to put them on a wrong scent, if they
should attempt to trace me out by it.’
‘Then you don’t intend to keep the picture?’ said I, anxious to say
anything to change the subject.
‘No; I cannot afford to paint for my own amusement.’
‘Mamma sends all her pictures to London,’ said Arthur; ‘and somebody
sells them for her there, and sends us the money.’
In looking round upon the other pieces, I remarked a pretty sketch of
Linden-hope from the top of the hill; another view of the old hall
basking in the sunny haze of a quiet summer afternoon; and a simple but
striking little picture of a child brooding, with looks of silent but
deep and sorrowful regret, over a handful of withered flowers, with
glimpses of dark low hills and autumnal fields behind it, and a dull
beclouded sky above.
‘You see there is a sad dearth of subjects,’ observed the fair artist.
‘I took the old hall once on a moonlight night, and I suppose I must take
it again on a snowy winter’s day, and then again on a dark cloudy
evening; for I really have nothing else to paint. I have been told that
you have a fine view of the sea somewhere in the neighbourhood. Is it
true?—and is it within walking distance?’
‘Yes, if you don’t object to walking four miles—or nearly so—little short
of eight miles, there and back—and over a somewhat rough, fatiguing
road.’
‘In what direction does it lie?’
I described the situation as well as I could, and was entering upon an
explanation of the various roads, lanes, and fields to be traversed in
order to reach it, the goings straight on, and turnings to the right and
the left, when she checked me with,—
‘Oh, stop! don’t tell me now: I shall forget every word of your
directions before I require them. I shall not think about going till
next spring; and then, perhaps, I may trouble you. At present we have
the winter before us, and—’
She suddenly paused, with a suppressed exclamation, started up from her
seat, and saying, ‘Excuse me one moment,’ hurried from the room, and shut
the door behind her.
Curious to see what had startled her so, I looked towards the window—for
her eyes had been carelessly fixed upon it the moment before—and just
beheld the skirts of a man’s coat vanishing behind a large holly-bush
that stood between the window and the porch.
‘It’s mamma’s friend,’ said Arthur.
Rose and I looked at each other.
‘I don’t know what to make of her at all,’ whispered Rose.
The child looked at her in grave surprise. She straightway began to talk
to him on indifferent matters, while I amused myself with looking at the
pictures. There was one in an obscure corner that I had not before
observed. It was a little child, seated on the grass with its lap full
of flowers. The tiny features and large blue eyes, smiling through a
shock of light brown curls, shaken over the forehead as it bent above its
treasure, bore sufficient resemblance to those of the young gentleman
before me to proclaim it a portrait of Arthur Graham in his early
infancy.
In taking this up to bring it to the light, I discovered another behind
it, with its face to the wall. I ventured to take that up too. It was
the portrait of a gentleman in the full prime of youthful
manhood—handsome enough, and not badly executed; but if done by the same
hand as the others, it was evidently some years before; for there was far
more careful minuteness of detail, and less of that freshness of
colouring and freedom of handling that delighted and surprised me in
them. Nevertheless, I surveyed it with considerable interest. There was
a certain individuality in the features and expression that stamped it,
at once, a successful likeness. The bright blue eyes regarded the
spectator with a kind of lurking drollery—you almost expected to see them
wink; the lips—a little too voluptuously full—seemed ready to break into
a smile; the warmly-tinted cheeks were embellished with a luxuriant
growth of reddish whiskers; while the bright chestnut hair, clustering in
abundant, wavy curls, trespassed too much upon the forehead, and seemed
to intimate that the owner thereof was prouder of his beauty than his
intellect—as, perhaps, he had reason to be; and yet he looked no fool.
I had not had the portrait in my hands two minutes before the fair artist
returned.
‘Only some one come about the pictures,’ said she, in apology for her
abrupt departure: ‘I told him to wait.’
‘I fear it will be considered an act of impertinence,’ I said ‘to presume
to look at a picture that the artist has turned to the wall; but may I
ask—’
‘It is an act of very great impertinence, sir; and therefore I beg you
will ask nothing about it, for your curiosity will not be gratified,’
replied she, attempting to cover the tartness of her rebuke with a smile;
but I could see, by her flushed cheek and kindling eye, that she was
seriously annoyed.
‘I was only going to ask if you had painted it yourself,’ said I, sulkily
resigning the picture into her hands; for without a grain of ceremony she
took it from me; and quickly restoring it to the dark corner, with its
face to the wall, placed the other against it as before, and then turned
to me and laughed.
But I was in no humour for jesting. I carelessly turned to the window,
and stood looking out upon the desolate garden, leaving her to talk to
Rose for a minute or two; and then, telling my sister it was time to go,
shook hands with the little gentleman, coolly bowed to the lady, and
moved towards the door. But, having bid adieu to Rose, Mrs. Graham
presented her hand to me, saying, with a soft voice, and by no means a
disagreeable smile,—‘Let not the sun go down upon your wrath, Mr.
Markham. I’m sorry I offended you by my abruptness.’
When a lady condescends to apologise, there is no keeping one’s anger, of
course; so we parted good friends for once; and this time I squeezed her
hand with a cordial, not a spiteful pressure.
CHAPTER VI
During the next four months I did not enter Mrs. Graham’s house, nor she
mine; but still the ladies continued to talk about her, and still our
acquaintance continued, though slowly, to advance. As for their talk, I
paid but little attention to that (when it related to the fair hermit, I
mean), and the only information I derived from it was, that one fine
frosty day she had ventured to take her little boy as far as the
vicarage, and that, unfortunately, nobody was at home but Miss Millward;
nevertheless, she had sat a long time, and, by all accounts, they had
found a good deal to say to each other, and parted with a mutual desire
to meet again. But Mary liked children, and fond mammas like those who
can duly appreciate their treasures.
But sometimes I saw her myself, not only when she came to church, but
when she was out on the hills with her son, whether taking a long,
purpose-like walk, or—on special fine days—leisurely rambling over the
moor or the bleak pasture-lands, surrounding the old hall, herself with a
book in her hand, her son gambolling about her; and, on any of these
occasions, when I caught sight of her in my solitary walks or rides, or
while following my agricultural pursuits, I generally contrived to meet
or overtake her, for I rather liked to see Mrs. Graham, and to talk to
her, and I decidedly liked to talk to her little companion, whom, when
once the ice of his shyness was fairly broken, I found to be a very
amiable, intelligent, and entertaining little fellow; and we soon became
excellent friends—how much to the gratification of his mamma I cannot
undertake to say. I suspected at first that she was desirous of throwing
cold water on this growing intimacy—to quench, as it were, the kindling
flame of our friendship—but discovering, at length, in spite of her
prejudice against me, that I was perfectly harmless, and even
well-intentioned, and that, between myself and my dog, her son derived a
great deal of pleasure from the acquaintance that he would not otherwise
have known, she ceased to object, and even welcomed my coming with a
smile.
As for Arthur, he would shout his welcome from afar, and run to meet me
fifty yards from his mother’s side. If I happened to be on horseback he
was sure to get a canter or a gallop; or, if there was one of the draught
horses within an available distance, he was treated to a steady ride upon
that, which served his turn almost as well; but his mother would always
follow and trudge beside him—not so much, I believe, to ensure his safe
conduct, as to see that I instilled no objectionable notions into his
infant mind, for she was ever on the watch, and never would allow him to
be taken out of her sight. What pleased her best of all was to see him
romping and racing with Sancho, while I walked by her side—not, I fear,
for love of my company (though I sometimes deluded myself with that
idea), so much as for the delight she took in seeing her son thus happily
engaged in the enjoyment of those active sports so invigorating to his
tender frame, yet so seldom exercised for want of playmates suited to his
years: and, perhaps, her pleasure was sweetened not a little by the fact
of my being with her instead of with him, and therefore incapable of
doing him any injury directly or indirectly, designedly or otherwise,
small thanks to her for that same.
But sometimes, I believe, she really had some little gratification in
conversing with me; and one bright February morning, during twenty
minutes’ stroll along the moor, she laid aside her usual asperity and
reserve, and fairly entered into conversation with me, discoursing with
so much eloquence and depth of thought and feeling on a subject happily
coinciding with my own ideas, and looking so beautiful withal, that I
went home enchanted; and on the way (morally) started to find myself
thinking that, after all, it would, perhaps, be better to spend one’s
days with such a woman than with Eliza Millward; and then I
(figuratively) blushed for my inconstancy.
On entering the parlour I found Eliza there with Rose, and no one else.
The surprise was not altogether so agreeable as it ought to have been.
We chatted together a long time, but I found her rather frivolous, and
even a little insipid, compared with the more mature and earnest Mrs.
Graham. Alas, for human constancy!
‘However,’ thought I, ‘I ought not to marry Eliza, since my mother so
strongly objects to it, and I ought not to delude the girl with the idea
that I intended to do so. Now, if this mood continue, I shall have less
difficulty in emancipating my affections from her soft yet unrelenting
sway; and, though Mrs. Graham might be equally objectionable, I may be
permitted, like the doctors, to cure a greater evil by a less, for I
shall not fall seriously in love with the young widow, I think, nor she
with me—that’s certain—but if I find a little pleasure in her society I
may surely be allowed to seek it; and if the star of her divinity be
bright enough to dim the lustre of Eliza’s, so much the better, but I
scarcely can think it.’
And thereafter I seldom suffered a fine day to pass without paying a
visit to Wildfell about the time my new acquaintance usually left her
hermitage; but so frequently was I baulked in my expectations of another
interview, so changeable was she in her times of coming forth and in her
places of resort, so transient were the occasional glimpses I was able to
obtain, that I felt half inclined to think she took as much pains to
avoid my company as I to seek hers; but this was too disagreeable a
supposition to be entertained a moment after it could conveniently be
dismissed.
One calm, clear afternoon, however, in March, as I was superintending the
rolling of the meadow-land, and the repairing of a hedge in the valley, I
saw Mrs. Graham down by the brook, with a sketch-book in her hand,
absorbed in the exercise of her favourite art, while Arthur was putting
on the time with constructing dams and breakwaters in the shallow, stony
stream. I was rather in want of amusement, and so rare an opportunity
was not to be neglected; so, leaving both meadow and hedge, I quickly
repaired to the spot, but not before Sancho, who, immediately upon
perceiving his young friend, scoured at full gallop the intervening
space, and pounced upon him with an impetuous mirth that precipitated the
child almost into the middle of the beck; but, happily, the stones
preserved him from any serious wetting, while their smoothness prevented
his being too much hurt to laugh at the untoward event.
Mrs. Graham was studying the distinctive characters of the different
varieties of trees in their winter nakedness, and copying, with a
spirited, though delicate touch, their various ramifications. She did
not talk much, but I stood and watched the progress of her pencil: it was
a pleasure to behold it so dexterously guided by those fair and graceful
fingers. But ere long their dexterity became impaired, they began to
hesitate, to tremble slightly, and make false strokes, and then suddenly
came to a pause, while their owner laughingly raised her face to mine,
and told me that her sketch did not profit by my superintendence.
‘Then,’ said I, ‘I’ll talk to Arthur till you’ve done.’
‘I should like to have a ride, Mr. Markham, if mamma will let me,’ said
the child.
‘What on, my boy?’
‘I think there’s a horse in that field,’ replied he, pointing to where
the strong black mare was pulling the roller.
‘No, no, Arthur; it’s too far,’ objected his mother.
But I promised to bring him safe back after a turn or two up and down the
meadow; and when she looked at his eager face she smiled and let him go.
It was the first time she had even allowed me to take him so much as half
a field’s length from her side.
[Picture: Moorland scene (with water): Haworth]
Enthroned upon his monstrous steed, and solemnly proceeding up and down
the wide, steep field, he looked the very incarnation of quiet, gleeful
satisfaction and delight. The rolling, however, was soon completed; but
when I dismounted the gallant horseman, and restored him to his mother,
she seemed rather displeased at my keeping him so long. She had shut up
her sketch-book, and been, probably, for some minutes impatiently waiting
his return.
It was now high time to go home, she said, and would have bid me
good-evening, but I was not going to leave her yet: I accompanied her
half-way up the hill. She became more sociable, and I was beginning to
be very happy; but, on coming within sight of the grim old hall, she
stood still, and turned towards me while she spoke, as if expecting I
should go no further, that the conversation would end here, and I should
now take leave and depart—as, indeed, it was time to do, for ‘the clear,
cold eve’ was fast ‘declining,’ the sun had set, and the gibbous moon was
visibly brightening in the pale grey sky; but a feeling almost of
compassion riveted me to the spot. It seemed hard to leave her to such a
lonely, comfortless home. I looked up at it. Silent and grim it
frowned before us. A faint, red light was gleaming from the lower
windows of one wing, but all the other windows were in darkness, and many
exhibited their black, cavernous gulfs, entirely destitute of glazing or
framework.
‘Do you not find it a desolate place to live in?’ said I, after a moment
of silent contemplation.
‘I do, sometimes,’ replied she. ‘On winter evenings, when Arthur is in
bed, and I am sitting there alone, hearing the bleak wind moaning round
me and howling through the ruinous old chambers, no books or occupations
can repress the dismal thoughts and apprehensions that come crowding
in—but it is folly to give way to such weakness, I know. If Rachel is
satisfied with such a life, why should not I?—Indeed, I cannot be too
thankful for such an asylum, while it is left me.’
The closing sentence was uttered in an under-tone, as if spoken rather to
herself than to me. She then bid me good-evening and withdrew.
I had not proceeded many steps on my way homewards when I perceived Mr.
Lawrence, on his pretty grey pony, coming up the rugged lane that crossed
over the hill-top. I went a little out of my way to speak to him; for we
had not met for some time.
‘Was that Mrs. Graham you were speaking to just now?’ said he, after the
first few words of greeting had passed between us.
‘Yes.’
‘Humph! I thought so.’ He looked contemplatively at his horse’s mane,
as if he had some serious cause of dissatisfaction with it, or something
else.
‘Well! what then?’
‘Oh, nothing!’ replied he. ‘Only I thought you disliked her,’ he quietly
added, curling his classic lip with a slightly sarcastic smile.
‘Suppose I did; mayn’t a man change his mind on further acquaintance?’
‘Yes, of course,’ returned he, nicely reducing an entanglement in the
pony’s redundant hoary mane. Then suddenly turning to me, and fixing his
shy, hazel eyes upon me with a steady penetrating gaze, he added, ‘Then
you have changed your mind?’
‘I can’t say that I have exactly. No; I think I hold the same opinion
respecting her as before—but slightly ameliorated.’
‘Oh!’ He looked round for something else to talk about; and glancing up
at the moon, made some remark upon the beauty of the evening, which I did
not answer, as being irrelevant to the subject.
‘Lawrence,’ said I, calmly looking him in the face, ‘are you in love with
Mrs. Graham?’
Instead of his being deeply offended at this, as I more than half
expected he would, the first start of surprise, at the audacious
question, was followed by a tittering laugh, as if he was highly amused
at the idea.
‘I in love with her!’ repeated he. ‘What makes you dream of such a
thing?’
‘From the interest you take in the progress of my acquaintance with the
lady, and the changes of my opinion concerning her, I thought you might
be jealous.’
He laughed again. ‘Jealous! no. But I thought you were going to marry
Eliza Millward.’
‘You thought wrong, then; I am not going to marry either one or the
other—that I know of—’
‘Then I think you’d better let them alone.’
‘Are you going to marry Jane Wilson?’
He coloured, and played with the mane again, but answered—‘No, I think
not.’
‘Then you had better let her alone.’
‘She won’t let me alone,’ he might have said; but he only looked silly
and said nothing for the space of half a minute, and then made another
attempt to turn the conversation; and this time I let it pass; for he had
borne enough: another word on the subject would have been like the last
atom that breaks the camel’s back.
I was too late for tea; but my mother had kindly kept the teapot and
muffin warm upon the hobs, and, though she scolded me a little, readily
admitted my excuses; and when I complained of the flavour of the
overdrawn tea, she poured the remainder into the slop-basin, and bade
Rose put some fresh into the pot, and reboil the kettle, which offices
were performed with great commotion, and certain remarkable comments.
‘Well!—if it had been me now, I should have had no tea at all—if it had
been Fergus, even, he would have to put up with such as there was, and
been told to be thankful, for it was far too good for him; but you—we
can’t do too much for you. It’s always so—if there’s anything
particularly nice at table, mamma winks and nods at me to abstain from
it, and if I don’t attend to that, she whispers, “Don’t eat so much of
that, Rose; Gilbert will like it for his supper.”—I’m nothing at all. In
the parlour, it’s “Come, Rose, put away your things, and let’s have the
room nice and tidy against they come in; and keep up a good fire; Gilbert
likes a cheerful fire.” In the kitchen—“Make that pie a large one, Rose;
I daresay the boys’ll be hungry; and don’t put so much pepper in, they’ll
not like it, I’m sure”—or, “Rose, don’t put so many spices in the
pudding, Gilbert likes it plain,”—or, “Mind you put plenty of currants in
the cake, Fergus liked plenty.” If I say, “Well, mamma, I don’t,” I’m
told I ought not to think of myself. “You know, Rose, in all household
matters, we have only two things to consider, first, what’s proper to be
done; and, secondly, what’s most agreeable to the gentlemen of the
house—anything will do for the ladies.”’
‘And very good doctrine too,’ said my mother. ‘Gilbert thinks so, I’m
sure.’
‘Very convenient doctrine, for us, at all events,’ said I; ‘but if you
would really study my pleasure, mother, you must consider your own
comfort and convenience a little more than you do—as for Rose, I have no
doubt she’ll take care of herself; and whenever she does make a sacrifice
or perform a remarkable act of devotedness, she’ll take good care to let
me know the extent of it. But for you I might sink into the grossest
condition of self-indulgence and carelessness about the wants of others,
from the mere habit of being constantly cared for myself, and having all
my wants anticipated or immediately supplied, while left in total
ignorance of what is done for me,—if Rose did not enlighten me now and
then; and I should receive all your kindness as a matter of course, and
never know how much I owe you.’
‘Ah! and you never will know, Gilbert, till you’re married. Then, when
you’ve got some trifling, self-conceited girl like Eliza Millward,
careless of everything but her own immediate pleasure and advantage, or
some misguided, obstinate woman, like Mrs. Graham, ignorant of her
principal duties, and clever only in what concerns her least to know—then
you’ll find the difference.’
‘It will do me good, mother; I was not sent into the world merely to
exercise the good capacities and good feelings of others—was I?—but to
exert my own towards them; and when I marry, I shall expect to find more
pleasure in making my wife happy and comfortable, than in being made so
by her: I would rather give than receive.’
‘Oh! that’s all nonsense, my dear. It’s mere boy’s talk that! You’ll
soon tire of petting and humouring your wife, be she ever so charming,
and then comes the trial.’
‘Well, then, we must bear one another’s burdens.’
‘Then you must fall each into your proper place. You’ll do your
business, and she, if she’s worthy of you, will do hers; but it’s your
business to please yourself, and hers to please you. I’m sure your poor,
dear father was as good a husband as ever lived, and after the first six
months or so were over, I should as soon have expected him to fly, as to
put himself out of his way to pleasure me. He always said I was a good
wife, and did my duty; and he always did his—bless him!—he was steady and
punctual, seldom found fault without a reason, always did justice to my
good dinners, and hardly ever spoiled my cookery by delay—and that’s as
much as any woman can expect of any man.’
Is it so, Halford? Is that the extent of your domestic virtues; and does
your happy wife exact no more?
CHAPTER VII
Not many days after this, on a mild sunny morning—rather soft under foot;
for the last fall of snow was only just wasted away, leaving yet a thin
ridge, here and there, lingering on the fresh green grass beneath the
hedges; but beside them already, the young primroses were peeping from
among their moist, dark foliage, and the lark above was singing of
summer, and hope, and love, and every heavenly thing—I was out on the
hill-side, enjoying these delights, and looking after the well-being of
my young lambs and their mothers, when, on glancing round me, I beheld
three persons ascending from the vale below. They were Eliza Millward,
Fergus, and Rose; so I crossed the field to meet them; and, being told
they were going to Wildfell Hall, I declared myself willing to go with
them, and offering my arm to Eliza, who readily accepted it in lieu of my
brother’s, told the latter he might go back, for I would accompany the
ladies.
‘I beg your pardon!’ exclaimed he. ‘It’s the ladies that are
accompanying me, not I them. You had all had a peep at this wonderful
stranger but me, and I could endure my wretched ignorance no longer—come
what would, I must be satisfied; so I begged Rose to go with me to the
Hall, and introduce me to her at once. She swore she would not, unless
Miss Eliza would go too; so I ran to the vicarage and fetched her; and
we’ve come hooked all the way, as fond as a pair of lovers—and now you’ve
taken her from me; and you want to deprive me of my walk and my visit
besides. Go back to your fields and your cattle, you lubberly fellow;
you’re not fit to associate with ladies and gentlemen like us, that have
nothing to do but to run snooking about to our neighbours’ houses,
peeping into their private corners, and scenting out their secrets, and
picking holes in their coats, when we don’t find them ready made to our
hands—you don’t understand such refined sources of enjoyment.’
‘Can’t you both go?’ suggested Eliza, disregarding the latter half of the
speech.
‘Yes, both, to be sure!’ cried Rose; ‘the more the merrier—and I’m sure
we shall want all the cheerfulness we can carry with us to that great,
dark, gloomy room, with its narrow latticed windows, and its dismal old
furniture—unless she shows us into her studio again.’
So we went all in a body; and the meagre old maid-servant, that opened
the door, ushered us into an apartment such as Rose had described to me
as the scene of her first introduction to Mrs. Graham, a tolerably
spacious and lofty room, but obscurely lighted by the old-fashioned
windows, the ceiling, panels, and chimney-piece of grim black oak—the
latter elaborately but not very tastefully carved,—with tables and chairs
to match, an old bookcase on one side of the fire-place, stocked with a
motley assemblage of books, and an elderly cabinet piano on the other.
The lady was seated in a stiff, high-backed arm-chair, with a small round
table, containing a desk and a work-basket on one side of her, and her
little boy on the other, who stood leaning his elbow on her knee, and
reading to her, with wonderful fluency, from a small volume that lay in
her lap; while she rested her hand on his shoulder, and abstractedly
played with the long, wavy curls that fell on his ivory neck. They
struck me as forming a pleasing contrast to all the surrounding objects;
but of course their position was immediately changed on our entrance. I
could only observe the picture during the few brief seconds that Rachel
held the door for our admittance.
I do not think Mrs. Graham was particularly delighted to see us: there
was something indescribably chilly in her quiet, calm civility; but I did
not talk much to her. Seating myself near the window, a little back from
the circle, I called Arthur to me, and he and I and Sancho amused
ourselves very pleasantly together, while the two young ladies baited his
mother with small talk, and Fergus sat opposite with his legs crossed and
his hands in his breeches-pockets, leaning back in his chair, and staring
now up at the ceiling, now straight forward at his hostess (in a manner
that made me strongly inclined to kick him out of the room), now
whistling sotto voce to himself a snatch of a favourite air, now
interrupting the conversation, or filling up a pause (as the case might
be) with some most impertinent question or remark. At one time it
was,—‘It, amazes me, Mrs. Graham, how you could choose such a
dilapidated, rickety old place as this to live in. If you couldn’t
afford to occupy the whole house, and have it mended up, why couldn’t you
take a neat little cottage?’
‘Perhaps I was too proud, Mr. Fergus,’ replied she, smiling; ‘perhaps I
took a particular fancy for this romantic, old-fashioned place—but,
indeed, it has many advantages over a cottage—in the first place, you
see, the rooms are larger and more airy; in the second place, the
unoccupied apartments, which I don’t pay for, may serve as lumber-rooms,
if I have anything to put in them; and they are very useful for my little
boy to run about in on rainy days when he can’t go out; and then there is
the garden for him to play in, and for me to work in. You see I have
effected some little improvement already,’ continued she, turning to the
window. ‘There is a bed of young vegetables in that corner, and here are
some snowdrops and primroses already in bloom—and there, too, is a yellow
crocus just opening in the sunshine.’
‘But then how can you bear such a situation—your nearest neighbours two
miles distant, and nobody looking in or passing by? Rose would go stark
mad in such a place. She can’t put on life unless she sees half a dozen
fresh gowns and bonnets a day—not to speak of the faces within; but you
might sit watching at these windows all day long, and never see so much
as an old woman carrying her eggs to market.’
‘I am not sure the loneliness of the place was not one of its chief
recommendations. I take no pleasure in watching people pass the windows;
and I like to be quiet.’
‘Oh! as good as to say you wish we would all of us mind our own business,
and let you alone.’
‘No, I dislike an extensive acquaintance; but if I have a few friends, of
course I am glad to see them occasionally. No one can be happy in
eternal solitude. Therefore, Mr. Fergus, if you choose to enter my house
as a friend, I will make you welcome; if not, I must confess, I would
rather you kept away.’ She then turned and addressed some observation to
Rose or Eliza.
‘And, Mrs. Graham,’ said he again, five minutes after, ‘we were
disputing, as we came along, a question that you can readily decide for
us, as it mainly regarded yourself—and, indeed, we often hold discussions
about you; for some of us have nothing better to do than to talk about
our neighbours’ concerns, and we, the indigenous plants of the soil, have
known each other so long, and talked each other over so often, that we
are quite sick of that game; so that a stranger coming amongst us makes
an invaluable addition to our exhausted sources of amusement. Well, the
question, or questions, you are requested to solve—’
‘Hold your tongue, Fergus!’ cried Rose, in a fever of apprehension and
wrath.
‘I won’t, I tell you. The questions you are requested to solve are
these:—First, concerning your birth, extraction, and previous residence.
Some will have it that you are a foreigner, and some an Englishwoman;
some a native of the north country, and some of the south; some say—’
‘Well, Mr. Fergus, I’ll tell you. I’m an Englishwoman—and I don’t see
why any one should doubt it—and I was born in the country, neither in the
extreme north nor south of our happy isle; and in the country I have
chiefly passed my life, and now I hope you are satisfied; for I am not
disposed to answer any more questions at present.’
‘Except this—’
‘No, not one more!’ laughed she, and, instantly quitting her seat, she
sought refuge at the window by which I was seated, and, in very
desperation, to escape my brother’s persecutions, endeavoured to draw me
into conversation.
‘Mr. Markham,’ said she, her rapid utterance and heightened colour too
plainly evincing her disquietude, ‘have you forgotten the fine sea-view
we were speaking of some time ago? I think I must trouble you, now, to
tell me the nearest way to it; for if this beautiful weather continue, I
shall, perhaps, be able to walk there, and take my sketch; I have
exhausted every other subject for painting; and I long to see it.’
I was about to comply with her request, but Rose would not suffer me to
proceed.
‘Oh, don’t tell her, Gilbert!’ cried she; ‘she shall go with us. It’s —
Bay you are thinking about, I suppose, Mrs. Graham? It is a very long
walk, too far for you, and out of the question for Arthur. But we were
thinking about making a picnic to see it some fine day; and, if you will
wait till the settled fine weather comes, I’m sure we shall all be
delighted to have you amongst us.’
Poor Mrs. Graham looked dismayed, and attempted to make excuses, but
Rose, either compassionating her lonely life, or anxious to cultivate her
acquaintance, was determined to have her; and every objection was
overruled. She was told it would only be a small party, and all friends,
and that the best view of all was from — Cliffs, full five miles distant.
‘Just a nice walk for the gentlemen,’ continued Rose; ‘but the ladies
will drive and walk by turns; for we shall have our pony-carriage, which
will be plenty large enough to contain little Arthur and three ladies,
together with your sketching apparatus, and our provisions.’
So the proposal was finally acceded to; and, after some further
discussion respecting the time and manner of the projected excursion, we
rose, and took our leave.
But this was only March: a cold, wet April, and two weeks of May passed
over before we could venture forth on our expedition with the reasonable
hope of obtaining that pleasure we sought in pleasant prospects, cheerful
society, fresh air, good cheer and exercise, without the alloy of bad
roads, cold winds, or threatening clouds. Then, on a glorious morning,
we gathered our forces and set forth. The company consisted of Mrs. and
Master Graham, Mary and Eliza Millward, Jane and Richard Wilson, and
Rose, Fergus, and Gilbert Markham.
Mr. Lawrence had been invited to join us, but, for some reason best known
to himself, had refused to give us his company. I had solicited the
favour myself. When I did so, he hesitated, and asked who were going.
Upon my naming Miss Wilson among the rest, he seemed half inclined to go,
but when I mentioned Mrs. Graham, thinking it might be a further
inducement, it appeared to have a contrary effect, and he declined it
altogether, and, to confess the truth, the decision was not displeasing
to me, though I could scarcely tell you why.
It was about midday when we reached the place of our destination. Mrs.
Graham walked all the way to the cliffs; and little Arthur walked the
greater part of it too; for he was now much more hardy and active than
when he first entered the neighbourhood, and he did not like being in the
carriage with strangers, while all his four friends, mamma, and Sancho,
and Mr. Markham, and Miss Millward, were on foot, journeying far behind,
or passing through distant fields and lanes.
I have a very pleasant recollection of that walk, along the hard, white,
sunny road, shaded here and there with bright green trees, and adorned
with flowery banks and blossoming hedges of delicious fragrance; or
through pleasant fields and lanes, all glorious in the sweet flowers and
brilliant verdure of delightful May. It was true, Eliza was not beside
me; but she was with her friends in the pony-carriage, as happy, I
trusted, as I was; and even when we pedestrians, having forsaken the
highway for a short cut across the fields, beheld the little carriage far
away, disappearing amid the green, embowering trees, I did not hate those
trees for snatching the dear little bonnet and shawl from my sight, nor
did I feel that all those intervening objects lay between my happiness
and me; for, to confess the truth, I was too happy in the company of Mrs.
Graham to regret the absence of Eliza Millward.
The former, it is true, was most provokingly unsociable at
first—seemingly bent upon talking to no one but Mary Millward and Arthur.
She and Mary journeyed along together, generally with the child between
them;—but where the road permitted, I always walked on the other side of
her, Richard Wilson taking the other side of Miss Millward, and Fergus
roving here and there according to his fancy; and, after a while, she
became more friendly, and at length I succeeded in securing her attention
almost entirely to myself—and then I was happy indeed; for whenever she
did condescend to converse, I liked to listen. Where her opinions and
sentiments tallied with mine, it was her extreme good sense, her
exquisite taste and feeling, that delighted me; where they differed, it
was still her uncompromising boldness in the avowal or defence of that
difference, her earnestness and keenness, that piqued my fancy: and even
when she angered me by her unkind words or looks, and her uncharitable
conclusions respecting me, it only made me the more dissatisfied with
myself for having so unfavourably impressed her, and the more desirous to
vindicate my character and disposition in her eyes, and, if possible, to
win her esteem.
At length our walk was ended. The increasing height and boldness of the
hills had for some time intercepted the prospect; but, on gaining the
summit of a steep acclivity, and looking downward, an opening lay before
us—and the blue sea burst upon our sight!—deep violet blue—not deadly
calm, but covered with glinting breakers—diminutive white specks
twinkling on its bosom, and scarcely to be distinguished, by the keenest
vision, from the little seamews that sported above, their white wings
glittering in the sunshine: only one or two vessels were visible, and
those were far away.
I looked at my companion to see what she thought of this glorious scene.
She said nothing: but she stood still, and fixed her eyes upon it with a
gaze that assured me she was not disappointed. She had very fine eyes,
by-the-by—I don’t know whether I have told you before, but they were full
of soul, large, clear, and nearly black—not brown, but very dark grey. A
cool, reviving breeze blew from the sea—soft, pure, salubrious: it waved
her drooping ringlets, and imparted a livelier colour to her usually too
pallid lip and cheek. She felt its exhilarating influence, and so did
I—I felt it tingling through my frame, but dared not give way to it while
she remained so quiet. There was an aspect of subdued exhilaration in
her face, that kindled into almost a smile of exalted, glad intelligence
as her eye met mine. Never had she looked so lovely: never had my heart
so warmly cleaved to her as now. Had we been left two minutes longer
standing there alone, I cannot answer for the consequences. Happily for
my discretion, perhaps for my enjoyment during the remainder of the day,
we were speedily summoned to the repast—a very respectable collation,
which Rose, assisted by Miss Wilson and Eliza, who, having shared her
seat in the carriage, had arrived with her a little before the rest, had
set out upon an elevated platform overlooking the sea, and sheltered from
the hot sun by a shelving rock and overhanging trees.
Mrs. Graham seated herself at a distance from me. Eliza was my nearest
neighbour. She exerted herself to be agreeable, in her gentle,
unobtrusive way, and was, no doubt, as fascinating and charming as ever,
if I could only have felt it. But soon my heart began to warm towards
her once again; and we were all very merry and happy together—as far as I
could see—throughout the protracted social meal.
When that was over, Rose summoned Fergus to help her to gather up the
fragments, and the knives, dishes, &c., and restore them to the baskets;
and Mrs. Graham took her camp-stool and drawing materials; and having
begged Miss Millward to take charge of her precious son, and strictly
enjoined him not to wander from his new guardian’s side, she left us and
proceeded along the steep, stony hill, to a loftier, more precipitous
eminence at some distance, whence a still finer prospect was to be had,
where she preferred taking her sketch, though some of the ladies told her
it was a frightful place, and advised her not to attempt it.
When she was gone, I felt as if there was to be no more fun—though it is
difficult to say what she had contributed to the hilarity of the party.
No jests, and little laughter, had escaped her lips; but her smile had
animated my mirth; a keen observation or a cheerful word from her had
insensibly sharpened my wits, and thrown an interest over all that was
done and said by the rest. Even my conversation with Eliza had been
enlivened by her presence, though I knew it not; and now that she was
gone, Eliza’s playful nonsense ceased to amuse me—nay, grew wearisome to
my soul, and I grew weary of amusing her: I felt myself drawn by an
irresistible attraction to that distant point where the fair artist sat
and plied her solitary task—and not long did I attempt to resist it:
while my little neighbour was exchanging a few words with Miss Wilson, I
rose and cannily slipped away. A few rapid strides, and a little active
clambering, soon brought me to the place where she was seated—a narrow
ledge of rock at the very verge of the cliff, which descended with a
steep, precipitous slant, quite down to the rocky shore.
She did not hear me coming: the falling of my shadow across her paper
gave her an electric start; and she looked hastily round—any other lady
of my acquaintance would have screamed under such a sudden alarm.
‘Oh! I didn’t know it was you.—Why did you startle me so?’ said she,
somewhat testily. ‘I hate anybody to come upon me so unexpectedly.’
‘Why, what did you take me for?’ said I: ‘if I had known you were so
nervous, I would have been more cautious; but—’
‘Well, never mind. What did you come for? are they all coming?’
‘No; this little ledge could scarcely contain them all.’
‘I’m glad, for I’m tired of talking.’
‘Well, then, I won’t talk. I’ll only sit and watch your drawing.’
‘Oh, but you know I don’t like that.’
‘Then I’ll content myself with admiring this magnificent prospect.’
She made no objection to this; and, for some time, sketched away in
silence. But I could not help stealing a glance, now and then, from the
splendid view at our feet to the elegant white hand that held the pencil,
and the graceful neck and glossy raven curls that drooped over the paper.
‘Now,’ thought I, ‘if I had but a pencil and a morsel of paper, I could
make a lovelier sketch than hers, admitting I had the power to delineate
faithfully what is before me.’
But, though this satisfaction was denied me, I was very well content to
sit beside her there, and say nothing.
‘Are you there still, Mr. Markham?’ said she at length, looking round
upon me—for I was seated a little behind on a mossy projection of the
cliff.—‘Why don’t you go and amuse yourself with your friends?’
‘Because I am tired of them, like you; and I shall have enough of them
to-morrow—or at any time hence; but you I may not have the pleasure of
seeing again for I know not how long.’
‘What was Arthur doing when you came away?’
‘He was with Miss Millward, where you left him—all right, but hoping
mamma would not be long away. You didn’t intrust him to me, by-the-by,’
I grumbled, ‘though I had the honour of a much longer acquaintance; but
Miss Millward has the art of conciliating and amusing children,’ I
carelessly added, ‘if she is good for nothing else.’
‘Miss Millward has many estimable qualities, which such as you cannot be
expected to perceive or appreciate. Will you tell Arthur that I shall
come in a few minutes?’
‘If that be the case, I will wait, with your permission, till those few
minutes are past; and then I can assist you to descend this difficult
path.’
‘Thank you—I always manage best, on such occasions, without assistance.’
‘But, at least, I can carry your stool and sketch-book.’
She did not deny me this favour; but I was rather offended at her evident
desire to be rid of me, and was beginning to repent of my pertinacity,
when she somewhat appeased me by consulting my taste and judgment about
some doubtful matter in her drawing. My opinion, happily, met her
approbation, and the improvement I suggested was adopted without
hesitation.
‘I have often wished in vain,’ said she, ‘for another’s judgment to
appeal to when I could scarcely trust the direction of my own eye and
head, they having been so long occupied with the contemplation of a
single object as to become almost incapable of forming a proper idea
respecting it.’
‘That,’ replied I, ‘is only one of many evils to which a solitary life
exposes us.’
‘True,’ said she; and again we relapsed into silence.
About two minutes after, however, she declared her sketch completed, and
closed the book.
On returning to the scene of our repast we found all the company had
deserted it, with the exception of three—Mary Millward, Richard Wilson,
and Arthur Graham. The younger gentleman lay fast asleep with his head
pillowed on the lady’s lap; the other was seated beside her with a pocket
edition of some classic author in his hand. He never went anywhere
without such a companion wherewith to improve his leisure moments: all
time seemed lost that was not devoted to study, or exacted, by his
physical nature, for the bare support of life. Even now he could not
abandon himself to the enjoyment of that pure air and balmy sunshine—that
splendid prospect, and those soothing sounds, the music of the waves and
of the soft wind in the sheltering trees above him—not even with a lady
by his side (though not a very charming one, I will allow)—he must pull
out his book, and make the most of his time while digesting his temperate
meal, and reposing his weary limbs, unused to so much exercise.
Perhaps, however, he spared a moment to exchange a word or a glance with
his companion now and then—at any rate, she did not appear at all
resentful of his conduct; for her homely features wore an expression of
unusual cheerfulness and serenity, and she was studying his pale,
thoughtful face with great complacency when we arrived.
The journey homeward was by no means so agreeable to me as the former
part of the day: for now Mrs. Graham was in the carriage, and Eliza
Millward was the companion of my walk. She had observed my preference
for the young widow, and evidently felt herself neglected. She did not
manifest her chagrin by keen reproaches, bitter sarcasms, or pouting
sullen silence—any or all of these I could easily have endured, or
lightly laughed away; but she showed it by a kind of gentle melancholy, a
mild, reproachful sadness that cut me to the heart. I tried to cheer her
up, and apparently succeeded in some degree, before the walk was over;
but in the very act my conscience reproved me, knowing, as I did, that,
sooner or later, the tie must be broken, and this was only nourishing
false hopes and putting off the evil day.
When the pony-carriage had approached as near Wildfell Hall as the road
would permit—unless, indeed, it proceeded up the long rough lane, which
Mrs. Graham would not allow—the young widow and her son alighted,
relinquishing the driver’s seat to Rose; and I persuaded Eliza to take
the latter’s place. Having put her comfortably in, bid her take care of
the evening air, and wished her a kind good-night, I felt considerably
relieved, and hastened to offer my services to Mrs. Graham to carry her
apparatus up the fields, but she had already hung her camp-stool on her
arm and taken her sketch-book in her hand, and insisted upon bidding me
adieu then and there, with the rest of the company. But this time she
declined my proffered aid in so kind and friendly a manner that I almost
forgave her.
CHAPTER VIII
Six weeks had passed away. It was a splendid morning about the close of
June. Most of the hay was cut, but the last week had been very
unfavourable; and now that fine weather was come at last, being
determined to make the most of it, I had gathered all hands together into
the hay-field, and was working away myself, in the midst of them, in my
shirt-sleeves, with a light, shady straw hat on my head, catching up
armfuls of moist, reeking grass, and shaking it out to the four winds of
heaven, at the head of a goodly file of servants and hirelings—intending
so to labour, from morning till night, with as much zeal and assiduity as
I could look for from any of them, as well to prosper the work by my own
exertion as to animate the workers by my example—when lo! my resolutions
were overthrown in a moment, by the simple fact of my brother’s running
up to me and putting into my hand a small parcel, just arrived from
London, which I had been for some time expecting. I tore off the cover,
and disclosed an elegant and portable edition of ‘Marmion.’
‘I guess I know who that’s for,’ said Fergus, who stood looking on while
I complacently examined the volume. ‘That’s for Miss Eliza, now.’
He pronounced this with a tone and look so prodigiously knowing, that I
was glad to contradict him.
‘You’re wrong, my lad,’ said I; and, taking up my coat, I deposited the
book in one of its pockets, and then put it on (_i.e._ the coat). ‘Now
come here, you idle dog, and make yourself useful for once,’ I continued.
‘Pull off your coat, and take my place in the field till I come back.’
‘Till you come back?—and where are you going, pray? ‘No matter where—the
when is all that concerns you;—and I shall be back by dinner, at least.’
‘Oh—oh! and I’m to labour away till then, am I?—and to keep all these
fellows hard at it besides? Well, well! I’ll submit—for once in a
way.—Come, my lads, you must look sharp: I’m come to help you now:—and
woe be to that man, or woman either, that pauses for a moment amongst
you—whether to stare about him, to scratch his head, or blow his nose—no
pretext will serve—nothing but work, work, work in the sweat of your
face,’ &c., &c.
Leaving him thus haranguing the people, more to their amusement than
edification, I returned to the house, and, having made some alteration in
my toilet, hastened away to Wildfell Hall, with the book in my pocket;
for it was destined for the shelves of Mrs. Graham.
‘What! then had she and you got on so well together as to come to the
giving and receiving of presents?’—Not precisely, old buck; this was my
first experiment in that line; and I was very anxious to see the result
of it.
We had met several times since the — Bay excursion, and I had found she
was not averse to my company, provided I confined my conversation to the
discussion of abstract matters, or topics of common interest;—the moment
I touched upon the sentimental or the complimentary, or made the
slightest approach to tenderness in word or look, I was not only punished
by an immediate change in her manner at the time, but doomed to find her
more cold and distant, if not entirely inaccessible, when next I sought
her company. This circumstance did not greatly disconcert me, however,
because I attributed it, not so much to any dislike of my person, as to
some absolute resolution against a second marriage formed prior to the
time of our acquaintance, whether from excess of affection for her late
husband, or because she had had enough of him and the matrimonial state
together. At first, indeed, she had seemed to take a pleasure in
mortifying my vanity and crushing my presumption—relentlessly nipping off
bud by bud as they ventured to appear; and then, I confess, I was deeply
wounded, though, at the same time, stimulated to seek revenge;—but
latterly finding, beyond a doubt, that I was not that empty-headed
coxcomb she had first supposed me, she had repulsed my modest advances in
quite a different spirit. It was a kind of serious, almost sorrowful
displeasure, which I soon learnt carefully to avoid awakening.
‘Let me first establish my position as a friend,’ thought I—‘the patron
and playfellow of her son, the sober, solid, plain-dealing friend of
herself, and then, when I have made myself fairly necessary to her
comfort and enjoyment in life (as I believe I can), we’ll see what next
may be effected.’
So we talked about painting, poetry, and music, theology, geology, and
philosophy: once or twice I lent her a book, and once she lent me one in
return: I met her in her walks as often as I could; I came to her house
as often as I dared. My first pretext for invading the sanctum was to
bring Arthur a little waddling puppy of which Sancho was the father, and
which delighted the child beyond expression, and, consequently, could not
fail to please his mamma. My second was to bring him a book, which,
knowing his mother’s particularity, I had carefully selected, and which I
submitted for her approbation before presenting it to him. Then, I
brought her some plants for her garden, in my sister’s name—having
previously persuaded Rose to send them. Each of these times I inquired
after the picture she was painting from the sketch taken on the cliff,
and was admitted into the studio, and asked my opinion or advice
respecting its progress.
My last visit had been to return the book she had lent me; and then it
was that, in casually discussing the poetry of Sir Walter Scott, she had
expressed a wish to see ‘Marmion,’ and I had conceived the presumptuous
idea of making her a present of it, and, on my return home, instantly
sent for the smart little volume I had this morning received. But an
apology for invading the hermitage was still necessary; so I had
furnished myself with a blue morocco collar for Arthur’s little dog; and
that being given and received, with much more joy and gratitude, on the
part of the receiver, than the worth of the gift or the selfish motive of
the giver deserved, I ventured to ask Mrs. Graham for one more look at
the picture, if it was still there.
‘Oh, yes! come in,’ said she (for I had met them in the garden). ‘It is
finished and framed, all ready for sending away; but give me your last
opinion, and if you can suggest any further improvement, it shall be—duly
considered, at least.’
The picture was strikingly beautiful; it was the very scene itself,
transferred as if by magic to the canvas; but I expressed my approbation
in guarded terms, and few words, for fear of displeasing her. She,
however, attentively watched my looks, and her artist’s pride was
gratified, no doubt, to read my heartfelt admiration in my eyes. But,
while I gazed, I thought upon the book, and wondered how it was to be
presented. My heart failed me; but I determined not to be such a fool as
to come away without having made the attempt. It was useless waiting for
an opportunity, and useless trying to concoct a speech for the occasion.
The more plainly and naturally the thing was done, the better, I thought;
so I just looked out of the window to screw up my courage, and then
pulled out the book, turned round, and put it into her hand, with this
short explanation:
‘You were wishing to see ‘Marmion,’ Mrs. Graham; and here it is, if you
will be so kind as to take it.’
A momentary blush suffused her face—perhaps, a blush of sympathetic shame
for such an awkward style of presentation: she gravely examined the
volume on both sides; then silently turned over the leaves, knitting her
brows the while, in serious cogitation; then closed the book, and turning
from it to me, quietly asked the price of it—I felt the hot blood rush to
my face.
‘I’m sorry to offend you, Mr. Markham,’ said she, ‘but unless I pay for
the book, I cannot take it.’ And she laid it on the table.
‘Why cannot you?’
‘Because,’—she paused, and looked at the carpet.
‘Why cannot you?’ I repeated, with a degree of irascibility that roused
her to lift her eyes and look me steadily in the face.
‘Because I don’t like to put myself under obligations that I can never
repay—I am obliged to you already for your kindness to my son; but his
grateful affection and your own good feelings must reward you for that.’
‘Nonsense!’ ejaculated I.
She turned her eyes on me again, with a look of quiet, grave surprise,
that had the effect of a rebuke, whether intended for such or not.
‘Then you won’t take the book?’ I asked, more mildly than I had yet
spoken.
‘I will gladly take it, if you will let me pay for it.’ I told her the
exact price, and the cost of the carriage besides, in as calm a tone as I
could command—for, in fact, I was ready to weep with disappointment and
vexation.
She produced her purse, and coolly counted out the money, but hesitated
to put it into my hand. Attentively regarding me, in a tone of soothing
softness, she observed,—‘You think yourself insulted, Mr Markham—I wish I
could make you understand that—that I—’
‘I do understand you, perfectly,’ I said. ‘You think that if you were to
accept that trifle from me now, I should presume upon it hereafter; but
you are mistaken:—if you will only oblige me by taking it, believe me, I
shall build no hopes upon it, and consider this no precedent for future
favours:—and it is nonsense to talk about putting yourself under
obligations to me when you must know that in such a case the obligation
is entirely on my side,—the favour on yours.’
‘Well, then, I’ll take you at your word,’ she answered, with a most
angelic smile, returning the odious money to her purse—‘but remember!’
‘I will remember—what I have said;—but do not you punish my presumption
by withdrawing your friendship entirely from me,—or expect me to atone
for it by being more distant than before,’ said I, extending my hand to
take leave, for I was too much excited to remain.
‘Well, then! let us be as we were,’ replied she, frankly placing her hand
in mine; and while I held it there, I had much difficulty to refrain from
pressing it to my lips;—but that would be suicidal madness: I had been
bold enough already, and this premature offering had well-nigh given the
death-blow to my hopes.
It was with an agitated, burning heart and brain that I hurried
homewards, regardless of that scorching noonday sun—forgetful of
everything but her I had just left—regretting nothing but her
impenetrability, and my own precipitancy and want of tact—fearing nothing
but her hateful resolution, and my inability to overcome it—hoping
nothing—but halt,—I will not bore you with my conflicting hopes and
fears—my serious cogitations and resolves.
CHAPTER IX
Though my affections might now be said to be fairly weaned from Eliza
Millward, I did not yet entirely relinquish my visits to the vicarage,
because I wanted, as it were, to let her down easy; without raising much
sorrow, or incurring much resentment,—or making myself the talk of the
parish; and besides, if I had wholly kept away, the vicar, who looked
upon my visits as paid chiefly, if not entirely, to himself, would have
felt himself decidedly affronted by the neglect. But when I called there
the day after my interview with Mrs. Graham, he happened to be from
home—a circumstance by no means so agreeable to me now as it had been on
former occasions. Miss Millward was there, it is true, but she, of
course, would be little better than a nonentity. However, I resolved to
make my visit a short one, and to talk to Eliza in a brotherly, friendly
sort of way, such as our long acquaintance might warrant me in assuming,
and which, I thought, could neither give offence nor serve to encourage
false hopes.
It was never my custom to talk about Mrs. Graham either to her or any one
else; but I had not been seated three minutes before she brought that
lady on to the carpet herself in a rather remarkable manner.
‘Oh, Mr. Markham!’ said she, with a shocked expression and voice subdued
almost to a whisper, ‘what do you think of these shocking reports about
Mrs. Graham?—can you encourage us to disbelieve them?’
‘What reports?’
‘Ah, now! you know!’ she slily smiled and shook her head.
‘I know nothing about them. What in the world do you mean, Eliza?’
‘Oh, don’t ask me! _I_ can’t explain it.’ She took up the cambric
handkerchief which she had been beautifying with a deep lace border, and
began to be very busy.
‘What is it, Miss Millward? what does she mean?’ said I, appealing to her
sister, who seemed to be absorbed in the hemming of a large, coarse
sheet.
‘I don’t know,’ replied she. ‘Some idle slander somebody has been
inventing, I suppose. I never heard it till Eliza told me the other
day,—but if all the parish dinned it in my ears, I shouldn’t believe a
word of it—I know Mrs. Graham too well!’
‘Quite right, Miss Millward!—and so do I—whatever it may be.’
‘Well,’ observed Eliza, with a gentle sigh, ‘it’s well to have such a
comfortable assurance regarding the worth of those we love. I only wish
you may not find your confidence misplaced.’
And she raised her face, and gave me such a look of sorrowful tenderness
as might have melted my heart, but within those eyes there lurked a
something that I did not like; and I wondered how I ever could have
admired them—her sister’s honest face and small grey optics appeared far
more agreeable. But I was out of temper with Eliza at that moment for
her insinuations against Mrs. Graham, which were false, I was certain,
whether she knew it or not.
I said nothing more on the subject, however, at the time, and but little
on any other; for, finding I could not well recover my equanimity, I
presently rose and took leave, excusing myself under the plea of business
at the farm; and to the farm I went, not troubling my mind one whit about
the possible truth of these mysterious reports, but only wondering what
they were, by whom originated, and on what foundations raised, and how
they could the most effectually be silenced or disproved.
A few days after this we had another of our quiet little parties, to
which the usual company of friends and neighbours had been invited, and
Mrs. Graham among the number. She could not now absent herself under the
plea of dark evenings or inclement weather, and, greatly to my relief,
she came. Without her I should have found the whole affair an
intolerable bore; but the moment of her arrival brought new life to the
house, and though I might not neglect the other guests for her, or expect
to engross much of her attention and conversation to myself alone, I
anticipated an evening of no common enjoyment.
Mr. Lawrence came too. He did not arrive till some time after the rest
were assembled. I was curious to see how he would comport himself to
Mrs. Graham. A slight bow was all that passed between them on his
entrance; and having politely greeted the other members of the company,
he seated himself quite aloof from the young widow, between my mother and
Rose.
‘Did you ever see such art?’ whispered Eliza, who was my nearest
neighbour. ‘Would you not say they were perfect strangers?’
‘Almost; but what then?’
‘What then; why, you can’t pretend to be ignorant?’
‘Ignorant of what?’ demanded I, so sharply that she started and replied,—
‘Oh, hush! don’t speak so loud.’
‘Well, tell me then,’ I answered in a lower tone, ‘what is it you mean?
I hate enigmas.’
‘Well, you know, I don’t vouch for the truth of it—indeed, far from
it—but haven’t you heard—?’
‘I’ve heard nothing, except from you.’
‘You must be wilfully deaf then, for anyone will tell you that; but I
shall only anger you by repeating it, I see, so I had better hold my
tongue.’
She closed her lips and folded her hands before her, with an air of
injured meekness.
‘If you had wished not to anger me, you should have held your tongue from
the beginning, or else spoken out plainly and honestly all you had to
say.’
She turned aside her face, pulled out her handkerchief, rose, and went to
the window, where she stood for some time, evidently dissolved in tears.
I was astounded, provoked, ashamed—not so much of my harshness as for her
childish weakness. However, no one seemed to notice her, and shortly
after we were summoned to the tea-table: in those parts it was customary
to sit to the table at tea-time on all occasions, and make a meal of it,
for we dined early. On taking my seat, I had Rose on one side of me and
an empty chair on the other.
‘May I sit by you?’ said a soft voice at my elbow.
‘If you like,’ was the reply; and Eliza slipped into the vacant chair;
then, looking up in my face with a half-sad, half-playful smile, she
whispered,—‘You’re so stern, Gilbert.’
I handed down her tea with a slightly contemptuous smile, and said
nothing, for I had nothing to say.
‘What have I done to offend you?’ said she, more plaintively. ‘I wish I
knew.’
‘Come, take your tea, Eliza, and don’t be foolish,’ responded I, handing
her the sugar and cream.
Just then there arose a slight commotion on the other side of me,
occasioned by Miss Wilson’s coming to negotiate an exchange of seats with
Rose.
‘Will you be so good as to exchange places with me, Miss Markham?’ said
she; ‘for I don’t like to sit by Mrs. Graham. If your mamma thinks
proper to invite such persons to her house, she cannot object to her
daughter’s keeping company with them.’
This latter clause was added in a sort of soliloquy when Rose was gone;
but I was not polite enough to let it pass.
‘Will you be so good as to tell me what you mean, Miss Wilson?’ said I.
The question startled her a little, but not much.
‘Why, Mr. Markham,’ replied she, coolly, having quickly recovered her
self-possession, ‘it surprises me rather that Mrs. Markham should invite
such a person as Mrs. Graham to her house; but, perhaps, she is not aware
that the lady’s character is considered scarcely respectable.’
‘She is not, nor am I; and therefore you would oblige me by explaining
your meaning a little further.’
‘This is scarcely the time or the place for such explanations; but I
think you can hardly be so ignorant as you pretend—you must know her as
well as I do.’
‘I think I do, perhaps a little better; and therefore, if you will inform
me what you have heard or imagined against her, I shall, perhaps, be able
to set you right.’
‘Can you tell me, then, who was her husband, or if she ever had any?’
Indignation kept me silent. At such a time and place I could not trust
myself to answer.
‘Have you never observed,’ said Eliza, ‘what a striking likeness there is
between that child of hers and—’
‘And whom?’ demanded Miss Wilson, with an air of cold, but keen severity.
Eliza was startled; the timidly spoken suggestion had been intended for
my ear alone.
‘Oh, I beg your pardon!’ pleaded she; ‘I may be mistaken—perhaps I was
mistaken.’ But she accompanied the words with a sly glance of derision
directed to me from the corner of her disingenuous eye.
‘There’s no need to ask my pardon,’ replied her friend, ‘but I see no one
here that at all resembles that child, except his mother, and when you
hear ill-natured reports, Miss Eliza, I will thank you, that is, I think
you will do well, to refrain from repeating them. I presume the person
you allude to is Mr. Lawrence; but I think I can assure you that your
suspicions, in that respect, are utterly misplaced; and if he has any
particular connection with the lady at all (which no one has a right to
assert), at least he has (what cannot be said of some others) sufficient
sense of propriety to withhold him from acknowledging anything more than
a bowing acquaintance in the presence of respectable persons; he was
evidently both surprised and annoyed to find her here.’
‘Go it!’ cried Fergus, who sat on the other side of Eliza, and was the
only individual who shared that side of the table with us. ‘Go it like
bricks! mind you don’t leave her one stone upon another.’
Miss Wilson drew herself up with a look of freezing scorn, but said
nothing. Eliza would have replied, but I interrupted her by saying as
calmly as I could, though in a tone which betrayed, no doubt, some little
of what I felt within,—‘We have had enough of this subject; if we can
only speak to slander our betters, let us hold our tongues.’
‘I think you’d better,’ observed Fergus, ‘and so does our good parson; he
has been addressing the company in his richest vein all the while, and
eyeing you, from time to time, with looks of stern distaste, while you
sat there, irreverently whispering and muttering together; and once he
paused in the middle of a story or a sermon, I don’t know which, and
fixed his eyes upon you, Gilbert, as much as to say, “When Mr. Markham
has done flirting with those two ladies I will proceed.”’
What more was said at the tea-table I cannot tell, nor how I found
patience to sit till the meal was over. I remember, however, that I
swallowed with difficulty the remainder of the tea that was in my cup,
and ate nothing; and that the first thing I did was to stare at Arthur
Graham, who sat beside his mother on the opposite side of the table, and
the second to stare at Mr. Lawrence, who sat below; and, first, it struck
me that there was a likeness; but, on further contemplation, I concluded
it was only in imagination.
Both, it is true, had more delicate features and smaller bones than
commonly fall to the lot of individuals of the rougher sex, and
Lawrence’s complexion was pale and clear, and Arthur’s delicately fair;
but Arthur’s tiny, somewhat snubby nose could never become so long and
straight as Mr. Lawrence’s; and the outline of his face, though not full
enough to be round, and too finely converging to the small, dimpled chin
to be square, could never be drawn out to the long oval of the other’s,
while the child’s hair was evidently of a lighter, warmer tint than the
elder gentleman’s had ever been, and his large, clear blue eyes, though
prematurely serious at times, were utterly dissimilar to the shy hazel
eyes of Mr. Lawrence, whence the sensitive soul looked so distrustfully
forth, as ever ready to retire within, from the offences of a too rude,
too uncongenial world. Wretch that I was to harbour that detestable idea
for a moment! Did I not know Mrs. Graham? Had I not seen her, conversed
with her time after time? Was I not certain that she, in intellect, in
purity and elevation of soul, was immeasurably superior to any of her
detractors; that she was, in fact, the noblest, the most adorable, of her
sex I had ever beheld, or even imagined to exist? Yes, and I would say
with Mary Millward (sensible girl as she was), that if all the parish,
ay, or all the world, should din these horrible lies in my ears, I would
not believe them, for I knew her better than they.
Meantime, my brain was on fire with indignation, and my heart seemed
ready to burst from its prison with conflicting passions. I regarded my
two fair neighbours with a feeling of abhorrence and loathing I scarcely
endeavoured to conceal. I was rallied from several quarters for my
abstraction and ungallant neglect of the ladies; but I cared little for
that: all I cared about, besides that one grand subject of my thoughts,
was to see the cups travel up to the tea-tray, and not come down again.
I thought Mr. Millward never would cease telling us that he was no
tea-drinker, and that it was highly injurious to keep loading the stomach
with slops to the exclusion of more wholesome sustenance, and so give
himself time to finish his fourth cup.
At length it was over; and I rose and left the table and the guests
without a word of apology—I could endure their company no longer. I
rushed out to cool my brain in the balmy evening air, and to compose my
mind or indulge my passionate thoughts in the solitude of the garden.
To avoid being seen from the windows I went down a quiet little avenue
that skirted one side of the inclosure, at the bottom of which was a seat
embowered in roses and honeysuckles. Here I sat down to think over the
virtues and wrongs of the lady of Wildfell Hall; but I had not been so
occupied two minutes, before voices and laughter, and glimpses of moving
objects through the trees, informed me that the whole company had turned
out to take an airing in the garden too. However, I nestled up in a
corner of the bower, and hoped to retain possession of it, secure alike
from observation and intrusion. But no—confound it—there was some one
coming down the avenue! Why couldn’t they enjoy the flowers and sunshine
of the open garden, and leave that sunless nook to me, and the gnats and
midges?
But, peeping through my fragrant screen of the interwoven branches to
discover who the intruders were (for a murmur of voices told me it was
more than one), my vexation instantly subsided, and far other feelings
agitated my still unquiet soul; for there was Mrs. Graham, slowly moving
down the walk with Arthur by her side, and no one else. Why were they
alone? Had the poison of detracting tongues already spread through all;
and had they all turned their backs upon her? I now recollected having
seen Mrs. Wilson, in the early part of the evening, edging her chair
close up to my mother, and bending forward, evidently in the delivery of
some important confidential intelligence; and from the incessant wagging
of her head, the frequent distortions of her wrinkled physiognomy, and
the winking and malicious twinkle of her little ugly eyes, I judged it
was some spicy piece of scandal that engaged her powers; and from the
cautious privacy of the communication I supposed some person then present
was the luckless object of her calumnies: and from all these tokens,
together with my mother’s looks and gestures of mingled horror and
incredulity, I now concluded that object to have been Mrs. Graham. I did
not emerge from my place of concealment till she had nearly reached the
bottom of the walk, lest my appearance should drive her away; and when I
did step forward she stood still and seemed inclined to turn back as it
was.
‘Oh, don’t let us disturb you, Mr. Markham!’ said she. ‘We came here to
seek retirement ourselves, not to intrude on your seclusion.’
‘I am no hermit, Mrs. Graham—though I own it looks rather like it to
absent myself in this uncourteous fashion from my guests.’
‘I feared you were unwell,’ said she, with a look of real concern.
‘I was rather, but it’s over now. Do sit here a little and rest, and
tell me how you like this arbour,’ said I, and, lifting Arthur by the
shoulders, I planted him in the middle of the seat by way of securing his
mamma, who, acknowledging it to be a tempting place of refuge, threw
herself back in one corner, while I took possession of the other.
But that word refuge disturbed me. Had their unkindness then really
driven her to seek for peace in solitude?
‘Why have they left you alone?’ I asked.
‘It is I who have left them,’ was the smiling rejoinder. ‘I was wearied
to death with small talk—nothing wears me out like that. I cannot
imagine how they can go on as they do.’
I could not help smiling at the serious depth of her wonderment.
‘Is it that they think it a duty to be continually talking,’ pursued she:
‘and so never pause to think, but fill up with aimless trifles and vain
repetitions when subjects of real interest fail to present themselves, or
do they really take a pleasure in such discourse?’
‘Very likely they do,’ said I; ‘their shallow minds can hold no great
ideas, and their light heads are carried away by trivialities that would
not move a better-furnished skull; and their only alternative to such
discourse is to plunge over head and ears into the slough of
scandal—which is their chief delight.’
‘Not all of them, surely?’ cried the lady, astonished at the bitterness
of my remark.
‘No, certainly; I exonerate my sister from such degraded tastes, and my
mother too, if you included her in your animadversions.’
‘I meant no animadversions against any one, and certainly intended no
disrespectful allusions to your mother. I have known some sensible
persons great adepts in that style of conversation when circumstances
impelled them to it; but it is a gift I cannot boast the possession of.
I kept up my attention on this occasion as long as I could, but when my
powers were exhausted I stole away to seek a few minutes’ repose in this
quiet walk. I hate talking where there is no exchange of ideas or
sentiments, and no good given or received.’
‘Well,’ said I, ‘if ever I trouble you with my loquacity, tell me so at
once, and I promise not to be offended; for I possess the faculty of
enjoying the company of those I—of my friends as well in silence as in
conversation.’
‘I don’t quite believe you; but if it were so you would exactly suit me
for a companion.’
‘I am all you wish, then, in other respects?’
‘No, I don’t mean that. How beautiful those little clusters of foliage
look, where the sun comes through behind them!’ said she, on purpose to
change the subject.
And they did look beautiful, where at intervals the level rays of the sun
penetrating the thickness of trees and shrubs on the opposite side of the
path before us, relieved their dusky verdure by displaying patches of
semi-transparent leaves of resplendent golden green.
‘I almost wish I were not a painter,’ observed my companion.
‘Why so? one would think at such a time you would most exult in your
privilege of being able to imitate the various brilliant and delightful
touches of nature.’
‘No; for instead of delivering myself up to the full enjoyment of them as
others do, I am always troubling my head about how I could produce the
same effect upon canvas; and as that can never be done, it is mere vanity
and vexation of spirit.’
‘Perhaps you cannot do it to satisfy yourself, but you may and do succeed
in delighting others with the result of your endeavours.’
‘Well, after all, I should not complain: perhaps few people gain their
livelihood with so much pleasure in their toil as I do. Here is some one
coming.’
She seemed vexed at the interruption.
‘It is only Mr. Lawrence and Miss Wilson,’ said I, ‘coming to enjoy a
quiet stroll. They will not disturb us.’
I could not quite decipher the expression of her face; but I was
satisfied there was no jealousy therein. What business had I to look for
it?
‘What sort of a person is Miss Wilson?’ she asked.
‘She is elegant and accomplished above the generality of her birth and
station; and some say she is ladylike and agreeable.’
‘I thought her somewhat frigid and rather supercilious in her manner
to-day.’
‘Very likely she might be so to you. She has possibly taken a prejudice
against you, for I think she regards you in the light of a rival.’
‘Me! Impossible, Mr. Markham!’ said she, evidently astonished and
annoyed.
‘Well, I know nothing about it,’ returned I, rather doggedly; for I
thought her annoyance was chiefly against myself.
The pair had now approached within a few paces of us. Our arbour was set
snugly back in a corner, before which the avenue at its termination
turned off into the more airy walk along the bottom of the garden. As
they approached this, I saw, by the aspect of Jane Wilson, that she was
directing her companion’s attention to us; and, as well by her cold,
sarcastic smile as by the few isolated words of her discourse that
reached me, I knew full well that she was impressing him with the idea,
that we were strongly attached to each other. I noticed that he coloured
up to the temples, gave us one furtive glance in passing, and walked on,
looking grave, but seemingly offering no reply to her remarks.
It was true, then, that he had some designs upon Mrs. Graham; and, were
they honourable, he would not be so anxious to conceal them. She was
blameless, of course, but he was detestable beyond all count.
While these thoughts flashed through my mind, my companion abruptly rose,
and calling her son, said they would now go in quest of the company, and
departed up the avenue. Doubtless she had heard or guessed something of
Miss Wilson’s remarks, and therefore it was natural enough she should
choose to continue the _tête-à-tête_ no longer, especially as at that
moment my cheeks were burning with indignation against my former friend,
the token of which she might mistake for a blush of stupid embarrassment.
For this I owed Miss Wilson yet another grudge; and still the more I
thought upon her conduct the more I hated her.
It was late in the evening before I joined the company. I found Mrs.
Graham already equipped for departure, and taking leave of the rest, who
were now returned to the house. I offered, nay, begged to accompany her
home. Mr. Lawrence was standing by at the time conversing with some one
else. He did not look at us, but, on hearing my earnest request, he
paused in the middle of a sentence to listen for her reply, and went on,
with a look of quiet satisfaction, the moment he found it was to be a
denial.
A denial it was, decided, though not unkind. She could not be persuaded
to think there was danger for herself or her child in traversing those
lonely lanes and fields without attendance. It was daylight still, and
she should meet no one; or if she did, the people were quiet and harmless
she was well assured. In fact, she would not hear of any one’s putting
himself out of the way to accompany her, though Fergus vouchsafed to
offer his services in case they should be more acceptable than mine, and
my mother begged she might send one of the farming-men to escort her.
When she was gone the rest was all a blank or worse. Lawrence attempted
to draw me into conversation, but I snubbed him and went to another part
of the room. Shortly after the party broke up and he himself took leave.
When he came to me I was blind to his extended hand, and deaf to his
good-night till he repeated it a second time; and then, to get rid of
him, I muttered an inarticulate reply, accompanied by a sulky nod.
‘What is the matter, Markham?’ whispered he.
I replied by a wrathful and contemptuous stare.
‘Are you angry because Mrs. Graham would not let you go home with her?’
he asked, with a faint smile that nearly exasperated me beyond control.
But, swallowing down all fiercer answers, I merely demanded,—‘What
business is it of yours?’
‘Why, none,’ replied he with provoking quietness; ‘only,’—and he raised
his eyes to my face, and spoke with unusual solemnity,—‘only let me tell
you, Markham, that if you have any designs in that quarter, they will
certainly fail; and it grieves me to see you cherishing false hopes, and
wasting your strength in useless efforts, for—’
‘Hypocrite!’ I exclaimed; and he held his breath, and looked very blank,
turned white about the gills, and went away without another word.
I had wounded him to the quick; and I was glad of it.
CHAPTER X
When all were gone, I learnt that the vile slander had indeed been
circulated throughout the company, in the very presence of the victim.
Rose, however, vowed she did not and would not believe it, and my mother
made the same declaration, though not, I fear, with the same amount of
real, unwavering incredulity. It seemed to dwell continually on her
mind, and she kept irritating me from time to time by such expressions
as—‘Dear, dear, who would have thought it!—Well! I always thought there
was something odd about her.—You see what it is for women to affect to be
different to other people.’ And once it was,—‘I misdoubted that
appearance of mystery from the very first—I thought there would no good
come of it; but this is a sad, sad business, to be sure!’
‘Why, mother, you said you didn’t believe these tales,’ said Fergus.
‘No more I do, my dear; but then, you know, there must be some
foundation.’
‘The foundation is in the wickedness and falsehood of the world,’ said I,
‘and in the fact that Mr. Lawrence has been seen to go that way once or
twice of an evening—and the village gossips say he goes to pay his
addresses to the strange lady, and the scandal-mongers have greedily
seized the rumour, to make it the basis of their own infernal structure.’
‘Well, but, Gilbert, there must be something in her manner to countenance
such reports.’
‘Did you see anything in her manner?’
‘No, certainly; but then, you know, I always said there was something
strange about her.’
I believe it was on that very evening that I ventured on another invasion
of Wildfell Hall. From the time of our party, which was upwards of a
week ago, I had been making daily efforts to meet its mistress in her
walks; and always disappointed (she must have managed it so on purpose),
had nightly kept revolving in my mind some pretext for another call. At
length I concluded that the separation could be endured no longer (by
this time, you will see, I was pretty far gone); and, taking from the
book-case an old volume that I thought she might be interested in,
though, from its unsightly and somewhat dilapidated condition, I had not
yet ventured to offer it for perusal, I hastened away,—but not without
sundry misgivings as to how she would receive me, or how I could summon
courage to present myself with so slight an excuse. But, perhaps, I
might see her in the field or the garden, and then there would be no
great difficulty: it was the formal knocking at the door, with the
prospect of being gravely ushered in by Rachel, to the presence of a
surprised, uncordial mistress, that so greatly disturbed me.
My wish, however, was not gratified. Mrs. Graham herself was not to be
seen; but there was Arthur playing with his frolicsome little dog in the
garden. I looked over the gate and called him to me. He wanted me to
come in; but I told him I could not without his mother’s leave.
‘I’ll go and ask her,’ said the child.
‘No, no, Arthur, you mustn’t do that; but if she’s not engaged, just ask
her to come here a minute. Tell her I want to speak to her.’
He ran to perform my bidding, and quickly returned with his mother. How
lovely she looked with her dark ringlets streaming in the light summer
breeze, her fair cheek slightly flushed, and her countenance radiant with
smiles. Dear Arthur! what did I not owe to you for this and every other
happy meeting? Through him I was at once delivered from all formality,
and terror, and constraint. In love affairs, there is no mediator like a
merry, simple-hearted child—ever ready to cement divided hearts, to span
the unfriendly gulf of custom, to melt the ice of cold reserve, and
overthrow the separating walls of dread formality and pride.
‘Well, Mr. Markham, what is it?’ said the young mother, accosting me with
a pleasant smile.
‘I want you to look at this book, and, if you please, to take it, and
peruse it at your leisure. I make no apology for calling you out on such
a lovely evening, though it be for a matter of no greater importance.’
‘Tell him to come in, mamma,’ said Arthur.
‘Would you like to come in?’ asked the lady.
‘Yes; I should like to see your improvements in the garden.’
‘And how your sister’s roots have prospered in my charge,’ added she, as
she opened the gate.
And we sauntered through the garden, and talked of the flowers, the
trees, and the book, and then of other things. The evening was kind and
genial, and so was my companion. By degrees I waxed more warm and tender
than, perhaps, I had ever been before; but still I said nothing tangible,
and she attempted no repulse, until, in passing a moss rose-tree that I
had brought her some weeks since, in my sister’s name, she plucked a
beautiful half-open bud and bade me give it to Rose.
‘May I not keep it myself?’ I asked.
‘No; but here is another for you.’
Instead of taking it quietly, I likewise took the hand that offered it,
and looked into her face. She let me hold it for a moment, and I saw a
flash of ecstatic brilliance in her eye, a glow of glad excitement on her
face—I thought my hour of victory was come—but instantly a painful
recollection seemed to flash upon her; a cloud of anguish darkened her
brow, a marble paleness blanched her cheek and lip; there seemed a moment
of inward conflict, and, with a sudden effort, she withdrew her hand, and
retreated a step or two back.
‘Now, Mr. Markham,’ said she, with a kind of desperate calmness, ‘I must
tell you plainly that I cannot do with this. I like your company,
because I am alone here, and your conversation pleases me more than that
of any other person; but if you cannot be content to regard me as a
friend—a plain, cold, motherly, or sisterly friend—I must beg you to
leave me now, and let me alone hereafter: in fact, we must be strangers
for the future.’
‘I will, then—be your friend, or brother, or anything you wish, if you
will only let me continue to see you; but tell me why I cannot be
anything more?’
There was a perplexed and thoughtful pause.
‘Is it in consequence of some rash vow?’
‘It is something of the kind,’ she answered. ‘Some day I may tell you,
but at present you had better leave me; and never, Gilbert, put me to the
painful necessity of repeating what I have just now said to you,’ she
earnestly added, giving me her hand in serious kindness. How sweet, how
musical my own name sounded in her mouth!
‘I will not,’ I replied. ‘But you pardon this offence?’
‘On condition that you never repeat it.’
‘And may I come to see you now and then?’
‘Perhaps—occasionally; provided you never abuse the privilege.’
‘I make no empty promises, but you shall see.’
‘The moment you do our intimacy is at an end, that’s all.’
‘And will you always call me Gilbert? It sounds more sisterly, and it
will serve to remind me of our contract.’
She smiled, and once more bid me go; and at length I judged it prudent to
obey, and she re-entered the house and I went down the hill. But as I
went the tramp of horses’ hoofs fell on my ear, and broke the stillness
of the dewy evening; and, looking towards the lane, I saw a solitary
equestrian coming up. Inclining to dusk as it was, I knew him at a
glance: it was Mr. Lawrence on his grey pony. I flew across the field,
leaped the stone fence, and then walked down the lane to meet him. On
seeing me, he suddenly drew in his little steed, and seemed inclined to
turn back, but on second thought apparently judged it better to continue
his course as before. He accosted me with a slight bow, and, edging
close to the wall, endeavoured to pass on; but I was not so minded.
Seizing his horse by the bridle, I exclaimed,—‘Now, Lawrence, I will have
this mystery explained! Tell me where you are going, and what you mean
to do—at once, and distinctly!’
‘Will you take your hand off the bridle?’ said he, quietly—‘you’re
hurting my pony’s mouth.’
‘You and your pony be—’
‘What makes you so coarse and brutal, Markham? I’m quite ashamed of
you.’
‘You answer my questions—before you leave this spot I will know what you
mean by this perfidious duplicity!’
‘I shall answer no questions till you let go the bridle,—if you stand
till morning.’
‘Now then,’ said I, unclosing my hand, but still standing before him.
‘Ask me some other time, when you can speak like a gentleman,’ returned
he, and he made an effort to pass me again; but I quickly re-captured the
pony, scarce less astonished than its master at such uncivil usage.
‘Really, Mr. Markham, this is too much!’ said the latter. ‘Can I not go
to see my tenant on matters of business, without being assaulted in this
manner by—?’
‘This is no time for business, sir!—I’ll tell you, now, what I think of
your conduct.’
‘You’d better defer your opinion to a more convenient season,’
interrupted he in a low tone—‘here’s the vicar.’ And, in truth, the
vicar was just behind me, plodding homeward from some remote corner of
his parish. I immediately released the squire; and he went on his way,
saluting Mr. Millward as he passed.
‘What! quarrelling, Markham?’ cried the latter, addressing himself to
me,—‘and about that young widow, I doubt?’ he added, reproachfully
shaking his head. ‘But let me tell you, young man’ (here he put his face
into mine with an important, confidential air), ‘she’s not worth it!’ and
he confirmed the assertion by a solemn nod.
‘MR. MILLWARD,’ I exclaimed, in a tone of wrathful menace that made the
reverend gentleman look round—aghast—astounded at such unwonted
insolence, and stare me in the face, with a look that plainly said,
‘What, this to me!’ But I was too indignant to apologise, or to speak
another word to him: I turned away, and hastened homewards, descending
with rapid strides the steep, rough lane, and leaving him to follow as he
pleased.
CHAPTER XI
You must suppose about three weeks passed over. Mrs. Graham and I were
now established friends—or brother and sister, as we rather chose to
consider ourselves. She called me Gilbert, by my express desire, and I
called her Helen, for I had seen that name written in her books. I
seldom attempted to see her above twice a week; and still I made our
meetings appear the result of accident as often as I could—for I found it
necessary to be extremely careful—and, altogether, I behaved with such
exceeding propriety that she never had occasion to reprove me once. Yet
I could not but perceive that she was at times unhappy and dissatisfied
with herself or her position, and truly I myself was not quite contented
with the latter: this assumption of brotherly nonchalance was very hard
to sustain, and I often felt myself a most confounded hypocrite with it
all; I saw too, or rather I felt, that, in spite of herself, ‘I was not
indifferent to her,’ as the novel heroes modestly express it, and while I
thankfully enjoyed my present good fortune, I could not fail to wish and
hope for something better in future; but, of course, I kept such dreams
entirely to myself.
‘Where are you going, Gilbert?’ said Rose, one evening, shortly after
tea, when I had been busy with the farm all day.
‘To take a walk,’ was the reply.
‘Do you always brush your hat so carefully, and do your hair so nicely,
and put on such smart new gloves when you take a walk?’
‘Not always.’
‘You’re going to Wildfell Hall, aren’t you?’
‘What makes you think so?’
‘Because you look as if you were—but I wish you wouldn’t go so often.’
‘Nonsense, child! I don’t go once in six weeks—what do you mean?’
‘Well, but if I were you, I wouldn’t have so much to do with Mrs.
Graham.’
‘Why, Rose, are you, too, giving in to the prevailing opinion?’
‘No,’ returned she, hesitatingly—‘but I’ve heard so much about her
lately, both at the Wilsons’ and the vicarage;—and besides, mamma says,
if she were a proper person she would not be living there by herself—and
don’t you remember last winter, Gilbert, all that about the false name to
the picture; and how she explained it—saying she had friends or
acquaintances from whom she wished her present residence to be concealed,
and that she was afraid of their tracing her out;—and then, how suddenly
she started up and left the room when that person came—whom she took good
care not to let us catch a glimpse of, and who Arthur, with such an air
of mystery, told us was his mamma’s friend?’
‘Yes, Rose, I remember it all; and I can forgive your uncharitable
conclusions; for, perhaps, if I did not know her myself, I should put all
these things together, and believe the same as you do; but thank God, I
do know her; and I should be unworthy the name of a man, if I could
believe anything that was said against her, unless I heard it from her
own lips.—I should as soon believe such things of you, Rose.’
‘Oh, Gilbert!’
‘Well, do you think I could believe anything of the kind,—whatever the
Wilsons and Millwards dared to whisper?’
‘I should hope not indeed!’
‘And why not?—Because I know you—Well, and I know her just as well.’
‘Oh, no! you know nothing of her former life; and last year, at this
time, you did not know that such a person existed.’
‘No matter. There is such a thing as looking through a person’s eyes
into the heart, and learning more of the height, and breadth, and depth
of another’s soul in one hour than it might take you a lifetime to
discover, if he or she were not disposed to reveal it, or if you had not
the sense to understand it.’
‘Then you are going to see her this evening?’
‘To be sure I am!’
‘But what would mamma say, Gilbert!’
‘Mamma needn’t know.’
‘But she must know some time, if you go on.’
‘Go on!—there’s no going on in the matter. Mrs. Graham and I are two
friends—and will be; and no man breathing shall hinder it,—or has a right
to interfere between us.’
‘But if you knew how they talk you would be more careful, for her sake as
well as for your own. Jane Wilson thinks your visits to the old hall but
another proof of her depravity—’
‘Confound Jane Wilson!’
‘And Eliza Millward is quite grieved about you.’
‘I hope she is.’
‘But I wouldn’t, if I were you.’
‘Wouldn’t what?—How do they know that I go there?’
‘There’s nothing hid from them: they spy out everything.’
‘Oh, I never thought of this!—And so they dare to turn my friendship into
food for further scandal against her!—That proves the falsehood of their
other lies, at all events, if any proof were wanting.—Mind you contradict
them, Rose, whenever you can.’
‘But they don’t speak openly to me about such things: it is only by hints
and innuendoes, and by what I hear others say, that I knew what they
think.’
‘Well, then, I won’t go to-day, as it’s getting latish. But oh, deuce
take their cursed, envenomed tongues!’ I muttered, in the bitterness of
my soul.
And just at that moment the vicar entered the room: we had been too much
absorbed in our conversation to observe his knock. After his customary
cheerful and fatherly greeting of Rose, who was rather a favourite with
the old gentleman, he turned somewhat sternly to me:—
‘Well, sir!’ said he, ‘you’re quite a stranger. It is—let—me—see,’ he
continued, slowly, as he deposited his ponderous bulk in the arm-chair
that Rose officiously brought towards him; ‘it is just—six-weeks—by my
reckoning, since you darkened—my—door!’ He spoke it with emphasis, and
struck his stick on the floor.
‘Is it, sir?’ said I.
‘Ay! It is so!’ He added an affirmatory nod, and continued to gaze upon
me with a kind of irate solemnity, holding his substantial stick between
his knees, with his hands clasped upon its head.
‘I have been busy,’ I said, for an apology was evidently demanded.
‘Busy!’ repeated he, derisively.
‘Yes, you know I’ve been getting in my hay; and now the harvest is
beginning.’
‘Humph!’
Just then my mother came in, and created a diversion in my favour by her
loquacious and animated welcome of the reverend guest. She regretted
deeply that he had not come a little earlier, in time for tea, but
offered to have some immediately prepared, if he would do her the favour
to partake of it.
‘Not any for me, I thank you,’ replied he; ‘I shall be at home in a few
minutes.’
‘Oh, but do stay and take a little! it will be ready in five minutes.’
But he rejected the offer with a majestic wave of the hand.
‘I’ll tell you what I’ll take, Mrs. Markham,’ said he: ‘I’ll take a glass
of your excellent ale.’
‘With pleasure!’ cried my mother, proceeding with alacrity to pull the
bell and order the favoured beverage.
‘I thought,’ continued he, ‘I’d just look in upon you as I passed, and
taste your home-brewed ale. I’ve been to call on Mrs. Graham.’
‘Have you, indeed?’
He nodded gravely, and added with awful emphasis—‘I thought it incumbent
upon me to do so.’
‘Really!’ ejaculated my mother.
‘Why so, Mr. Millward?’ asked I.
He looked at me with some severity, and turning again to my mother,
repeated,—‘I thought it incumbent upon me!’ and struck his stick on the
floor again. My mother sat opposite, an awe-struck but admiring auditor.
‘“Mrs. Graham,” said I,’ he continued, shaking his head as he spoke,
‘“these are terrible reports!” “What, sir?” says she, affecting to be
ignorant of my meaning. “It is my—duty—as—your pastor,” said I, “to tell
you both everything that I myself see reprehensible in your conduct, and
all I have reason to suspect, and what others tell me concerning you.”—So
I told her!’
‘You did, sir?’ cried I, starting from my seat and striking my fist on
the table. He merely glanced towards me, and continued—addressing his
hostess:—
‘It was a painful duty, Mrs. Markham—but I told her!’
‘And how did she take it?’ asked my mother.
‘Hardened, I fear—hardened!’ he replied, with a despondent shake of the
head; ‘and, at the same time, there was a strong display of unchastened,
misdirected passions. She turned white in the face, and drew her breath
through her teeth in a savage sort of way;—but she offered no extenuation
or defence; and with a kind of shameless calmness—shocking indeed to
witness in one so young—as good as told me that my remonstrance was
unavailing, and my pastoral advice quite thrown away upon her—nay, that
my very presence was displeasing while I spoke such things. And I
withdrew at length, too plainly seeing that nothing could be done—and
sadly grieved to find her case so hopeless. But I am fully determined,
Mrs. Markham, that my daughters—shall—not—consort with her. Do you adopt
the same resolution with regard to yours!—As for your sons—as for you,
young man,’ he continued, sternly turning to me—
‘As for ME, sir,’ I began, but checked by some impediment in my
utterance, and finding that my whole frame trembled with fury, I said no
more, but took the wiser part of snatching up my hat and bolting from the
room, slamming the door behind me, with a bang that shook the house to
its foundations, and made my mother scream, and gave a momentary relief
to my excited feelings.
The next minute saw me hurrying with rapid strides in the direction of
Wildfell Hall—to what intent or purpose I could scarcely tell, but I must
be moving somewhere, and no other goal would do—I must see her too, and
speak to her—that was certain; but what to say, or how to act, I had no
definite idea. Such stormy thoughts—so many different resolutions
crowded in upon me, that my mind was little better than a chaos of
conflicting passions.
CHAPTER XII
In little more than twenty minutes the journey was accomplished. I
paused at the gate to wipe my streaming forehead, and recover my breath
and some degree of composure. Already the rapid walking had somewhat
mitigated my excitement; and with a firm and steady tread I paced the
garden-walk. In passing the inhabited wing of the building, I caught a
sight of Mrs. Graham, through the open window, slowly pacing up and down
her lonely room.
She seemed agitated and even dismayed at my arrival, as if she thought I
too was coming to accuse her. I had entered her presence intending to
condole with her upon the wickedness of the world, and help her to abuse
the vicar and his vile informants, but now I felt positively ashamed to
mention the subject, and determined not to refer to it, unless she led
the way.
‘I am come at an unseasonable hour,’ said I, assuming a cheerfulness I
did not feel, in order to reassure her; ‘but I won’t stay many minutes.’
She smiled upon me, faintly it is true, but most kindly—I had almost said
thankfully, as her apprehensions were removed.
‘How dismal you are, Helen! Why have you no fire?’ I said, looking round
on the gloomy apartment.
‘It is summer yet,’ she replied.
‘But we always have a fire in the evenings, if we can bear it; and you
especially require one in this cold house and dreary room.’
‘You should have come a little sooner, and I would have had one lighted
for you: but it is not worth while now—you won’t stay many minutes, you
say, and Arthur is gone to bed.’
‘But I have a fancy for a fire, nevertheless. Will you order one, if I
ring?’
‘Why, Gilbert, you don’t look cold!’ said she, smilingly regarding my
face, which no doubt seemed warm enough.
‘No,’ replied I, ‘but I want to see you comfortable before I go.’
‘Me comfortable!’ repeated she, with a bitter laugh, as if there were
something amusingly absurd in the idea. ‘It suits me better as it is,’
she added, in a tone of mournful resignation.
But determined to have my own way, I pulled the bell.
‘There now, Helen!’ I said, as the approaching steps of Rachel were heard
in answer to the summons. There was nothing for it but to turn round and
desire the maid to light the fire.
I owe Rachel a grudge to this day for the look she cast upon me ere she
departed on her mission, the sour, suspicious, inquisitorial look that
plainly demanded, ‘What are you here for, I wonder?’ Her mistress did
not fail to notice it, and a shade of uneasiness darkened her brow.
‘You must not stay long, Gilbert,’ said she, when the door was closed
upon us.
‘I’m not going to,’ said I, somewhat testily, though without a grain of
anger in my heart against any one but the meddling old woman. ‘But,
Helen, I’ve something to say to you before I go.’
‘What is it?’
‘No, not now—I don’t know yet precisely what it is, or how to say it,’
replied I, with more truth than wisdom; and then, fearing lest she should
turn me out of the house, I began talking about indifferent matters in
order to gain time. Meanwhile Rachel came in to kindle the fire, which
was soon effected by thrusting a red-hot poker between the bars of the
grate, where the fuel was already disposed for ignition. She honoured me
with another of her hard, inhospitable looks in departing, but, little
moved thereby, I went on talking; and setting a chair for Mrs. Graham on
one side of the hearth, and one for myself on the other, I ventured to
sit down, though half suspecting she would rather see me go.
In a little while we both relapsed into silence, and continued for
several minutes gazing abstractedly into the fire—she intent upon her own
sad thoughts, and I reflecting how delightful it would be to be seated
thus beside her with no other presence to restrain our intercourse—not
even that of Arthur, our mutual friend, without whom we had never met
before—if only I could venture to speak my mind, and disburden my full
heart of the feelings that had so long oppressed it, and which it now
struggled to retain, with an effort that it seemed impossible to continue
much longer,—and revolving the pros and cons for opening my heart to her
there and then, and imploring a return of affection, the permission to
regard her thenceforth as my own, and the right and the power to defend
her from the calumnies of malicious tongues. On the one hand, I felt a
new-born confidence in my powers of persuasion—a strong conviction that
my own fervour of spirit would grant me eloquence—that my very
determination—the absolute necessity for succeeding, that I felt must win
me what I sought; while, on the other, I feared to lose the ground I had
already gained with so much toil and skill, and destroy all future hope
by one rash effort, when time and patience might have won success. It
was like setting my life upon the cast of a die; and yet I was ready to
resolve upon the attempt. At any rate, I would entreat the explanation
she had half promised to give me before; I would demand the reason of
this hateful barrier, this mysterious impediment to my happiness, and, as
I trusted, to her own.
But while I considered in what manner I could best frame my request, my
companion, wakened from her reverie with a scarcely audible sigh, and
looking towards the window, where the blood-red harvest moon, just rising
over one of the grim, fantastic evergreens, was shining in upon us,
said,—‘Gilbert, it is getting late.’
‘I see,’ said I. ‘You want me to go, I suppose?’
‘I think you ought. If my kind neighbours get to know of this visit—as
no doubt they will—they will not turn it much to my advantage.’ It was
with what the vicar would doubtless have called a savage sort of smile
that she said this.
‘Let them turn it as they will,’ said I. ‘What are their thoughts to you
or me, so long as we are satisfied with ourselves—and each other. Let
them go to the deuce with their vile constructions and their lying
inventions!’
This outburst brought a flush of colour to her face.
‘You have heard, then, what they say of me?’
‘I heard some detestable falsehoods; but none but fools would credit them
for a moment, Helen, so don’t let them trouble you.’
‘I did not think Mr. Millward a fool, and he believes it all; but however
little you may value the opinions of those about you—however little you
may esteem them as individuals, it is not pleasant to be looked upon as a
liar and a hypocrite, to be thought to practise what you abhor, and to
encourage the vices you would discountenance, to find your good
intentions frustrated, and your hands crippled by your supposed
unworthiness, and to bring disgrace on the principles you profess.’
‘True; and if I, by my thoughtlessness and selfish disregard to
appearances, have at all assisted to expose you to these evils, let me
entreat you not only to pardon me, but to enable me to make reparation;
authorise me to clear your name from every imputation: give me the right
to identify your honour with my own, and to defend your reputation as
more precious than my life!’
‘Are you hero enough to unite yourself to one whom you know to be
suspected and despised by all around you, and identify your interests and
your honour with hers? Think! it is a serious thing.’
‘I should be proud to do it, Helen!—most happy—delighted beyond
expression!—and if that be all the obstacle to our union, it is
demolished, and you must—you shall be mine!’
And starting from my seat in a frenzy of ardour, I seized her hand and
would have pressed it to my lips, but she as suddenly caught it away,
exclaiming in the bitterness of intense affliction,—‘No, no, it is not
all!’
‘What is it, then? You promised I should know some time, and—’
‘You shall know some time—but not now—my head aches terribly,’ she said,
pressing her hand to her forehead, ‘and I must have some repose—and
surely I have had misery enough to-day!’ she added, almost wildly.
‘But it could not harm you to tell it,’ I persisted: ‘it would ease your
mind; and I should then know how to comfort you.’
She shook her head despondingly. ‘If you knew all, you, too, would blame
me—perhaps even more than I deserve—though I have cruelly wronged you,’
she added in a low murmur, as if she mused aloud.
‘You, Helen? Impossible?’
‘Yes, not willingly; for I did not know the strength and depth of your
attachment. I thought—at least I endeavoured to think your regard for me
was as cold and fraternal as you professed it to be.’
‘Or as yours?’
‘Or as mine—ought to have been—of such a light and selfish, superficial
nature, that—’
‘There, indeed, you wronged me.’
[Picture: Moorland scene (with cottage), Haworth]
‘I know I did; and, sometimes, I suspected it then; but I thought, upon
the whole, there could be no great harm in leaving your fancies and your
hopes to dream themselves to nothing—or flutter away to some more fitting
object, while your friendly sympathies remained with me; but if I had
known the depth of your regard, the generous, disinterested affection you
seem to feel—’
‘Seem, Helen?’
‘That you do feel, then, I would have acted differently.’
‘How? You could not have given me less encouragement, or treated me with
greater severity than you did! And if you think you have wronged me by
giving me your friendship, and occasionally admitting me to the enjoyment
of your company and conversation, when all hopes of closer intimacy were
vain—as indeed you always gave me to understand—if you think you have
wronged me by this, you are mistaken; for such favours, in themselves
alone, are not only delightful to my heart, but purifying, exalting,
ennobling to my soul; and I would rather have your friendship than the
love of any other woman in the world!’
Little comforted by this, she clasped her hands upon her knee, and
glancing upward, seemed, in silent anguish, to implore divine assistance;
then, turning to me, she calmly said,—‘To-morrow, if you meet me on the
moor about mid-day, I will tell you all you seek to know; and perhaps you
will then see the necessity of discontinuing our intimacy—if, indeed, you
do not willingly resign me as one no longer worthy of regard.’
‘I can safely answer no to that: you cannot have such grave confessions
to make—you must be trying my faith, Helen.’
‘No, no, no,’ she earnestly repeated—‘I wish it were so! Thank heaven!’
she added, ‘I have no great crime to confess; but I have more than you
will like to hear, or, perhaps, can readily excuse,—and more than I can
tell you now; so let me entreat you to leave me!’
‘I will; but answer me this one question first;—do you love me?’
‘I will not answer it!’
‘Then I will conclude you do; and so good-night.’
She turned from me to hide the emotion she could not quite control; but I
took her hand and fervently kissed it.
‘Gilbert, do leave me!’ she cried, in a tone of such thrilling anguish
that I felt it would be cruel to disobey.
But I gave one look back before I closed the door, and saw her leaning
forward on the table, with her hands pressed against her eyes, sobbing
convulsively; yet I withdrew in silence. I felt that to obtrude my
consolations on her then would only serve to aggravate her sufferings.
To tell you all the questionings and conjectures—the fears, and hopes,
and wild emotions that jostled and chased each other through my mind as I
descended the hill, would almost fill a volume in itself. But before I
was half-way down, a sentiment of strong sympathy for her I had left
behind me had displaced all other feelings, and seemed imperatively to
draw me back: I began to think, ‘Why am I hurrying so fast in this
direction? Can I find comfort or consolation—peace, certainty,
contentment, all—or anything that I want at home? and can I leave all
perturbation, sorrow, and anxiety behind me there?’
And I turned round to look at the old Hall. There was little besides the
chimneys visible above my contracted horizon. I walked back to get a
better view of it. When it rose in sight, I stood still a moment to
look, and then continued moving towards the gloomy object of attraction.
Something called me nearer—nearer still—and why not, pray? Might I not
find more benefit in the contemplation of that venerable pile with the
full moon in the cloudless heaven shining so calmly above it—with that
warm yellow lustre peculiar to an August night—and the mistress of my
soul within, than in returning to my home, where all comparatively was
light, and life, and cheerfulness, and therefore inimical to me in my
present frame of mind,—and the more so that its inmates all were more or
less imbued with that detestable belief, the very thought of which made
my blood boil in my veins—and how could I endure to hear it openly
declared, or cautiously insinuated—which was worse?—I had had trouble
enough already, with some babbling fiend that would keep whispering in my
ear, ‘It may be true,’ till I had shouted aloud, ‘It is false! I defy
you to make me suppose it!’
I could see the red firelight dimly gleaming from her parlour window. I
went up to the garden wall, and stood leaning over it, with my eyes fixed
upon the lattice, wondering what she was doing, thinking, or suffering
now, and wishing I could speak to her but one word, or even catch one
glimpse of her, before I went.
I had not thus looked, and wished, and wondered long, before I vaulted
over the barrier, unable to resist the temptation of taking one glance
through the window, just to see if she were more composed than when we
parted;—and if I found her still in deep distress, perhaps I might
venture attempt a word of comfort—to utter one of the many things I
should have said before, instead of aggravating her sufferings by my
stupid impetuosity. I looked. Her chair was vacant: so was the room.
But at that moment some one opened the outer door, and a voice—her
voice—said,—‘Come out—I want to see the moon, and breathe the evening
air: they will do me good—if anything will.’
Here, then, were she and Rachel coming to take a walk in the garden. I
wished myself safe back over the wall. I stood, however, in the shadow
of the tall holly-bush, which, standing between the window and the porch,
at present screened me from observation, but did not prevent me from
seeing two figures come forth into the moonlight: Mrs. Graham followed by
another—not Rachel, but a young man, slender and rather tall. O heavens,
how my temples throbbed! Intense anxiety darkened my sight; but I
thought—yes, and the voice confirmed it—it was Mr. Lawrence!
‘You should not let it worry you so much, Helen,’ said he; ‘I will be
more cautious in future; and in time—’
I did not hear the rest of the sentence; for he walked close beside her
and spoke so gently that I could not catch the words. My heart was
splitting with hatred; but I listened intently for her reply. I heard it
plainly enough.
‘But I must leave this place, Frederick,’ she said—‘I never can be happy
here,—nor anywhere else, indeed,’ she added, with a mirthless laugh,—‘but
I cannot rest here.’
‘But where could you find a better place?’ replied he, ‘so secluded—so
near me, if you think anything of that.’
‘Yes,’ interrupted she, ‘it is all I could wish, if they could only have
left me alone.’
‘But wherever you go, Helen, there will be the same sources of annoyance.
I cannot consent to lose you: I must go with you, or come to you; and
there are meddling fools elsewhere, as well as here.’
While thus conversing they had sauntered slowly past me, down the walk,
and I heard no more of their discourse; but I saw him put his arm round
her waist, while she lovingly rested her hand on his shoulder;—and then,
a tremulous darkness obscured my sight, my heart sickened and my head
burned like fire: I half rushed, half staggered from the spot, where
horror had kept me rooted, and leaped or tumbled over the wall—I hardly
know which—but I know that, afterwards, like a passionate child, I dashed
myself on the ground and lay there in a paroxysm of anger and despair—how
long, I cannot undertake to say; but it must have been a considerable
time; for when, having partially relieved myself by a torment of tears,
and looked up at the moon, shining so calmly and carelessly on, as little
influenced by my misery as I was by its peaceful radiance, and earnestly
prayed for death or forgetfulness, I had risen and journeyed
homewards—little regarding the way, but carried instinctively by my feet
to the door, I found it bolted against me, and every one in bed except my
mother, who hastened to answer my impatient knocking, and received me
with a shower of questions and rebukes.
‘Oh, Gilbert! how could you do so? Where have you been? Do come in and
take your supper. I’ve got it all ready, though you don’t deserve it,
for keeping me in such a fright, after the strange manner you left the
house this evening. Mr. Millward was quite— Bless the boy! how ill he
looks. Oh, gracious! what is the matter?’
‘Nothing, nothing—give me a candle.’
‘But won’t you take some supper?’
‘No; I want to go to bed,’ said I, taking a candle and lighting it at the
one she held in her hand.
‘Oh, Gilbert, how you tremble!’ exclaimed my anxious parent. ‘How white
you look! Do tell me what it is? Has anything happened?’
‘It’s nothing,’ cried I, ready to stamp with vexation because the candle
would not light. Then, suppressing my irritation, I added, ‘I’ve been
walking too fast, that’s all. Good-night,’ and marched off to bed,
regardless of the ‘Walking too fast! where have you been?’ that was
called after me from below.
My mother followed me to the very door of my room with her questionings
and advice concerning my health and my conduct; but I implored her to let
me alone till morning; and she withdrew, and at length I had the
satisfaction to hear her close her own door. There was no sleep for me,
however, that night as I thought; and instead of attempting to solicit
it, I employed myself in rapidly pacing the chamber, having first removed
my boots, lest my mother should hear me. But the boards creaked, and she
was watchful. I had not walked above a quarter of an hour before she was
at the door again.
‘Gilbert, why are you not in bed—you said you wanted to go?’
‘Confound it! I’m going,’ said I.
‘But why are you so long about it? You must have something on your
mind—’
‘For heaven’s sake, let me alone, and get to bed yourself.’
‘Can it be that Mrs. Graham that distresses you so?’
‘No, no, I tell you—it’s nothing.’
‘I wish to goodness it mayn’t,’ murmured she, with a sigh, as she
returned to her own apartment, while I threw myself on the bed, feeling
most undutifully disaffected towards her for having deprived me of what
seemed the only shadow of a consolation that remained, and chained me to
that wretched couch of thorns.
Never did I endure so long, so miserable a night as that. And yet it was
not wholly sleepless. Towards morning my distracting thoughts began to
lose all pretensions to coherency, and shape themselves into confused and
feverish dreams, and, at length, there followed an interval of
unconscious slumber. But then the dawn of bitter recollection that
succeeded—the waking to find life a blank, and worse than a blank,
teeming with torment and misery—not a mere barren wilderness, but full of
thorns and briers—to find myself deceived, duped, hopeless, my affections
trampled upon, my angel not an angel, and my friend a fiend incarnate—it
was worse than if I had not slept at all.
It was a dull, gloomy morning; the weather had changed like my prospects,
and the rain was pattering against the window. I rose, nevertheless, and
went out; not to look after the farm, though that would serve as my
excuse, but to cool my brain, and regain, if possible, a sufficient
degree of composure to meet the family at the morning meal without
exciting inconvenient remarks. If I got a wetting, that, in conjunction
with a pretended over-exertion before breakfast, might excuse my sudden
loss of appetite; and if a cold ensued, the severer the better—it would
help to account for the sullen moods and moping melancholy likely to
cloud my brow for long enough.
CHAPTER XIII
‘My dear Gilbert, I wish you would try to be a little more amiable,’ said
my mother one morning after some display of unjustifiable ill-humour on
my part. ‘You say there is nothing the matter with you, and nothing has
happened to grieve you, and yet I never saw anyone so altered as you
within these last few days. You haven’t a good word for anybody—friends
and strangers, equals and inferiors—it’s all the same. I do wish you’d
try to check it.’
‘Check what?’
‘Why, your strange temper. You don’t know how it spoils you. I’m sure a
finer disposition than yours by nature could not be, if you’d let it have
fair play: so you’ve no excuse that way.’
While she thus remonstrated, I took up a book, and laying it open on the
table before me, pretended to be deeply absorbed in its perusal, for I
was equally unable to justify myself and unwilling to acknowledge my
errors; and I wished to have nothing to say on the matter. But my
excellent parent went on lecturing, and then came to coaxing, and began
to stroke my hair; and I was getting to feel quite a good boy, but my
mischievous brother, who was idling about the room, revived my corruption
by suddenly calling out,—‘Don’t touch him, mother! he’ll bite! He’s a
very tiger in human form. I’ve given him up for my part—fairly disowned
him—cast him off, root and branch. It’s as much as my life is worth to
come within six yards of him. The other day he nearly fractured my skull
for singing a pretty, inoffensive love-song, on purpose to amuse him.’
‘Oh, Gilbert! how could you?’ exclaimed my mother.
‘I told you to hold your noise first, you know, Fergus,’ said I.
‘Yes, but when I assured you it was no trouble and went on with the next
verse, thinking you might like it better, you clutched me by the shoulder
and dashed me away, right against the wall there, with such force that I
thought I had bitten my tongue in two, and expected to see the place
plastered with my brains; and when I put my hand to my head, and found my
skull not broken, I thought it was a miracle, and no mistake. But, poor
fellow!’ added he, with a sentimental sigh—‘his heart’s broken—that’s the
truth of it—and his head’s—’
‘Will you be silent NOW?’ cried I, starting up, and eyeing the fellow so
fiercely that my mother, thinking I meant to inflict some grievous bodily
injury, laid her hand on my arm, and besought me to let him alone, and he
walked leisurely out, with his hands in his pockets, singing
provokingly—‘Shall I, because a woman’s fair,’ &c.
‘I’m not going to defile my fingers with him,’ said I, in answer to the
maternal intercession. ‘I wouldn’t touch him with the tongs.’
I now recollected that I had business with Robert Wilson, concerning the
purchase of a certain field adjoining my farm—a business I had been
putting off from day to day; for I had no interest in anything now; and
besides, I was misanthropically inclined, and, moreover, had a particular
objection to meeting Jane Wilson or her mother; for though I had too good
reason, now, to credit their reports concerning Mrs. Graham, I did not
like them a bit the better for it—or Eliza Millward either—and the
thought of meeting them was the more repugnant to me that I could not,
now, defy their seeming calumnies and triumph in my own convictions as
before. But to-day I determined to make an effort to return to my duty.
Though I found no pleasure in it, it would be less irksome than
idleness—at all events it would be more profitable. If life promised no
enjoyment within my vocation, at least it offered no allurements out of
it; and henceforth I would put my shoulder to the wheel and toil away,
like any poor drudge of a cart-horse that was fairly broken in to its
labour, and plod through life, not wholly useless if not agreeable, and
uncomplaining if not contented with my lot.
Thus resolving, with a kind of sullen resignation, if such a term may be
allowed, I wended my way to Ryecote Farm, scarcely expecting to find its
owner within at this time of day, but hoping to learn in what part of the
premises he was most likely to be found.
Absent he was, but expected home in a few minutes; and I was desired to
step into the parlour and wait. Mrs. Wilson was busy in the kitchen, but
the room was not empty; and I scarcely checked an involuntary recoil as I
entered it; for there sat Miss Wilson chattering with Eliza Millward.
However, I determined to be cool and civil. Eliza seemed to have made
the same resolution on her part. We had not met since the evening of the
tea-party; but there was no visible emotion either of pleasure or pain,
no attempt at pathos, no display of injured pride: she was cool in
temper, civil in demeanour. There was even an ease and cheerfulness
about her air and manner that I made no pretension to; but there was a
depth of malice in her too expressive eye that plainly told me I was not
forgiven; for, though she no longer hoped to win me to herself, she still
hated her rival, and evidently delighted to wreak her spite on me. On
the other hand, Miss Wilson was as affable and courteous as heart could
wish, and though I was in no very conversable humour myself, the two
ladies between them managed to keep up a pretty continuous fire of small
talk. But Eliza took advantage of the first convenient pause to ask if I
had lately seen Mrs. Graham, in a tone of merely casual inquiry, but with
a sidelong glance—intended to be playfully mischievous—really, brimful
and running over with malice.
‘Not lately,’ I replied, in a careless tone, but sternly repelling her
odious glances with my eyes; for I was vexed to feel the colour mounting
to my forehead, despite my strenuous efforts to appear unmoved.
‘What! are you beginning to tire already? I thought so noble a creature
would have power to attach you for a year at least!’
‘I would rather not speak of her now.’
‘Ah! then you are convinced, at last, of your mistake—you have at length
discovered that your divinity is not quite the immaculate—’
‘I desired you not to speak of her, Miss Eliza.’
‘Oh, I beg your pardon! I perceive Cupid’s arrows have been too sharp
for you: the wounds, being more than skin-deep, are not yet healed, and
bleed afresh at every mention of the loved one’s name.’
‘Say, rather,’ interposed Miss Wilson, ‘that Mr. Markham feels that name
is unworthy to be mentioned in the presence of right-minded females. I
wonder, Eliza, you should think of referring to that unfortunate
person—you might know the mention of her would be anything but agreeable
to any one here present.’
How could this be borne? I rose and was about to clap my hat upon my
head and burst away, in wrathful indignation from the house; but
recollecting—just in time to save my dignity—the folly of such a
proceeding, and how it would only give my fair tormentors a merry laugh
at my expense, for the sake of one I acknowledged in my own heart to be
unworthy of the slightest sacrifice—though the ghost of my former
reverence and love so hung about me still, that I could not bear to hear
her name aspersed by others—I merely walked to the window, and having
spent a few seconds in vengibly biting my lips and sternly repressing the
passionate heavings of my chest, I observed to Miss Wilson, that I could
see nothing of her brother, and added that, as my time was precious, it
would perhaps be better to call again to-morrow, at some time when I
should be sure to find him at home.
‘Oh, no!’ said she; ‘if you wait a minute, he will be sure to come; for
he has business at L—’ (that was our market-town), ‘and will require a
little refreshment before he goes.’
I submitted accordingly, with the best grace I could; and, happily, I had
not long to wait. Mr. Wilson soon arrived, and, indisposed for business
as I was at that moment, and little as I cared for the field or its
owner, I forced my attention to the matter in hand, with very creditable
determination, and quickly concluded the bargain—perhaps more to the
thrifty farmer’s satisfaction than he cared to acknowledge. Then,
leaving him to the discussion of his substantial ‘refreshment,’ I gladly
quitted the house, and went to look after my reapers.
Leaving them busy at work on the side of the valley, I ascended the hill,
intending to visit a corn-field in the more elevated regions, and see
when it would be ripe for the sickle. But I did not visit it that day;
for, as I approached, I beheld, at no great distance, Mrs. Graham and her
son coming down in the opposite direction. They saw me; and Arthur
already was running to meet me; but I immediately turned back and walked
steadily homeward; for I had fully determined never to encounter his
mother again; and regardless of the shrill voice in my ear, calling upon
me to ‘wait a moment,’ I pursued the even tenor of my way; and he soon
relinquished the pursuit as hopeless, or was called away by his mother.
At all events, when I looked back, five minutes after, not a trace of
either was to be seen.
This incident agitated and disturbed me most unaccountably—unless you
would account for it by saying that Cupid’s arrows not only had been too
sharp for me, but they were barbed and deeply rooted, and I had not yet
been able to wrench them from my heart. However that be, I was rendered
doubly miserable for the remainder of the day.
CHAPTER XIV
Next morning, I bethought me, I, too, had business at L—; so I mounted my
horse, and set forth on the expedition soon after breakfast. It was a
dull, drizzly day; but that was no matter: it was all the more suitable
to my frame of mind. It was likely to be a lonely journey; for it was no
market-day, and the road I traversed was little frequented at any other
time; but that suited me all the better too.
As I trotted along, however, chewing the cud of—bitter fancies, I heard
another horse at no great distance behind me; but I never conjectured who
the rider might be, or troubled my head about him, till, on slackening my
pace to ascend a gentle acclivity, or rather, suffering my horse to
slacken his pace into a lazy walk—for, rapt in my own reflections, I was
letting it jog on as leisurely as it thought proper—I lost ground, and my
fellow-traveller overtook me. He accosted me by name, for it was no
stranger—it was Mr. Lawrence! Instinctively the fingers of my whip-hand
tingled, and grasped their charge with convulsive energy; but I
restrained the impulse, and answering his salutation with a nod,
attempted to push on; but he pushed on beside me, and began to talk about
the weather and the crops. I gave the briefest possible answers to his
queries and observations, and fell back. He fell back too, and asked if
my horse was lame. I replied with a look, at which he placidly smiled.
I was as much astonished as exasperated at this singular pertinacity and
imperturbable assurance on his part. I had thought the circumstances of
our last meeting would have left such an impression on his mind as to
render him cold and distant ever after: instead of that, he appeared not
only to have forgotten all former offences, but to be impenetrable to all
present incivilities. Formerly, the slightest hint, or mere fancied
coldness in tone or glance, had sufficed to repulse him: now, positive
rudeness could not drive him away. Had he heard of my disappointment;
and was he come to witness the result, and triumph in my despair? I
grasped my whip with more determined energy than before—but still forbore
to raise it, and rode on in silence, waiting for some more tangible cause
of offence, before I opened the floodgates of my soul and poured out the
dammed-up fury that was foaming and swelling within.
‘Markham,’ said he, in his usual quiet tone, ‘why do you quarrel with
your friends, because you have been disappointed in one quarter? You
have found your hopes defeated; but how am I to blame for it? I warned
you beforehand, you know, but you would not—’
He said no more; for, impelled by some fiend at my elbow, I had seized my
whip by the small end, and—swift and sudden as a flash of
lightning—brought the other down upon his head. It was not without a
feeling of savage satisfaction that I beheld the instant, deadly pallor
that overspread his face, and the few red drops that trickled down his
forehead, while he reeled a moment in his saddle, and then fell backward
to the ground. The pony, surprised to be so strangely relieved of its
burden, started and capered, and kicked a little, and then made use of
its freedom to go and crop the grass of the hedge-bank: while its master
lay as still and silent as a corpse. Had I killed him?—an icy hand
seemed to grasp my heart and check its pulsation, as I bent over him,
gazing with breathless intensity upon the ghastly, upturned face. But
no; he moved his eyelids and uttered a slight groan. I breathed again—he
was only stunned by the fall. It served him right—it would teach him
better manners in future. Should I help him to his horse? No. For any
other combination of offences I would; but his were too unpardonable. He
might mount it himself, if he liked—in a while: already he was beginning
to stir and look about him—and there it was for him, quietly browsing on
the road-side.
So with a muttered execration I left the fellow to his fate, and clapping
spurs to my own horse, galloped away, excited by a combination of
feelings it would not be easy to analyse; and perhaps, if I did so, the
result would not be very creditable to my disposition; for I am not sure
that a species of exultation in what I had done was not one principal
concomitant.
Shortly, however, the effervescence began to abate, and not many minutes
elapsed before I had turned and gone back to look after the fate of my
victim. It was no generous impulse—no kind relentings that led me to
this—nor even the fear of what might be the consequences to myself, if I
finished my assault upon the squire by leaving him thus neglected, and
exposed to further injury; it was, simply, the voice of conscience; and I
took great credit to myself for attending so promptly to its dictates—and
judging the merit of the deed by the sacrifice it cost, I was not far
wrong.
Mr. Lawrence and his pony had both altered their positions in some
degree. The pony had wandered eight or ten yards further away; and he
had managed, somehow, to remove himself from the middle of the road: I
found him seated in a recumbent position on the bank,—looking very white
and sickly still, and holding his cambric handkerchief (now more red than
white) to his head. It must have been a powerful blow; but half the
credit—or the blame of it (which you please) must be attributed to the
whip, which was garnished with a massive horse’s head of plated metal.
The grass, being sodden with rain, afforded the young gentleman a rather
inhospitable couch; his clothes were considerably bemired; and his hat
was rolling in the mud on the other side of the road. But his thoughts
seemed chiefly bent upon his pony, on which he was wistfully gazing—half
in helpless anxiety, and half in hopeless abandonment to his fate.
I dismounted, however, and having fastened my own animal to the nearest
tree, first picked up his hat, intending to clap it on his head; but
either he considered his head unfit for a hat, or the hat, in its present
condition, unfit for his head; for shrinking away the one, he took the
other from my hand, and scornfully cast it aside.
‘It’s good enough for you,’ I muttered.
My next good office was to catch his pony and bring it to him, which was
soon accomplished; for the beast was quiet enough in the main, and only
winced and flirted a trifle till I got hold of the bridle—but then, I
must see him in the saddle.
‘Here, you fellow—scoundrel—dog—give me your hand, and I’ll help you to
mount.’
No; he turned from me in disgust. I attempted to take him by the arm.
He shrank away as if there had been contamination in my touch.
‘What, you won’t! Well! you may sit there till doomsday, for what I
care. But I suppose you don’t want to lose all the blood in your
body—I’ll just condescend to bind that up for you.’
‘Let me alone, if you please.’
‘Humph; with all my heart. You may go to the d—l, if you choose—and say
I sent you.’
But before I abandoned him to his fate I flung his pony’s bridle over a
stake in the hedge, and threw him my handkerchief, as his own was now
saturated with blood. He took it and cast it back to me in abhorrence
and contempt, with all the strength he could muster. It wanted but this
to fill the measure of his offences. With execrations not loud but deep
I left him to live or die as he could, well satisfied that I had done my
duty in attempting to save him—but forgetting how I had erred in bringing
him into such a condition, and how insultingly my after-services had been
offered—and sullenly prepared to meet the consequences if he should
choose to say I had attempted to murder him—which I thought not unlikely,
as it seemed probable he was actuated by such spiteful motives in so
perseveringly refusing my assistance.
Having remounted my horse, I just looked back to see how he was getting
on, before I rode away. He had risen from the ground, and grasping his
pony’s mane, was attempting to resume his seat in the saddle; but
scarcely had he put his foot in the stirrup, when a sickness or dizziness
seemed to overpower him: he leant forward a moment, with his head drooped
on the animal’s back, and then made one more effort, which proving
ineffectual, he sank back on the bank, where I left him, reposing his
head on the oozy turf, and to all appearance, as calmly reclining as if
he had been taking his rest on his sofa at home.
I ought to have helped him in spite of himself—to have bound up the wound
he was unable to staunch, and insisted upon getting him on his horse and
seeing him safe home; but, besides my bitter indignation against himself,
there was the question what to say to his servants—and what to my own
family. Either I should have to acknowledge the deed, which would set me
down as a madman, unless I acknowledged the motive too—and that seemed
impossible—or I must get up a lie, which seemed equally out of the
question—especially as Mr. Lawrence would probably reveal the whole
truth, and thereby bring me to tenfold disgrace—unless I were villain
enough, presuming on the absence of witnesses, to persist in my own
version of the case, and make him out a still greater scoundrel than he
was. No; he had only received a cut above the temple, and perhaps a few
bruises from the fall, or the hoofs of his own pony: that could not kill
him if he lay there half the day; and, if he could not help himself,
surely some one would be coming by: it would be impossible that a whole
day should pass and no one traverse the road but ourselves. As for what
he might choose to say hereafter, I would take my chance about it: if he
told lies, I would contradict him; if he told the truth, I would bear it
as best I could. I was not obliged to enter into explanations further
than I thought proper. Perhaps he might choose to be silent on the
subject, for fear of raising inquiries as to the cause of the quarrel,
and drawing the public attention to his connection with Mrs. Graham,
which, whether for her sake or his own, he seemed so very desirous to
conceal.
Thus reasoning, I trotted away to the town, where I duly transacted my
business, and performed various little commissions for my mother and
Rose, with very laudable exactitude, considering the different
circumstances of the case. In returning home, I was troubled with sundry
misgivings about the unfortunate Lawrence. The question, What if I
should find him lying still on the damp earth, fairly dying of cold and
exhaustion—or already stark and chill? thrust itself most unpleasantly
upon my mind, and the appalling possibility pictured itself with painful
vividness to my imagination as I approached the spot where I had left
him. But no, thank heaven, both man and horse were gone, and nothing was
left to witness against me but two objects—unpleasant enough in
themselves to be sure, and presenting a very ugly, not to say murderous
appearance—in one place, the hat saturated with rain and coated with mud,
indented and broken above the brim by that villainous whip-handle; in
another, the crimson handkerchief, soaking in a deeply tinctured pool of
water—for much rain had fallen in the interim.
Bad news flies fast: it was hardly four o’clock when I got home, but my
mother gravely accosted me with—‘Oh, Gilbert!—Such an accident! Rose has
been shopping in the village, and she’s heard that Mr. Lawrence has been
thrown from his horse and brought home dying!’
This shocked me a trifle, as you may suppose; but I was comforted to hear
that he had frightfully fractured his skull and broken a leg; for,
assured of the falsehood of this, I trusted the rest of the story was
equally exaggerated; and when I heard my mother and sister so feelingly
deploring his condition, I had considerable difficulty in preventing
myself from telling them the real extent of the injuries, as far as I
knew them.
‘You must go and see him to-morrow,’ said my mother.
‘Or to-day,’ suggested Rose: ‘there’s plenty of time; and you can have
the pony, as your horse is tired. Won’t you, Gilbert—as soon as you’ve
had something to eat?’
‘No, no—how can we tell that it isn’t all a false report? It’s highly
im-’
‘Oh, I’m sure it isn’t; for the village is all alive about it; and I saw
two people that had seen others that had seen the man that found him.
That sounds far-fetched; but it isn’t so when you think of it.’
‘Well, but Lawrence is a good rider; it is not likely he would fall from
his horse at all; and if he did, it is highly improbable he would break
his bones in that way. It must be a gross exaggeration at least.’
‘No; but the horse kicked him—or something.’
‘What, his quiet little pony?’
‘How do you know it was that?’
‘He seldom rides any other.’
‘At any rate,’ said my mother, ‘you will call to-morrow. Whether it be
true or false, exaggerated or otherwise, we shall like to know how he
is.’
‘Fergus may go.’
‘Why not you?’
‘He has more time. I am busy just now.’
‘Oh! but, Gilbert, how can you be so composed about it? You won’t mind
business for an hour or two in a case of this sort, when your friend is
at the point of death.’
‘He is not, I tell you.’
‘For anything you know, he may be: you can’t tell till you have seen him.
At all events, he must have met with some terrible accident, and you
ought to see him: he’ll take it very unkind if you don’t.’
‘Confound it! I can’t. He and I have not been on good terms of late.’
‘Oh, my dear boy! Surely, surely you are not so unforgiving as to carry
your little differences to such a length as—’
‘Little differences, indeed!’ I muttered.
‘Well, but only remember the occasion. Think how—’
‘Well, well, don’t bother me now—I’ll see about it,’ I replied.
And my seeing about it was to send Fergus next morning, with my mother’s
compliments, to make the requisite inquiries; for, of course, my going
was out of the question—or sending a message either. He brought back
intelligence that the young squire was laid up with the complicated evils
of a broken head and certain contusions (occasioned by a fall—of which he
did not trouble himself to relate the particulars—and the subsequent
misconduct of his horse), and a severe cold, the consequence of lying on
the wet ground in the rain; but there were no broken bones, and no
immediate prospects of dissolution.
It was evident, then, that for Mrs. Graham’s sake it was not his
intention to criminate me.
CHAPTER XV
That day was rainy like its predecessor; but towards evening it began to
clear up a little, and the next morning was fair and promising. I was
out on the hill with the reapers. A light wind swept over the corn, and
all nature laughed in the sunshine. The lark was rejoicing among the
silvery floating clouds. The late rain had so sweetly freshened and
cleared the air, and washed the sky, and left such glittering gems on
branch and blade, that not even the farmers could have the heart to blame
it. But no ray of sunshine could reach my heart, no breeze could freshen
it; nothing could fill the void my faith, and hope, and joy in Helen
Graham had left, or drive away the keen regrets and bitter dregs of
lingering love that still oppressed it.
While I stood with folded arms abstractedly gazing on the undulating
swell of the corn, not yet disturbed by the reapers, something gently
pulled my skirts, and a small voice, no longer welcome to my ears,
aroused me with the startling words,—‘Mr. Markham, mamma wants you.’
‘Wants me, Arthur?’
‘Yes. Why do you look so queer?’ said he, half laughing, half frightened
at the unexpected aspect of my face in suddenly turning towards him,—‘and
why have you kept so long away? Come! Won’t you come?’
‘I’m busy just now,’ I replied, scarce knowing what to answer.
He looked up in childish bewilderment; but before I could speak again the
lady herself was at my side.
‘Gilbert, I must speak with you!’ said she, in a tone of suppressed
vehemence.
I looked at her pale cheek and glittering eye, but answered nothing.
‘Only for a moment,’ pleaded she. ‘Just step aside into this other
field.’ She glanced at the reapers, some of whom were directing looks of
impertinent curiosity towards her. ‘I won’t keep you a minute.’
I accompanied her through the gap.
‘Arthur, darling, run and gather those bluebells,’ said she, pointing to
some that were gleaming at some distance under the hedge along which we
walked. The child hesitated, as if unwilling to quit my side. ‘Go,
love!’ repeated she more urgently, and in a tone which, though not
unkind, demanded prompt obedience, and obtained it.
‘Well, Mrs. Graham?’ said I, calmly and coldly; for, though I saw she was
miserable, and pitied her, I felt glad to have it in my power to torment
her.
She fixed her eyes upon me with a look that pierced me to the heart; and
yet it made me smile.
‘I don’t ask the reason of this change, Gilbert,’ said she, with bitter
calmness: ‘I know it too well; but though I could see myself suspected
and condemned by every one else, and bear it with calmness, I cannot
endure it from you.—Why did you not come to hear my explanation on the
day I appointed to give it?’
‘Because I happened, in the interim, to learn all you would have told
me—and a trifle more, I imagine.’
‘Impossible, for I would have told you all!’ cried she, passionately—‘but
I won’t now, for I see you are not worthy of it!’
And her pale lips quivered with agitation.
‘Why not, may I ask?’
She repelled my mocking smile with a glance of scornful indignation.
‘Because you never understood me, or you would not soon have listened to
my traducers—my confidence would be misplaced in you—you are not the man
I thought you. Go! I won’t care what you think of me.’
She turned away, and I went; for I thought that would torment her as much
as anything; and I believe I was right; for, looking back a minute after,
I saw her turn half round, as if hoping or expecting to find me still
beside her; and then she stood still, and cast one look behind. It was a
look less expressive of anger than of bitter anguish and despair; but I
immediately assumed an aspect of indifference, and affected to be gazing
carelessly around me, and I suppose she went on; for after lingering
awhile to see if she would come back or call, I ventured one more glance,
and saw her a good way off, moving rapidly up the field, with little
Arthur running by her side and apparently talking as he went; but she
kept her face averted from him, as if to hide some uncontrollable
emotion. And I returned to my business.
But I soon began to regret my precipitancy in leaving her so soon. It
was evident she loved me—probably she was tired of Mr. Lawrence, and
wished to exchange him for me; and if I had loved and reverenced her less
to begin with, the preference might have gratified and amused me; but now
the contrast between her outward seeming and her inward mind, as I
supposed,—between my former and my present opinion of her, was so
harrowing—so distressing to my feelings, that it swallowed up every
lighter consideration.
But still I was curious to know what sort of an explanation she would
have given me—or would give now, if I pressed her for it—how much she
would confess, and how she would endeavour to excuse herself. I longed
to know what to despise, and what to admire in her; how much to pity, and
how much to hate;—and, what was more, I would know. I would see her once
more, and fairly satisfy myself in what light to regard her, before we
parted. Lost to me she was, for ever, of course; but still I could not
bear to think that we had parted, for the last time, with so much
unkindness and misery on both sides. That last look of hers had sunk
into my heart; I could not forget it. But what a fool I was! Had she
not deceived me, injured me—blighted my happiness for life? ‘Well, I’ll
see her, however,’ was my concluding resolve, ‘but not to-day: to-day and
to-night she may think upon her sins, and be as miserable as she will:
to-morrow I will see her once again, and know something more about her.
The interview may be serviceable to her, or it may not. At any rate, it
will give a breath of excitement to the life she has doomed to
stagnation, and may calm with certainty some agitating thoughts.’
I did go on the morrow, but not till towards evening, after the business
of the day was concluded, that is, between six and seven; and the
westering sun was gleaming redly on the old Hall, and flaming in the
latticed windows, as I reached it, imparting to the place a cheerfulness
not its own. I need not dilate upon the feelings with which I approached
the shrine of my former divinity—that spot teeming with a thousand
delightful recollections and glorious dreams—all darkened now by one
disastrous truth.
Rachel admitted me into the parlour, and went to call her mistress, for
she was not there: but there was her desk left open on the little round
table beside the high-backed chair, with a book laid upon it. Her
limited but choice collection of books was almost as familiar to me as my
own; but this volume I had not seen before. I took it up. It was Sir
Humphry Davy’s ‘Last Days of a Philosopher,’ and on the first leaf was
written, ‘Frederick Lawrence.’ I closed the book, but kept it in my
hand, and stood facing the door, with my back to the fire-place, calmly
waiting her arrival; for I did not doubt she would come. And soon I
heard her step in the hall. My heart was beginning to throb, but I
checked it with an internal rebuke, and maintained my composure—outwardly
at least. She entered, calm, pale, collected.
‘To what am I indebted for this favour, Mr. Markham?’ said she, with such
severe but quiet dignity as almost disconcerted me; but I answered with a
smile, and impudently enough,—
‘Well, I am come to hear your explanation.’
‘I told you I would not give it,’ said she. ‘I said you were unworthy of
my confidence.’
‘Oh, very well,’ replied I, moving to the door.
‘Stay a moment,’ said she. ‘This is the last time I shall see you: don’t
go just yet.’
I remained, awaiting her further commands.
‘Tell me,’ resumed she, ‘on what grounds you believe these things against
me; who told you; and what did they say?’
I paused a moment. She met my eye as unflinchingly as if her bosom had
been steeled with conscious innocence. She was resolved to know the
worst, and determined to dare it too. ‘I can crush that bold spirit,’
thought I. But while I secretly exulted in my power, I felt disposed to
dally with my victim like a cat. Showing her the book that I still held,
in my hand, and pointing to the name on the fly-leaf, but fixing my eye
upon her face, I asked,—‘Do you know that gentleman?’
‘Of course I do,’ replied she; and a sudden flush suffused her
features—whether of shame or anger I could not tell: it rather resembled
the latter. ‘What next, sir?’
‘How long is it since you saw him?’
‘Who gave you the right to catechize me on this or any other subject?’
‘Oh, no one!—it’s quite at your option whether to answer or not. And
now, let me ask—have you heard what has lately befallen this friend of
yours?—because, if you have not—’
‘I will not be insulted, Mr. Markham!’ cried she, almost infuriated at my
manner. ‘So you had better leave the house at once, if you came only for
that.’
‘I did not come to insult you: I came to hear your explanation.’
‘And I tell you I won’t give it!’ retorted she, pacing the room in a
state of strong excitement, with her hands clasped tightly together,
breathing short, and flashing fires of indignation from her eyes. ‘I
will not condescend to explain myself to one that can make a jest of such
horrible suspicions, and be so easily led to entertain them.’
‘I do not make a jest of them, Mrs. Graham,’ returned I, dropping at once
my tone of taunting sarcasm. ‘I heartily wish I could find them a
jesting matter. And as to being easily led to suspect, God only knows
what a blind, incredulous fool I have hitherto been, perseveringly
shutting my eyes and stopping my ears against everything that threatened
to shake my confidence in you, till proof itself confounded my
infatuation!’
‘What proof, sir?’
‘Well, I’ll tell you. You remember that evening when I was here last?’
‘I do.’
‘Even then you dropped some hints that might have opened the eyes of a
wiser man; but they had no such effect upon me: I went on trusting and
believing, hoping against hope, and adoring where I could not comprehend.
It so happened, however, that after I left you I turned back—drawn by
pure depth of sympathy and ardour of affection—not daring to intrude my
presence openly upon you, but unable to resist the temptation of catching
one glimpse through the window, just to see how you were: for I had left
you apparently in great affliction, and I partly blamed my own want of
forbearance and discretion as the cause of it. If I did wrong, love
alone was my incentive, and the punishment was severe enough; for it was
just as I had reached that tree, that you came out into the garden with
your friend. Not choosing to show myself, under the circumstances, I
stood still, in the shadow, till you had both passed by.’
‘And how much of our conversation did you hear?’
‘I heard quite enough, Helen. And it was well for me that I did hear it;
for nothing less could have cured my infatuation. I always said and
thought, that I would never believe a word against you, unless I heard it
from your own lips. All the hints and affirmations of others I treated
as malignant, baseless slanders; your own self-accusations I believed to
be overstrained; and all that seemed unaccountable in your position I
trusted that you could account for if you chose.’
Mrs. Graham had discontinued her walk. She leant against one end of the
chimney-piece, opposite that near which I was standing, with her chin
resting on her closed hand, her eyes—no longer burning with anger, but
gleaming with restless excitement—sometimes glancing at me while I spoke,
then coursing the opposite wall, or fixed upon the carpet.
‘You should have come to me after all,’ said she, ‘and heard what I had
to say in my own justification. It was ungenerous and wrong to withdraw
yourself so secretly and suddenly, immediately after such ardent
protestations of attachment, without ever assigning a reason for the
change. You should have told me all--no matter how bitterly. It would
have been better than this silence.’
‘To what end should I have done so? You could not have enlightened me
further, on the subject which alone concerned me; nor could you have made
me discredit the evidence of my senses. I desired our intimacy to be
discontinued at once, as you yourself had acknowledged would probably be
the case if I knew all; but I did not wish to upbraid you,—though (as you
also acknowledged) you had deeply wronged me. Yes, you have done me an
injury you can never repair—or any other either—you have blighted the
freshness and promise of youth, and made my life a wilderness! I might
live a hundred years, but I could never recover from the effects of this
withering blow—and never forget it! Hereafter—You smile, Mrs. Graham,’
said I, suddenly stopping short, checked in my passionate declamation by
unutterable feelings to behold her actually smiling at the picture of the
ruin she had wrought.
‘Did I?’ replied she, looking seriously up; ‘I was not aware of it. If I
did, it was not for pleasure at the thoughts of the harm I had done you.
Heaven knows I have had torment enough at the bare possibility of that;
it was for joy to find that you had some depth of soul and feeling after
all, and to hope that I had not been utterly mistaken in your worth. But
smiles and tears are so alike with me, they are neither of them confined
to any particular feelings: I often cry when I am happy, and smile when I
am sad.’
She looked at me again, and seemed to expect a reply; but I continued
silent.
‘Would you be very glad,’ resumed she, ‘to find that you were mistaken in
your conclusions?’
‘How can you ask it, Helen?’
‘I don’t say I can clear myself altogether,’ said she, speaking low and
fast, while her heart beat visibly and her bosom heaved with
excitement,—‘but would you be glad to discover I was better than you
think me?’
‘Anything that could in the least degree tend to restore my former
opinion of you, to excuse the regard I still feel for you, and alleviate
the pangs of unutterable regret that accompany it, would be only too
gladly, too eagerly received!’ Her cheeks burned, and her whole frame
trembled, now, with excess of agitation. She did not speak, but flew to
her desk, and snatching thence what seemed a thick album or manuscript
volume, hastily tore away a few leaves from the end, and thrust the rest
into my hand, saying, ‘You needn’t read it all; but take it home with
you,’ and hurried from the room. But when I had left the house, and was
proceeding down the walk, she opened the window and called me back. It
was only to say,—‘Bring it back when you have read it; and don’t breathe
a word of what it tells you to any living being. I trust to your
honour.’
Before I could answer she had closed the casement and turned away. I saw
her cast herself back in the old oak chair, and cover her face with her
hands. Her feelings had been wrought to a pitch that rendered it
necessary to seek relief in tears.
Panting with eagerness, and struggling to suppress my hopes, I hurried
home, and rushed up-stairs to my room, having first provided myself with
a candle, though it was scarcely twilight yet—then, shut and bolted the
door, determined to tolerate no interruption; and sitting down before the
table, opened out my prize and delivered myself up to its perusal—first
hastily turning over the leaves and snatching a sentence here and there,
and then setting myself steadily to read it through.
I have it now before me; and though you could not, of course, peruse it
with half the interest that I did, I know you would not be satisfied with
an abbreviation of its contents, and you shall have the whole, save,
perhaps, a few passages here and there of merely temporary interest to
the writer, or such as would serve to encumber the story rather than
elucidate it. It begins somewhat abruptly, thus—but we will reserve its
commencement for another chapter.
CHAPTER XVI
June 1st, 1821.—We have just returned to Staningley—that is, we returned
some days ago, and I am not yet settled, and feel as if I never should
be. We left town sooner than was intended, in consequence of my uncle’s
indisposition;—I wonder what would have been the result if we had stayed
the full time. I am quite ashamed of my new-sprung distaste for country
life. All my former occupations seem so tedious and dull, my former
amusements so insipid and unprofitable. I cannot enjoy my music, because
there is no one to hear it. I cannot enjoy my walks, because there is no
one to meet. I cannot enjoy my books, because they have not power to
arrest my attention: my head is so haunted with the recollections of the
last few weeks, that I cannot attend to them. My drawing suits me best,
for I can draw and think at the same time; and if my productions cannot
now be seen by any one but myself, and those who do not care about them,
they, possibly, may be, hereafter. But, then, there is one face I am
always trying to paint or to sketch, and always without success; and that
vexes me. As for the owner of that face, I cannot get him out of my
mind—and, indeed, I never try. I wonder whether he ever thinks of me;
and I wonder whether I shall ever see him again. And then might follow a
train of other wonderments—questions for time and fate to
answer—concluding with—Supposing all the rest be answered in the
affirmative, I wonder whether I shall ever repent it? as my aunt would
tell me I should, if she knew what I was thinking about.
How distinctly I remember our conversation that evening before our
departure for town, when we were sitting together over the fire, my uncle
having gone to bed with a slight attack of the gout.
‘Helen,’ said she, after a thoughtful silence, ‘do you ever think about
marriage?’
‘Yes, aunt, often.’
‘And do you ever contemplate the possibility of being married yourself,
or engaged, before the season is over?’
‘Sometimes; but I don’t think it at all likely that I ever shall.’
‘Why so?’
‘Because, I imagine, there must be only a very, very few men in the world
that I should like to marry; and of those few, it is ten to one I may
never be acquainted with one; or if I should, it is twenty to one he may
not happen to be single, or to take a fancy to me.’
‘That is no argument at all. It may be very true—and I hope is true,
that there are very few men whom you would choose to marry, of yourself.
It is not, indeed, to be supposed that you would wish to marry any one
till you were asked: a girl’s affections should never be won unsought.
But when they are sought—when the citadel of the heart is fairly
besieged—it is apt to surrender sooner than the owner is aware of, and
often against her better judgment, and in opposition to all her
preconceived ideas of what she could have loved, unless she be extremely
careful and discreet. Now, I want to warn you, Helen, of these things,
and to exhort you to be watchful and circumspect from the very
commencement of your career, and not to suffer your heart to be stolen
from you by the first foolish or unprincipled person that covets the
possession of it.—You know, my dear, you are only just eighteen; there is
plenty of time before you, and neither your uncle nor I are in any hurry
to get you off our hands, and I may venture to say, there will be no lack
of suitors; for you can boast a good family, a pretty considerable
fortune and expectations, and, I may as well tell you likewise—for, if I
don’t, others will—that you have a fair share of beauty besides—and I
hope you may never have cause to regret it!’
‘I hope not, aunt; but why should you fear it?’
‘Because, my dear, beauty is that quality which, next to money, is
generally the most attractive to the worst kinds of men; and, therefore,
it is likely to entail a great deal of trouble on the possessor.’
‘Have you been troubled in that way, aunt?’
‘No, Helen,’ said she, with reproachful gravity, ‘but I know many that
have; and some, through carelessness, have been the wretched victims of
deceit; and some, through weakness, have fallen into snares and
temptations terrible to relate.’
‘Well, I shall be neither careless nor weak.’
‘Remember Peter, Helen! Don’t boast, but watch. Keep a guard over your
eyes and ears as the inlets of your heart, and over your lips as the
outlet, lest they betray you in a moment of unwariness. Receive, coldly
and dispassionately, every attention, till you have ascertained and duly
considered the worth of the aspirant; and let your affections be
consequent upon approbation alone. First study; then approve; then love.
Let your eyes be blind to all external attractions, your ears deaf to all
the fascinations of flattery and light discourse.—These are nothing—and
worse than nothing—snares and wiles of the tempter, to lure the
thoughtless to their own destruction. Principle is the first thing,
after all; and next to that, good sense, respectability, and moderate
wealth. If you should marry the handsomest, and most accomplished and
superficially agreeable man in the world, you little know the misery that
would overwhelm you if, after all, you should find him to be a worthless
reprobate, or even an impracticable fool.’
‘But what are all the poor fools and reprobates to do, aunt? If
everybody followed your advice, the world would soon come to an end.’
‘Never fear, my dear! the male fools and reprobates will never want for
partners, while there are so many of the other sex to match them; but do
you follow my advice. And this is no subject for jesting, Helen—I am
sorry to see you treat the matter in that light way. Believe me,
matrimony is a serious thing.’ And she spoke it so seriously, that one
might have fancied she had known it to her cost; but I asked no more
impertinent questions, and merely answered,—‘I know it is; and I know
there is truth and sense in what you say; but you need not fear me, for I
not only should think it wrong to marry a man that was deficient in sense
or in principle, but I should never be tempted to do it; for I could not
like him, if he were ever so handsome, and ever so charming, in other
respects; I should hate him—despise him—pity him—anything but love him.
My affections not only ought to be founded on approbation, but they will
and must be so: for, without approving, I cannot love. It is needless to
say, I ought to be able to respect and honour the man I marry, as well as
love him, for I cannot love him without. So set your mind at rest.’
‘I hope it may be so,’ answered she.
‘I know it is so,’ persisted I.
‘You have not been tried yet, Helen—we can but hope,’ said she in her
cold, cautious way.
‘I was vexed at her incredulity; but I am not sure her doubts were
entirely without sagacity; I fear I have found it much easier to remember
her advice than to profit by it;—indeed, I have sometimes been led to
question the soundness of her doctrines on those subjects. Her counsels
may be good, as far as they go—in the main points at least;—but there are
some things she has overlooked in her calculations. I wonder if she was
ever in love.
I commenced my career—or my first campaign, as my uncle calls it—kindling
with bright hopes and fancies—chiefly raised by this conversation—and
full of confidence in my own discretion. At first, I was delighted with
the novelty and excitement of our London life; but soon I began to weary
of its mingled turbulence and constraint, and sigh for the freshness and
freedom of home. My new acquaintances, both male and female,
disappointed my expectations, and vexed and depressed me by turns; for I
soon grew tired of studying their peculiarities, and laughing at their
foibles—particularly as I was obliged to keep my criticisms to myself,
for my aunt would not hear them—and they—the ladies especially—appeared
so provokingly mindless, and heartless, and artificial. The gentlemen
seemed better, but, perhaps, it was because I knew them less—perhaps,
because they flattered me; but I did not fall in love with any of them;
and, if their attentions pleased me one moment, they provoked me the
next, because they put me out of humour with myself, by revealing my
vanity and making me fear I was becoming like some of the ladies I so
heartily despised.
There was one elderly gentleman that annoyed me very much; a rich old
friend of my uncle’s, who, I believe, thought I could not do better than
marry him; but, besides being old, he was ugly and disagreeable,—and
wicked, I am sure, though my aunt scolded me for saying so; but she
allowed he was no saint. And there was another, less hateful, but still
more tiresome, because she favoured him, and was always thrusting him
upon me, and sounding his praises in my ears—Mr. Boarham by name,
Bore’em, as I prefer spelling it, for a terrible bore he was: I shudder
still at the remembrance of his voice—drone, drone, drone, in my
ear—while he sat beside me, prosing away by the half-hour together, and
beguiling himself with the notion that he was improving my mind by useful
information, or impressing his dogmas upon me and reforming my errors of
judgment, or perhaps that he was talking down to my level, and amusing me
with entertaining discourse. Yet he was a decent man enough in the main,
I daresay; and if he had kept his distance, I never would have hated him.
As it was, it was almost impossible to help it, for he not only bothered
me with the infliction of his own presence, but he kept me from the
enjoyment of more agreeable society.
One night, however, at a ball, he had been more than usually tormenting,
and my patience was quite exhausted. It appeared as if the whole evening
was fated to be insupportable: I had just had one dance with an
empty-headed coxcomb, and then Mr. Boarham had come upon me and seemed
determined to cling to me for the rest of the night. He never danced
himself, and there he sat, poking his head in my face, and impressing all
beholders with the idea that he was a confirmed, acknowledged lover; my
aunt looking complacently on all the time, and wishing him God-speed. In
vain I attempted to drive him away by giving a loose to my exasperated
feelings, even to positive rudeness: nothing could convince him that his
presence was disagreeable. Sullen silence was taken for rapt attention,
and gave him greater room to talk; sharp answers were received as smart
sallies of girlish vivacity, that only required an indulgent rebuke; and
flat contradictions were but as oil to the flames, calling forth new
strains of argument to support his dogmas, and bringing down upon me
endless floods of reasoning to overwhelm me with conviction.
But there was one present who seemed to have a better appreciation of my
frame of mind. A gentleman stood by, who had been watching our
conference for some time, evidently much amused at my companion’s
remorseless pertinacity and my manifest annoyance, and laughing to
himself at the asperity and uncompromising spirit of my replies. At
length, however, he withdrew, and went to the lady of the house,
apparently for the purpose of asking an introduction to me, for, shortly
after, they both came up, and she introduced him as Mr. Huntingdon, the
son of a late friend of my uncle’s. He asked me to dance. I gladly
consented, of course; and he was my companion during the remainder of my
stay, which was not long, for my aunt, as usual, insisted upon an early
departure.
I was sorry to go, for I had found my new acquaintance a very lively and
entertaining companion. There was a certain graceful ease and freedom
about all he said and did, that gave a sense of repose and expansion to
the mind, after so much constraint and formality as I had been doomed to
suffer. There might be, it is true, a little too much careless boldness
in his manner and address, but I was in so good a humour, and so grateful
for my late deliverance from Mr. Boarham, that it did not anger me.
‘Well, Helen, how do you like Mr. Boarham now?’ said my aunt, as we took
our seats in the carriage and drove away.
‘Worse than ever,’ I replied.
She looked displeased, but said no more on that subject.
‘Who was the gentleman you danced with last,’ resumed she, after a
pause—‘that was so officious in helping you on with your shawl?’
‘He was not officious at all, aunt: he never attempted to help me till he
saw Mr. Boarham coming to do so; and then he stepped laughingly forward
and said, “Come, I’ll preserve you from that infliction.”’
‘Who was it, I ask?’ said she, with frigid gravity.
‘It was Mr. Huntingdon, the son of uncle’s old friend.’
‘I have heard your uncle speak of young Mr. Huntingdon. I’ve heard him
say, “He’s a fine lad, that young Huntingdon, but a bit wildish, I
fancy.” So I’d have you beware.’
‘What does “a bit wildish” mean?’ I inquired.
‘It means destitute of principle, and prone to every vice that is common
to youth.’
‘But I’ve heard uncle say he was a sad wild fellow himself, when he was
young.’
She sternly shook her head.
‘He was jesting then, I suppose,’ said I, ‘and here he was speaking at
random—at least, I cannot believe there is any harm in those laughing
blue eyes.’
‘False reasoning, Helen!’ said she, with a sigh.
‘Well, we ought to be charitable, you know, aunt—besides, I don’t think
it is false: I am an excellent physiognomist, and I always judge of
people’s characters by their looks—not by whether they are handsome or
ugly, but by the general cast of the countenance. For instance, I should
know by your countenance that you were not of a cheerful, sanguine
disposition; and I should know by Mr. Wilmot’s, that he was a worthless
old reprobate; and by Mr. Boarham’s, that he was not an agreeable
companion; and by Mr. Huntingdon’s, that he was neither a fool nor a
knave, though, possibly, neither a sage nor a saint—but that is no matter
to me, as I am not likely to meet him again—unless as an occasional
partner in the ball-room.’
It was not so, however, for I met him again next morning. He came to
call upon my uncle, apologising for not having done so before, by saying
he was only lately returned from the Continent, and had not heard, till
the previous night, of my uncle’s arrival in town; and after that I often
met him; sometimes in public, sometimes at home; for he was very
assiduous in paying his respects to his old friend, who did not, however,
consider himself greatly obliged by the attention.
‘I wonder what the deuce the lad means by coming so often,’ he would
say,—‘can you tell, Helen?—Hey? He wants none o’ my company, nor I
his—that’s certain.’
‘I wish you’d tell him so, then,’ said my aunt.
‘Why, what for? If I don’t want him, somebody does, mayhap’ (winking at
me). ‘Besides, he’s a pretty tidy fortune, Peggy, you know—not such a
catch as Wilmot; but then Helen won’t hear of that match: for, somehow,
these old chaps don’t go down with the girls—with all their money, and
their experience to boot. I’ll bet anything she’d rather have this young
fellow without a penny, than Wilmot with his house full of gold.
Wouldn’t you, Nell?’
‘Yes, uncle; but that’s not saying much for Mr. Huntingdon; for I’d
rather be an old maid and a pauper than Mrs. Wilmot.’
‘And Mrs. Huntingdon? What would you rather be than Mrs. Huntingdon—eh?’
‘I’ll tell you when I’ve considered the matter.’
‘Ah! it needs consideration, then? But come, now—would you rather be an
old maid—let alone the pauper?’
‘I can’t tell till I’m asked.’
And I left the room immediately, to escape further examination. But five
minutes after, in looking from my window, I beheld Mr. Boarham coming up
to the door. I waited nearly half-an-hour in uncomfortable suspense,
expecting every minute to be called, and vainly longing to hear him go.
Then footsteps were heard on the stairs, and my aunt entered the room
with a solemn countenance, and closed the door behind her.
‘Here is Mr. Boarham, Helen,’ said she. ‘He wishes to see you.’
‘Oh, aunt!—Can’t you tell him I’m indisposed?—I’m sure I am—to see him.’
‘Nonsense, my dear! this is no trifling matter. He is come on a very
important errand—to ask your hand in marriage of your uncle and me.’
‘I hope my uncle and you told him it was not in your power to give it.
What right had he to ask any one before me?’
‘Helen!’
‘What did my uncle say?’
‘He said he would not interfere in the matter; if you liked to accept Mr.
Boarham’s obliging offer, you—’
‘Did he say obliging offer?’
‘No; he said if you liked to take him you might; and if not, you might
please yourself.’
‘He said right; and what did you say?’
‘It is no matter what I said. What will you say?—that is the question.
He is now waiting to ask you himself; but consider well before you go;
and if you intend to refuse him, give me your reasons.’
‘I shall refuse him, of course; but you must tell me how, for I want to
be civil and yet decided—and when I’ve got rid of him, I’ll give you my
reasons afterwards.’
‘But stay, Helen; sit down a little and compose yourself. Mr. Boarham is
in no particular hurry, for he has little doubt of your acceptance; and I
want to speak with you. Tell me, my dear, what are your objections to
him? Do you deny that he is an upright, honourable man?’
‘No.’
‘Do you deny that he is sensible, sober, respectable?’
‘No; he may be all this, but—’
‘But, Helen! How many such men do you expect to meet with in the world?
Upright, honourable, sensible, sober, respectable! Is this such an
every-day character that you should reject the possessor of such noble
qualities without a moment’s hesitation? Yes, noble I may call them; for
think of the full meaning of each, and how many inestimable virtues they
include (and I might add many more to the list), and consider that all
this is laid at your feet. It is in your power to secure this
inestimable blessing for life—a worthy and excellent husband, who loves
you tenderly, but not too fondly so as to blind him to your faults, and
will be your guide throughout life’s pilgrimage, and your partner in
eternal bliss. Think how—’
‘But I hate him, aunt,’ said I, interrupting this unusual flow of
eloquence.
‘Hate him, Helen! Is this a Christian spirit?—you hate him? and he so
good a man!’
‘I don’t hate him as a man, but as a husband. As a man, I love him so
much that I wish him a better wife than I—one as good as himself, or
better—if you think that possible—provided she could like him; but I
never could, and therefore—’
‘But why not? What objection do you find?’
‘Firstly, he is at least forty years old—considerably more, I should
think—and I am but eighteen; secondly, he is narrow-minded and bigoted in
the extreme; thirdly, his tastes and feelings are wholly dissimilar to
mine; fourthly, his looks, voice, and manner are particularly displeasing
to me; and, finally, I have an aversion to his whole person that I never
can surmount.’
‘Then you ought to surmount it. And please to compare him for a moment
with Mr. Huntingdon, and, good looks apart (which contribute nothing to
the merit of the man, or to the happiness of married life, and which you
have so often professed to hold in light esteem), tell me which is the
better man.’
‘I have no doubt Mr. Huntingdon is a much better man than you think him;
but we are not talking about him now, but about Mr. Boarham; and as I
would rather grow, live, and die in single blessedness—than be his wife,
it is but right that I should tell him so at once, and put him out of
suspense—so let me go.’
‘But don’t give him a flat denial; he has no idea of such a thing, and it
would offend him greatly: say you have no thoughts of matrimony at
present—’
‘But I have thoughts of it.’
‘Or that you desire a further acquaintance.’
‘But I don’t desire a further acquaintance—quite the contrary.’
And without waiting for further admonitions I left the room and went to
seek Mr. Boarham. He was walking up and down the drawing-room, humming
snatches of tunes and nibbling the end of his cane.
‘My dear young lady,’ said he, bowing and smirking with great
complacency, ‘I have your kind guardian’s permission—’
‘I know, sir,’ said I, wishing to shorten the scene as much as possible,
‘and I am greatly obliged for your preference, but must beg to decline
the honour you wish to confer, for I think we were not made for each
other, as you yourself would shortly discover if the experiment were
tried.’
My aunt was right. It was quite evident he had had little doubt of my
acceptance, and no idea of a positive denial. He was amazed, astounded
at such an answer, but too incredulous to be much offended; and after a
little humming and hawing, he returned to the attack.
‘I know, my dear, that there exists a considerable disparity between us
in years, in temperament, and perhaps some other things; but let me
assure you, I shall not be severe to mark the faults and foibles of a
young and ardent nature such as yours, and while I acknowledge them to
myself, and even rebuke them with all a father’s care, believe me, no
youthful lover could be more tenderly indulgent towards the object of his
affections than I to you; and, on the other hand, let me hope that my
more experienced years and graver habits of reflection will be no
disparagement in your eyes, as I shall endeavour to make them all
conducive to your happiness. Come, now! What do you say? Let us have
no young lady’s affectations and caprices, but speak out at once.’
‘I will, but only to repeat what I said before, that I am certain we were
not made for each other.’
‘You really think so?’
‘I do.’
‘But you don’t know me—you wish for a further acquaintance—a longer time
to—’
‘No, I don’t. I know you as well as I ever shall, and better than you
know me, or you would never dream of uniting yourself to one so
incongruous—so utterly unsuitable to you in every way.’
‘But, my dear young lady, I don’t look for perfection; I can excuse—’
‘Thank you, Mr. Boarham, but I won’t trespass upon your goodness. You
may save your indulgence and consideration for some more worthy object,
that won’t tax them so heavily.’
‘But let me beg you to consult your aunt; that excellent lady, I am sure,
will—’
‘I have consulted her; and I know her wishes coincide with yours; but in
such important matters, I take the liberty of judging for myself; and no
persuasion can alter my inclinations, or induce me to believe that such a
step would be conducive to my happiness or yours—and I wonder that a man
of your experience and discretion should think of choosing such a wife.’
‘Ah, well!’ said he, ‘I have sometimes wondered at that myself. I have
sometimes said to myself, “Now Boarham, what is this you’re after? Take
care, man—look before you leap! This is a sweet, bewitching creature,
but remember, the brightest attractions to the lover too often prove the
husband’s greatest torments!” I assure you my choice has not been made
without much reasoning and reflection. The seeming imprudence of the
match has cost me many an anxious thought by day, and many a sleepless
hour by night; but at length I satisfied myself that it was not, in very
deed, imprudent. I saw my sweet girl was not without her faults, but of
these her youth, I trusted, was not one, but rather an earnest of virtues
yet unblown—a strong ground of presumption that her little defects of
temper and errors of judgment, opinion, or manner were not irremediable,
but might easily be removed or mitigated by the patient efforts of a
watchful and judicious adviser, and where I failed to enlighten and
control, I thought I might safely undertake to pardon, for the sake of
her many excellences. Therefore, my dearest girl, since I am satisfied,
why should you object—on my account, at least?’
‘But to tell you the truth, Mr. Boarham, it is on my own account I
principally object; so let us—drop the subject,’ I would have said, ‘for
it is worse than useless to pursue it any further,’ but he pertinaciously
interrupted me with,—‘But why so? I would love you, cherish you, protect
you,’ &c., &c.
I shall not trouble myself to put down all that passed between us.
Suffice it to say, that I found him very troublesome, and very hard to
convince that I really meant what I said, and really was so obstinate and
blind to my own interests, that there was no shadow of a chance that
either he or my aunt would ever be able to overcome my objections.
Indeed, I am not sure that I succeeded after all; though wearied with his
so pertinaciously returning to the same point and repeating the same
arguments over and over again, forcing me to reiterate the same replies,
I at length turned short and sharp upon him, and my last words were,—‘I
tell you plainly, that it cannot be. No consideration can induce me to
marry against my inclinations. I respect you—at least, I would respect
you, if you would behave like a sensible man—but I cannot love you, and
never could—and the more you talk the further you repel me; so pray don’t
say any more about it.’
Whereupon he wished me a good-morning, and withdrew, disconcerted and
offended, no doubt; but surely it was not my fault.
CHAPTER XVII
The next day I accompanied my uncle and aunt to a dinner-party at Mr.
Wilmot’s. He had two ladies staying with him: his niece Annabella, a
fine dashing girl, or rather young woman,—of some five-and-twenty, too
great a flirt to be married, according to her own assertion, but greatly
admired by the gentlemen, who universally pronounced her a splendid
woman; and her gentle cousin, Milicent Hargrave, who had taken a violent
fancy to me, mistaking me for something vastly better than I was. And I,
in return, was very fond of her. I should entirely exclude poor Milicent
in my general animadversions against the ladies of my acquaintance. But
it was not on her account, or her cousin’s, that I have mentioned the
party: it was for the sake of another of Mr. Wilmot’s guests, to wit Mr.
Huntingdon. I have good reason to remember his presence there, for this
was the last time I saw him.
He did not sit near me at dinner; for it was his fate to hand in a
capacious old dowager, and mine to be handed in by Mr. Grimsby, a friend
of his, but a man I very greatly disliked: there was a sinister cast in
his countenance, and a mixture of lurking ferocity and fulsome
insincerity in his demeanour, that I could not away with. What a
tiresome custom that is, by-the-by—one among the many sources of
factitious annoyance of this ultra-civilised life. If the gentlemen must
lead the ladies into the dining-room, why cannot they take those they
like best?
I am not sure, however, that Mr. Huntingdon would have taken me, if he
had been at liberty to make his own selection. It is quite possible he
might have chosen Miss Wilmot; for she seemed bent upon engrossing his
attention to herself, and he seemed nothing loth to pay the homage she
demanded. I thought so, at least, when I saw how they talked and
laughed, and glanced across the table, to the neglect and evident umbrage
of their respective neighbours—and afterwards, as the gentlemen joined us
in the drawing-room, when she, immediately upon his entrance, loudly
called upon him to be the arbiter of a dispute between herself and
another lady, and he answered the summons with alacrity, and decided the
question without a moment’s hesitation in her favour—though, to my
thinking, she was obviously in the wrong—and then stood chatting
familiarly with her and a group of other ladies; while I sat with
Milicent Hargrave at the opposite end of the room, looking over the
latter’s drawings, and aiding her with my critical observations and
advice, at her particular desire. But in spite of my efforts to remain
composed, my attention wandered from the drawings to the merry group, and
against my better judgment my wrath rose, and doubtless my countenance
lowered; for Milicent, observing that I must be tired of her daubs and
scratches, begged I would join the company now, and defer the examination
of the remainder to another opportunity. But while I was assuring her
that I had no wish to join them, and was not tired, Mr. Huntingdon
himself came up to the little round table at which we sat.
‘Are these yours?’ said he, carelessly taking up one of the drawings.
‘No, they are Miss Hargrave’s.’
‘Oh! well, let’s have a look at them.’
And, regardless of Miss Hargrave’s protestations that they were not worth
looking at, he drew a chair to my side, and receiving the drawings, one
by one from my hand, successively scanned them over, and threw them on
the table, but said not a word about them, though he was talking all the
time. I don’t know what Milicent Hargrave thought of such conduct, but I
found his conversation extremely interesting; though, as I afterwards
discovered, when I came to analyse it, it was chiefly confined to
quizzing the different members of the company present; and albeit he made
some clever remarks, and some excessively droll ones, I do not think the
whole would appear anything very particular, if written here, without the
adventitious aids of look, and tone, and gesture, and that ineffable but
indefinite charm, which cast a halo over all he did and said, and which
would have made it a delight to look in his face, and hear the music of
his voice, if he had been talking positive nonsense—and which, moreover,
made me feel so bitter against my aunt when she put a stop to this
enjoyment, by coming composedly forward, under pretence of wishing to see
the drawings, that she cared and knew nothing about, and while making
believe to examine them, addressing herself to Mr. Huntingdon, with one
of her coldest and most repellent aspects, and beginning a series of the
most common-place and formidably formal questions and observations, on
purpose to wrest his attention from me—on purpose to vex me, as I
thought: and having now looked through the portfolio, I left them to
their _tête-à-tête_, and seated myself on a sofa, quite apart from the
company—never thinking how strange such conduct would appear, but merely
to indulge, at first, the vexation of the moment, and subsequently to
enjoy my private thoughts.
But I was not left long alone, for Mr. Wilmot, of all men the least
welcome, took advantage of my isolated position to come and plant himself
beside me. I had flattered myself that I had so effectually repulsed his
advances on all former occasions, that I had nothing more to apprehend
from his unfortunate predilection; but it seems I was mistaken: so great
was his confidence, either in his wealth or his remaining powers of
attraction, and so firm his conviction of feminine weakness, that he
thought himself warranted to return to the siege, which he did with
renovated ardour, enkindled by the quantity of wine he had drunk—a
circumstance that rendered him infinitely the more disgusting; but
greatly as I abhorred him at that moment, I did not like to treat him
with rudeness, as I was now his guest, and had just been enjoying his
hospitality; and I was no hand at a polite but determined rejection, nor
would it have greatly availed me if I had, for he was too coarse-minded
to take any repulse that was not as plain and positive as his own
effrontery. The consequence was, that he waxed more fulsomely tender,
and more repulsively warm, and I was driven to the very verge of
desperation, and about to say I know not what, when I felt my hand, that
hung over the arm of the sofa, suddenly taken by another and gently but
fervently pressed. Instinctively, I guessed who it was, and, on looking
up, was less surprised than delighted to see Mr. Huntingdon smiling upon
me. It was like turning from some purgatorial fiend to an angel of
light, come to announce that the season of torment was past.
‘Helen,’ said he (he frequently called me Helen, and I never resented the
freedom), ‘I want you to look at this picture. Mr. Wilmot will excuse
you a moment, I’m sure.’
I rose with alacrity. He drew my arm within his, and led me across the
room to a splendid painting of Vandyke’s that I had noticed before, but
not sufficiently examined. After a moment of silent contemplation, I was
beginning to comment on its beauties and peculiarities, when, playfully
pressing the hand he still retained within his arm, he interrupted me
with,—‘Never mind the picture: it was not for that I brought you here; it
was to get you away from that scoundrelly old profligate yonder, who is
looking as if he would like to challenge me for the affront.’
‘I am very much obliged to you,’ said I. ‘This is twice you have
delivered me from such unpleasant companionship.’
‘Don’t be too thankful,’ he answered: ‘it is not all kindness to you; it
is partly from a feeling of spite to your tormentors that makes me
delighted to do the old fellows a bad turn, though I don’t think I have
any great reason to dread them as rivals. Have I, Helen?’
‘You know I detest them both.’
‘And me?’
‘I have no reason to detest you.’
‘But what are your sentiments towards me? Helen—Speak! How do you
regard me?’
And again he pressed my hand; but I feared there was more of conscious
power than tenderness in his demeanour, and I felt he had no right to
extort a confession of attachment from me when he had made no
correspondent avowal himself, and knew not what to answer. At last I
said,—‘How do you regard me?’
‘Sweet angel, I adore you! I—’
‘Helen, I want you a moment,’ said the distinct, low voice of my aunt,
close beside us. And I left him, muttering maledictions against his evil
angel.
‘Well, aunt, what is it? What do you want?’ said I, following her to the
embrasure of the window.
‘I want you to join the company, when you are fit to be seen,’ returned
she, severely regarding me; ‘but please to stay here a little, till that
shocking colour is somewhat abated, and your eyes have recovered
something of their natural expression. I should be ashamed for anyone to
see you in your present state.’
Of course, such a remark had no effect in reducing the ‘shocking colour’;
on the contrary, I felt my face glow with redoubled fires kindled by a
complication of emotions, of which indignant, swelling anger was the
chief. I offered no reply, however, but pushed aside the curtain and
looked into the night—or rather into the lamp-lit square.
‘Was Mr. Huntingdon proposing to you, Helen?’ inquired my too watchful
relative.
‘No.’
‘What was he saying then? I heard something very like it.’
‘I don’t know what he would have said, if you hadn’t interrupted him.’
‘And would you have accepted him, Helen, if he had proposed?’
‘Of course not—without consulting uncle and you.’
‘Oh! I’m glad, my dear, you have so much prudence left. Well, now,’ she
added, after a moment’s pause, ‘you have made yourself conspicuous enough
for one evening. The ladies are directing inquiring glances towards us
at this moment, I see: I shall join them. Do you come too, when you are
sufficiently composed to appear as usual.’
‘I am so now.’
‘Speak gently then, and don’t look so malicious,’ said my calm, but
provoking aunt. ‘We shall return home shortly, and then,’ she added with
solemn significance, ‘I have much to say to you.’
So I went home prepared for a formidable lecture. Little was said by
either party in the carriage during our short transit homewards; but when
I had entered my room and thrown myself into an easy-chair, to reflect on
the events of the day, my aunt followed me thither, and having dismissed
Rachel, who was carefully stowing away my ornaments, closed the door; and
placing a chair beside me, or rather at right angles with mine, sat down.
With due deference I offered her my more commodious seat. She declined
it, and thus opened the conference: ‘Do you remember, Helen, our
conversation the night but one before we left Staningley?’
‘Yes, aunt.’
‘And do you remember how I warned you against letting your heart be
stolen from you by those unworthy of its possession, and fixing your
affections where approbation did not go before, and where reason and
judgment withheld their sanction?’
‘Yes; but my reason—’
‘Pardon me—and do you remember assuring me that there was no occasion for
uneasiness on your account; for you should never be tempted to marry a
man who was deficient in sense or principle, however handsome or charming
in other respects he might be, for you could not love him; you should
hate—despise—pity—anything but love him—were not those your words?’
‘Yes; but—’
‘And did you not say that your affection must be founded on approbation;
and that, unless you could approve and honour and respect, you could not
love?’
‘Yes; but I do approve, and honour, and respect—’
‘How so, my dear? Is Mr. Huntingdon a good man?’
‘He is a much better man than you think him.’
‘That is nothing to the purpose. Is he a good man?’
‘Yes—in some respects. He has a good disposition.’
‘Is he a man of principle?’
‘Perhaps not, exactly; but it is only for want of thought. If he had
some one to advise him, and remind him of what is right—’
‘He would soon learn, you think—and you yourself would willingly
undertake to be his teacher? But, my dear, he is, I believe, full ten
years older than you—how is it that you are so beforehand in moral
acquirements?’
‘Thanks to you, aunt, I have been well brought up, and had good examples
always before me, which he, most likely, has not; and, besides, he is of
a sanguine temperament, and a gay, thoughtless temper, and I am naturally
inclined to reflection.’
‘Well, now you have made him out to be deficient in both sense and
principle, by your own confession—’
‘Then, my sense and my principle are at his service.’
‘That sounds presumptuous, Helen. Do you think you have enough for both;
and do you imagine your merry, thoughtless profligate would allow himself
to be guided by a young girl like you?’
‘No; I should not wish to guide him; but I think I might have influence
sufficient to save him from some errors, and I should think my life well
spent in the effort to preserve so noble a nature from destruction. He
always listens attentively now when I speak seriously to him (and I often
venture to reprove his random way of talking), and sometimes he says that
if he had me always by his side he should never do or say a wicked thing,
and that a little daily talk with me would make him quite a saint. It
may he partly jest and partly flattery, but still—’
‘But still you think it may be truth?’
‘If I do think there is any mixture of truth in it, it is not from
confidence in my own powers, but in his natural goodness. And you have
no right to call him a profligate, aunt; he is nothing of the kind.’
‘Who told you so, my dear? What was that story about his intrigue with a
married lady—Lady who was it?—Miss Wilmot herself was telling you the
other day?’
‘It was false—false!’ I cried. ‘I don’t believe a word of it.’
‘You think, then, that he is a virtuous, well-conducted young man?’
‘I know nothing positive respecting his character. I only know that I
have heard nothing definite against it—nothing that could be proved, at
least; and till people can prove their slanderous accusations, I will not
believe them. And I know this, that if he has committed errors, they are
only such as are common to youth, and such as nobody thinks anything
about; for I see that everybody likes him, and all the mammas smile upon
him, and their daughters—and Miss Wilmot herself—are only too glad to
attract his attention.’
‘Helen, the world may look upon such offences as venial; a few
unprincipled mothers may be anxious to catch a young man of fortune
without reference to his character; and thoughtless girls may be glad to
win the smiles of so handsome a gentleman, without seeking to penetrate
beyond the surface; but you, I trusted, were better informed than to see
with their eyes, and judge with their perverted judgment. I did not
think you would call these venial errors!’
‘Nor do I, aunt; but if I hate the sins, I love the sinner, and would do
much for his salvation, even supposing your suspicions to be mainly true,
which I do not and will not believe.’
‘Well, my dear, ask your uncle what sort of company he keeps, and if he
is not banded with a set of loose, profligate young men, whom he calls
his friends, his jolly companions, and whose chief delight is to wallow
in vice, and vie with each other who can run fastest and furthest down
the headlong road to the place prepared for the devil and his angels.’
‘Then I will save him from them.’
‘Oh, Helen, Helen! you little know the misery of uniting your fortunes to
such a man!’
‘I have such confidence in him, aunt, notwithstanding all you say, that I
would willingly risk my happiness for the chance of securing his. I will
leave better men to those who only consider their own advantage. If he
has done amiss, I shall consider my life well spent in saving him from
the consequences of his early errors, and striving to recall him to the
path of virtue. God grant me success!’
Here the conversation ended, for at this juncture my uncle’s voice was
heard from his chamber, loudly calling upon my aunt to come to bed. He
was in a bad humour that night; for his gout was worse. It had been
gradually increasing upon him ever since we came to town; and my aunt
took advantage of the circumstance next morning to persuade him to return
to the country immediately, without waiting for the close of the season.
His physician supported and enforced her arguments; and contrary to her
usual habits, she so hurried the preparations for removal (as much for my
sake as my uncle’s, I think), that in a very few days we departed; and I
saw no more of Mr. Huntingdon. My aunt flatters herself I shall soon
forget him—perhaps she thinks I have forgotten him already, for I never
mention his name; and she may continue to think so, till we meet again—if
ever that should be. I wonder if it will?
CHAPTER XVIII
August 25th.—I am now quite settled down to my usual routine of steady
occupations and quiet amusements—tolerably contented and cheerful, but
still looking forward to spring with the hope of returning to town, not
for its gaieties and dissipations, but for the chance of meeting Mr.
Huntingdon once again; for still he is always in my thoughts and in my
dreams. In all my employments, whatever I do, or see, or hear, has an
ultimate reference to him; whatever skill or knowledge I acquire is some
day to be turned to his advantage or amusement; whatever new beauties in
nature or art I discover are to be depicted to meet his eye, or stored in
my memory to be told him at some future period. This, at least, is the
hope that I cherish, the fancy that lights me on my lonely way. It may
be only an ignis fatuus, after all, but it can do no harm to follow it
with my eyes and rejoice in its lustre, as long as it does not lure me
from the path I ought to keep; and I think it will not, for I have
thought deeply on my aunt’s advice, and I see clearly, now, the folly of
throwing myself away on one that is unworthy of all the love I have to
give, and incapable of responding to the best and deepest feelings of my
inmost heart—so clearly, that even if I should see him again, and if he
should remember me and love me still (which, alas! is too little
probable, considering how he is situated, and by whom surrounded), and if
he should ask me to marry him—I am determined not to consent until I know
for certain whether my aunt’s opinion of him or mine is nearest the
truth; for if mine is altogether wrong, it is not he that I love; it is a
creature of my own imagination. But I think it is not wrong—no, no—there
is a secret something—an inward instinct that assures me I am right.
There is essential goodness in him;—and what delight to unfold it! If he
has wandered, what bliss to recall him! If he is now exposed to the
baneful influence of corrupting and wicked companions, what glory to
deliver him from them! Oh! if I could but believe that Heaven has
designed me for this!
* * * * *
To-day is the first of September; but my uncle has ordered the gamekeeper
to spare the partridges till the gentlemen come. ‘What gentlemen?’ I
asked when I heard it. A small party he had invited to shoot. His
friend Mr. Wilmot was one, and my aunt’s friend, Mr. Boarham, another.
This struck me as terrible news at the moment; but all regret and
apprehension vanished like a dream when I heard that Mr. Huntingdon was
actually to be a third! My aunt is greatly against his coming, of
course: she earnestly endeavoured to dissuade my uncle from asking him;
but he, laughing at her objections, told her it was no use talking, for
the mischief was already done: he had invited Huntingdon and his friend
Lord Lowborough before we left London, and nothing now remained but to
fix the day for their coming. So he is safe, and I am sure of seeing
him. I cannot express my joy. I find it very difficult to conceal it
from my aunt; but I don’t wish to trouble her with my feelings till I
know whether I ought to indulge them or not. If I find it my absolute
duty to suppress them, they shall trouble no one but myself; and if I can
really feel myself justified in indulging this attachment, I can dare
anything, even the anger and grief of my best friend, for its
object—surely, I shall soon know. But they are not coming till about the
middle of the month.
We are to have two lady visitors also: Mr. Wilmot is to bring his niece
and her cousin Milicent. I suppose my aunt thinks the latter will
benefit me by her society, and the salutary example of her gentle
deportment and lowly and tractable spirit; and the former I suspect she
intends as a species of counter-attraction to win Mr. Huntingdon’s
attention from me. I don’t thank her for this; but I shall be glad of
Milicent’s company: she is a sweet, good girl, and I wish I were like
her—more like her, at least, than I am.
* * * * *
19th.—They are come. They came the day before yesterday. The gentlemen
are all gone out to shoot, and the ladies are with my aunt, at work in
the drawing-room. I have retired to the library, for I am very unhappy,
and I want to be alone. Books cannot divert me; so having opened my
desk, I will try what may be done by detailing the cause of my
uneasiness. This paper will serve instead of a confidential friend into
whose ear I might pour forth the overflowings of my heart. It will not
sympathise with my distresses, but then it will not laugh at them, and,
if I keep it close, it cannot tell again; so it is, perhaps, the best
friend I could have for the purpose.
First, let me speak of his arrival—how I sat at my window, and watched
for nearly two hours, before his carriage entered the park-gates—for they
all came before him,—and how deeply I was disappointed at every arrival,
because it was not his. First came Mr. Wilmot and the ladies. When
Milicent had got into her room, I quitted my post a few minutes to look
in upon her and have a little private conversation, for she was now my
intimate friend, several long epistles having passed between us since our
parting. On returning to my window, I beheld another carriage at the
door. Was it his? No; it was Mr. Boarham’s plain dark chariot; and
there stood he upon the steps, carefully superintending the dislodging of
his various boxes and packages. What a collection! One would have
thought he projected a visit of six months at least. A considerable time
after, came Lord Lowborough in his barouche. Is he one of the profligate
friends, I wonder? I should think not; for no one could call him a jolly
companion, I’m sure,—and, besides, he appears too sober and gentlemanly
in his demeanour to merit such suspicions. He is a tall, thin,
gloomy-looking man, apparently between thirty and forty, and of a
somewhat sickly, careworn aspect.
At last, Mr. Huntingdon’s light phaeton came bowling merrily up the lawn.
I had but a transient glimpse of him: for the moment it stopped, he
sprang out over the side on to the portico steps, and disappeared into
the house.
I now submitted to be dressed for dinner—a duty which Rachel had been
urging upon me for the last twenty minutes; and when that important
business was completed, I repaired to the drawing-room, where I found Mr.
and Miss Wilmot and Milicent Hargrave already assembled. Shortly after,
Lord Lowborough entered, and then Mr. Boarham, who seemed quite willing
to forget and forgive my former conduct, and to hope that a little
conciliation and steady perseverance on his part might yet succeed in
bringing me to reason. While I stood at the window, conversing with
Milicent, he came up to me, and was beginning to talk in nearly his usual
strain, when Mr. Huntingdon entered the room.
‘How will he greet me, I wonder?’ said my bounding heart; and, instead of
advancing to meet him, I turned to the window to hide or subdue my
emotion. But having saluted his host and hostess, and the rest of the
company, he came to me, ardently squeezed my hand, and murmured he was
glad to see me once again. At that moment dinner was announced: my aunt
desired him to take Miss Hargrave into the dining-room, and odious Mr.
Wilmot, with unspeakable grimaces, offered his arm to me; and I was
condemned to sit between himself and Mr. Boarham. But afterwards, when
we were all again assembled in the drawing-room, I was indemnified for so
much suffering by a few delightful minutes of conversation with Mr.
Huntingdon.
In the course of the evening, Miss Wilmot was called upon to sing and
play for the amusement of the company, and I to exhibit my drawings, and,
though he likes music, and she is an accomplished musician, I think I am
right in affirming, that he paid more attention to my drawings than to
her music.
So far so good;—but hearing him pronounce, sotto voce, but with peculiar
emphasis, concerning one of the pieces, ‘This is better than all!’—I
looked up, curious to see which it was, and, to my horror, beheld him
complacently gazing at the back of the picture:—it was his own face that
I had sketched there and forgotten to rub out! To make matters worse, in
the agony of the moment, I attempted to snatch it from his hand; but he
prevented me, and exclaiming, ‘No—by George, I’ll keep it!’ placed it
against his waistcoat and buttoned his coat upon it with a delighted
chuckle.
Then, drawing a candle close to his elbow, he gathered all the drawings
to himself, as well what he had seen as the others, and muttering, ‘I
must look at both sides now,’ he eagerly commenced an examination, which
I watched, at first, with tolerable composure, in the confidence that his
vanity would not be gratified by any further discoveries; for, though I
must plead guilty to having disfigured the backs of several with abortive
attempts to delineate that too fascinating physiognomy, I was sure that,
with that one unfortunate exception, I had carefully obliterated all such
witnesses of my infatuation. But the pencil frequently leaves an
impression upon cardboard that no amount of rubbing can efface. Such, it
seems, was the case with most of these; and, I confess, I trembled when I
saw him holding them so close to the candle, and poring so intently over
the seeming blanks; but still, I trusted, he would not be able to make
out these dim traces to his own satisfaction. I was mistaken, however.
Having ended his scrutiny, he quietly remarked,—‘I perceive the backs of
young ladies’ drawings, like the postscripts of their letters, are the
most important and interesting part of the concern.’
Then, leaning back in his chair, he reflected a few minutes in silence,
complacently smiling to himself, and while I was concocting some cutting
speech wherewith to check his gratification, he rose, and passing over to
where Annabella Wilmot sat vehemently coquetting with Lord Lowborough,
seated himself on the sofa beside her, and attached himself to her for
the rest of the evening.
‘So then,’ thought I, ‘he despises me, because he knows I love him.’
And the reflection made me so miserable I knew not what to do. Milicent
came and began to admire my drawings, and make remarks upon them; but I
could not talk to her—I could talk to no one, and, upon the introduction
of tea, I took advantage of the open door and the slight diversion caused
by its entrance to slip out—for I was sure I could not take any—and take
refuge in the library. My aunt sent Thomas in quest of me, to ask if I
were not coming to tea; but I bade him say I should not take any
to-night, and, happily, she was too much occupied with her guests to make
any further inquiries at the time.
As most of the company had travelled far that day, they retired early to
rest; and having heard them all, as I thought, go up-stairs, I ventured
out, to get my candlestick from the drawing-room sideboard. But Mr.
Huntingdon had lingered behind the rest. He was just at the foot of the
stairs when I opened the door, and hearing my step in the hall—though I
could hardly hear it myself—he instantly turned back.
‘Helen, is that you?’ said he. ‘Why did you run away from us?’
‘Good-night, Mr. Huntingdon,’ said I, coldly, not choosing to answer the
question. And I turned away to enter the drawing-room.
‘But you’ll shake hands, won’t you?’ said he, placing himself in the
doorway before me. And he seized my hand and held it, much against my
will.
‘Let me go, Mr. Huntingdon,’ said I. ‘I want to get a candle.’
‘The candle will keep,’ returned he.
I made a desperate effort to free my hand from his grasp.
‘Why are you in such a hurry to leave me, Helen?’ he said, with a smile
of the most provoking self-sufficiency. ‘You don’t hate me, you know.’
‘Yes, I do—at this moment.’
‘Not you. It is Annabella Wilmot you hate, not me.’
‘I have nothing to do with Annabella Wilmot,’ said I, burning with
indignation.
‘But I have, you know,’ returned he, with peculiar emphasis.
‘That is nothing to me, sir,’ I retorted.
‘Is it nothing to you, Helen? Will you swear it? Will you?’
‘No I won’t, Mr. Huntingdon! and I will go,’ cried I, not knowing whether
to laugh, or to cry, or to break out into a tempest of fury.
‘Go, then, you vixen!’ he said; but the instant he released my hand he
had the audacity to put his arm round my neck, and kiss me.
Trembling with anger and agitation, and I don’t know what besides, I
broke away, and got my candle, and rushed up-stairs to my room. He would
not have done so but for that hateful picture. And there he had it still
in his possession, an eternal monument to his pride and my humiliation.
It was but little sleep I got that night, and in the morning I rose
perplexed and troubled with the thoughts of meeting him at breakfast. I
knew not how it was to be done. An assumption of dignified, cold
indifference would hardly do, after what he knew of my devotion—to his
face, at least. Yet something must be done to check his presumption—I
would not submit to be tyrannised over by those bright, laughing eyes.
And, accordingly, I received his cheerful morning salutation as calmly
and coldly as my aunt could have wished, and defeated with brief answers
his one or two attempts to draw me into conversation, while I comported
myself with unusual cheerfulness and complaisance towards every other
member of the party, especially Annabella Wilmot, and even her uncle and
Mr. Boarham were treated with an extra amount of civility on the
occasion, not from any motives of coquetry, but just to show him that my
particular coolness and reserve arose from no general ill-humour or
depression of spirits.
He was not, however, to be repelled by such acting as this. He did not
talk much to me, but when he did speak it was with a degree of freedom
and openness, and kindliness too, that plainly seemed to intimate he knew
his words were music to my ears; and when his looks met mine it was with
a smile—presumptuous, it might be—but oh! so sweet, so bright, so genial,
that I could not possibly retain my anger; every vestige of displeasure
soon melted away beneath it like morning clouds before the summer sun.
Soon after breakfast all the gentlemen save one, with boyish eagerness,
set out on their expedition against the hapless partridges; my uncle and
Mr. Wilmot on their shooting ponies, Mr. Huntingdon and Lord Lowborough
on their legs: the one exception being Mr. Boarham, who, in consideration
of the rain that had fallen during the night, thought it prudent to
remain behind a little and join them in a while when the sun had dried
the grass. And he favoured us all with a long and minute disquisition
upon the evils and dangers attendant upon damp feet, delivered with the
most imperturbable gravity, amid the jeers and laughter of Mr. Huntingdon
and my uncle, who, leaving the prudent sportsman to entertain the ladies
with his medical discussions, sallied forth with their guns, bending
their steps to the stables first, to have a look at the horses and let
out the dogs.
Not desirous of sharing Mr. Boarham’s company for the whole of the
morning, I betook myself to the library, and there brought forth my easel
and began to paint. The easel and the painting apparatus would serve as
an excuse for abandoning the drawing-room if my aunt should come to
complain of the desertion, and besides I wanted to finish the picture.
It was one I had taken great pains with, and I intended it to be my
masterpiece, though it was somewhat presumptuous in the design. By the
bright azure of the sky, and by the warm and brilliant lights and deep
long shadows, I had endeavoured to convey the idea of a sunny morning. I
had ventured to give more of the bright verdure of spring or early summer
to the grass and foliage than is commonly attempted in painting. The
scene represented was an open glade in a wood. A group of dark Scotch
firs was introduced in the middle distance to relieve the prevailing
freshness of the rest; but in the foreground was part of the gnarled
trunk and of the spreading boughs of a large forest-tree, whose foliage
was of a brilliant golden green—not golden from autumnal mellowness, but
from the sunshine and the very immaturity of the scarce expanded leaves.
Upon this bough, that stood out in bold relief against the sombre firs,
were seated an amorous pair of turtle doves, whose soft sad-coloured
plumage afforded a contrast of another nature; and beneath it a young
girl was kneeling on the daisy-spangled turf, with head thrown back and
masses of fair hair falling on her shoulders, her hands clasped, lips
parted, and eyes intently gazing upward in pleased yet earnest
contemplation of those feathered lovers—too deeply absorbed in each other
to notice her.
I had scarcely settled to my work, which, however, wanted but a few
touches to the finishing, when the sportsmen passed the window on their
return from the stables. It was partly open, and Mr. Huntingdon must
have seen me as he went by, for in half a minute he came back, and
setting his gun against the wall, threw up the sash and sprang in, and
set himself before my picture.
‘Very pretty, i’faith,’ said he, after attentively regarding it for a few
seconds; ‘and a very fitting study for a young lady. Spring just opening
into summer—morning just approaching noon—girlhood just ripening into
womanhood, and hope just verging on fruition. She’s a sweet creature!
but why didn’t you make her black hair?’
‘I thought light hair would suit her better. You see I have made her
blue-eyed and plump, and fair and rosy.’
‘Upon my word—a very Hebe! I should fall in love with her if I hadn’t
the artist before me. Sweet innocent! she’s thinking there will come a
time when she will be wooed and won like that pretty hen-dove by as fond
and fervent a lover; and she’s thinking how pleasant it will be, and how
tender and faithful he will find her.’
‘And perhaps,’ suggested I, ‘how tender and faithful she shall find him.’
‘Perhaps, for there is no limit to the wild extravagance of Hope’s
imaginings at such an age.’
‘Do you call that, then, one of her wild, extravagant delusions?’
‘No; my heart tells me it is not. I might have thought so once, but now,
I say, give me the girl I love, and I will swear eternal constancy to her
and her alone, through summer and winter, through youth and age, and life
and death! if age and death must come.’
He spoke this in such serious earnest that my heart bounded with delight;
but the minute after he changed his tone, and asked, with a significant
smile, if I had ‘any more portraits.’
‘No,’ replied I, reddening with confusion and wrath.
But my portfolio was on the table: he took it up, and coolly sat down to
examine its contents.
‘Mr. Huntingdon, those are my unfinished sketches,’ cried I, ‘and I never
let any one see them.’
And I placed my hand on the portfolio to wrest it from him, but he
maintained his hold, assuring me that he ‘liked unfinished sketches of
all things.’
‘But I hate them to be seen,’ returned I. ‘I can’t let you have it,
indeed!’
‘Let me have its bowels then,’ said he; and just as I wrenched the
portfolio from his hand, he deftly abstracted the greater part of its
contents, and after turning them over a moment he cried out,—‘Bless my
stars, here’s another;’ and slipped a small oval of ivory paper into his
waistcoat pocket—a complete miniature portrait that I had sketched with
such tolerable success as to be induced to colour it with great pains and
care. But I was determined he should not keep it.
‘Mr. Huntingdon,’ cried I, ‘I insist upon having that back! It is mine,
and you have no right to take it. Give it me directly—I’ll never forgive
you if you don’t!’
But the more vehemently I insisted, the more he aggravated my distress by
his insulting, gleeful laugh. At length, however, he restored it to me,
saying,—‘Well, well, since you value it so much, I’ll not deprive you of
it.’
To show him how I valued it, I tore it in two and threw it into the fire.
He was not prepared for this. His merriment suddenly ceasing, he stared
in mute amazement at the consuming treasure; and then, with a careless
‘Humph! I’ll go and shoot now,’ he turned on his heel and vacated the
apartment by the window as he came, and setting on his hat with an air,
took up his gun and walked away, whistling as he went—and leaving me not
too much agitated to finish my picture, for I was glad, at the moment,
that I had vexed him.
When I returned to the drawing-room, I found Mr. Boarham had ventured to
follow his comrades to the field; and shortly after lunch, to which they
did not think of returning, I volunteered to accompany the ladies in a
walk, and show Annabella and Milicent the beauties of the country. We
took a long ramble, and re-entered the park just as the sportsmen were
returning from their expedition. Toil-spent and travel-stained, the main
body of them crossed over the grass to avoid us, but Mr. Huntingdon, all
spattered and splashed as he was, and stained with the blood of his
prey—to the no small offence of my aunt’s strict sense of propriety—came
out of his way to meet us, with cheerful smiles and words for all but me,
and placing himself between Annabella Wilmot and myself, walked up the
road and began to relate the various exploits and disasters of the day,
in a manner that would have convulsed me with laughter if I had been on
good terms with him; but he addressed himself entirely to Annabella, and
I, of course, left all the laughter and all the badinage to her, and
affecting the utmost indifference to whatever passed between them, walked
along a few paces apart, and looking every way but theirs, while my aunt
and Milicent went before, linked arm in arm and gravely discoursing
together. At length Mr. Huntingdon turned to me, and addressing me in a
confidential whisper, said,—‘Helen, why did you burn my picture?’
‘Because I wished to destroy it,’ I answered, with an asperity it is
useless now to lament.
‘Oh, very good!’ was the reply; ‘if you don’t value me, I must turn to
somebody that will.’
I thought it was partly in jest—a half-playful mixture of mock
resignation and pretended indifference: but immediately he resumed his
place beside Miss Wilmot, and from that hour to this—during all that
evening, and all the next day, and the next, and the next, and all this
morning (the 22nd), he has never given me one kind word or one pleasant
look—never spoken to me, but from pure necessity—never glanced towards me
but with a cold, unfriendly look I thought him quite incapable of
assuming.
My aunt observes the change, and though she has not inquired the cause or
made any remark to me on the subject, I see it gives her pleasure. Miss
Wilmot observes it, too, and triumphantly ascribes it to her own superior
charms and blandishments; but I am truly miserable—more so than I like to
acknowledge to myself. Pride refuses to aid me. It has brought me into
the scrape, and will not help me out of it.
He meant no harm—it was only his joyous, playful spirit; and I, by my
acrimonious resentment—so serious, so disproportioned to the offence—have
so wounded his feelings, so deeply offended him, that I fear he will
never forgive me—and all for a mere jest! He thinks I dislike him, and
he must continue to think so. I must lose him for ever, and Annabella
may win him, and triumph as she will.
But it is not my loss nor her triumph that I deplore so greatly as the
wreck of my fond hopes for his advantage, and her unworthiness of his
affection, and the injury he will do himself by trusting his happiness to
her. She does not love him: she thinks only of herself. She cannot
appreciate the good that is in him: she will neither see it, nor value
it, nor cherish it. She will neither deplore his faults nor attempt
their amendment, but rather aggravate them by her own. And I doubt
whether she will not deceive him after all. I see she is playing double
between him and Lord Lowborough, and while she amuses herself with the
lively Huntingdon, she tries her utmost to enslave his moody friend; and
should she succeed in bringing both to her feet, the fascinating commoner
will have but little chance against the lordly peer. If he observes her
artful by-play, it gives him no uneasiness, but rather adds new zest to
his diversion by opposing a stimulating check to his otherwise too easy
conquest.
Messrs. Wilmot and Boarham have severally taken occasion by his neglect
of me to renew their advances; and if I were like Annabella and some
others I should take advantage of their perseverance to endeavour to
pique him into a revival of affection; but, justice and honesty apart, I
could not bear to do it. I am annoyed enough by their present
persecutions without encouraging them further; and even if I did it would
have precious little effect upon him. He sees me suffering under the
condescending attentions and prosaic discourses of the one, and the
repulsive obtrusions of the other, without so much as a shadow of
commiseration for me, or resentment against my tormentors. He never
could have loved me, or he would not have resigned me so willingly, and
he would not go on talking to everybody else so cheerfully as he
does—laughing and jesting with Lord Lowborough and my uncle, teasing
Milicent Hargrave, and flirting with Annabella Wilmot—as if nothing were
on his mind. Oh! why can’t I hate him? I must be infatuated, or I
should scorn to regret him as I do. But I must rally all the powers I
have remaining, and try to tear him from my heart. There goes the
dinner-bell, and here comes my aunt to scold me for sitting here at my
desk all day, instead of staying with the company: wish the company
were—gone.
CHAPTER XIX
Twenty Second: Night.—What have I done? and what will be the end of it?
I cannot calmly reflect upon it; I cannot sleep. I must have recourse to
my diary again; I will commit it to paper to-night, and see what I shall
think of it to-morrow.
I went down to dinner resolving to be cheerful and well-conducted, and
kept my resolution very creditably, considering how my head ached and how
internally wretched I felt. I don’t know what is come over me of late;
my very energies, both mental and physical, must be strangely impaired,
or I should not have acted so weakly in many respects as I have done; but
I have not been well this last day or two. I suppose it is with sleeping
and eating so little, and thinking so much, and being so continually out
of humour. But to return. I was exerting myself to sing and play for
the amusement, and at the request, of my aunt and Milicent, before the
gentlemen came into the drawing-room (Miss Wilmot never likes to waste
her musical efforts on ladies’ ears alone). Milicent had asked for a
little Scotch song, and I was just in the middle of it when they entered.
The first thing Mr. Huntingdon did was to walk up to Annabella.
‘Now, Miss Wilmot, won’t you give us some music to-night?’ said he. ‘Do
now! I know you will, when I tell you that I have been hungering and
thirsting all day for the sound of your voice. Come! the piano’s
vacant.’
It was, for I had quitted it immediately upon hearing his petition. Had
I been endowed with a proper degree of self-possession, I should have
turned to the lady myself, and cheerfully joined my entreaties to his,
whereby I should have disappointed his expectations, if the affront had
been purposely given, or made him sensible of the wrong, if it had only
arisen from thoughtlessness; but I felt it too deeply to do anything but
rise from the music-stool, and throw myself back on the sofa, suppressing
with difficulty the audible expression of the bitterness I felt within.
I knew Annabella’s musical talents were superior to mine, but that was no
reason why I should be treated as a perfect nonentity. The time and the
manner of his asking her appeared like a gratuitous insult to me; and I
could have wept with pure vexation.
Meantime, she exultingly seated herself at the piano, and favoured him
with two of his favourite songs, in such superior style that even I soon
lost my anger in admiration, and listened with a sort of gloomy pleasure
to the skilful modulations of her full-toned and powerful voice, so
judiciously aided by her rounded and spirited touch; and while my ears
drank in the sound, my eyes rested on the face of her principal auditor,
and derived an equal or superior delight from the contemplation of his
speaking countenance, as he stood beside her—that eye and brow lighted up
with keen enthusiasm, and that sweet smile passing and appearing like
gleams of sunshine on an April day. No wonder he should hunger and
thirst to hear her sing. I now forgave him from my heart his reckless
slight of me, and I felt ashamed at my pettish resentment of such a
trifle—ashamed too of those bitter envious pangs that gnawed my inmost
heart, in spite of all this admiration and delight.
‘There now,’ said she, playfully running her fingers over the keys when
she had concluded the second song. ‘What shall I give you next?’
But in saying this she looked back at Lord Lowborough, who was standing a
little behind, leaning against the back of a chair, an attentive
listener, too, experiencing, to judge by his countenance, much the same
feelings of mingled pleasure and sadness as I did. But the look she gave
him plainly said, ‘Do you choose for me now: I have done enough for him,
and will gladly exert myself to gratify you;’ and thus encouraged, his
lordship came forward, and turning over the music, presently set before
her a little song that I had noticed before, and read more than once,
with an interest arising from the circumstance of my connecting it in my
mind with the reigning tyrant of my thoughts. And now, with my nerves
already excited and half unstrung, I could not hear those words so
sweetly warbled forth without some symptoms of emotion I was not able to
suppress. Tears rose unbidden to my eyes, and I buried my face in the
sofa-pillow that they might flow unseen while I listened. The air was
simple, sweet, and sad. It is still running in my head, and so are the
words:—
Farewell to thee! but not farewell
To all my fondest thoughts of thee:
Within my heart they still shall dwell;
And they shall cheer and comfort me.
O beautiful, and full of grace!
If thou hadst never met mine eye,
I had not dreamed a living face
Could fancied charms so far outvie.
If I may ne’er behold again
That form and face so dear to me,
Nor hear thy voice, still would I fain
Preserve, for aye, their memory.
That voice, the magic of whose tone
Can wake an echo in my breast,
Creating feelings that, alone,
Can make my tranced spirit blest.
That laughing eye, whose sunny beam
My memory would not cherish less;—
And oh, that smile! I whose joyous gleam
No mortal languish can express.
Adieu! but let me cherish, still,
The hope with which I cannot part.
Contempt may wound, and coldness chill,
But still it lingers in my heart.
And who can tell but Heaven, at last,
May answer all my thousand prayers,
And bid the future pay the past
With joy for anguish, smiles for tears.
When it ceased, I longed for nothing so much as to be out of the room.
The sofa was not far from the door, but I did not dare to raise my head,
for I knew Mr. Huntingdon was standing near me, and I knew by the sound
of his voice, as he spoke in answer to some remark of Lord Lowborough’s,
that his face was turned towards me. Perhaps a half-suppressed sob had
caught his ear, and caused him to look round—heaven forbid! But with a
violent effort, I checked all further signs of weakness, dried my tears,
and, when I thought he had turned away again, rose, and instantly left
the apartment, taking refuge in my favourite resort, the library.
There was no light there but the faint red glow of the neglected
fire;—but I did not want a light; I only wanted to indulge my thoughts,
unnoticed and undisturbed; and sitting down on a low stool before the
easy-chair, I sunk my head upon its cushioned seat, and thought, and
thought, until the tears gushed out again, and I wept like any child.
Presently, however, the door was gently opened and someone entered the
room. I trusted it was only a servant, and did not stir. The door was
closed again—but I was not alone; a hand gently touched my shoulder, and
a voice said, softly,—‘Helen, what is the matter?’
I could not answer at the moment.
‘You must, and shall tell me,’ was added, more vehemently, and the
speaker threw himself on his knees beside me on the rug, and forcibly
possessed himself of my hand; but I hastily caught it away, and
replied,—‘It is nothing to you, Mr. Huntingdon.’
‘Are you sure it is nothing to me?’ he returned; ‘can you swear that you
were not thinking of me while you wept?’ This was unendurable. I made
an effort to rise, but he was kneeling on my dress.
‘Tell me,’ continued he—‘I want to know,—because if you were, I have
something to say to you,—and if not, I’ll go.’
‘Go then!’ I cried; but, fearing he would obey too well, and never come
again, I hastily added—‘Or say what you have to say, and have done with
it!’
‘But which?’ said he—‘for I shall only say it if you really were thinking
of me. So tell me, Helen.’
‘You’re excessively impertinent, Mr. Huntingdon!’
‘Not at all—too pertinent, you mean. So you won’t tell me?—Well, I’ll
spare your woman’s pride, and, construing your silence into “Yes,” I’ll
take it for granted that I was the subject of your thoughts, and the
cause of your affliction—’
‘Indeed, sir—’
‘If you deny it, I won’t tell you my secret,’ threatened he; and I did
not interrupt him again, or even attempt to repulse him: though he had
taken my hand once more, and half embraced me with his other arm, I was
scarcely conscious of it at the time.
‘It is this,’ resumed he: ‘that Annabella Wilmot, in comparison with you,
is like a flaunting peony compared with a sweet, wild rosebud gemmed with
dew—and I love you to distraction!—Now, tell me if that intelligence
gives you any pleasure. Silence again? That means yes. Then let me
add, that I cannot live without you, and if you answer No to this last
question, you will drive me mad.—Will you bestow yourself upon me?—you
will!’ he cried, nearly squeezing me to death in his arms.
‘No, no!’ I exclaimed, struggling to free myself from him—‘you must ask
my uncle and aunt.’
‘They won’t refuse me, if you don’t.’
‘I’m not so sure of that—my aunt dislikes you.’
‘But you don’t, Helen—say you love me, and I’ll go.’
‘I wish you would go!’ I replied.
‘I will, this instant,—if you’ll only say you love me.’
‘You know I do,’ I answered. And again he caught me in his arms, and
smothered me with kisses.
At that moment my aunt opened wide the door, and stood before us, candle
in hand, in shocked and horrified amazement, gazing alternately at Mr.
Huntingdon and me—for we had both started up, and now stood wide enough
asunder. But his confusion was only for a moment. Rallying in an
instant, with the most enviable assurance, he began,—‘I beg ten thousand
pardons, Mrs. Maxwell! Don’t be too severe upon me. I’ve been asking
your sweet niece to take me for better, for worse; and she, like a good
girl, informs me she cannot think of it without her uncle’s and aunt’s
consent. So let me implore you not to condemn me to eternal
wretchedness: if you favour my cause, I am safe; for Mr. Maxwell, I am
certain, can refuse you nothing.’
‘We will talk of this to-morrow, sir,’ said my aunt, coldly. ‘It is a
subject that demands mature and serious deliberation. At present, you
had better return to the drawing-room.’
‘But meantime,’ pleaded he, ‘let me commend my cause to your most
indulgent—’
‘No indulgence for you, Mr. Huntingdon, must come between me and the
consideration of my niece’s happiness.’
‘Ah, true! I know she is an angel, and I am a presumptuous dog to dream
of possessing such a treasure; but, nevertheless, I would sooner die than
relinquish her in favour of the best man that ever went to heaven—and as
for her happiness, I would sacrifice my body and soul—’
‘Body and soul, Mr. Huntingdon—sacrifice your soul?’
‘Well, I would lay down life—’
‘You would not be required to lay it down.’
‘I would spend it, then—devote my life—and all its powers to the
promotion and preservation—’
‘Another time, sir, we will talk of this—and I should have felt disposed
to judge more favourably of your pretensions, if you too had chosen
another time and place, and let me add—another manner for your
declaration.’
‘Why, you see, Mrs. Maxwell,’ he began—
‘Pardon me, sir,’ said she, with dignity—‘The company are inquiring for
you in the other room.’ And she turned to me.
‘Then you must plead for me, Helen,’ said he, and at length withdrew.
‘You had better retire to your room, Helen,’ said my aunt, gravely. ‘I
will discuss this matter with you, too, to-morrow.’
‘Don’t be angry, aunt,’ said I.
‘My dear, I am not angry,’ she replied: ‘I am surprised. If it is true
that you told him you could not accept his offer without our consent—’
‘It is true,’ interrupted I.
‘Then how could you permit—?’
‘I couldn’t help it, aunt,’ I cried, bursting into tears. They were not
altogether the tears of sorrow, or of fear for her displeasure, but
rather the outbreak of the general tumultuous excitement of my feelings.
But my good aunt was touched at my agitation. In a softer tone, she
repeated her recommendation to retire, and, gently kissing my forehead,
bade me good-night, and put her candle in my hand; and I went; but my
brain worked so, I could not think of sleeping. I feel calmer now that I
have written all this; and I will go to bed, and try to win tired
nature’s sweet restorer.
CHAPTER XX
September 24th.—In the morning I rose, light and cheerful—nay, intensely
happy. The hovering cloud cast over me by my aunt’s views, and by the
fear of not obtaining her consent, was lost in the bright effulgence of
my own hopes, and the too delightful consciousness of requited love. It
was a splendid morning; and I went out to enjoy it, in a quiet ramble, in
company with my own blissful thoughts. The dew was on the grass, and ten
thousand gossamers were waving in the breeze; the happy red-breast was
pouring out its little soul in song, and my heart overflowed with silent
hymns of gratitude and praise to heaven.
But I had not wandered far before my solitude was interrupted by the only
person that could have disturbed my musings, at that moment, without
being looked upon as an unwelcome intruder: Mr. Huntingdon came suddenly
upon me. So unexpected was the apparition, that I might have thought it
the creation of an over-excited imagination, had the sense of sight alone
borne witness to his presence; but immediately I felt his strong arm
round my waist and his warm kiss on my cheek, while his keen and gleeful
salutation, ‘My own Helen!’ was ringing in my ear.
‘Not yours yet!’ said I, hastily swerving aside from this too
presumptuous greeting. ‘Remember my guardians. You will not easily
obtain my aunt’s consent. Don’t you see she is prejudiced against you?’
‘I do, dearest; and you must tell me why, that I may best know how to
combat her objections. I suppose she thinks I am a prodigal,’ pursued
he, observing that I was unwilling to reply, ‘and concludes that I shall
have but little worldly goods wherewith to endow my better half? If so,
you must tell her that my property is mostly entailed, and I cannot get
rid of it. There may be a few mortgages on the rest—a few trifling debts
and incumbrances here and there, but nothing to speak of; and though I
acknowledge I am not so rich as I might be—or have been—still, I think,
we could manage pretty comfortably on what’s left. My father, you know,
was something of a miser, and in his latter days especially saw no
pleasure in life but to amass riches; and so it is no wonder that his son
should make it his chief delight to spend them, which was accordingly the
case, until my acquaintance with you, dear Helen, taught me other views
and nobler aims. And the very idea of having you to care for under my
roof would force me to moderate my expenses and live like a Christian—not
to speak of all the prudence and virtue you would instil into my mind by
your wise counsels and sweet, attractive goodness.’
‘But it is not that,’ said I; ‘it is not money my aunt thinks about. She
knows better than to value worldly wealth above its price.’
‘What is it, then?’
‘She wishes me to—to marry none but a really good man.’
‘What, a man of “decided piety”?—ahem!—Well, come, I’ll manage that too!
It’s Sunday to-day, isn’t it? I’ll go to church morning, afternoon, and
evening, and comport myself in such a godly sort that she shall regard me
with admiration and sisterly love, as a brand plucked from the burning.
I’ll come home sighing like a furnace, and full of the savour and unction
of dear Mr. Blatant’s discourse—’
‘Mr. Leighton,’ said I, dryly.
‘Is Mr. Leighton a “sweet preacher,” Helen—a “dear, delightful,
heavenly-minded man”?’
‘He is a good man, Mr. Huntingdon. I wish I could say half as much for
you.’
‘Oh, I forgot, you are a saint, too. I crave your pardon, dearest—but
don’t call me Mr. Huntingdon; my name is Arthur.’
‘I’ll call you nothing—for I’ll have nothing at all to do with you if you
talk in that way any more. If you really mean to deceive my aunt as you
say, you are very wicked; and if not, you are very wrong to jest on such
a subject.’
‘I stand corrected,’ said he, concluding his laugh with a sorrowful sigh.
‘Now,’ resumed he, after a momentary pause, ‘let us talk about something
else. And come nearer to me, Helen, and take my arm; and then I’ll let
you alone. I can’t be quiet while I see you walking there.’
I complied; but said we must soon return to the house.
‘No one will be down to breakfast yet, for long enough,’ he answered.
‘You spoke of your guardians just now, Helen, but is not your father
still living?’
‘Yes, but I always look upon my uncle and aunt as my guardians, for they
are so in deed, though not in name. My father has entirely given me up
to their care. I have never seen him since dear mamma died, when I was a
very little girl, and my aunt, at her request, offered to take charge of
me, and took me away to Staningley, where I have remained ever since; and
I don’t think he would object to anything for me that she thought proper
to sanction.’
‘But would he sanction anything to which she thought proper to object?’
‘No, I don’t think he cares enough about me.’
‘He is very much to blame—but he doesn’t know what an angel he has for
his daughter—which is all the better for me, as, if he did, he would not
be willing to part with such a treasure.’
‘And Mr. Huntingdon,’ said I, ‘I suppose you know I am not an heiress?’
He protested he had never given it a thought, and begged I would not
disturb his present enjoyment by the mention of such uninteresting
subjects. I was glad of this proof of disinterested affection; for
Annabella Wilmot is the probable heiress to all her uncle’s wealth, in
addition to her late father’s property, which she has already in
possession.
I now insisted upon retracing our steps to the house; but we walked
slowly, and went on talking as we proceeded. I need not repeat all we
said: let me rather refer to what passed between my aunt and me, after
breakfast, when Mr. Huntingdon called my uncle aside, no doubt to make
his proposals, and she beckoned me into another room, where she once more
commenced a solemn remonstrance, which, however, entirely failed to
convince me that her view of the case was preferable to my own.
‘You judge him uncharitably, aunt, I know,’ said I. ‘His very friends
are not half so bad as you represent them. There is Walter Hargrave,
Milicent’s brother, for one: he is but a little lower than the angels, if
half she says of him is true. She is continually talking to me about
him, and lauding his many virtues to the skies.’
‘You will form a very inadequate estimate of a man’s character,’ replied
she, ‘if you judge by what a fond sister says of him. The worst of them
generally know how to hide their misdeeds from their sisters’ eyes, and
their mother’s, too.’
‘And there is Lord Lowborough,’ continued I, ‘quite a decent man.’
‘Who told you so? Lord Lowborough is a desperate man. He has dissipated
his fortune in gambling and other things, and is now seeking an heiress
to retrieve it. I told Miss Wilmot so; but you’re all alike: she
haughtily answered she was very much obliged to me, but she believed she
knew when a man was seeking her for her fortune, and when for herself;
she flattered herself she had had experience enough in those matters to
be justified in trusting to her own judgment—and as for his lordship’s
lack of fortune, she cared nothing about that, as she hoped her own would
suffice for both; and as for his wildness, she supposed he was no worse
than others—besides, he was reformed now. Yes, they can all play the
hypocrite when they want to take in a fond, misguided woman!’
‘Well, I think he’s about as good as she is,’ said I. ‘But when Mr.
Huntingdon is married, he won’t have many opportunities of consorting
with his bachelor friends;—and the worse they are, the more I long to
deliver him from them.’
‘To be sure, my dear; and the worse he is, I suppose, the more you long
to deliver him from himself.’
‘Yes, provided he is not incorrigible—that is, the more I long to deliver
him from his faults—to give him an opportunity of shaking off the
adventitious evil got from contact with others worse than himself, and
shining out in the unclouded light of his own genuine goodness—to do my
utmost to help his better self against his worse, and make him what he
would have been if he had not, from the beginning, had a bad, selfish,
miserly father, who, to gratify his own sordid passions, restricted him
in the most innocent enjoyments of childhood and youth, and so disgusted
him with every kind of restraint;—and a foolish mother who indulged him
to the top of his bent, deceiving her husband for him, and doing her
utmost to encourage those germs of folly and vice it was her duty to
suppress,—and then, such a set of companions as you represent his friends
to be—’
‘Poor man!’ said she, sarcastically, ‘his kind have greatly wronged him!’
‘They have!’ cried I—‘and they shall wrong him no more—his wife shall
undo what his mother did!’
‘Well,’ said she, after a short pause, ‘I must say, Helen, I thought
better of your judgment than this—and your taste too. How you can love
such a man I cannot tell, or what pleasure you can find in his company;
for “what fellowship hath light with darkness; or he that believeth with
an infidel?”’
‘He is not an infidel;—and I am not light, and he is not darkness; his
worst and only vice is thoughtlessness.’
‘And thoughtlessness,’ pursued my aunt, ‘may lead to every crime, and
will but poorly excuse our errors in the sight of God. Mr. Huntingdon, I
suppose, is not without the common faculties of men: he is not so
light-headed as to be irresponsible: his Maker has endowed him with
reason and conscience as well as the rest of us; the Scriptures are open
to him as well as to others;—and “if he hear not them, neither will he
hear though one rose from the dead.” And remember, Helen,’ continued she,
solemnly, ‘“the wicked shall be turned into hell, and they that forget
God!”’ And suppose, even, that he should continue to love you, and you
him, and that you should pass through life together with tolerable
comfort—how will it be in the end, when you see yourselves parted for
ever; you, perhaps, taken into eternal bliss, and he cast into the lake
that burneth with unquenchable fire—there for ever to—’
‘Not for ever,’ I exclaimed, ‘“only till he has paid the uttermost
farthing;” for “if any man’s work abide not the fire, he shall suffer
loss, yet himself shall be saved, but so as by fire;” and He that “is
able to subdue all things to Himself will have all men to be saved,” and
“will, in the fulness of time, gather together in one all things in
Christ Jesus, who tasted death for every man, and in whom God will
reconcile all things to Himself, whether they be things in earth or
things in heaven.”’
‘Oh, Helen! where did you learn all this?’
‘In the Bible, aunt. I have searched it through, and found nearly thirty
passages, all tending to support the same theory.’
‘And is that the use you make of your Bible? And did you find no
passages tending to prove the danger and the falsity of such a belief?’
‘No: I found, indeed, some passages that, taken by themselves, might seem
to contradict that opinion; but they will all bear a different
construction to that which is commonly given, and in most the only
difficulty is in the word which we translate “everlasting” or “eternal.”
I don’t know the Greek, but I believe it strictly means for ages, and
might signify either endless or long-enduring. And as for the danger of
the belief, I would not publish it abroad if I thought any poor wretch
would be likely to presume upon it to his own destruction, but it is a
glorious thought to cherish in one’s own heart, and I would not part with
it for all the world can give!’
Here our conference ended, for it was now high time to prepare for
church. Every one attended the morning service, except my uncle, who
hardly ever goes, and Mr. Wilmot, who stayed at home with him to enjoy a
quiet game of cribbage. In the afternoon Miss Wilmot and Lord Lowborough
likewise excused themselves from attending; but Mr. Huntingdon vouchsafed
to accompany us again. Whether it was to ingratiate himself with my aunt
I cannot tell, but, if so, he certainly should have behaved better. I
must confess, I did not like his conduct during service at all. Holding
his prayer-book upside down, or open at any place but the right, he did
nothing but stare about him, unless he happened to catch my aunt’s eye or
mine, and then he would drop his own on his book, with a puritanical air
of mock solemnity that would have been ludicrous, if it had not been too
provoking. Once, during the sermon, after attentively regarding Mr.
Leighton for a few minutes, he suddenly produced his gold pencil-case and
snatched up a Bible. Perceiving that I observed the movement, he
whispered that he was going to make a note of the sermon; but instead of
that, as I sat next him, I could not help seeing that he was making a
caricature of the preacher, giving to the respectable, pious, elderly
gentleman, the air and aspect of a most absurd old hypocrite. And yet,
upon his return, he talked to my aunt about the sermon with a degree of
modest, serious discrimination that tempted me to believe he had really
attended to and profited by the discourse.
Just before dinner my uncle called me into the library for the discussion
of a very important matter, which was dismissed in few words.
‘Now, Nell,’ said he, ‘this young Huntingdon has been asking for you:
what must I say about it? Your aunt would answer “no”—but what say you?’
‘I say yes, uncle,’ replied I, without a moment’s hesitation; for I had
thoroughly made up my mind on the subject.
‘Very good!’ cried he. ‘Now that’s a good honest answer—wonderful for a
girl!—Well, I’ll write to your father to-morrow. He’s sure to give his
consent; so you may look on the matter as settled. You’d have done a
deal better if you’d taken Wilmot, I can tell you; but that you won’t
believe. At your time of life, it’s love that rules the roast: at mine,
it’s solid, serviceable gold. I suppose now, you’d never dream of
looking into the state of your husband’s finances, or troubling your head
about settlements, or anything of that sort?’
‘I don’t think I should.’
‘Well, be thankful, then, that you’ve wiser heads to think for you. I
haven’t had time, yet, to examine thoroughly into this young rascal’s
affairs, but I see that a great part of his father’s fine property has
been squandered away;—but still, I think, there’s a pretty fair share of
it left, and a little careful nursing may make a handsome thing of it
yet; and then we must persuade your father to give you a decent fortune,
as he has only one besides yourself to care for;—and, if you behave well,
who knows but what I may be induced to remember you in my will!’
continued he, putting his fingers to his nose, with a knowing wink.
‘Thanks, uncle, for that and all your kindness,’ replied I.
‘Well, and I questioned this young spark on the matter of settlements,’
continued he; ‘and he seemed disposed to be generous enough on that
point—’
‘I knew he would!’ said I. ‘But pray don’t trouble your head—or his, or
mine about that; for all I have will be his, and all he has will be mine;
and what more could either of us require?’ And I was about to make my
exit, but he called me back.
‘Stop, stop!’ cried he; ‘we haven’t mentioned the time yet. When must it
be? Your aunt would put it off till the Lord knows when, but he is
anxious to be bound as soon as may be: he won’t hear of waiting beyond
next month; and you, I guess, will be of the same mind, so—’
‘Not at all, uncle; on the contrary, I should like to wait till after
Christmas, at least.’
‘Oh! pooh, pooh! never tell me that tale—I know better,’ cried he; and he
persisted in his incredulity. Nevertheless, it is quite true. I am in
no hurry at all. How can I be, when I think of the momentous change that
awaits me, and of all I have to leave? It is happiness enough to know
that we are to be united; and that he really loves me, and I may love him
as devotedly, and think of him as often as I please. However, I insisted
upon consulting my aunt about the time of the wedding, for I determined
her counsels should not be utterly disregarded; and no conclusions on
that particular are come to yet.
CHAPTER XXI
October 1st.—All is settled now. My father has given his consent, and
the time is fixed for Christmas, by a sort of compromise between the
respective advocates for hurry and delay. Milicent Hargrave is to be one
bridesmaid and Annabella Wilmot the other—not that I am particularly fond
of the latter, but she is an intimate of the family, and I have not
another friend.
When I told Milicent of my engagement, she rather provoked me by her
manner of taking it. After staring a moment in mute surprise, she
said,—‘Well, Helen, I suppose I ought to congratulate you—and I am glad
to see you so happy; but I did not think you would take him; and I can’t
help feeling surprised that you should like him so much.’
‘Why so?’
‘Because you are so superior to him in every way, and there’s something
so bold and reckless about him—so, I don’t know how—but I always feel a
wish to get out of his way when I see him approach.’
‘You are timid, Milicent; but that’s no fault of his.’
‘And then his look,’ continued she. ‘People say he’s handsome, and of
course he is; but I don’t like that kind of beauty, and I wonder that you
should.’
‘Why so, pray?’
‘Well, you know, I think there’s nothing noble or lofty in his
appearance.’
‘In fact, you wonder that I can like any one so unlike the stilted heroes
of romance. Well, give me my flesh and blood lover, and I’ll leave all
the Sir Herberts and Valentines to you—if you can find them.’
‘I don’t want them,’ said she. ‘I’ll be satisfied with flesh and blood
too—only the spirit must shine through and predominate. But don’t you
think Mr. Huntingdon’s face is too red?’
‘No!’ cried I, indignantly. ‘It is not red at all. There is just a
pleasant glow, a healthy freshness in his complexion—the warm, pinky tint
of the whole harmonising with the deeper colour of the cheeks, exactly as
it ought to do. I hate a man to be red and white, like a painted doll,
or all sickly white, or smoky black, or cadaverous yellow.’
‘Well, tastes differ—but I like pale or dark,’ replied she. ‘But, to
tell you the truth, Helen, I had been deluding myself with the hope that
you would one day be my sister. I expected Walter would be introduced to
you next season; and I thought you would like him, and was certain he
would like you; and I flattered myself I should thus have the felicity of
seeing the two persons I like best in the world—except mamma—united in
one. He mayn’t be exactly what you would call handsome, but he’s far
more distinguished-looking, and nicer and better than Mr. Huntingdon;—and
I’m sure you would say so, if you knew him.’
‘Impossible, Milicent! You think so, because you’re his sister; and, on
that account, I’ll forgive you; but nobody else should so disparage
Arthur Huntingdon to me with impunity.’
Miss Wilmot expressed her feelings on the subject almost as openly.
‘And so, Helen,’ said she, coming up to me with a smile of no amiable
import, ‘you are to be Mrs. Huntingdon, I suppose?’
‘Yes,’ replied I. ‘Don’t you envy me?’
‘Oh, dear, no!’ she exclaimed. ‘I shall probably be Lady Lowborough some
day, and then you know, dear, I shall be in a capacity to inquire, “Don’t
you envy me?”’
‘Henceforth I shall envy no one,’ returned I.
‘Indeed! Are you so happy then?’ said she, thoughtfully; and something
very like a cloud of disappointment shadowed her face. ‘And does he love
you—I mean, does he idolise you as much as you do him?’ she added, fixing
her eyes upon me with ill-disguised anxiety for the reply.
‘I don’t want to be idolised,’ I answered; ‘but I am well assured that he
loves me more than anybody else in the world—as I do him.’
‘Exactly,’ said she, with a nod. ‘I wish—‘ she paused.
‘What do you wish?’ asked I, annoyed at the vindictive expression of her
countenance.
‘I wish,’ returned, she, with a short laugh, ‘that all the attractive
points and desirable qualifications of the two gentlemen were united in
one—that Lord Lowborough had Huntingdon’s handsome face and good temper,
and all his wit, and mirth and charm, or else that Huntingdon had
Lowborough’s pedigree, and title, and delightful old family seat, and I
had him; and you might have the other and welcome.’
‘Thank you, dear Annabella: I am better satisfied with things as they
are, for my own part; and for you, I wish you were as well content with
your intended as I am with mine,’ said I; and it was true enough; for,
though vexed at first at her unamiable spirit, her frankness touched me,
and the contrast between our situations was such, that I could well
afford to pity her and wish her well.
Mr. Huntingdon’s acquaintances appear to be no better pleased with our
approaching union than mine. This morning’s post brought him letters
from several of his friends, during the perusal of which, at the
breakfast-table, he excited the attention of the company by the singular
variety of his grimaces. But he crushed them all into his pocket, with a
private laugh, and said nothing till the meal was concluded. Then, while
the company were hanging over the fire or loitering through the room,
previous to settling to their various morning avocations, he came and
leant over the back of my chair, with his face in contact with my curls,
and commencing with a quiet little kiss, poured forth the following
complaints into my ear:—
‘Helen, you witch, do you know that you’ve entailed upon me the curses of
all my friends? I wrote to them the other day, to tell them of my happy
prospects, and now, instead of a bundle of congratulations, I’ve got a
pocketful of bitter execrations and reproaches. There’s not one kind
wish for me, or one good word for you, among them all. They say there’ll
be no more fun now, no more merry days and glorious nights—and all my
fault—I am the first to break up the jovial band, and others, in pure
despair, will follow my example. I was the very life and prop of the
community, they do me the honour to say, and I have shamefully betrayed
my trust—’
‘You may join them again, if you like,’ said I, somewhat piqued at the
sorrowful tone of his discourse. ‘I should be sorry to stand between any
man—or body of men, and so much happiness; and perhaps I can manage to do
without you, as well as your poor deserted friends.’
‘Bless you, no,’ murmured he. ‘It’s “all for love or the world well
lost,” with me. Let them go to—where they belong, to speak politely.
But if you saw how they abuse me, Helen, you would love me all the more
for having ventured so much for your sake.’
He pulled out his crumpled letters. I thought he was going to show them
to me, and told him I did not wish to see them.
‘I’m not going to show them to you, love,’ said he. ‘They’re hardly fit
for a lady’s eyes—the most part of them. But look here. This is
Grimsby’s scrawl—only three lines, the sulky dog! He doesn’t say much,
to be sure, but his very silence implies more than all the others’ words,
and the less he says, the more he thinks—and this is Hargrave’s missive.
He is particularly grieved at me, because, forsooth he had fallen in love
with you from his sister’s reports, and meant to have married you
himself, as soon as he had sown his wild oats.’
‘I’m vastly obliged to him,’ observed I.
‘And so am I,’ said he. ‘And look at this. This is Hattersley’s—every
page stuffed full of railing accusations, bitter curses, and lamentable
complaints, ending up with swearing that he’ll get married himself in
revenge: he’ll throw himself away on the first old maid that chooses to
set her cap at him,—as if I cared what he did with himself.’
‘Well,’ said I, ‘if you do give up your intimacy with these men, I don’t
think you will have much cause to regret the loss of their society; for
it’s my belief they never did you much good.’
‘Maybe not; but we’d a merry time of it, too, though mingled with sorrow
and pain, as Lowborough knows to his cost—Ha, ha!’ and while he was
laughing at the recollection of Lowborough’s troubles, my uncle came and
slapped him on the shoulder.
‘Come, my lad!’ said he. ‘Are you too busy making love to my niece to
make war with the pheasants?—First of October, remember! Sun shines
out—rain ceased—even Boarham’s not afraid to venture in his waterproof
boots; and Wilmot and I are going to beat you all. I declare, we old
’uns are the keenest sportsmen of the lot!’
‘I’ll show you what I can do to-day, however,’ said my companion. ‘I’ll
murder your birds by wholesale, just for keeping me away from better
company than either you or them.’
And so saying he departed; and I saw no more of him till dinner. It
seemed a weary time; I wonder what I shall do without him.
It is very true that the three elder gentlemen have proved themselves
much keener sportsmen than the two younger ones; for both Lord Lowborough
and Arthur Huntingdon have of late almost daily neglected the shooting
excursions to accompany us in our various rides and rambles. But these
merry times are fast drawing to a close. In less than a fortnight the
party break up, much to my sorrow, for every day I enjoy it more and
more—now that Messrs. Boarham and Wilmot have ceased to tease me, and my
aunt has ceased to lecture me, and I have ceased to be jealous of
Annabella—and even to dislike her—and now that Mr. Huntingdon is become
my Arthur, and I may enjoy his society without restraint. What shall I
do without him, I repeat?
CHAPTER XXII
October 5th.—My cup of sweets is not unmingled: it is dashed with a
bitterness that I cannot hide from myself, disguise it as I will. I may
try to persuade myself that the sweetness overpowers it; I may call it a
pleasant aromatic flavour; but say what I will, it is still there, and I
cannot but taste it. I cannot shut my eyes to Arthur’s faults; and the
more I love him the more they trouble me. His very heart, that I trusted
so, is, I fear, less warm and generous than I thought it. At least, he
gave me a specimen of his character to-day that seemed to merit a harder
name than thoughtlessness. He and Lord Lowborough were accompanying
Annabella and me in a long, delightful ride; he was riding by my side, as
usual, and Annabella and Lord Lowborough were a little before us, the
latter bending towards his companion as if in tender and confidential
discourse.
‘Those two will get the start of us, Helen, if we don’t look sharp,’
observed Huntingdon. ‘They’ll make a match of it, as sure as can be.
That Lowborough’s fairly besotted. But he’ll find himself in a fix when
he’s got her, I doubt.’
‘And she’ll find herself in a fix when she’s got him,’ said I, ‘if what
I’ve heard of him is true.’
‘Not a bit of it. She knows what she’s about; but he, poor fool, deludes
himself with the notion that she’ll make him a good wife, and because she
has amused him with some rodomontade about despising rank and wealth in
matters of love and marriage, he flatters himself that she’s devotedly
attached to him; that she will not refuse him for his poverty, and does
not court him for his rank, but loves him for himself alone.’
‘But is not he courting her for her fortune?’
‘No, not he. That was the first attraction, certainly; but now he has
quite lost sight of it: it never enters his calculations, except merely
as an essential without which, for the lady’s own sake, he could not
think of marrying her. No; he’s fairly in love. He thought he never
could be again, but he’s in for it once more. He was to have been
married before, some two or three years ago; but he lost his bride by
losing his fortune. He got into a bad way among us in London: he had an
unfortunate taste for gambling; and surely the fellow was born under an
unlucky star, for he always lost thrice where he gained once. That’s a
mode of self-torment I never was much addicted to. When I spend my money
I like to enjoy the full value of it: I see no fun in wasting it on
thieves and blacklegs; and as for gaining money, hitherto I have always
had sufficient; it’s time enough to be clutching for more, I think, when
you begin to see the end of what you have. But I have sometimes
frequented the gaming-houses just to watch the on-goings of those mad
votaries of chance—a very interesting study, I assure you, Helen, and
sometimes very diverting: I’ve had many a laugh at the boobies and
bedlamites. Lowborough was quite infatuated—not willingly, but of
necessity,—he was always resolving to give it up, and always breaking his
resolutions. Every venture was the ‘just once more:’ if he gained a
little, he hoped to gain a little more next time, and if he lost, it
would not do to leave off at that juncture; he must go on till he had
retrieved that last misfortune, at least: bad luck could not last for
ever; and every lucky hit was looked upon as the dawn of better times,
till experience proved the contrary. At length he grew desperate, and we
were daily on the look-out for a case of _felo-de-se_—no great matter,
some of us whispered, as his existence had ceased to be an acquisition to
our club. At last, however, he came to a check. He made a large stake,
which he determined should be the last, whether he lost or won. He had
often so determined before, to be sure, and as often broken his
determination; and so it was this time. He lost; and while his
antagonist smilingly swept away the stakes, he turned chalky white, drew
back in silence, and wiped his forehead. I was present at the time; and
while he stood with folded arms and eyes fixed on the ground, I knew well
enough what was passing in his mind.
‘“Is it to be the last, Lowborough?” said I, stepping up to him.
‘“The last but one,” he answered, with a grim smile; and then, rushing
back to the table, he struck his hand upon it, and, raising his voice
high above all the confusion of jingling coins and muttered oaths and
curses in the room, he swore a deep and solemn oath that, come what
would, this trial should be the last, and imprecated unspeakable curses
on his head if ever he should shuffle a card or rattle a dice-box again.
He then doubled his former stake, and challenged any one present to play
against him. Grimsby instantly presented himself. Lowborough glared
fiercely at him, for Grimsby was almost as celebrated for his luck as he
was for his ill-fortune. However, they fell to work. But Grimsby had
much skill and little scruple, and whether he took advantage of the
other’s trembling, blinded eagerness to deal unfairly by him, I cannot
undertake to say; but Lowborough lost again, and fell dead sick.
‘“You’d better try once more,” said Grimsby, leaning across the table.
And then he winked at me.
‘“I’ve nothing to try with,” said the poor devil, with a ghastly smile.
‘“Oh, Huntingdon will lend you what you want,” said the other.
‘“No; you heard my oath,” answered Lowborough, turning away in quiet
despair. And I took him by the arm and led him out.
‘“Is it to be the last, Lowborough?” I asked, when I got him into the
street.
‘“The last,” he answered, somewhat against my expectation. And I took
him home—that is, to our club—for he was as submissive as a child—and
plied him with brandy-and-water till he began to look rather
brighter—rather more alive, at least.
‘“Huntingdon, I’m ruined!” said he, taking the third glass from my
hand—he had drunk the others in dead silence.
‘“Not you,” said I. “You’ll find a man can live without his money as
merrily as a tortoise without its head, or a wasp without its body.”
‘“But I’m in debt,” said he—“deep in debt. And I can never, never get
out of it.”
‘“Well, what of that? Many a better man than you has lived and died in
debt; and they can’t put you in prison, you know, because you’re a peer.”
And I handed him his fourth tumbler.
‘“But I hate to be in debt!” he shouted. “I wasn’t born for it, and I
cannot bear it.”
‘“What can’t be cured must be endured,” said I, beginning to mix the
fifth.
‘“And then, I’ve lost my Caroline.” And he began to snivel then, for the
brandy had softened his heart.
‘“No matter,” I answered, “there are more Carolines in the world than
one.”
‘“There’s only one for me,” he replied, with a dolorous sigh. “And if
there were fifty more, who’s to get them, I wonder, without money?”
‘“Oh, somebody will take you for your title; and then you’ve your family
estate yet; that’s entailed, you know.”
‘“I wish to God I could sell it to pay my debts,” he muttered.
‘“And then,” said Grimsby, who had just come in, “you can try again, you
know. I would have more than one chance, if I were you. I’d never stop
here.”
‘“I won’t, I tell you!” shouted he. And he started up, and left the
room—walking rather unsteadily, for the liquor had got into his head. He
was not so much used to it then, but after that he took to it kindly to
solace his cares.
‘He kept his oath about gambling (not a little to the surprise of us
all), though Grimsby did his utmost to tempt him to break it, but now he
had got hold of another habit that bothered him nearly as much, for he
soon discovered that the demon of drink was as black as the demon of
play, and nearly as hard to get rid of—especially as his kind friends did
all they could to second the promptings of his own insatiable cravings.’
‘Then, they were demons themselves,’ cried I, unable to contain my
indignation. ‘And you, Mr. Huntingdon, it seems, were the first to tempt
him.’
‘Well, what could we do?’ replied he, deprecatingly.—‘We meant it in
kindness—we couldn’t bear to see the poor fellow so miserable:—and
besides, he was such a damper upon us, sitting there silent and glum,
when he was under the threefold influence—of the loss of his sweetheart,
the loss of his fortune, and the reaction of the lost night’s debauch;
whereas, when he had something in him, if he was not merry himself, he
was an unfailing source of merriment to us. Even Grimsby could chuckle
over his odd sayings: they delighted him far more than my merry jests, or
Hattersley’s riotous mirth. But one evening, when we were sitting over
our wine, after one of our club dinners, and all had been hearty
together,—Lowborough giving us mad toasts, and hearing our wild songs,
and bearing a hand in the applause, if he did not help us to sing them
himself,—he suddenly relapsed into silence, sinking his head on his hand,
and never lifting his glass to his lips;—but this was nothing new; so we
let him alone, and went on with our jollification, till, suddenly raising
his head, he interrupted us in the middle of a roar of laughter by
exclaiming,—‘Gentlemen, where is all this to end?—Will you just tell me
that now?—Where is it all to end?’ He rose.
‘“A speech, a speech!” shouted we. “Hear, hear! Lowborough’s going to
give us a speech!”
‘He waited calmly till the thunders of applause and jingling of glasses
had ceased, and then proceeded,—“It’s only this, gentlemen,—that I think
we’d better go no further. We’d better stop while we can.”
‘“Just so!” cried Hattersley—
“Stop, poor sinner, stop and think
Before you further go,
No longer sport upon the brink
Of everlasting woe.”
‘“Exactly!” replied his lordship, with the utmost gravity. “And if you
choose to visit the bottomless pit, I won’t go with you—we must part
company, for I swear I’ll not move another step towards it!—What’s this?”
he said, taking up his glass of wine.
‘“Taste it,” suggested I.
‘“This is hell broth!” he exclaimed. “I renounce it for ever!” And he
threw it out into the middle of the table.
‘“Fill again!” said I, handing him the bottle—“and let us drink to your
renunciation.”
‘“It’s rank poison,” said he, grasping the bottle by the neck, “and I
forswear it! I’ve given up gambling, and I’ll give up this too.” He was
on the point of deliberately pouring the whole contents of the bottle on
to the table, but Hargrave wrested it from him. “On you be the curse,
then!” said he. And, backing from the room, he shouted, “Farewell, ye
tempters!” and vanished amid shouts of laughter and applause.
‘We expected him back among us the next day; but, to our surprise, the
place remained vacant: we saw nothing of him for a whole week; and we
really began to think he was going to keep his word. At last, one
evening, when we were most of us assembled together again, he entered,
silent and grim as a ghost, and would have quietly slipped into his usual
seat at my elbow, but we all rose to welcome him, and several voices were
raised to ask what he would have, and several hands were busy with bottle
and glass to serve him; but I knew a smoking tumbler of brandy-and-water
would comfort him best, and had nearly prepared it, when he peevishly
pushed it away, saying,—
‘“Do let me alone, Huntingdon! Do be quiet, all of you! I’m not come to
join you: I’m only come to be with you awhile, because I can’t bear my
own thoughts.” And he folded his arms, and leant back in his chair; so
we let him be. But I left the glass by him; and, after awhile, Grimsby
directed my attention towards it, by a significant wink; and, on turning
my head, I saw it was drained to the bottom. He made me a sign to
replenish, and quietly pushed up the bottle. I willingly complied; but
Lowborough detected the pantomime, and, nettled at the intelligent grins
that were passing between us, snatched the glass from my hand, dashed the
contents of it in Grimsby’s face, threw the empty tumbler at me, and then
bolted from the room.’
‘I hope he broke your head,’ said I.
‘No, love,’ replied he, laughing immoderately at the recollection of the
whole affair; ‘he would have done so,—and perhaps, spoilt my face, too,
but, providentially, this forest of curls’ (taking off his hat, and
showing his luxuriant chestnut locks) ‘saved my skull, and prevented the
glass from breaking, till it reached the table.’
‘After that,’ he continued, ‘Lowborough kept aloof from us a week or two
longer. I used to meet him occasionally in the town; and then, as I was
too good-natured to resent his unmannerly conduct, and he bore no malice
against me,—he was never unwilling to talk to me; on the contrary, he
would cling to me, and follow me anywhere but to the club, and the
gaming-houses, and such-like dangerous places of resort—he was so weary
of his own moping, melancholy mind. At last, I got him to come in with
me to the club, on condition that I would not tempt him to drink; and,
for some time, he continued to look in upon us pretty regularly of an
evening,—still abstaining, with wonderful perseverance, from the “rank
poison” he had so bravely forsworn. But some of our members protested
against this conduct. They did not like to have him sitting there like a
skeleton at a feast, instead of contributing his quota to the general
amusement, casting a cloud over all, and watching, with greedy eyes,
every drop they carried to their lips—they vowed it was not fair; and
some of them maintained that he should either be compelled to do as
others did, or expelled from the society; and swore that, next time he
showed himself, they would tell him as much, and, if he did not take the
warning, proceed to active measures. However, I befriended him on this
occasion, and recommended them to let him be for a while, intimating
that, with a little patience on our parts, he would soon come round
again. But, to be sure, it was rather provoking; for, though he refused
to drink like an honest Christian, it was well known to me that he kept a
private bottle of laudanum about him, which he was continually soaking
at—or rather, holding off and on with, abstaining one day and exceeding
the next—just like the spirits.
‘One night, however, during one of our orgies—one of our high festivals,
I mean—he glided in, like the ghost in “Macbeth,” and seated himself, as
usual, a little back from the table, in the chair we always placed for
“the spectre,” whether it chose to fill it or not. I saw by his face
that he was suffering from the effects of an overdose of his insidious
comforter; but nobody spoke to him, and he spoke to nobody. A few
sidelong glances, and a whispered observation, that “the ghost was come,”
was all the notice he drew by his appearance, and we went on with our
merry carousals as before, till he startled us all by suddenly drawing in
his chair, and leaning forward with his elbows on the table, and
exclaiming with portentous solemnity,—“Well! it puzzles me what you can
find to be so merry about. What you see in life I don’t know—I see only
the blackness of darkness, and a fearful looking for of judgment and
fiery indignation!”
‘All the company simultaneously pushed up their glasses to him, and I set
them before him in a semicircle, and, tenderly patting him on the back,
bid him drink, and he would soon see as bright a prospect as any of us;
but he pushed them back, muttering,—
‘“Take them away! I won’t taste it, I tell you. I won’t—I won’t!” So I
handed them down again to the owners; but I saw that he followed them
with a glare of hungry regret as they departed. Then he clasped his
hands before his eyes to shut out the sight, and two minutes after lifted
his head again, and said, in a hoarse but vehement whisper,—
‘“And yet I must! Huntingdon, get me a glass!”
‘“Take the bottle, man!” said I, thrusting the brandy-bottle into his
hand—but stop, I’m telling too much,’ muttered the narrator, startled at
the look I turned upon him. ‘But no matter,’ he recklessly added, and
thus continued his relation: ‘In his desperate eagerness, he seized the
bottle and sucked away, till he suddenly dropped from his chair,
disappearing under the table amid a tempest of applause. The consequence
of this imprudence was something like an apoplectic fit, followed by a
rather severe brain fever—’
‘And what did you think of yourself, sir?’ said I, quickly.
‘Of course, I was very penitent,’ he replied. ‘I went to see him once or
twice—nay, twice or thrice—or by’r lady, some four times—and when he got
better, I tenderly brought him back to the fold.’
‘What do you mean?’
‘I mean, I restored him to the bosom of the club, and compassionating the
feebleness of his health and extreme lowness of his spirits, I
recommended him to “take a little wine for his stomach’s sake,” and, when
he was sufficiently re-established, to embrace the media-via,
ni-jamais-ni-toujours plan—not to kill himself like a fool, and not to
abstain like a ninny—in a word, to enjoy himself like a rational
creature, and do as I did; for, don’t think, Helen, that I’m a tippler;
I’m nothing at all of the kind, and never was, and never shall be. I
value my comfort far too much. I see that a man cannot give himself up
to drinking without being miserable one-half his days and mad the other;
besides, I like to enjoy my life at all sides and ends, which cannot be
done by one that suffers himself to be the slave of a single
propensity—and, moreover, drinking spoils one’s good looks,’ he
concluded, with a most conceited smile that ought to have provoked me
more than it did.
‘And did Lord Lowborough profit by your advice?’ I asked.
‘Why, yes, in a manner. For a while he managed very well; indeed, he was
a model of moderation and prudence—something too much so for the tastes
of our wild community; but, somehow, Lowborough had not the gift of
moderation: if he stumbled a little to one side, he must go down before
he could right himself: if he overshot the mark one night, the effects of
it rendered him so miserable the next day that he must repeat the offence
to mend it; and so on from day to day, till his clamorous conscience
brought him to a stand. And then, in his sober moments, he so bothered
his friends with his remorse, and his terrors and woes, that they were
obliged, in self-defence, to get him to drown his sorrows in wine, or any
more potent beverage that came to hand; and when his first scruples of
conscience were overcome, he would need no more persuading, he would
often grow desperate, and be as great a blackguard as any of them could
desire—but only to lament his own unutterable wickedness and degradation
the more when the fit was over.
‘At last, one day when he and I were alone together, after pondering
awhile in one of his gloomy, abstracted moods, with his arms folded and
his head sunk on his breast, he suddenly woke up, and vehemently grasping
my arm, said,—
‘“Huntingdon, this won’t do! I’m resolved to have done with it.”
‘“What, are you going to shoot yourself?” said I.
‘“No; I’m going to reform.”
‘“Oh, that’s nothing new! You’ve been going to reform these twelve
months and more.”
‘“Yes, but you wouldn’t let me; and I was such a fool I couldn’t live
without you. But now I see what it is that keeps me back, and what’s
wanted to save me; and I’d compass sea and land to get it—only I’m afraid
there’s no chance.” And he sighed as if his heart would break.
‘“What is it, Lowborough?” said I, thinking he was fairly cracked at
last.
‘“A wife,” he answered; “for I can’t live alone, because my own mind
distracts me, and I can’t live with you, because you take the devil’s
part against me.”
‘“Who—I?”
‘“Yes—all of you do—and you more than any of them, you know. But if I
could get a wife, with fortune enough to pay off my debts and set me
straight in the world—”
‘“To be sure,” said I.
‘“And sweetness and goodness enough,” he continued, “to make home
tolerable, and to reconcile me to myself, I think I should do yet. I
shall never be in love again, that’s certain; but perhaps that would be
no great matter, it would enable me to choose with my eyes open—and I
should make a good husband in spite of it; but could any one be in love
with me?—that’s the question. With your good looks and powers of
fascination” (he was pleased to say), “I might hope; but as it is,
Huntingdon, do you think anybody would take me—ruined and wretched as I
am?”
‘“Yes, certainly.”
‘“Who?”
‘“Why, any neglected old maid, fast sinking in despair, would be
delighted to—”
‘“No, no,” said he—“it must be somebody that I can love.”
‘“Why, you just said you never could be in love again!”
‘“Well, love is not the word—but somebody that I can like. I’ll search
all England through, at all events!” he cried, with a sudden burst of
hope, or desperation. “Succeed or fail, it will be better than rushing
headlong to destruction at that d-d club: so farewell to it and you.
Whenever I meet you on honest ground or under a Christian roof, I shall
be glad to see you; but never more shall you entice me to that devil’s
den!”
‘This was shameful language, but I shook hands with him, and we parted.
He kept his word; and from that time forward he has been a pattern of
propriety, as far as I can tell; but till lately I have not had very much
to do with him. He occasionally sought my company, but as frequently
shrunk from it, fearing lest I should wile him back to destruction, and I
found his not very entertaining, especially as he sometimes attempted to
awaken my conscience and draw me from the perdition he considered himself
to have escaped; but when I did happen to meet him, I seldom failed to
ask after the progress of his matrimonial efforts and researches, and, in
general, he could give me but a poor account. The mothers were repelled
by his empty coffers and his reputation for gambling, and the daughters
by his cloudy brow and melancholy temper—besides, he didn’t understand
them; he wanted the spirit and assurance to carry his point.
‘I left him at it when I went to the continent; and on my return, at the
year’s end, I found him still a disconsolate bachelor—though, certainly,
looking somewhat less like an unblest exile from the tomb than before.
The young ladies had ceased to be afraid of him, and were beginning to
think him quite interesting; but the mammas were still unrelenting. It
was about this time, Helen, that my good angel brought me into
conjunction with you; and then I had eyes and ears for nobody else. But,
meantime, Lowborough became acquainted with our charming friend, Miss
Wilmot—through the intervention of his good angel, no doubt he would tell
you, though he did not dare to fix his hopes on one so courted and
admired, till after they were brought into closer contact here at
Staningley, and she, in the absence of her other admirers, indubitably
courted his notice and held out every encouragement to his timid
advances. Then, indeed, he began to hope for a dawn of brighter days;
and if, for a while, I darkened his prospects by standing between him and
his sun—and so nearly plunged him again into the abyss of despair—it only
intensified his ardour and strengthened his hopes when I chose to abandon
the field in the pursuit of a brighter treasure. In a word, as I told
you, he is fairly besotted. At first, he could dimly perceive her
faults, and they gave him considerable uneasiness; but now his passion
and her art together have blinded him to everything but her perfections
and his amazing good fortune. Last night he came to me brimful of his
new-found felicity:
‘“Huntingdon, I am not a castaway!” said he, seizing my hand and
squeezing it like a vice. “There is happiness in store for me yet—even
in this life—she loves me!”
‘“Indeed!” said I. “Has she told you so?”
‘“No, but I can no longer doubt it. Do you not see how pointedly kind
and affectionate she is? And she knows the utmost extent of my poverty,
and cares nothing about it! She knows all the folly and all the
wickedness of my former life, and is not afraid to trust me—and my rank
and title are no allurements to her; for them she utterly disregards.
She is the most generous, high-minded being that can be conceived of.
She will save me, body and soul, from destruction. Already, she has
ennobled me in my own estimation, and made me three times better, wiser,
greater than I was. Oh! if I had but known her before, how much
degradation and misery I should have been spared! But what have I done
to deserve so magnificent a creature?”
‘And the cream of the jest,’ continued Mr. Huntingdon, laughing, ‘is,
that the artful minx loves nothing about him but his title and pedigree,
and “that delightful old family seat.”’
‘How do you know?’ said I.
‘She told me so herself; she said, “As for the man himself, I thoroughly
despise him; but then, I suppose, it is time to be making my choice, and
if I waited for some one capable of eliciting my esteem and affection, I
should have to pass my life in single blessedness, for I detest you all!”
Ha, ha! I suspect she was wrong there; but, however, it is evident she
has no love for him, poor fellow.’
‘Then you ought to tell him so.’
‘What! and spoil all her plans and prospects, poor girl? No, no: that
would be a breach of confidence, wouldn’t it, Helen? Ha, ha! Besides,
it would break his heart.’ And he laughed again.
‘Well, Mr. Huntingdon, I don’t know what you see so amazingly diverting
in the matter; I see nothing to laugh at.’
‘I’m laughing at you, just now, love,’ said he, redoubling his
machinations.
And leaving him to enjoy his merriment alone, I touched Ruby with the
whip, and cantered on to rejoin our companions; for we had been walking
our horses all this time, and were consequently a long way behind.
Arthur was soon at my side again; but not disposed to talk to him, I
broke into a gallop. He did the same; and we did not slacken our pace
till we came up with Miss Wilmot and Lord Lowborough, which was within
half a mile of the park-gates. I avoided all further conversation with
him till we came to the end of our ride, when I meant to jump off my
horse and vanish into the house, before he could offer his assistance;
but while I was disengaging my habit from the crutch, he lifted me off,
and held me by both hands, asserting that he would not let me go till I
had forgiven him.
‘I have nothing to forgive,’ said I. ‘You have not injured me.’
‘No, darling—God forbid that I should! but you are angry because it was
to me that Annabella confessed her lack of esteem for her lover.’
‘No, Arthur, it is not that that displeases me: it is the whole system of
your conduct towards your friend, and if you wish me to forget it, go
now, and tell him what sort of a woman it is that he adores so madly, and
on whom he has hung his hopes of future happiness.’
‘I tell you, Helen, it would break his heart—it would be the death of
him—besides being a scandalous trick to poor Annabella. There is no help
for him now; he is past praying for. Besides, she may keep up the
deception to the end of the chapter; and then he will be just as happy in
the illusion as if it were reality; or perhaps he will only discover his
mistake when he has ceased to love her; and if not, it is much better
that the truth should dawn gradually upon him. So now, my angel, I hope
I have made out a clear case, and fully convinced you that I cannot make
the atonement you require. What other requisition have you to make?
Speak, and I will gladly obey.’
‘I have none but this,’ said I, as gravely as before: ‘that, in future,
you will never make a jest of the sufferings of others, and always use
your influence with your friends for their own advantage against their
evil propensities, instead of seconding their evil propensities against
themselves.’
‘I will do my utmost,’ said he, ‘to remember and perform the injunctions
of my angel monitress;’ and after kissing both my gloved hands, he let me
go.
When I entered my room, I was surprised to see Annabella Wilmot standing
before my toilet-table, composedly surveying her features in the glass,
with one hand flirting her gold-mounted whip, and the other holding up
her long habit.
‘She certainly is a magnificent creature!’ thought I, as I beheld that
tall, finely developed figure, and the reflection of the handsome face in
the mirror before me, with the glossy dark hair, slightly and not
ungracefully disordered by the breezy ride, the rich brown complexion
glowing with exercise, and the black eyes sparkling with unwonted
brilliance. On perceiving me, she turned round, exclaiming, with a laugh
that savoured more of malice than of mirth,—‘Why, Helen! what have you
been doing so long? I came to tell you my good fortune,’ she continued,
regardless of Rachel’s presence. ‘Lord Lowborough has proposed, and I
have been graciously pleased to accept him. Don’t you envy me, dear?’
‘No, love,’ said I—‘or him either,’ I mentally added. ‘And do you like
him, Annabella?’
‘Like him! yes, to be sure—over head and ears in love!’
‘Well, I hope you’ll make him a good wife.’
‘Thank you, my dear! And what besides do you hope?’
‘I hope you will both love each other, and both be happy.’
‘Thanks; and I hope you will make a very good wife to Mr. Huntingdon!’
said she, with a queenly bow, and retired.
‘Oh, Miss! how could you say so to her!’ cried Rachel.
‘Say what?’ replied I.
‘Why, that you hoped she would make him a good wife. I never heard such
a thing!’
‘Because I do hope it, or rather, I wish it; she’s almost past hope.’
‘Well,’ said she, ‘I’m sure I hope he’ll make her a good husband. They
tell queer things about him downstairs. They were saying—’
‘I know, Rachel. I’ve heard all about him; but he’s reformed now. And
they have no business to tell tales about their masters.’
‘No, mum—or else, they have said some things about Mr. Huntingdon too.’
‘I won’t hear them, Rachel; they tell lies.’
‘Yes, mum,’ said she, quietly, as she went on arranging my hair.
‘Do you believe them, Rachel?’ I asked, after a short pause.
‘No, Miss, not all. You know when a lot of servants gets together they
like to talk about their betters; and some, for a bit of swagger, likes
to make it appear as though they knew more than they do, and to throw out
hints and things just to astonish the others. But I think, if I was you,
Miss Helen, I’d look very well before I leaped. I do believe a young
lady can’t be too careful who she marries.’
‘Of course not,’ said I; ‘but be quick, will you, Rachel? I want to be
dressed.’
And, indeed, I was anxious to be rid of the good woman, for I was in such
a melancholy frame I could hardly keep the tears out of my eyes while she
dressed me. It was not for Lord Lowborough—it was not for Annabella—it
was not for myself—it was for Arthur Huntingdon that they rose.
* * * * *
13th.—They are gone, and he is gone. We are to be parted for more than
two months, above ten weeks! a long, long time to live and not to see
him. But he has promised to write often, and made me promise to write
still oftener, because he will be busy settling his affairs, and I shall
have nothing better to do. Well, I think I shall always have plenty to
say. But oh! for the time when we shall be always together, and can
exchange our thoughts without the intervention of these cold go-betweens,
pen, ink, and paper!
* * * * *
22nd.—I have had several letters from Arthur already. They are not long,
but passing sweet, and just like himself, full of ardent affection, and
playful lively humour; but there is always a ‘but’ in this imperfect
world, and I do wish he would sometimes be serious. I cannot get him to
write or speak in real, solid earnest. I don’t much mind it now, but if
it be always so, what shall I do with the serious part of myself?
CHAPTER XXIII
Feb. 18, 1822.—Early this morning Arthur mounted his hunter and set off
in high glee to meet the — hounds. He will be away all day, and so I
will amuse myself with my neglected diary, if I can give that name to
such an irregular composition. It is exactly four months since I opened
it last.
I am married now, and settled down as Mrs. Huntingdon of Grassdale Manor.
I have had eight weeks’ experience of matrimony. And do I regret the
step I have taken? No, though I must confess, in my secret heart, that
Arthur is not what I thought him at first, and if I had known him in the
beginning as thoroughly as I do now, I probably never should have loved
him, and if I loved him first, and then made the discovery, I fear I
should have thought it my duty not to have married him. To be sure I
might have known him, for every one was willing enough to tell me about
him, and he himself was no accomplished hypocrite, but I was wilfully
blind; and now, instead of regretting that I did not discern his full
character before I was indissolubly bound to him, I am glad, for it has
saved me a great deal of battling with my conscience, and a great deal of
consequent trouble and pain; and, whatever I ought to have done, my duty
now is plainly to love him and to cleave to him, and this just tallies
with my inclination.
He is very fond of me, almost too fond. I could do with less caressing
and more rationality. I should like to be less of a pet and more of a
friend, if I might choose; but I won’t complain of that: I am only afraid
his affection loses in depth where it gains in ardour. I sometimes liken
it to a fire of dry twigs and branches compared with one of solid coal,
very bright and hot; but if it should burn itself out and leave nothing
but ashes behind, what shall I do? But it won’t, it sha’n’t, I am
determined; and surely I have power to keep it alive. So let me dismiss
that thought at once. But Arthur is selfish; I am constrained to
acknowledge that; and, indeed, the admission gives me less pain than
might be expected, for, since I love him so much, I can easily forgive
him for loving himself: he likes to be pleased, and it is my delight to
please him; and when I regret this tendency of his, it is for his own
sake, not for mine.
The first instance he gave was on the occasion of our bridal tour. He
wanted to hurry it over, for all the continental scenes were already
familiar to him: many had lost their interest in his eyes, and others had
never had anything to lose. The consequence was, that after a flying
transit through part of France and part of Italy, I came back nearly as
ignorant as I went, having made no acquaintance with persons and manners,
and very little with things, my head swarming with a motley confusion of
objects and scenes; some, it is true, leaving a deeper and more pleasing
impression than others, but these embittered by the recollection that my
emotions had not been shared by my companion, but that, on the contrary,
when I had expressed a particular interest in anything that I saw or
desired to see, it had been displeasing to him, inasmuch as it proved
that I could take delight in anything disconnected with himself.
[Picture: Blake Hall—The Approach (Grassdale Manor)]
As for Paris, we only just touched at that, and he would not give me time
to see one-tenth of the beauties and interesting objects of Rome. He
wanted to get me home, he said, to have me all to himself, and to see me
safely installed as the mistress of Grassdale Manor, just as
single-minded, as naïve, and piquante as I was; and as if I had been some
frail butterfly, he expressed himself fearful of rubbing the silver off
my wings by bringing me into contact with society, especially that of
Paris and Rome; and, more-over, he did not scruple to tell me that there
were ladies in both places that would tear his eyes out if they happened
to meet him with me.
Of course I was vexed at all this; but still it was less the
disappointment to myself that annoyed me, than the disappointment in him,
and the trouble I was at to frame excuses to my friends for having seen
and observed so little, without imputing one particle of blame to my
companion. But when we got home—to my new, delightful home—I was so
happy and he was so kind that I freely forgave him all; and I was
beginning to think my lot too happy, and my husband actually too good for
me, if not too good for this world, when, on the second Sunday after our
arrival, he shocked and horrified me by another instance of his
unreasonable exaction. We were walking home from the morning service,
for it was a fine frosty day, and as we are so near the church, I had
requested the carriage should not be used.
‘Helen,’ said he, with unusual gravity, ‘I am not quite satisfied with
you.’
I desired to know what was wrong.
‘But will you promise to reform if I tell you?’
‘Yes, if I can, and without offending a higher authority.’
‘Ah! there it is, you see: you don’t love me with all your heart.’
‘I don’t understand you, Arthur (at least I hope I don’t): pray tell me
what I have done or said amiss.’
‘It is nothing you have done or said; it is something that you are—you
are too religious. Now I like a woman to be religious, and I think your
piety one of your greatest charms; but then, like all other good things,
it may be carried too far. To my thinking, a woman’s religion ought not
to lessen her devotion to her earthly lord. She should have enough to
purify and etherealise her soul, but not enough to refine away her heart,
and raise her above all human sympathies.’
‘And am I above all human sympathies?’ said I.
‘No, darling; but you are making more progress towards that saintly
condition than I like; for all these two hours I have been thinking of
you and wanting to catch your eye, and you were so absorbed in your
devotions that you had not even a glance to spare for me—I declare it is
enough to make one jealous of one’s Maker—which is very wrong, you know;
so don’t excite such wicked passions again, for my soul’s sake.’
‘I will give my whole heart and soul to my Maker if I can,’ I answered,
‘and not one atom more of it to you than He allows. What are you, sir,
that you should set yourself up as a god, and presume to dispute
possession of my heart with Him to whom I owe all I have and all I am,
every blessing I ever did or ever can enjoy—and yourself among the
rest—if you are a blessing, which I am half inclined to doubt.’
‘Don’t be so hard upon me, Helen; and don’t pinch my arm so: you are
squeezing your fingers into the bone.’
‘Arthur,’ continued I, relaxing my hold of his arm, ‘you don’t love me
half as much as I do you; and yet, if you loved me far less than you do,
I would not complain, provided you loved your Maker more. I should
rejoice to see you at any time so deeply absorbed in your devotions that
you had not a single thought to spare for me. But, indeed, I should lose
nothing by the change, for the more you loved your God the more deep and
pure and true would be your love to me.’
At this he only laughed and kissed my hand, calling me a sweet
enthusiast. Then taking off his hat, he added: ‘But look here,
Helen—what can a man do with such a head as this?’
The head looked right enough, but when he placed my hand on the top of
it, it sunk in a bed of curls, rather alarmingly low, especially in the
middle.
‘You see I was not made to be a saint,’ said he, laughing, ‘If God meant
me to be religious, why didn’t He give me a proper organ of veneration?’
‘You are like the servant,’ I replied, ‘who, instead of employing his one
talent in his master’s service, restored it to him unimproved, alleging,
as an excuse, that he knew him “to be a hard man, reaping where he had
not sown, and gathering where he had not strawed.” Of him to whom less
is given, less will be required, but our utmost exertions are required of
us all. You are not without the capacity of veneration, and faith and
hope, and conscience and reason, and every other requisite to a
Christian’s character, if you choose to employ them; but all our talents
increase in the using, and every faculty, both good and bad, strengthens
by exercise: therefore, if you choose to use the bad, or those which tend
to evil, till they become your masters, and neglect the good till they
dwindle away, you have only yourself to blame. But you have talents,
Arthur—natural endowments both of heart and mind and temper, such as many
a better Christian would be glad to possess, if you would only employ
them in God’s service. I should never expect to see you a devotee, but
it is quite possible to be a good Christian without ceasing to be a
happy, merry-hearted man.’
‘You speak like an oracle, Helen, and all you say is indisputably true;
but listen here: I am hungry, and I see before me a good substantial
dinner; I am told that if I abstain from this to-day I shall have a
sumptuous feast to-morrow, consisting of all manner of dainties and
delicacies. Now, in the first place, I should be loth to wait till
to-morrow when I have the means of appeasing my hunger already before me:
in the second place, the solid viands of to-day are more to my taste than
the dainties that are promised me; in the third place, I don’t see
to-morrow’s banquet, and how can I tell that it is not all a fable, got
up by the greasy-faced fellow that is advising me to abstain in order
that he may have all the good victuals to himself? in the fourth place,
this table must be spread for somebody, and, as Solomon says, “Who can
eat, or who else can hasten hereunto more than I?” and finally, with your
leave, I’ll sit down and satisfy my cravings of to-day, and leave
to-morrow to shift for itself—who knows but what I may secure both this
and that?’
‘But you are not required to abstain from the substantial dinner of
to-day: you are only advised to partake of these coarser viands in such
moderation as not to incapacitate you from enjoying the choicer banquet
of to-morrow. If, regardless of that counsel, you choose to make a beast
of yourself now, and over-eat and over-drink yourself till you turn the
good victuals into poison, who is to blame if, hereafter, while you are
suffering the torments of yesterday’s gluttony and drunkenness, you see
more temperate men sitting down to enjoy themselves at that splendid
entertainment which you are unable to taste?’
‘Most true, my patron saint; but again, our friend Solomon says, “There
is nothing better for a man than to eat and to drink, and to be merry.”’
‘And again,’ returned I, ‘he says, “Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth;
and walk in the ways of thine heart, and in the sight of thine eyes: but
know thou, that for all these things God will bring thee into judgment.”’
‘Well, but, Helen, I’m sure I’ve been very good these last few weeks.
What have you seen amiss in me, and what would you have me to do?’
‘Nothing more than you do, Arthur: your actions are all right so far; but
I would have your thoughts changed; I would have you to fortify yourself
against temptation, and not to call evil good, and good evil; I should
wish you to think more deeply, to look further, and aim higher than you
do.’
CHAPTER XXIV
March 25th.—Arthur is getting tired—not of me, I trust, but of the idle,
quiet life he leads—and no wonder, for he has so few sources of
amusement: he never reads anything but newspapers and sporting magazines;
and when he sees me occupied with a book, he won’t let me rest till I
close it. In fine weather he generally manages to get through the time
pretty well, but on rainy days, of which we have had a good many of late,
it is quite painful to witness his ennui. I do all I can to amuse him,
but it is impossible to get him to feel interested in what I most like to
talk about, while, on the other hand, he likes to talk about things that
cannot interest me—or even that annoy me—and these please him—the most of
all: for his favourite amusement is to sit or loll beside me on the sofa,
and tell me stories of his former amours, always turning upon the ruin of
some confiding girl or the cozening of some unsuspecting husband; and
when I express my horror and indignation, he lays it all to the charge of
jealousy, and laughs till the tears run down his cheeks. I used to fly
into passions or melt into tears at first, but seeing that his delight
increased in proportion to my anger and agitation, I have since
endeavoured to suppress my feelings and receive his revelations in the
silence of calm contempt; but still he reads the inward struggle in my
face, and misconstrues my bitterness of soul for his unworthiness into
the pangs of wounded jealousy; and when he has sufficiently diverted
himself with that, or fears my displeasure will become too serious for
his comfort, he tries to kiss and soothe me into smiles again—never were
his caresses so little welcome as then! This is double selfishness
displayed to me and to the victims of his former love. There are times
when, with a momentary pang—a flash of wild dismay, I ask myself, ‘Helen,
what have you done?’ But I rebuke the inward questioner, and repel the
obtrusive thoughts that crowd upon me; for were he ten times as sensual
and impenetrable to good and lofty thoughts, I well know I have no right
to complain. And I don’t and won’t complain. I do and will love him
still; and I do not and will not regret that I have linked my fate with
his.
April 4th.—We have had a downright quarrel. The particulars are as
follows: Arthur had told me, at different intervals, the whole story of
his intrigue with Lady F—, which I would not believe before. It was some
consolation, however, to find that in this instance the lady had been
more to blame than he, for he was very young at the time, and she had
decidedly made the first advances, if what he said was true. I hated her
for it, for it seemed as if she had chiefly contributed to his
corruption; and when he was beginning to talk about her the other day, I
begged he would not mention her, for I detested the very sound of her
name.
‘Not because you loved her, Arthur, mind, but because she injured you and
deceived her husband, and was altogether a very abominable woman, whom
you ought to be ashamed to mention.’
But he defended her by saying that she had a doting old husband, whom it
was impossible to love.
‘Then why did she marry him?’ said I.
‘For his money,’ was the reply.
‘Then that was another crime, and her solemn promise to love and honour
him was another, that only increased the enormity of the last.’
‘You are too severe upon the poor lady,’ laughed he. ‘But never mind,
Helen, I don’t care for her now; and I never loved any of them half as
much as I do you, so you needn’t fear to be forsaken like them.’
‘If you had told me these things before, Arthur, I never should have
given you the chance.’
‘Wouldn’t you, my darling?’
‘Most certainly not!’
He laughed incredulously.
‘I wish I could convince you of it now!’ cried I, starting up from beside
him: and for the first time in my life, and I hope the last, I wished I
had not married him.
‘Helen,’ said he, more gravely, ‘do you know that if I believed you now I
should be very angry? but thank heaven I don’t. Though you stand there
with your white face and flashing eyes, looking at me like a very
tigress, I know the heart within you perhaps a trifle better than you
know it yourself.’
Without another word I left the room and locked myself up in my own
chamber. In about half an hour he came to the door, and first he tried
the handle, then he knocked.
‘Won’t you let me in, Helen?’ said he. ‘No; you have displeased me,’ I
replied, ‘and I don’t want to see your face or hear your voice again till
the morning.’
He paused a moment as if dumfounded or uncertain how to answer such a
speech, and then turned and walked away. This was only an hour after
dinner: I knew he would find it very dull to sit alone all the evening;
and this considerably softened my resentment, though it did not make me
relent. I was determined to show him that my heart was not his slave,
and I could live without him if I chose; and I sat down and wrote a long
letter to my aunt, of course telling her nothing of all this. Soon after
ten o’clock I heard him come up again, but he passed my door and went
straight to his own dressing-room, where he shut himself in for the
night.
I was rather anxious to see how he would meet me in the morning, and not
a little disappointed to behold him enter the breakfast-room with a
careless smile.
‘Are you cross still, Helen?’ said he, approaching as if to salute me. I
coldly turned to the table, and began to pour out the coffee, observing
that he was rather late.
He uttered a low whistle and sauntered away to the window, where he stood
for some minutes looking out upon the pleasing prospect of sullen grey
clouds, streaming rain, soaking lawn, and dripping leafless trees, and
muttering execrations on the weather, and then sat down to breakfast.
While taking his coffee he muttered it was ‘d—d cold.’
‘You should not have left it so long,’ said I.
He made no answer, and the meal was concluded in silence. It was a
relief to both when the letter-bag was brought in. It contained upon
examination a newspaper and one or two letters for him, and a couple of
letters for me, which he tossed across the table without a remark. One
was from my brother, the other from Milicent Hargrave, who is now in
London with her mother. His, I think, were business letters, and
apparently not much to his mind, for he crushed them into his pocket with
some muttered expletives that I should have reproved him for at any other
time. The paper he set before him, and pretended to be deeply absorbed
in its contents during the remainder of breakfast, and a considerable
time after.
The reading and answering of my letters, and the direction of household
concerns, afforded me ample employment for the morning: after lunch I got
my drawing, and from dinner till bed-time I read. Meanwhile, poor Arthur
was sadly at a loss for something to amuse him or to occupy his time. He
wanted to appear as busy and as unconcerned as I did. Had the weather at
all permitted, he would doubtless have ordered his horse and set off to
some distant region, no matter where, immediately after breakfast, and
not returned till night: had there been a lady anywhere within reach, of
any age between fifteen and forty-five, he would have sought revenge and
found employment in getting up, or trying to get up, a desperate
flirtation with her; but being, to my private satisfaction, entirely cut
off from both these sources of diversion, his sufferings were truly
deplorable. When he had done yawning over his paper and scribbling short
answers to his shorter letters, he spent the remainder of the morning and
the whole of the afternoon in fidgeting about from room to room, watching
the clouds, cursing the rain, alternately petting and teasing and abusing
his dogs, sometimes lounging on the sofa with a book that he could not
force himself to read, and very often fixedly gazing at me when he
thought I did not perceive it, with the vain hope of detecting some
traces of tears, or some tokens of remorseful anguish in my face. But I
managed to preserve an undisturbed though grave serenity throughout the
day. I was not really angry: I felt for him all the time, and longed to
be reconciled; but I determined he should make the first advances, or at
least show some signs of an humble and contrite spirit first; for, if I
began, it would only minister to his self-conceit, increase his
arrogance, and quite destroy the lesson I wanted to give him.
He made a long stay in the dining-room after dinner, and, I fear, took an
unusual quantity of wine, but not enough to loosen his tongue: for when
he came in and found me quietly occupied with my book, too busy to lift
my head on his entrance, he merely murmured an expression of suppressed
disapprobation, and, shutting the door with a bang, went and stretched
himself at full length on the sofa, and composed himself to sleep. But
his favourite cocker, Dash, that had been lying at my feet, took the
liberty of jumping upon him and beginning to lick his face. He struck it
off with a smart blow, and the poor dog squeaked and ran cowering back to
me. When he woke up, about half an hour after, he called it to him
again, but Dash only looked sheepish and wagged the tip of his tail. He
called again more sharply, but Dash only clung the closer to me, and
licked my hand, as if imploring protection. Enraged at this, his master
snatched up a heavy book and hurled it at his head. The poor dog set up
a piteous outcry, and ran to the door. I let him out, and then quietly
took up the book.
‘Give that book to me,’ said Arthur, in no very courteous tone. I gave
it to him.
‘Why did you let the dog out?’ he asked; ‘you knew I wanted him.’
‘By what token?’ I replied; ‘by your throwing the book at him? but
perhaps it was intended for me?’
‘No; but I see you’ve got a taste of it,’ said he, looking at my hand,
that had also been struck, and was rather severely grazed.
I returned to my reading, and he endeavoured to occupy himself in the
same manner; but in a little while, after several portentous yawns, he
pronounced his book to be ‘cursed trash,’ and threw it on the table.
Then followed eight or ten minutes of silence, during the greater part of
which, I believe, he was staring at me. At last his patience was tired
out.
‘What is that book, Helen?’ he exclaimed.
I told him.
‘Is it interesting?’
‘Yes, very.’
I went on reading, or pretending to read, at least—I cannot say there was
much communication between my eyes and my brain; for, while the former
ran over the pages, the latter was earnestly wondering when Arthur would
speak next, and what he would say, and what I should answer. But he did
not speak again till I rose to make the tea, and then it was only to say
he should not take any. He continued lounging on the sofa, and
alternately closing his eyes and looking at his watch and at me, till
bed-time, when I rose, and took my candle and retired.
‘Helen!’ cried he, the moment I had left the room. I turned back, and
stood awaiting his commands.
‘What do you want, Arthur?’ I said at length.
‘Nothing,’ replied he. ‘Go!’
I went, but hearing him mutter something as I was closing the door, I
turned again. It sounded very like ‘confounded slut,’ but I was quite
willing it should be something else.
‘Were you speaking, Arthur?’ I asked.
‘No,’ was the answer, and I shut the door and departed. I saw nothing
more of him till the following morning at breakfast, when he came down a
full hour after the usual time.
‘You’re very late,’ was my morning’s salutation.
‘You needn’t have waited for me,’ was his; and he walked up to the window
again. It was just such weather as yesterday.
‘Oh, this confounded rain!’ he muttered. But, after studiously regarding
it for a minute or two, a bright idea, seemed to strike him, for he
suddenly exclaimed, ‘But I know what I’ll do!’ and then returned and took
his seat at the table. The letter-bag was already there, waiting to be
opened. He unlocked it and examined the contents, but said nothing about
them.
‘Is there anything for me?’ I asked.
‘No.’
He opened the newspaper and began to read.
‘You’d better take your coffee,’ suggested I; ‘it will be cold again.’
‘You may go,’ said he, ‘if you’ve done; I don’t want you.’
I rose and withdrew to the next room, wondering if we were to have
another such miserable day as yesterday, and wishing intensely for an end
of these mutually inflicted torments. Shortly after I heard him ring the
bell and give some orders about his wardrobe that sounded as if he
meditated a long journey. He then sent for the coachman, and I heard
something about the carriage and the horses, and London, and seven
o’clock to-morrow morning, that startled and disturbed me not a little.
‘I must not let him go to London, whatever comes of it,’ said I to
myself; ‘he will run into all kinds of mischief, and I shall be the cause
of it. But the question is, How am I to alter his purpose? Well, I will
wait awhile, and see if he mentions it.’
I waited most anxiously, from hour to hour; but not a word was spoken, on
that or any other subject, to me. He whistled and talked to his dogs,
and wandered from room to room, much the same as on the previous day. At
last I began to think I must introduce the subject myself, and was
pondering how to bring it about, when John unwittingly came to my relief
with the following message from the coachman:
‘Please, sir, Richard says one of the horses has got a very bad cold, and
he thinks, sir, if you could make it convenient to go the day after
to-morrow, instead of to-morrow, he could physic it to-day, so as—’
‘Confound his impudence!’ interjected the master.
‘Please, sir, he says it would be a deal better if you could,’ persisted
John, ‘for he hopes there’ll be a change in the weather shortly, and he
says it’s not likely, when a horse is so bad with a cold, and physicked
and all—’
‘Devil take the horse!’ cried the gentleman. ‘Well, tell him I’ll think
about it,’ he added, after a moment’s reflection. He cast a searching
glance at me, as the servant withdrew, expecting to see some token of
deep astonishment and alarm; but, being previously prepared, I preserved
an aspect of stoical indifference. His countenance fell as he met my
steady gaze, and he turned away in very obvious disappointment, and
walked up to the fire-place, where he stood in an attitude of undisguised
dejection, leaning against the chimney-piece with his forehead sunk upon
his arm.
‘Where do you want to go, Arthur?’ said I.
‘To London,’ replied he, gravely.
‘What for?’ I asked.
‘Because I cannot be happy here.’
‘Why not?’
‘Because my wife doesn’t love me.’
‘She would love you with all her heart, if you deserved it.’
‘What must I do to deserve it?’
This seemed humble and earnest enough; and I was so much affected,
between sorrow and joy, that I was obliged to pause a few seconds before
I could steady my voice to reply.
‘If she gives you her heart,’ said I, ‘you must take it, thankfully, and
use it well, and not pull it in pieces, and laugh in her face, because
she cannot snatch it away.’
He now turned round, and stood facing me, with his back to the fire.
‘Come, then, Helen, are you going to be a good girl?’ said he.
This sounded rather too arrogant, and the smile that accompanied it did
not please me. I therefore hesitated to reply. Perhaps my former answer
had implied too much: he had heard my voice falter, and might have seen
me brush away a tear.
‘Are you going to forgive me, Helen?’ he resumed, more humbly.
‘Are you penitent?’ I replied, stepping up to him and smiling in his
face.
‘Heart-broken!’ he answered, with a rueful countenance, yet with a merry
smile just lurking within his eyes and about the corners of his mouth;
but this could not repulse me, and I flew into his arms. He fervently
embraced me, and though I shed a torrent of tears, I think I never was
happier in my life than at that moment.
‘Then you won’t go to London, Arthur?’ I said, when the first transport
of tears and kisses had subsided.
‘No, love,—unless you will go with me.’
‘I will, gladly,’ I answered, ‘if you think the change will amuse you,
and if you will put off the journey till next week.’
He readily consented, but said there was no need of much preparation, as
he should not be for staying long, for he did not wish me to be
Londonized, and to lose my country freshness and originality by too much
intercourse with the ladies of the world. I thought this folly; but I
did not wish to contradict him now: I merely said that I was of very
domestic habits, as he well knew, and had no particular wish to mingle
with the world.
So we are to go to London on Monday, the day after to-morrow. It is now
four days since the termination of our quarrel, and I am sure it has done
us both good: it has made me like Arthur a great deal better, and made
him behave a great deal better to me. He has never once attempted to
annoy me since, by the most distant allusion to Lady F—, or any of those
disagreeable reminiscences of his former life. I wish I could blot them
from my memory, or else get him to regard such matters in the same light
as I do. Well! it is something, however, to have made him see that they
are not fit subjects for a conjugal jest. He may see further some time.
I will put no limits to my hopes; and, in spite of my aunt’s forebodings
and my own unspoken fears, I trust we shall be happy yet.
CHAPTER XXV
On the eighth of April we went to London, on the eighth of May I
returned, in obedience to Arthur’s wish; very much against my own,
because I left him behind. If he had come with me, I should have been
very glad to get home again, for he led me such a round of restless
dissipation while there, that, in that short space of time, I was quite
tired out. He seemed bent upon displaying me to his friends and
acquaintances in particular, and the public in general, on every possible
occasion, and to the greatest possible advantage. It was something to
feel that he considered me a worthy object of pride; but I paid dear for
the gratification: for, in the first place, to please him I had to
violate my cherished predilections, my almost rooted principles in favour
of a plain, dark, sober style of dress—I must sparkle in costly jewels
and deck myself out like a painted butterfly, just as I had, long since,
determined I would never do—and this was no trifling sacrifice; in the
second place, I was continually straining to satisfy his sanguine
expectations and do honour to his choice by my general conduct and
deportment, and fearing to disappoint him by some awkward misdemeanour,
or some trait of inexperienced ignorance about the customs of society,
especially when I acted the part of hostess, which I was not unfrequently
called upon to do; and, in the third place, as I intimated before, I was
wearied of the throng and bustle, the restless hurry and ceaseless change
of a life so alien to all my previous habits. At last, he suddenly
discovered that the London air did not agree with me, and I was
languishing for my country home, and must immediately return to
Grassdale.
I laughingly assured him that the case was not so urgent as he appeared
to think it, but I was quite willing to go home if he was. He replied
that he should be obliged to remain a week or two longer, as he had
business that required his presence.
[Picture: Blake Hall—Front (Grassdale Manor)]
‘Then I will stay with you,’ said I.
‘But I can’t do with you, Helen,’ was his answer: ‘as long as you stay I
shall attend to you and neglect my business.’
‘But I won’t let you,’ I returned; ‘now that I know you have business to
attend to, I shall insist upon your attending to it, and letting me
alone; and, to tell the truth, I shall be glad of a little rest. I can
take my rides and walks in the Park as usual; and your business cannot
occupy all your time: I shall see you at meal-times, and in the evenings
at least, and that will be better than being leagues away and never
seeing you at all.’
‘But, my love, I cannot let you stay. How can I settle my affairs when I
know that you are here, neglected—?’
‘I shall not feel myself neglected: while you are doing your duty,
Arthur, I shall never complain of neglect. If you had told me before,
that you had anything to do, it would have been half done before this;
and now you must make up for lost time by redoubled exertions. Tell me
what it is; and I will be your taskmaster, instead of being a hindrance.’
‘No, no,’ persisted the impracticable creature; ‘you must go home, Helen;
I must have the satisfaction of knowing that you are safe and well,
though far away. Your bright eyes are faded, and that tender, delicate
bloom has quite deserted your cheek.’
‘That is only with too much gaiety and fatigue.’
‘It is not, I tell you; it is the London air: you are pining for the
fresh breezes of your country home, and you shall feel them before you
are two days older. And remember your situation, dearest Helen; on your
health, you know, depends the health, if not the life, of our future
hope.’
‘Then you really wish to get rid of me?’
‘Positively, I do; and I will take you down myself to Grassdale, and then
return. I shall not be absent above a week or fortnight at most.’
‘But if I must go, I will go alone: if you must stay, it is needless to
waste your time in the journey there and back.’
But he did not like the idea of sending me alone.
‘Why, what helpless creature do you take me for,’ I replied, ‘that you
cannot trust me to go a hundred miles in our own carriage, with our own
footman and a maid to attend me? If you come with me I shall assuredly
keep you. But tell me, Arthur, what is this tiresome business; and why
did you never mention it before?’
‘It is only a little business with my lawyer,’ said he; and he told me
something about a piece of property he wanted to sell, in order to pay
off a part of the incumbrances on his estate; but either the account was
a little confused, or I was rather dull of comprehension, for I could not
clearly understand how that should keep him in town a fortnight after me.
Still less can I now comprehend how it should keep him a month, for it is
nearly that time since I left him, and no signs of his return as yet. In
every letter he promises to be with me in a few days, and every time
deceives me, or deceives himself. His excuses are vague and
insufficient. I cannot doubt that he has got among his former companions
again. Oh, why did I leave him! I wish—I do intensely wish he would
return!
June 29th.—No Arthur yet; and for many days I have been looking and
longing in vain for a letter. His letters, when they come, are kind, if
fair words and endearing epithets can give them a claim to the title—but
very short, and full of trivial excuses and promises that I cannot trust;
and yet how anxiously I look forward to them! how eagerly I open and
devour one of those little, hastily-scribbled returns for the three or
four long letters, hitherto unanswered, he has had from me!
Oh, it is cruel to leave me so long alone! He knows I have no one but
Rachel to speak to, for we have no neighbours here, except the Hargraves,
whose residence I can dimly descry from these upper windows embosomed
among those low, woody hills beyond the Dale. I was glad when I learnt
that Milicent was so near us; and her company would be a soothing solace
to me now; but she is still in town with her mother; there is no one at
the Grove but little Esther and her French governess, for Walter is
always away. I saw that paragon of manly perfections in London: he
seemed scarcely to merit the eulogiums of his mother and sister, though
he certainly appeared more conversable and agreeable than Lord
Lowborough, more candid and high-minded than Mr. Grimsby, and more
polished and gentlemanly than Mr. Hattersley, Arthur’s only other friend
whom he judged fit to introduce to me.—Oh, Arthur, why won’t you come?
why won’t you write to me at least? You talked about my health: how can
you expect me to gather bloom and vigour here, pining in solitude and
restless anxiety from day to day?—It would serve you right to come back
and find my good looks entirely wasted away. I would beg my uncle and
aunt, or my brother, to come and see me, but I do not like to complain of
my loneliness to them, and indeed loneliness is the least of my
sufferings. But what is he doing—what is it that keeps him away? It is
this ever-recurring question, and the horrible suggestions it raises,
that distract me.
July 3rd.—My last bitter letter has wrung from him an answer at last, and
a rather longer one than usual; but still I don’t know what to make of
it. He playfully abuses me for the gall and vinegar of my latest
effusion, tells me I can have no conception of the multitudinous
engagements that keep him away, but avers that, in spite of them all, he
will assuredly be with me before the close of next week; though it is
impossible for a man so circumstanced as he is to fix the precise day of
his return: meantime he exhorts me to the exercise of patience, ‘that
first of woman’s virtues,’ and desires me to remember the saying,
‘Absence makes the heart grow fonder,’ and comfort myself with the
assurance that the longer he stays away the better he shall love me when
he returns; and till he does return, he begs I will continue to write to
him constantly, for, though he is sometimes too idle and often too busy
to answer my letters as they come, he likes to receive them daily; and if
I fulfil my threat of punishing his seeming neglect by ceasing to write,
he shall be so angry that he will do his utmost to forget me. He adds
this piece of intelligence respecting poor Milicent Hargrave:
‘Your little friend Milicent is likely, before long, to follow your
example, and take upon her the yoke of matrimony in conjunction with a
friend of mine. Hattersley, you know, has not yet fulfilled his direful
threat of throwing his precious person away on the first old maid that
chose to evince a tenderness for him; but he still preserves a resolute
determination to see himself a married man before the year is out.
“Only,” said he to me, “I must have somebody that will let me have my own
way in everything—not like your wife, Huntingdon: she is a charming
creature, but she looks as if she had a will of her own, and could play
the vixen upon occasion” (I thought “you’re right there, man,” but I
didn’t say so). “I must have some good, quiet soul that will let me just
do what I like and go where I like, keep at home or stay away, without a
word of reproach or complaint; for I can’t do with being bothered.”
“Well,” said I, “I know somebody that will suit you to a tee, if you
don’t care for money, and that’s Hargrave’s sister, Milicent.” He
desired to be introduced to her forthwith, for he said he had plenty of
the needful himself, or should have when his old governor chose to quit
the stage. So you see, Helen, I have managed pretty well, both for your
friend and mine.’
Poor Milicent! But I cannot imagine she will ever be led to accept such
a suitor—one so repugnant to all her ideas of a man to be honoured and
loved.
5th.—Alas! I was mistaken. I have got a long letter from her this
morning, telling me she is already engaged, and expects to be married
before the close of the month.
‘I hardly know what to say about it,’ she writes, ‘or what to think. To
tell you the truth, Helen, I don’t like the thoughts of it at all. If I
am to be Mr. Hattersley’s wife, I must try to love him; and I do try with
all my might; but I have made very little progress yet; and the worst
symptom of the case is, that the further he is from me the better I like
him: he frightens me with his abrupt manners and strange hectoring ways,
and I dread the thoughts of marrying him. “Then why have you accepted
him?” you will ask; and I didn’t know I had accepted him; but mamma tells
me I have, and he seems to think so too. I certainly didn’t mean to do
so; but I did not like to give him a flat refusal, for fear mamma should
be grieved and angry (for I knew she wished me to marry him), and I
wanted to talk to her first about it: so I gave him what I thought was an
evasive, half negative answer; but she says it was as good as an
acceptance, and he would think me very capricious if I were to attempt to
draw back—and indeed I was so confused and frightened at the moment, I
can hardly tell what I said. And next time I saw him, he accosted me in
all confidence as his affianced bride, and immediately began to settle
matters with mamma. I had not courage to contradict them then, and how
can I do it now? I cannot; they would think me mad. Besides, mamma is
so delighted with the idea of the match; she thinks she has managed so
well for me; and I cannot bear to disappoint her. I do object sometimes,
and tell her what I feel, but you don’t know how she talks. Mr.
Hattersley, you know, is the son of a rich banker, and as Esther and I
have no fortunes, and Walter very little, our dear mamma is very anxious
to see us all well married, that is, united to rich partners. It is not
my idea of being well married, but she means it all for the best. She
says when I am safe off her hands it will be such a relief to her mind;
and she assures me it will be a good thing for the family as well as for
me. Even Walter is pleased at the prospect, and when I confessed my
reluctance to him, he said it was all childish nonsense. Do you think it
nonsense, Helen? I should not care if I could see any prospect of being
able to love and admire him, but I can’t. There is nothing about him to
hang one’s esteem and affection upon; he is so diametrically opposite to
what I imagined my husband should be. Do write to me, and say all you
can to encourage me. Don’t attempt to dissuade me, for my fate is fixed:
preparations for the important event are already going on around me; and
don’t say a word against Mr. Hattersley, for I want to think well of him;
and though I have spoken against him myself, it is for the last time:
hereafter, I shall never permit myself to utter a word in his dispraise,
however he may seem to deserve it; and whoever ventures to speak
slightingly of the man I have promised to love, to honour, and obey, must
expect my serious displeasure. After all, I think he is quite as good as
Mr. Huntingdon, if not better; and yet you love him, and seem to be happy
and contented; and perhaps I may manage as well. You must tell me, if
you can, that Mr. Hattersley is better than he seems—that he is upright,
honourable, and open-hearted—in fact, a perfect diamond in the rough. He
may be all this, but I don’t know him. I know only the exterior, and
what, I trust, is the worst part of him.’
She concludes with ‘Good-by, dear Helen. I am waiting anxiously for your
advice—but mind you let it be all on the right side.’
Alas! poor Milicent, what encouragement can I give you? or what
advice—except that it is better to make a bold stand now, though at the
expense of disappointing and angering both mother and brother and lover,
than to devote your whole life, hereafter, to misery and vain regret?
Saturday, 13th.—The week is over, and he is not come. All the sweet
summer is passing away without one breath of pleasure to me or benefit to
him. And I had all along been looking forward to this season with the
fond, delusive hope that we should enjoy it so sweetly together; and
that, with God’s help and my exertions, it would be the means of
elevating his mind, and refining his taste to a due appreciation of the
salutary and pure delights of nature, and peace, and holy love. But
now—at evening, when I see the round red sun sink quietly down behind
those woody hills, leaving them sleeping in a warm, red, golden haze, I
only think another lovely day is lost to him and me; and at morning, when
roused by the flutter and chirp of the sparrows, and the gleeful twitter
of the swallows—all intent upon feeding their young, and full of life and
joy in their own little frames—I open the window to inhale the balmy,
soul-reviving air, and look out upon the lovely landscape, laughing in
dew and sunshine—I too often shame that glorious scene with tears of
thankless misery, because he cannot feel its freshening influence; and
when I wander in the ancient woods, and meet the little wild flowers
smiling in my path, or sit in the shadow of our noble ash-trees by the
water-side, with their branches gently swaying in the light summer breeze
that murmurs through their feathery foliage—my ears full of that low
music mingled with the dreamy hum of insects, my eyes abstractedly gazing
on the glassy surface of the little lake before me, with the trees that
crowd about its bank, some gracefully bending to kiss its waters, some
rearing their stately heads high above, but stretching their wide arms
over its margin, all faithfully mirrored far, far down in its glassy
depth—though sometimes the images are partially broken by the sport of
aquatic insects, and sometimes, for a moment, the whole is shivered into
trembling fragments by a transient breeze that sweeps the surface too
roughly—still I have no pleasure; for the greater the happiness that
nature sets before me, the more I lament that he is not here to taste it:
the greater the bliss we might enjoy together, the more I feel our
present wretchedness apart (yes, ours; he must be wretched, though he may
not know it); and the more my senses are pleased, the more my heart is
oppressed; for he keeps it with him confined amid the dust and smoke of
London—perhaps shut up within the walls of his own abominable club.
But most of all, at night, when I enter my lonely chamber, and look out
upon the summer moon, ‘sweet regent of the sky,’ floating above me in the
‘black blue vault of heaven,’ shedding a flood of silver radiance over
park, and wood, and water, so pure, so peaceful, so divine—and think,
Where is he now?—what is he doing at this moment? wholly unconscious of
this heavenly scene—perhaps revelling with his boon companions,
perhaps—God help me, it is too—too much!
23rd.—Thank heaven, he is come at last! But how altered! flushed and
feverish, listless and languid, his beauty strangely diminished, his
vigour and vivacity quite departed. I have not upbraided him by word or
look; I have not even asked him what he has been doing. I have not the
heart to do it, for I think he is ashamed of himself-he must be so
indeed, and such inquiries could not fail to be painful to both. My
forbearance pleases him—touches him even, I am inclined to think. He
says he is glad to be home again, and God knows how glad I am to get him
back, even as he is. He lies on the sofa, nearly all day long; and I
play and sing to him for hours together. I write his letters for him,
and get him everything he wants; and sometimes I read to him, and
sometimes I talk, and sometimes only sit by him and soothe him with
silent caresses. I know he does not deserve it; and I fear I am spoiling
him; but this once, I will forgive him, freely and entirely. I will
shame him into virtue if I can, and I will never let him leave me again.
He is pleased with my attentions—it may be, grateful for them. He likes
to have me near him: and though he is peevish and testy with his servants
and his dogs, he is gentle and kind to me. What he would be, if I did
not so watchfully anticipate his wants, and so carefully avoid, or
immediately desist from doing anything that has a tendency to irritate or
disturb him, with however little reason, I cannot tell. How intensely I
wish he were worthy of all this care! Last night, as I sat beside him,
with his head in my lap, passing my fingers through his beautiful curls,
this thought made my eyes overflow with sorrowful tears—as it often does;
but this time, a tear fell on his face and made him look up. He smiled,
but not insultingly.
‘Dear Helen!’ he said—‘why do you cry? you know that I love you’ (and he
pressed my hand to his feverish lips), ‘and what more could you desire?’
‘Only, Arthur, that you would love yourself as truly and as faithfully as
you are loved by me.’
‘That would be hard, indeed!’ he replied, tenderly squeezing my hand.
August 24th.—Arthur is himself again, as lusty and reckless, as light of
heart and head as ever, and as restless and hard to amuse as a spoilt
child, and almost as full of mischief too, especially when wet weather
keeps him within doors. I wish he had something to do, some useful
trade, or profession, or employment—anything to occupy his head or his
hands for a few hours a day, and give him something besides his own
pleasure to think about. If he would play the country gentleman and
attend to the farm—but that he knows nothing about, and won’t give his
mind to consider,—or if he would take up with some literary study, or
learn to draw or to play—as he is so fond of music, I often try to
persuade him to learn the piano, but he is far too idle for such an
undertaking: he has no more idea of exerting himself to overcome
obstacles than he has of restraining his natural appetites; and these two
things are the ruin of him. I lay them both to the charge of his harsh
yet careless father, and his madly indulgent mother.—If ever I am a
mother I will zealously strive against this crime of over-indulgence. I
can hardly give it a milder name when I think of the evils it brings.
Happily, it will soon be the shooting season, and then, if the weather
permit, he will find occupation enough in the pursuit and destruction of
the partridges and pheasants: we have no grouse, or he might have been
similarly occupied at this moment, instead of lying under the acacia-tree
pulling poor Dash’s ears. But he says it is dull work shooting alone; he
must have a friend or two to help him.
‘Let them be tolerably decent then, Arthur,’ said I. The word ‘friend’
in his mouth makes me shudder: I know it was some of his ‘friends’ that
induced him to stay behind me in London, and kept him away so long:
indeed, from what he has unguardedly told me, or hinted from time to
time, I cannot doubt that he frequently showed them my letters, to let
them see how fondly his wife watched over his interests, and how keenly
she regretted his absence; and that they induced him to remain week after
week, and to plunge into all manner of excesses, to avoid being laughed
at for a wife-ridden fool, and, perhaps, to show how far he could venture
to go without danger of shaking the fond creature’s devoted attachment.
It is a hateful idea, but I cannot believe it is a false one.
‘Well,’ replied he, ‘I thought of Lord Lowborough for one; but there is
no possibility of getting him without his better half, our mutual friend,
Annabella; so we must ask them both. You’re not afraid of her, are you,
Helen?’ he asked, with a mischievous twinkle in his eyes.
‘Of course not,’ I answered: ‘why should I? And who besides?’
‘Hargrave for one. He will be glad to come, though his own place is so
near, for he has little enough land of his own to shoot over, and we can
extend our depredations into it, if we like; and he is thoroughly
respectable, you know, Helen—quite a lady’s man: and I think, Grimsby for
another: he’s a decent, quiet fellow enough. You’ll not object to
Grimsby?’
‘I hate him: but, however, if you wish it, I’ll try to endure his
presence for a while.’
‘All a prejudice, Helen, a mere woman’s antipathy.’
‘No; I have solid grounds for my dislike. And is that all?’
‘Why, yes, I think so. Hattersley will be too busy billing and cooing,
with his bride to have much time to spare for guns and dogs at present,’
he replied. And that reminds me, that I have had several letters from
Milicent since her marriage, and that she either is, or pretends to be,
quite reconciled to her lot. She professes to have discovered numberless
virtues and perfections in her husband, some of which, I fear, less
partial eyes would fail to distinguish, though they sought them carefully
with tears; and now that she is accustomed to his loud voice, and abrupt,
uncourteous manners, she affirms she finds no difficulty in loving him as
a wife should do, and begs I will burn that letter wherein she spoke so
unadvisedly against him. So that I trust she may yet be happy; but, if
she is, it will be entirely the reward of her own goodness of heart; for
had she chosen to consider herself the victim of fate, or of her mother’s
worldly wisdom, she might have been thoroughly miserable; and if, for
duty’s sake, she had not made every effort to love her husband, she
would, doubtless, have hated him to the end of her days.
CHAPTER XXVI
Sept. 23rd.—Our guests arrived about three weeks ago. Lord and Lady
Lowborough have now been married above eight months; and I will do the
lady the credit to say that her husband is quite an altered man; his
looks, his spirits, and his temper, are all perceptibly changed for the
better since I last saw him. But there is room for improvement still.
He is not always cheerful, nor always contented, and she often complains
of his ill-humour, which, however, of all persons, she ought to be the
last to accuse him of, as he never displays it against her, except for
such conduct as would provoke a saint. He adores her still, and would go
to the world’s end to please her. She knows her power, and she uses it
too; but well knowing that to wheedle and coax is safer than to command,
she judiciously tempers her despotism with flattery and blandishments
enough to make him deem himself a favoured and a happy man.
But she has a way of tormenting him, in which I am a fellow-sufferer, or
might be, if I chose to regard myself as such. This is by openly, but
not too glaringly, coquetting with Mr. Huntingdon, who is quite willing
to be her partner in the game; but I don’t care for it, because, with
him, I know there is nothing but personal vanity, and a mischievous
desire to excite my jealousy, and, perhaps, to torment his friend; and
she, no doubt, is actuated by much the same motives; only, there is more
of malice and less of playfulness in her manoeuvres. It is obviously,
therefore, my interest to disappoint them both, as far as I am concerned,
by preserving a cheerful, undisturbed serenity throughout; and,
accordingly, I endeavour to show the fullest confidence in my husband,
and the greatest indifference to the arts of my attractive guest. I have
never reproached the former but once, and that was for laughing at Lord
Lowborough’s depressed and anxious countenance one evening, when they had
both been particularly provoking; and then, indeed, I said a good deal on
the subject, and rebuked him sternly enough; but he only laughed, and
said,—‘You can feel for him, Helen, can’t you?’
‘I can feel for anyone that is unjustly treated,’ I replied, ‘and I can
feel for those that injure them too.’
‘Why, Helen, you are as jealous as he is!’ cried he, laughing still more;
and I found it impossible to convince him of his mistake. So, from that
time, I have carefully refrained from any notice of the subject whatever,
and left Lord Lowborough to take care of himself. He either has not the
sense or the power to follow my example, though he does try to conceal
his uneasiness as well as he can; but still, it will appear in his face,
and his ill-humour will peep out at intervals, though not in the
expression of open resentment—they never go far enough for that. But I
confess I do feel jealous at times, most painfully, bitterly so; when she
sings and plays to him, and he hangs over the instrument, and dwells upon
her voice with no affected interest; for then I know he is really
delighted, and I have no power to awaken similar fervour. I can amuse
and please him with my simple songs, but not delight him thus.
28th.—Yesterday, we all went to the Grove, Mr. Hargrave’s much-neglected
home. His mother frequently asks us over, that she may have the pleasure
of her dear Walter’s company; and this time she had invited us to a
dinner-party, and got together as many of the country gentry as were
within reach to meet us. The entertainment was very well got up; but I
could not help thinking about the cost of it all the time. I don’t like
Mrs. Hargrave; she is a hard, pretentious, worldly-minded woman. She has
money enough to live very comfortably, if she only knew how to use it
judiciously, and had taught her son to do the same; but she is ever
straining to keep up appearances, with that despicable pride that shuns
the semblance of poverty as of a shameful crime. She grinds her
dependents, pinches her servants, and deprives even her daughters and
herself of the real comforts of life, because she will not consent to
yield the palm in outward show to those who have three times her wealth;
and, above all, because she is determined her cherished son shall be
enabled to ‘hold up his head with the highest gentlemen in the land.’
This same son, I imagine, is a man of expensive habits, no reckless
spendthrift and no abandoned sensualist, but one who likes to have
‘everything handsome about him,’ and to go to a certain length in
youthful indulgences, not so much to gratify his own tastes as to
maintain his reputation as a man of fashion in the world, and a
respectable fellow among his own lawless companions; while he is too
selfish to consider how many comforts might be obtained for his fond
mother and sisters with the money he thus wastes upon himself: as long as
they can contrive to make a respectable appearance once a year, when they
come to town, he gives himself little concern about their private
stintings and struggles at home. This is a harsh judgment to form of
‘dear, noble-minded, generous-hearted Walter,’ but I fear it is too just.
Mrs. Hargrave’s anxiety to make good matches for her daughters is partly
the cause, and partly the result, of these errors: by making a figure in
the world, and showing them off to advantage, she hopes to obtain better
chances for them; and by thus living beyond her legitimate means, and
lavishing so much on their brother, she renders them portionless, and
makes them burdens on her hands. Poor Milicent, I fear, has already
fallen a sacrifice to the manoeuvrings of this mistaken mother, who
congratulates herself on having so satisfactorily discharged her maternal
duty, and hopes to do as well for Esther. But Esther is a child as yet,
a little merry romp of fourteen: as honest-hearted, and as guileless and
simple as her sister, but with a fearless spirit of her own, that I fancy
her mother will find some difficulty in bending to her purposes.
CHAPTER XXVII
October 9th.—It was on the night of the 4th, a little after tea, that
Annabella had been singing and playing, with Arthur as usual at her side:
she had ended her song, but still she sat at the instrument; and he stood
leaning on the back of her chair, conversing in scarcely audible tones,
with his face in very close proximity with hers. I looked at Lord
Lowborough. He was at the other end of the room, talking with Messrs.
Hargrave and Grimsby; but I saw him dart towards his lady and his host a
quick, impatient glance, expressive of intense disquietude, at which
Grimsby smiled. Determined to interrupt the _tête-à-tête_, I rose, and,
selecting a piece of music from the music stand, stepped up to the piano,
intending to ask the lady to play it; but I stood transfixed and
speechless on seeing her seated there, listening, with what seemed an
exultant smile on her flushed face to his soft murmurings, with her hand
quietly surrendered to his clasp. The blood rushed first to my heart,
and then to my head; for there was more than this: almost at the moment
of my approach, he cast a hurried glance over his shoulder towards the
other occupants of the room, and then ardently pressed the unresisting
hand to his lips. On raising his eyes, he beheld me, and dropped them
again, confounded and dismayed. She saw me too, and confronted me with a
look of hard defiance. I laid the music on the piano, and retired. I
felt ill; but I did not leave the room: happily, it was getting late, and
could not be long before the company dispersed.
I went to the fire, and leant my head against the chimney-piece. In a
minute or two, some one asked me if I felt unwell. I did not answer;
indeed, at the time, I knew not what was said; but I mechanically looked
up, and saw Mr. Hargrave standing beside me on the rug.
‘Shall I get you a glass of wine?’ said he.
‘No, thank you,’ I replied; and, turning from him, I looked round. Lady
Lowborough was beside her husband, bending over him as he sat, with her
hand on his shoulder, softly talking and smiling in his face; and Arthur
was at the table, turning over a book of engravings. I seated myself in
the nearest chair; and Mr. Hargrave, finding his services were not
desired, judiciously withdrew. Shortly after, the company broke up, and,
as the guests were retiring to their rooms, Arthur approached me, smiling
with the utmost assurance.
‘Are you very angry, Helen?’ murmured he.
‘This is no jest, Arthur,’ said I, seriously, but as calmly as I
could—‘unless you think it a jest to lose my affection for ever.’
‘What! so bitter?’ he exclaimed, laughingly, clasping my hand between
both his; but I snatched it away, in indignation—almost in disgust, for
he was obviously affected with wine.
‘Then I must go down on my knees,’ said he; and kneeling before me, with
clasped hands, uplifted in mock humiliation, he continued
imploringly—‘Forgive me, Helen—dear Helen, forgive me, and I’ll never do
it again!’ and, burying his face in his handkerchief, he affected to sob
aloud.
Leaving him thus employed, I took my candle, and, slipping quietly from
the room, hastened up-stairs as fast as I could. But he soon discovered
that I had left him, and, rushing up after me, caught me in his arms,
just as I had entered the chamber, and was about to shut the door in his
face.
‘No, no, by heaven, you sha’n’t escape me so!’ he cried. Then, alarmed
at my agitation, he begged me not to put myself in such a passion,
telling me I was white in the face, and should kill myself if I did so.
‘Let me go, then,’ I murmured; and immediately he released me—and it was
well he did, for I was really in a passion. I sank into the easy-chair
and endeavoured to compose myself, for I wanted to speak to him calmly.
He stood beside me, but did not venture to touch me or to speak for a few
seconds; then, approaching a little nearer, he dropped on one knee—not in
mock humility, but to bring himself nearer my level, and leaning his hand
on the arm of the chair, he began in a low voice: ‘It is all nonsense,
Helen—a jest, a mere nothing—not worth a thought. Will you never learn,’
he continued more boldly, ‘that you have nothing to fear from me? that I
love you wholly and entirely?—or if,’ he added with a lurking smile, ‘I
ever give a thought to another, you may well spare it, for those fancies
are here and gone like a flash of lightning, while my love for you burns
on steadily, and for ever, like the sun. You little exorbitant tyrant,
will not that—?’
‘Be quiet a moment, will you, Arthur?’ said I, ‘and listen to me—and
don’t think I’m in a jealous fury: I am perfectly calm. Feel my hand.’
And I gravely extended it towards him—but closed it upon his with an
energy that seemed to disprove the assertion, and made him smile. ‘You
needn’t smile, sir,’ said I, still tightening my grasp, and looking
steadfastly on him till he almost quailed before me. ‘You may think it
all very fine, Mr. Huntingdon, to amuse yourself with rousing my
jealousy; but take care you don’t rouse my hate instead. And when you
have once extinguished my love, you will find it no easy matter to kindle
it again.’
‘Well, Helen, I won’t repeat the offence. But I meant nothing by it, I
assure you. I had taken too much wine, and I was scarcely myself at the
time.’
‘You often take too much; and that is another practice I detest.’ He
looked up astonished at my warmth. ‘Yes,’ I continued; ‘I never
mentioned it before, because I was ashamed to do so; but now I’ll tell
you that it distresses me, and may disgust me, if you go on and suffer
the habit to grow upon you, as it will if you don’t check it in time.
But the whole system of your conduct to Lady Lowborough is not referable
to wine; and this night you knew perfectly well what you were doing.’
‘Well, I’m sorry for it,’ replied he, with more of sulkiness than
contrition: ‘what more would you have?’
‘You are sorry that I saw you, no doubt,’ I answered coldly.
‘If you had not seen me,’ he muttered, fixing his eyes on the carpet, ‘it
would have done no harm.’
My heart felt ready to burst; but I resolutely swallowed back my emotion,
and answered calmly,
‘You think not?’
‘No,’ replied he, boldly. ‘After all, what have I done? It’s
nothing—except as you choose to make it a subject of accusation and
distress.’
‘What would Lord Lowborough, your friend, think, if he knew all? or what
would you yourself think, if he or any other had acted the same part to
me, throughout, as you have to Annabella?’
‘I would blow his brains out.’
‘Well, then, Arthur, how can you call it nothing—an offence for which you
would think yourself justified in blowing another man’s brains out? Is
it nothing to trifle with your friend’s feelings and mine—to endeavour to
steal a woman’s affections from her husband—what he values more than his
gold, and therefore what it is more dishonest to take? Are the marriage
vows a jest; and is it nothing to make it your sport to break them, and
to tempt another to do the same? Can I love a man that does such things,
and coolly maintains it is nothing?’
‘You are breaking your marriage vows yourself,’ said he, indignantly
rising and pacing to and fro. ‘You promised to honour and obey me, and
now you attempt to hector over me, and threaten and accuse me, and call
me worse than a highwayman. If it were not for your situation, Helen, I
would not submit to it so tamely. I won’t be dictated to by a woman,
though she be my wife.’
‘What will you do then? Will you go on till I hate you, and then accuse
me of breaking my vows?’
He was silent a moment, and then replied: ‘You never will hate me.’
Returning and resuming his former position at my feet, he repeated more
vehemently—‘You cannot hate me as long as I love you.’
‘But how can I believe that you love me, if you continue to act in this
way? Just imagine yourself in my place: would you think I loved you, if
I did so? Would you believe my protestations, and honour and trust me
under such circumstances?’
‘The cases are different,’ he replied. ‘It is a woman’s nature to be
constant—to love one and one only, blindly, tenderly, and for ever—bless
them, dear creatures! and you above them all; but you must have some
commiseration for us, Helen; you must give us a little more licence, for,
as Shakespeare has it—
However we do praise ourselves,
Our fancies are more giddy and unfirm,
More longing, wavering, sooner lost and won
Than women’s are.’
‘Do you mean by that, that your fancies are lost to me, and won by Lady
Lowborough?’
‘No! heaven is my witness that I think her mere dust and ashes in
comparison with you, and shall continue to think so, unless you drive me
from you by too much severity. She is a daughter of earth; you are an
angel of heaven; only be not too austere in your divinity, and remember
that I am a poor, fallible mortal. Come now, Helen; won’t you forgive
me?’ he said, gently taking my hand, and looking up with an innocent
smile.
‘If I do, you will repeat the offence.’
‘I swear by—’
‘Don’t swear; I’ll believe your word as well as your oath. I wish I
could have confidence in either.’
‘Try me, then, Helen: only trust and pardon me this once, and you shall
see! Come, I am in hell’s torments till you speak the word.’
I did not speak it, but I put my hand on his shoulder and kissed his
forehead, and then burst into tears. He embraced me tenderly; and we
have been good friends ever since. He has been decently temperate at
table, and well-conducted towards Lady Lowborough. The first day he held
himself aloof from her, as far as he could without any flagrant breach of
hospitality: since that he has been friendly and civil, but nothing
more—in my presence, at least, nor, I think, at any other time; for she
seems haughty and displeased, and Lord Lowborough is manifestly more
cheerful, and more cordial towards his host than before. But I shall be
glad when they are gone, for I have so little love for Annabella that it
is quite a task to be civil to her, and as she is the only woman here
besides myself, we are necessarily thrown so much together. Next time
Mrs. Hargrave calls I shall hail her advent as quite a relief. I have a
good mind to ask Arthur’s leave to invite the old lady to stay with us
till our guests depart. I think I will. She will take it as a kind
attention, and, though I have little relish for her society, she will be
truly welcome as a third to stand between Lady Lowborough and me.
The first time the latter and I were alone together, after that unhappy
evening, was an hour or two after breakfast on the following day, when
the gentlemen were gone out, after the usual time spent in the writing of
letters, the reading of newspapers, and desultory conversation. We sat
silent for two or three minutes. She was busy with her work, and I was
running over the columns of a paper from which I had extracted all the
pith some twenty minutes before. It was a moment of painful
embarrassment to me, and I thought it must be infinitely more so to her;
but it seems I was mistaken. She was the first to speak; and, smiling
with the coolest assurance, she began,—
‘Your husband was merry last night, Helen: is he often so?’
My blood boiled in my face; but it was better she should seem to
attribute his conduct to this than to anything else.
‘No,’ replied I, ‘and never will be so again, I trust.’
‘You gave him a curtain lecture, did you?’
‘No! but I told him I disliked such conduct, and he promised me not to
repeat it.’
‘I thought he looked rather subdued this morning,’ she continued; ‘and
you, Helen? you’ve been weeping, I see—that’s our grand resource, you
know. But doesn’t it make your eyes smart? and do you always find it to
answer?’
‘I never cry for effect; nor can I conceive how any one can.’
‘Well, I don’t know: I never had occasion to try it; but I think if
Lowborough were to commit such improprieties, I’d make him cry. I don’t
wonder at your being angry, for I’m sure I’d give my husband a lesson he
would not soon forget for a lighter offence than that. But then he never
will do anything of the kind; for I keep him in too good order for that.’
‘Are you sure you don’t arrogate too much of the credit to yourself.
Lord Lowborough was quite as remarkable for his abstemiousness for some
time before you married him, as he is now, I have heard.’
‘Oh, about the wine you mean—yes, he’s safe enough for that. And as to
looking askance to another woman, he’s safe enough for that too, while I
live, for he worships the very ground I tread on.’
‘Indeed! and are you sure you deserve it?’
‘Why, as to that, I can’t say: you know we’re all fallible creatures,
Helen; we none of us deserve to be worshipped. But are you sure your
darling Huntingdon deserves all the love you give to him?’
I knew not what to answer to this. I was burning with anger; but I
suppressed all outward manifestations of it, and only bit my lip and
pretended to arrange my work.
‘At any rate,’ resumed she, pursuing her advantage, ‘you can console
yourself with the assurance that you are worthy of all the love he gives
to you.’
‘You flatter me,’ said I; ‘but, at least, I can try to be worthy of it.’
And then I turned the conversation.
CHAPTER XXVIII
December 25th.—Last Christmas I was a bride, with a heart overflowing
with present bliss, and full of ardent hopes for the future, though not
unmingled with foreboding fears. Now I am a wife: my bliss is sobered,
but not destroyed; my hopes diminished, but not departed; my fears
increased, but not yet thoroughly confirmed; and, thank heaven, I am a
mother too. God has sent me a soul to educate for heaven, and give me a
new and calmer bliss, and stronger hopes to comfort me.
Dec. 25th, 1823.—Another year is gone. My little Arthur lives and
thrives. He is healthy, but not robust, full of gentle playfulness and
vivacity, already affectionate, and susceptible of passions and emotions
it will be long ere he can find words to express. He has won his
father’s heart at last; and now my constant terror is, lest he should be
ruined by that father’s thoughtless indulgence. But I must beware of my
own weakness too, for I never knew till now how strong are a parent’s
temptations to spoil an only child.
I have need of consolation in my son, for (to this silent paper I may
confess it) I have but little in my husband. I love him still; and he
loves me, in his own way—but oh, how different from the love I could have
given, and once had hoped to receive! How little real sympathy there
exists between us; how many of my thoughts and feelings are gloomily
cloistered within my own mind; how much of my higher and better self is
indeed unmarried—doomed either to harden and sour in the sunless shade of
solitude, or to quite degenerate and fall away for lack of nutriment in
this unwholesome soil! But, I repeat, I have no right to complain; only
let me state the truth—some of the truth, at least,—and see hereafter if
any darker truths will blot these pages. We have now been full two years
united; the ‘romance’ of our attachment must be worn away. Surely I have
now got down to the lowest gradation in Arthur’s affection, and
discovered all the evils of his nature: if there be any further change,
it must be for the better, as we become still more accustomed to each
other; surely we shall find no lower depth than this. And, if so, I can
bear it well—as well, at least, as I have borne it hitherto.
Arthur is not what is commonly called a bad man: he has many good
qualities; but he is a man without self-restraint or lofty aspirations, a
lover of pleasure, given up to animal enjoyments: he is not a bad
husband, but his notions of matrimonial duties and comforts are not my
notions. Judging from appearances, his idea of a wife is a thing to love
one devotedly, and to stay at home to wait upon her husband, and amuse
him and minister to his comfort in every possible way, while he chooses
to stay with her; and, when he is absent, to attend to his interests,
domestic or otherwise, and patiently wait his return, no matter how he
may be occupied in the meantime.
Early in spring he announced his intention of going to London: his
affairs there demanded his attendance, he said, and he could refuse it no
longer. He expressed his regret at having to leave me, but hoped I would
amuse myself with the baby till he returned.
‘But why leave me?’ I said. ‘I can go with you: I can be ready at any
time.’
‘You would not take that child to town?’
‘Yes; why not?’
The thing was absurd: the air of the town would be certain to disagree
with him, and with me as a nurse; the late hours and London habits would
not suit me under such circumstances; and altogether he assured me that
it would be excessively troublesome, injurious, and unsafe. I over-ruled
his objections as well as I could, for I trembled at the thoughts of his
going alone, and would sacrifice almost anything for myself, much even
for my child, to prevent it; but at length he told me, plainly, and
somewhat testily, that he could not do with me: he was worn out with the
baby’s restless nights, and must have some repose. I proposed separate
apartments; but it would not do.
‘The truth is, Arthur,’ I said at last, ‘you are weary of my company, and
determined not to have me with you. You might as well have said so at
once.’
He denied it; but I immediately left the room, and flew to the nursery,
to hide my feelings, if I could not soothe them, there.
I was too much hurt to express any further dissatisfaction with his
plans, or at all to refer to the subject again, except for the necessary
arrangements concerning his departure and the conduct of affairs during
his absence, till the day before he went, when I earnestly exhorted him
to take care of himself and keep out of the way of temptation. He
laughed at my anxiety, but assured me there was no cause for it, and
promised to attend to my advice.
‘I suppose it is no use asking you to fix a day for your return?’ said I.
‘Why, no; I hardly can, under the circumstances; but be assured, love, I
shall not be long away.’
‘I don’t wish to keep you a prisoner at home,’ I replied; ‘I should not
grumble at your staying whole months away—if you can be happy so long
without me—provided I knew you were safe; but I don’t like the idea of
your being there among your friends, as you call them.’
‘Pooh, pooh, you silly girl! Do you think I can’t take care of myself?’
‘You didn’t last time. But THIS time, Arthur,’ I added, earnestly, ‘show
me that you can, and teach me that I need not fear to trust you!’
He promised fair, but in such a manner as we seek to soothe a child. And
did he keep his promise? No; and henceforth I can never trust his word.
Bitter, bitter confession! Tears blind me while I write. It was early
in March that he went, and he did not return till July. This time he did
not trouble himself to make excuses as before, and his letters were less
frequent, and shorter and less affectionate, especially after the first
few weeks: they came slower and slower, and more terse and careless every
time. But still, when I omitted writing, he complained of my neglect.
When I wrote sternly and coldly, as I confess I frequently did at the
last, he blamed my harshness, and said it was enough to scare him from
his home: when I tried mild persuasion, he was a little more gentle in
his replies, and promised to return; but I had learnt, at last, to
disregard his promises.
CHAPTER XXIX
Those were four miserable months, alternating between intense anxiety,
despair, and indignation, pity for him and pity for myself. And yet,
through all, I was not wholly comfortless: I had my darling, sinless,
inoffensive little one to console me; but even this consolation was
embittered by the constantly-recurring thought, ‘How shall I teach him
hereafter to respect his father, and yet to avoid his example?’
But I remembered that I had brought all these afflictions, in a manner
wilfully, upon myself; and I determined to bear them without a murmur.
At the same time I resolved not to give myself up to misery for the
transgressions of another, and endeavoured to divert myself as much as I
could; and besides the companionship of my child, and my dear, faithful
Rachel, who evidently guessed my sorrows and felt for them, though she
was too discreet to allude to them, I had my books and pencil, my
domestic affairs, and the welfare and comfort of Arthur’s poor tenants
and labourers to attend to: and I sometimes sought and obtained amusement
in the company of my young friend Esther Hargrave: occasionally I rode
over to see her, and once or twice I had her to spend the day with me at
the Manor. Mrs. Hargrave did not visit London that season: having no
daughter to marry, she thought it as well to stay at home and economise;
and, for a wonder, Walter came down to join her in the beginning of June,
and stayed till near the close of August.
The first time I saw him was on a sweet, warm evening, when I was
sauntering in the park with little Arthur and Rachel, who is head-nurse
and lady’s-maid in one—for, with my secluded life and tolerably active
habits, I require but little attendance, and as she had nursed me and
coveted to nurse my child, and was moreover so very trustworthy, I
preferred committing the important charge to her, with a young
nursery-maid under her directions, to engaging any one else: besides, it
saves money; and since I have made acquaintance with Arthur’s affairs, I
have learnt to regard that as no trifling recommendation; for, by my own
desire, nearly the whole of the income of my fortune is devoted, for
years to come, to the paying off of his debts, and the money he contrives
to squander away in London is incomprehensible. But to return to Mr.
Hargrave. I was standing with Rachel beside the water, amusing the
laughing baby in her arms with a twig of willow laden with golden
catkins, when, greatly to my surprise, he entered the park, mounted on
his costly black hunter, and crossed over the grass to meet me. He
saluted me with a very fine compliment, delicately worded, and modestly
delivered withal, which he had doubtless concocted as he rode along. He
told me he had brought a message from his mother, who, as he was riding
that way, had desired him to call at the Manor and beg the pleasure of my
company to a friendly family dinner to-morrow.
‘There is no one to meet but ourselves,’ said he; ‘but Esther is very
anxious to see you; and my mother fears you will feel solitary in this
great house so much alone, and wishes she could persuade you to give her
the pleasure of your company more frequently, and make yourself at home
in our more humble dwelling, till Mr. Huntingdon’s return shall render
this a little more conducive to your comfort.’
‘She is very kind,’ I answered, ‘but I am not alone, you see;—and those
whose time is fully occupied seldom complain of solitude.’
‘Will you not come to-morrow, then? She will be sadly disappointed if
you refuse.’
I did not relish being thus compassionated for my loneliness; but,
however, I promised to come.
‘What a sweet evening this is!’ observed he, looking round upon the sunny
park, with its imposing swell and slope, its placid water, and majestic
clumps of trees. ‘And what a paradise you live in!’
‘It is a lovely evening,’ answered I; and I sighed to think how little I
had felt its loveliness, and how little of a paradise sweet Grassdale was
to me—how still less to the voluntary exile from its scenes. Whether Mr.
Hargrave divined my thoughts, I cannot tell, but, with a half-hesitating,
sympathising seriousness of tone and manner, he asked if I had lately
heard from Mr. Huntingdon.
‘Not lately,’ I replied.
‘I thought not,’ he muttered, as if to himself, looking thoughtfully on
the ground.
‘Are you not lately returned from London?’ I asked.
‘Only yesterday.’
‘And did you see him there?’
‘Yes—I saw him.’
‘Was he well?’
‘Yes—that is,’ said he, with increasing hesitation and an appearance of
suppressed indignation, ‘he was as well as—as he deserved to be, but
under circumstances I should have deemed incredible for a man so favoured
as he is.’ He here looked up and pointed the sentence with a serious bow
to me. I suppose my face was crimson.
‘Pardon me, Mrs. Huntingdon,’ he continued, ‘but I cannot suppress my
indignation when I behold such infatuated blindness and perversion of
taste;—but, perhaps, you are not aware—‘ He paused.
‘I am aware of nothing, sir—except that he delays his coming longer than
I expected; and if, at present, he prefers the society of his friends to
that of his wife, and the dissipations of the town to the quiet of
country life, I suppose I have those friends to thank for it. Their
tastes and occupations are similar to his, and I don’t see why his
conduct should awaken either their indignation or surprise.’
‘You wrong me cruelly,’ answered he. ‘I have shared but little of Mr.
Huntingdon’s society for the last few weeks; and as for his tastes and
occupations, they are quite beyond me—lonely wanderer as I am. Where I
have but sipped and tasted, he drains the cup to the dregs; and if ever
for a moment I have sought to drown the voice of reflection in madness
and folly, or if I have wasted too much of my time and talents among
reckless and dissipated companions, God knows I would gladly renounce
them entirely and for ever, if I had but half the blessings that man so
thanklessly casts behind his back—but half the inducements to virtue and
domestic, orderly habits that he despises—but such a home, and such a
partner to share it! It is infamous!’ he muttered, between his teeth.
‘And don’t think, Mrs. Huntingdon,’ he added aloud, ‘that I could be
guilty of inciting him to persevere in his present pursuits: on the
contrary, I have remonstrated with him again and again; I have frequently
expressed my surprise at his conduct, and reminded him of his duties and
his privileges—but to no purpose; he only—’
‘Enough, Mr. Hargrave; you ought to be aware that whatever my husband’s
faults may be, it can only aggravate the evil for me to hear them from a
stranger’s lips.’
‘Am I then a stranger?’ said he in a sorrowful tone. ‘I am your nearest
neighbour, your son’s godfather, and your husband’s friend; may I not be
yours also?’
‘Intimate acquaintance must precede real friendship; I know but little of
you, Mr. Hargrave, except from report.’
‘Have you then forgotten the six or seven weeks I spent under your roof
last autumn? I have not forgotten them. And I know enough of you, Mrs.
Huntingdon, to think that your husband is the most enviable man in the
world, and I should be the next if you would deem me worthy of your
friendship.’
‘If you knew more of me, you would not think it, or if you did you would
not say it, and expect me to be flattered by the compliment.’
I stepped backward as I spoke. He saw that I wished the conversation to
end; and immediately taking the hint, he gravely bowed, wished me
good-evening, and turned his horse towards the road. He appeared grieved
and hurt at my unkind reception of his sympathising overtures. I was not
sure that I had done right in speaking so harshly to him; but, at the
time, I had felt irritated—almost insulted by his conduct; it seemed as
if he was presuming upon the absence and neglect of my husband, and
insinuating even more than the truth against him.
Rachel had moved on, during our conversation, to some yards’ distance.
He rode up to her, and asked to see the child. He took it carefully into
his arms, looked upon it with an almost paternal smile, and I heard him
say, as I approached,—
‘And this, too, he has forsaken!’
He then tenderly kissed it, and restored it to the gratified nurse.
‘Are you fond of children, Mr. Hargrave?’ said I, a little softened
towards him.
‘Not in general,’ he replied, ‘but that is such a sweet child, and so
like its mother,’ he added in a lower tone.
‘You are mistaken there; it is its father it resembles.’
‘Am I not right, nurse?’ said he, appealing to Rachel.
‘I think, sir, there’s a bit of both,’ she replied.
He departed; and Rachel pronounced him a very nice gentleman. I had
still my doubts on the subject.
In the course of the following six weeks I met him several times, but
always, save once, in company with his mother, or his sister, or both.
When I called on them, he always happened to be at home, and, when they
called on me, it was always he that drove them over in the phaeton. His
mother, evidently, was quite delighted with his dutiful attentions and
newly-acquired domestic habits.
The time that I met him alone was on a bright, but not oppressively hot
day, in the beginning of July: I had taken little Arthur into the wood
that skirts the park, and there seated him on the moss-cushioned roots of
an old oak; and, having gathered a handful of bluebells and wild-roses, I
was kneeling before him, and presenting them, one by one, to the grasp of
his tiny fingers; enjoying the heavenly beauty of the flowers, through
the medium of his smiling eyes: forgetting, for the moment, all my cares,
laughing at his gleeful laughter, and delighting myself with his
delight,—when a shadow suddenly eclipsed the little space of sunshine on
the grass before us; and looking up, I beheld Walter Hargrave standing
and gazing upon us.
‘Excuse me, Mrs. Huntingdon,’ said he, ‘but I was spell-bound; I had
neither the power to come forward and interrupt you, nor to withdraw from
the contemplation of such a scene. How vigorous my little godson grows!
and how merry he is this morning!’ He approached the child, and stooped
to take his hand; but, on seeing that his caresses were likely to produce
tears and lamentations, instead of a reciprocation of friendly
demonstrations, he prudently drew back.
‘What a pleasure and comfort that little creature must be to you, Mrs.
Huntingdon!’ he observed, with a touch of sadness in his intonation, as
he admiringly contemplated the infant.
‘It is,’ replied I; and then I asked after his mother and sister.
He politely answered my inquiries, and then returned again to the subject
I wished to avoid; though with a degree of timidity that witnessed his
fear to offend.
‘You have not heard from Huntingdon lately?’ he said.
‘Not this week,’ I replied. Not these three weeks, I might have said.
‘I had a letter from him this morning. I wish it were such a one as I
could show to his lady.’ He half drew from his waistcoat-pocket a letter
with Arthur’s still beloved hand on the address, scowled at it, and put
it back again, adding—‘But he tells me he is about to return next week.’
‘He tells me so every time he writes.’
‘Indeed! well, it is like him. But to me he always avowed it his
intention to stay till the present month.’
It struck me like a blow, this proof of premeditated transgression and
systematic disregard of truth.
‘It is only of a piece with the rest of his conduct,’ observed Mr.
Hargrave, thoughtfully regarding me, and reading, I suppose, my feelings
in my face.
‘Then he is really coming next week?’ said I, after a pause.
‘You may rely upon it, if the assurance can give you any pleasure. And
is it possible, Mrs. Huntingdon, that you can rejoice at his return?’ he
exclaimed, attentively perusing my features again.
‘Of course, Mr. Hargrave; is he not my husband?’
‘Oh, Huntingdon; you know not what you slight!’ he passionately murmured.
I took up my baby, and, wishing him good-morning, departed, to indulge my
thoughts unscrutinized, within the sanctum of my home.
And was I glad? Yes, delighted; though I was angered by Arthur’s
conduct, and though I felt that he had wronged me, and was determined he
should feel it too.
CHAPTER XXX
On the following morning I received a few lines from him myself,
confirming Hargrave’s intimations respecting his approaching return. And
he did come next week, but in a condition of body and mind even worse
than before. I did not, however, intend to pass over his derelictions
this time without a remark; I found it would not do. But the first day
he was weary with his journey, and I was glad to get him back: I would
not upbraid him then; I would wait till to-morrow. Next morning he was
weary still: I would wait a little longer. But at dinner, when, after
breakfasting at twelve o’clock on a bottle of soda-water and a cup of
strong coffee, and lunching at two on another bottle of soda-water
mingled with brandy, he was finding fault with everything on the table,
and declaring we must change our cook, I thought the time was come.
‘It is the same cook as we had before you went, Arthur,’ said I. ‘You
were generally pretty well satisfied with her then.’
‘You must have been letting her get into slovenly habits, then, while I
was away. It is enough to poison one, eating such a disgusting mess!’
And he pettishly pushed away his plate, and leant back despairingly in
his chair.
‘I think it is you that are changed, not she,’ said I, but with the
utmost gentleness, for I did not wish to irritate him.
‘It may be so,’ he replied carelessly, as he seized a tumbler of wine and
water, adding, when he had tossed it off, ‘for I have an infernal fire in
my veins, that all the waters of the ocean cannot quench!’
‘What kindled it?’ I was about to ask, but at that moment the butler
entered and began to take away the things.
‘Be quick, Benson; do have done with that infernal clatter!’ cried his
master. ‘And don’t bring the cheese, unless you want to make me sick
outright!’
Benson, in some surprise, removed the cheese, and did his best to effect
a quiet and speedy clearance of the rest; but, unfortunately, there was a
rumple in the carpet, caused by the hasty pushing back of his master’s
chair, at which he tripped and stumbled, causing a rather alarming
concussion with the trayful of crockery in his hands, but no positive
damage, save the fall and breaking of a sauce tureen; but, to my
unspeakable shame and dismay, Arthur turned furiously around upon him,
and swore at him with savage coarseness. The poor man turned pale, and
visibly trembled as he stooped to pick up the fragments.
‘He couldn’t help it, Arthur,’ said I; ‘the carpet caught his foot, and
there’s no great harm done. Never mind the pieces now, Benson; you can
clear them away afterwards.’
Glad to be released, Benson expeditiously set out the dessert and
withdrew.
‘What could you mean, Helen, by taking the servant’s part against me,’
said Arthur, as soon as the door was closed, ‘when you knew I was
distracted?’
‘I did not know you were distracted, Arthur: and the poor man was quite
frightened and hurt at your sudden explosion.’
‘Poor man, indeed! and do you think I could stop to consider the feelings
of an insensate brute like that, when my own nerves were racked and torn
to pieces by his confounded blunders?’
‘I never heard you complain of your nerves before.’
‘And why shouldn’t I have nerves as well as you?’
‘Oh, I don’t dispute your claim to their possession, but I never complain
of mine.’
‘No, how should you, when you never do anything to try them?’
‘Then why do you try yours, Arthur?’
‘Do you think I have nothing to do but to stay at home and take care of
myself like a woman?’
‘Is it impossible, then, to take care of yourself like a man when you go
abroad? You told me that you could, and would too; and you promised—’
‘Come, come, Helen, don’t begin with that nonsense now; I can’t bear it.’
‘Can’t bear what?—to be reminded of the promises you have broken?’
‘Helen, you are cruel. If you knew how my heart throbbed, and how every
nerve thrilled through me while you spoke, you would spare me. You can
pity a dolt of a servant for breaking a dish; but you have no compassion
for me when my head is split in two and all on fire with this consuming
fever.’
He leant his head on his hand, and sighed. I went to him and put my hand
on his forehead. It was burning indeed.
‘Then come with me into the drawing-room, Arthur; and don’t take any more
wine: you have taken several glasses since dinner, and eaten next to
nothing all the day. How can that make you better?’
With some coaxing and persuasion, I got him to leave the table. When the
baby was brought I tried to amuse him with that; but poor little Arthur
was cutting his teeth, and his father could not bear his complaints:
sentence of immediate banishment was passed upon him on the first
indication of fretfulness; and because, in the course of the evening, I
went to share his exile for a little while, I was reproached, on my
return, for preferring my child to my husband. I found the latter
reclining on the sofa just as I had left him.
‘Well!’ exclaimed the injured man, in a tone of pseudo-resignation. ‘I
thought I wouldn’t send for you; I thought I’d just see how long it would
please you to leave me alone.’
‘I have not been very long, have I, Arthur? I have not been an hour, I’m
sure.’
‘Oh, of course, an hour is nothing to you, so pleasantly employed; but to
me—’
‘It has not been pleasantly employed,’ interrupted I. ‘I have been
nursing our poor little baby, who is very far from well, and I could not
leave him till I got him to sleep.’
‘Oh, to be sure, you’re overflowing with kindness and pity for everything
but me.’
‘And why should I pity you? What is the matter with you?’
‘Well! that passes everything! After all the wear and tear that I’ve
had, when I come home sick and weary, longing for comfort, and expecting
to find attention and kindness, at least from my wife, she calmly asks
what is the matter with me!’
‘There is nothing the matter with you,’ returned I, ‘except what you have
wilfully brought upon yourself, against my earnest exhortation and
entreaty.’
‘Now, Helen,’ said he emphatically, half rising from his recumbent
posture, ‘if you bother me with another word, I’ll ring the bell and
order six bottles of wine, and, by heaven, I’ll drink them dry before I
stir from this place!’
I said no more, but sat down before the table and drew a book towards me.
‘Do let me have quietness at least!’ continued he, ‘if you deny me every
other comfort;’ and sinking back into his former position, with an
impatient expiration between a sigh and a groan, he languidly closed his
eyes, as if to sleep.
What the book was that lay open on the table before me, I cannot tell,
for I never looked at it. With an elbow on each side of it, and my hands
clasped before my eyes, I delivered myself up to silent weeping. But
Arthur was not asleep: at the first slight sob, he raised his head and
looked round, impatiently exclaiming, ‘What are you crying for, Helen?
What the deuce is the matter now?’
‘I’m crying for you, Arthur,’ I replied, speedily drying my tears; and
starting up, I threw myself on my knees before him, and clasping his
nerveless hand between my own, continued: ‘Don’t you know that you are a
part of myself? And do you think you can injure and degrade yourself,
and I not feel it?’
‘Degrade myself, Helen?’
‘Yes, degrade! What have you been doing all this time?’
‘You’d better not ask,’ said he, with a faint smile.
‘And you had better not tell; but you cannot deny that you have degraded
yourself miserably. You have shamefully wronged yourself, body and soul,
and me too; and I can’t endure it quietly, and I won’t!’
‘Well, don’t squeeze my hand so frantically, and don’t agitate me so, for
heaven’s sake! Oh, Hattersley! you were right: this woman will be the
death of me, with her keen feelings and her interesting force of
character. There, there, do spare me a little.’
‘Arthur, you must repent!’ cried I, in a frenzy of desperation, throwing
my arms around him and burying my face in his bosom. ‘You shall say you
are sorry for what you have done!’
‘Well, well, I am.’
‘You are not! you’ll do it again.’
‘I shall never live to do it again if you treat me so savagely,’ replied
he, pushing me from him. ‘You’ve nearly squeezed the breath out of my
body.’ He pressed his hand to his heart, and looked really agitated and
ill.
‘Now get me a glass of wine,’ said he, ‘to remedy what you’ve done, you
she tiger! I’m almost ready to faint.’
I flew to get the required remedy. It seemed to revive him considerably.
‘What a shame it is,’ said I, as I took the empty glass from his hand,
‘for a strong young man like you to reduce yourself to such a state!’
‘If you knew all, my girl, you’d say rather, “What a wonder it is you can
bear it so well as you do!” I’ve lived more in these four months, Helen,
than you have in the whole course of your existence, or will to the end
of your days, if they numbered a hundred years; so I must expect to pay
for it in some shape.’
‘You will have to pay a higher price than you anticipate, if you don’t
take care: there will be the total loss of your own health, and of my
affection too, if that is of any value to you.’
‘What! you’re at that game of threatening me with the loss of your
affection again, are you? I think it couldn’t have been very genuine
stuff to begin with, if it’s so easily demolished. If you don’t mind, my
pretty tyrant, you’ll make me regret my choice in good earnest, and envy
my friend Hattersley his meek little wife: she’s quite a pattern to her
sex, Helen. He had her with him in London all the season, and she was no
trouble at all. He might amuse himself just as he pleased, in regular
bachelor style, and she never complained of neglect; he might come home
at any hour of the night or morning, or not come home at all; be sullen,
sober, or glorious drunk; and play the fool or the madman to his own
heart’s desire, without any fear or botheration. She never gives him a
word of reproach or complaint, do what he will. He says there’s not such
a jewel in all England, and swears he wouldn’t take a kingdom for her.’
‘But he makes her life a curse to her.’
‘Not he! She has no will but his, and is always contented and happy as
long as he is enjoying himself.’
‘In that case she is as great a fool as he is; but it is not so. I have
several letters from her, expressing the greatest anxiety about his
proceedings, and complaining that you incite him to commit those
extravagances—one especially, in which she implores me to use my
influence with you to get you away from London, and affirms that her
husband never did such things before you came, and would certainly
discontinue them as soon as you departed and left him to the guidance of
his own good sense.’
‘The detestable little traitor! Give me the letter, and he shall see it
as sure as I’m a living man.’
‘No, he shall not see it without her consent; but if he did, there is
nothing there to anger him, nor in any of the others. She never speaks a
word against him: it is only anxiety for him that she expresses. She
only alludes to his conduct in the most delicate terms, and makes every
excuse for him that she can possibly think of; and as for her own misery,
I rather feel it than see it expressed in her letters.’
‘But she abuses me; and no doubt you helped her.’
‘No; I told her she over-rated my influence with you, that I would gladly
draw you away from the temptations of the town if I could, but had little
hope of success, and that I thought she was wrong in supposing that you
enticed Mr. Hattersley or any one else into error. I had myself held the
contrary opinion at one time, but I now believed that you mutually
corrupted each other; and, perhaps, if she used a little gentle but
serious remonstrance with her husband, it might be of some service; as,
though he was more rough-hewn than mine, I believed he was of a less
impenetrable material.’
‘And so that is the way you go on—heartening each other up to mutiny, and
abusing each other’s partners, and throwing out implications against your
own, to the mutual gratification of both!’
‘According to your own account,’ said I, ‘my evil counsel has had but
little effect upon her. And as to abuse and aspersions, we are both of
us far too deeply ashamed of the errors and vices of our other halves, to
make them the common subject of our correspondence. Friends as we are,
we would willingly keep your failings to ourselves—even from ourselves if
we could, unless by knowing them we could deliver you from them.’
‘Well, well! don’t worry me about them: you’ll never effect any good by
that. Have patience with me, and bear with my languor and crossness a
little while, till I get this cursed low fever out of my veins, and then
you’ll find me cheerful and kind as ever. Why can’t you be gentle and
good, as you were last time?—I’m sure I was very grateful for it.’
‘And what good did your gratitude do? I deluded myself with the idea
that you were ashamed of your transgressions, and hoped you would never
repeat them again; but now you have left me nothing to hope!’
‘My case is quite desperate, is it? A very blessed consideration, if it
will only secure me from the pain and worry of my dear anxious wife’s
efforts to convert me, and her from the toil and trouble of such
exertions, and her sweet face and silver accents from the ruinous effects
of the same. A burst of passion is a fine rousing thing upon occasion,
Helen, and a flood of tears is marvellously affecting, but, when indulged
too often, they are both deuced plaguy things for spoiling one’s beauty
and tiring out one’s friends.’
Thenceforth I restrained my tears and passions as much as I could. I
spared him my exhortations and fruitless efforts at conversion too, for I
saw it was all in vain: God might awaken that heart, supine and stupefied
with self-indulgence, and remove the film of sensual darkness from his
eyes, but I could not. His injustice and ill-humour towards his
inferiors, who could not defend themselves, I still resented and
withstood; but when I alone was their object, as was frequently the case,
I endured it with calm forbearance, except at times, when my temper, worn
out by repeated annoyances, or stung to distraction by some new instance
of irrationality, gave way in spite of myself, and exposed me to the
imputations of fierceness, cruelty, and impatience. I attended carefully
to his wants and amusements, but not, I own, with the same devoted
fondness as before, because I could not feel it; besides, I had now
another claimant on my time and care—my ailing infant, for whose sake I
frequently braved and suffered the reproaches and complaints of his
unreasonably exacting father.
But Arthur is not naturally a peevish or irritable man; so far from it,
that there was something almost ludicrous in the incongruity of this
adventitious fretfulness and nervous irritability, rather calculated to
excite laughter than anger, if it were not for the intensely painful
considerations attendant upon those symptoms of a disordered frame, and
his temper gradually improved as his bodily health was restored, which
was much sooner than would have been the case but for my strenuous
exertions; for there was still one thing about him that I did not give up
in despair, and one effort for his preservation that I would not remit.
His appetite for the stimulus of wine had increased upon him, as I had
too well foreseen. It was now something more to him than an accessory to
social enjoyment: it was an important source of enjoyment in itself. In
this time of weakness and depression he would have made it his medicine
and support, his comforter, his recreation, and his friend, and thereby
sunk deeper and deeper, and bound himself down for ever in the bathos
whereinto he had fallen. But I determined this should never be, as long
as I had any influence left; and though I could not prevent him from
taking more than was good for him, still, by incessant perseverance, by
kindness, and firmness, and vigilance, by coaxing, and daring, and
determination, I succeeded in preserving him from absolute bondage to
that detestable propensity, so insidious in its advances, so inexorable
in its tyranny, so disastrous in its effects.
And here I must not forget that I am not a little indebted to his friend
Mr. Hargrave. About that time he frequently called at Grassdale, and
often dined with us, on which occasions I fear Arthur would willingly
have cast prudence and decorum to the winds, and made ‘a night of it,’ as
often as his friend would have consented to join him in that exalted
pastime; and if the latter had chosen to comply, he might, in a night or
two, have ruined the labour of weeks, and overthrown with a touch the
frail bulwark it had cost me such trouble and toil to construct. I was
so fearful of this at first, that I humbled myself to intimate to him, in
private, my apprehensions of Arthur’s proneness to these excesses, and to
express a hope that he would not encourage it. He was pleased with this
mark of confidence, and certainly did not betray it. On that and every
subsequent occasion his presence served rather as a check upon his host,
than an incitement to further acts of intemperance; and he always
succeeded in bringing him from the dining-room in good time, and in
tolerably good condition; for if Arthur disregarded such intimations as
‘Well, I must not detain you from your lady,’ or ‘We must not forget that
Mrs. Huntingdon is alone,’ he would insist upon leaving the table
himself, to join me, and his host, however unwillingly, was obliged to
follow.
Hence I learned to welcome Mr. Hargrave as a real friend to the family, a
harmless companion for Arthur, to cheer his spirits and preserve him from
the tedium of absolute idleness and a total isolation from all society
but mine, and a useful ally to me. I could not but feel grateful to him
under such circumstances; and I did not scruple to acknowledge my
obligation on the first convenient opportunity; yet, as I did so, my
heart whispered all was not right, and brought a glow to my face, which
he heightened by his steady, serious gaze, while, by his manner of
receiving those acknowledgments, he more than doubled my misgivings. His
high delight at being able to serve me was chastened by sympathy for me
and commiseration for himself—about, I know not what, for I would not
stay to inquire, or suffer him to unburden his sorrows to me. His sighs
and intimations of suppressed affliction seemed to come from a full
heart; but either he must contrive to retain them within it, or breathe
them forth in other ears than mine: there was enough of confidence
between us already. It seemed wrong that there should exist a secret
understanding between my husband’s friend and me, unknown to him, of
which he was the object. But my after-thought was, ‘If it is wrong,
surely Arthur’s is the fault, not mine.’
And indeed I know not whether, at the time, it was not for him rather
than myself that I blushed; for, since he and I are one, I so identify
myself with him, that I feel his degradation, his failings, and
transgressions as my own: I blush for him, I fear for him; I repent for
him, weep, pray, and feel for him as for myself; but I cannot act for
him; and hence I must be, and I am, debased, contaminated by the union,
both in my own eyes and in the actual truth. I am so determined to love
him, so intensely anxious to excuse his errors, that I am continually
dwelling upon them, and labouring to extenuate the loosest of his
principles and the worst of his practices, till I am familiarised with
vice, and almost a partaker in his sins. Things that formerly shocked
and disgusted me, now seem only natural. I know them to be wrong,
because reason and God’s word declare them to be so; but I am gradually
losing that instinctive horror and repulsion which were given me by
nature, or instilled into me by the precepts and example of my aunt.
Perhaps then I was too severe in my judgments, for I abhorred the sinner
as well as the sin; now I flatter myself I am more charitable and
considerate; but am I not becoming more indifferent and insensate too?
Fool that I was, to dream that I had strength and purity enough to save
myself and him! Such vain presumption would be rightly served, if I
should perish with him in the gulf from which I sought to save him! Yet,
God preserve me from it, and him too! Yes, poor Arthur, I will still
hope and pray for you; and though I write as if you were some abandoned
wretch, past hope and past reprieve, it is only my anxious fears, my
strong desires that make me do so; one who loved you less would be less
bitter, less dissatisfied.
His conduct has, of late, been what the world calls irreproachable; but
then I know his heart is still unchanged; and I know that spring is
approaching, and deeply dread the consequences.
As he began to recover the tone and vigour of his exhausted frame, and
with it something of his former impatience of retirement and repose, I
suggested a short residence by the sea-side, for his recreation and
further restoration, and for the benefit of our little one as well. But
no: watering-places were so intolerably dull; besides, he had been
invited by one of his friends to spend a month or two in Scotland for the
better recreation of grouse-shooting and deer-stalking, and had promised
to go.
‘Then you will leave me again, Arthur?’ said I.
‘Yes, dearest, but only to love you the better when I come back, and make
up for all past offences and short-comings; and you needn’t fear me this
time: there are no temptations on the mountains. And during my absence
you may pay a visit to Staningley, if you like: your uncle and aunt have
long been wanting us to go there, you know; but somehow there’s such a
repulsion between the good lady and me, that I never could bring myself
up to the scratch.’
About the third week in August, Arthur set out for Scotland, and Mr.
Hargrave accompanied him thither, to my private satisfaction. Shortly
after, I, with little Arthur and Rachel, went to Staningley, my dear old
home, which, as well as my dear old friends its inhabitants, I saw again
with mingled feelings of pleasure and pain so intimately blended that I
could scarcely distinguish the one from the other, or tell to which to
attribute the various tears, and smiles, and sighs awakened by those old
familiar scenes, and tones, and faces.
Arthur did not come home till several weeks after my return to Grassdale;
but I did not feel so anxious about him now; to think of him engaged in
active sports among the wild hills of Scotland, was very different from
knowing him to be immersed amid the corruptions and temptations of
London. His letters now; though neither long nor loverlike, were more
regular than ever they had been before; and when he did return, to my
great joy, instead of being worse than when he went, he was more cheerful
and vigorous, and better in every respect. Since that time I have had
little cause to complain. He still has an unfortunate predilection for
the pleasures of the table, against which I have to struggle and watch;
but he has begun to notice his boy, and that is an increasing source of
amusement to him within-doors, while his fox-hunting and coursing are a
sufficient occupation for him without, when the ground is not hardened by
frost; so that he is not wholly dependent on me for entertainment. But
it is now January; spring is approaching; and, I repeat, I dread the
consequences of its arrival. That sweet season, I once so joyously
welcomed as the time of hope and gladness, awakens now far other
anticipations by its return.
CHAPTER XXXI
March 20th, 1824. The dreaded time is come, and Arthur is gone, as I
expected. This time he announced it his intention to make but a short
stay in London, and pass over to the Continent, where he should probably
stay a few weeks; but I shall not expect him till after the lapse of many
weeks: I now know that, with him, days signify weeks, and weeks months.
July 30th.—He returned about three weeks ago, rather better in health,
certainly, than before, but still worse in temper. And yet, perhaps, I
am wrong: it is I that am less patient and forbearing. I am tired out
with his injustice, his selfishness and hopeless depravity. I wish a
milder word would do; I am no angel, and my corruption rises against it.
My poor father died last week: Arthur was vexed to hear of it, because he
saw that I was shocked and grieved, and he feared the circumstance would
mar his comfort. When I spoke of ordering my mourning, he
exclaimed,—‘Oh, I hate black! But, however, I suppose you must wear it
awhile, for form’s sake; but I hope, Helen, you won’t think it your
bounden duty to compose your face and manners into conformity with your
funereal garb. Why should you sigh and groan, and I be made
uncomfortable, because an old gentleman in —shire, a perfect stranger to
us both, has thought proper to drink himself to death? There, now, I
declare you’re crying! Well, it must be affectation.’
He would not hear of my attending the funeral, or going for a day or two,
to cheer poor Frederick’s solitude. It was quite unnecessary, he said,
and I was unreasonable to wish it. What was my father to me? I had
never seen him but once since I was a baby, and I well knew he had never
cared a stiver about me; and my brother, too, was little better than a
stranger. ‘Besides, dear Helen,’ said he, embracing me with flattering
fondness, ‘I cannot spare you for a single day.’
‘Then how have you managed without me these many days?’ said I.
‘Ah! then I was knocking about the world, now I am at home, and home
without you, my household deity, would be intolerable.’
‘Yes, as long as I am necessary to your comfort; but you did not say so
before, when you urged me to leave you, in order that you might get away
from your home without me,’ retorted I; but before the words were well
out of my mouth, I regretted having uttered them. It seemed so heavy a
charge: if false, too gross an insult; if true, too humiliating a fact to
be thus openly cast in his teeth. But I might have spared myself that
momentary pang of self-reproach. The accusation awoke neither shame nor
indignation in him: he attempted neither denial nor excuse, but only
answered with a long, low, chuckling laugh, as if he viewed the whole
transaction as a clever, merry jest from beginning to end. Surely that
man will make me dislike him at last!
Sine as ye brew, my maiden fair,
Keep mind that ye maun drink the yill.
Yes; and I will drink it to the very dregs: and none but myself shall
know how bitter I find it!
August 20th.—We are shaken down again to about our usual position.
Arthur has returned to nearly his former condition and habits; and I have
found it my wisest plan to shut my eyes against the past and future, as
far as he, at least, is concerned, and live only for the present: to love
him when I can; to smile (if possible) when he smiles, be cheerful when
he is cheerful, and pleased when he is agreeable; and when he is not, to
try to make him so; and if that won’t answer, to bear with him, to excuse
him, and forgive him as well as I can, and restrain my own evil passions
from aggravating his; and yet, while I thus yield and minister to his
more harmless propensities to self-indulgence, to do all in my power to
save him from the worse.
But we shall not be long alone together. I shall shortly be called upon
to entertain the same select body of friends as we had the autumn before
last, with the addition of Mr. Hattersley and, at my special request, his
wife and child. I long to see Milicent, and her little girl too. The
latter is now above a year old; she will be a charming playmate for my
little Arthur.
September 30th.—Our guests have been here a week or two; but I have had
no leisure to pass any comments upon them till now. I cannot get over my
dislike to Lady Lowborough. It is not founded on mere personal pique; it
is the woman herself that I dislike, because I so thoroughly disapprove
of her. I always avoid her company as much as I can without violating
the laws of hospitality; but when we do speak or converse together, it is
with the utmost civility, even apparent cordiality on her part; but
preserve me from such cordiality! It is like handling brier-roses and
may-blossoms, bright enough to the eye, and outwardly soft to the touch,
but you know there are thorns beneath, and every now and then you feel
them too; and perhaps resent the injury by crushing them in till you have
destroyed their power, though somewhat to the detriment of your own
fingers.
Of late, however, I have seen nothing in her conduct towards Arthur to
anger or alarm me. During the first few days I thought she seemed very
solicitous to win his admiration. Her efforts were not unnoticed by him:
I frequently saw him smiling to himself at her artful manoeuvres: but, to
his praise be it spoken, her shafts fell powerless by his side. Her most
bewitching smiles, her haughtiest frowns were ever received with the same
immutable, careless good-humour; till, finding he was indeed
impenetrable, she suddenly remitted her efforts, and became, to all
appearance, as perfectly indifferent as himself. Nor have I since
witnessed any symptom of pique on his part, or renewed attempts at
conquest upon hers.
This is as it should be; but Arthur never will let me be satisfied with
him. I have never, for a single hour since I married him, known what it
is to realise that sweet idea, ‘In quietness and confidence shall be your
rest.’ Those two detestable men, Grimsby and Hattersley, have destroyed
all my labour against his love of wine. They encourage him daily to
overstep the bounds of moderation, and not unfrequently to disgrace
himself by positive excess. I shall not soon forget the second night
after their arrival. Just as I had retired from the dining-room with the
ladies, before the door was closed upon us, Arthur exclaimed,—‘Now then,
my lads, what say you to a regular jollification?’
Milicent glanced at me with a half-reproachful look, as if I could hinder
it; but her countenance changed when she heard Hattersley’s voice,
shouting through door and wall,—‘I’m your man! Send for more wine: here
isn’t half enough!’
We had scarcely entered the drawing-room before we were joined by Lord
Lowborough.
‘What can induce you to come so soon?’ exclaimed his lady, with a most
ungracious air of dissatisfaction.
‘You know I never drink, Annabella,’ replied he seriously.
‘Well, but you might stay with them a little: it looks so silly to be
always dangling after the women; I wonder you can!’
He reproached her with a look of mingled bitterness and surprise, and,
sinking into a chair, suppressed a heavy sigh, bit his pale lips, and
fixed his eyes upon the floor.
‘You did right to leave them, Lord Lowborough,’ said I. ‘I trust you
will always continue to honour us so early with your company. And if
Annabella knew the value of true wisdom, and the misery of folly and—and
intemperance, she would not talk such nonsense—even in jest.’
He raised his eyes while I spoke, and gravely turned them upon me, with a
half-surprised, half-abstracted look, and then bent them on his wife.
‘At least,’ said she, ‘I know the value of a warm heart and a bold, manly
spirit.’
‘Well, Annabella,’ said he, in a deep and hollow tone, ‘since my presence
is disagreeable to you, I will relieve you of it.’
‘Are you going back to them, then?’ said she, carelessly.
‘No,’ exclaimed he, with harsh and startling emphasis. ‘I will not go
back to them! And I will never stay with them one moment longer than I
think right, for you or any other tempter! But you needn’t mind that; I
shall never trouble you again by intruding my company upon you so
unseasonably.’
He left the room: I heard the hall-door open and shut, and immediately
after, on putting aside the curtain, I saw him pacing down the park, in
the comfortless gloom of the damp, cloudy twilight.
‘It would serve you right, Annabella,’ said I, at length, ‘if Lord
Lowborough were to return to his old habits, which had so nearly effected
his ruin, and which it cost him such an effort to break: you would then
see cause to repent such conduct as this.’
‘Not at all, my dear! I should not mind if his lordship were to see fit
to intoxicate himself every day: I should only the sooner be rid of him.’
‘Oh, Annabella!’ cried Milicent. ‘How can you say such wicked things!
It would, indeed, be a just punishment, as far as you are concerned, if
Providence should take you at your word, and make you feel what others
feel, that—‘ She paused as a sudden burst of loud talking and laughter
reached us from the dining-room, in which the voice of Hattersley was
pre-eminently conspicuous, even to my unpractised ear.
‘What you feel at this moment, I suppose?’ said Lady Lowborough, with a
malicious smile, fixing her eyes upon her cousin’s distressed
countenance.
The latter offered no reply, but averted her face and brushed away a
tear. At that moment the door opened and admitted Mr. Hargrave, just a
little flushed, his dark eyes sparkling with unwonted vivacity.
‘Oh, I’m so glad you’re come, Walter?’ cried his sister. ‘But I wish you
could have got Ralph to come too.’
‘Utterly impossible, dear Milicent,’ replied he, gaily. ‘I had much ado
to get away myself. Ralph attempted to keep me by violence; Huntingdon
threatened me with the eternal loss of his friendship; and Grimsby, worse
than all, endeavoured to make me ashamed of my virtue, by such galling
sarcasms and innuendoes as he knew would wound me the most. So you see,
ladies, you ought to make me welcome when I have braved and suffered so
much for the favour of your sweet society.’ He smilingly turned to me
and bowed as he finished the sentence.
‘Isn’t he handsome now, Helen!’ whispered Milicent, her sisterly pride
overcoming, for the moment, all other considerations.
‘He would be,’ I returned, ‘if that brilliance of eye, and lip, and cheek
were natural to him; but look again, a few hours hence.’
Here the gentleman took a seat near me at the table, and petitioned for a
cup of coffee.
‘I consider this an apt illustration of heaven taken by storm,’ said he,
as I handed one to him. ‘I am in paradise, now; but I have fought my way
through flood and fire to win it. Ralph Hattersley’s last resource was
to set his back against the door, and swear I should find no passage but
through his body (a pretty substantial one too). Happily, however, that
was not the only door, and I effected my escape by the side entrance
through the butler’s pantry, to the infinite amazement of Benson, who was
cleaning the plate.’
Mr. Hargrave laughed, and so did his cousin; but his sister and I
remained silent and grave.
‘Pardon my levity, Mrs. Huntingdon,’ murmured he, more seriously, as he
raised his eyes to my face. ‘You are not used to these things: you
suffer them to affect your delicate mind too sensibly. But I thought of
you in the midst of those lawless roysterers; and I endeavoured to
persuade Mr. Huntingdon to think of you too; but to no purpose: I fear he
is fully determined to enjoy himself this night; and it will be no use
keeping the coffee waiting for him or his companions; it will be much if
they join us at tea. Meantime, I earnestly wish I could banish the
thoughts of them from your mind—and my own too, for I hate to think of
them—yes—even of my dear friend Huntingdon, when I consider the power he
possesses over the happiness of one so immeasurably superior to himself,
and the use he makes of it—I positively detest the man!’
‘You had better not say so to me, then,’ said I; ‘for, bad as he is, he
is part of myself, and you cannot abuse him without offending me.’
‘Pardon me, then, for I would sooner die than offend you. But let us say
no more of him for the present, if you please.’
At last they came; but not till after ten, when tea, which had been
delayed for more than half an hour, was nearly over. Much as I had
longed for their coming, my heart failed me at the riotous uproar of
their approach; and Milicent turned pale, and almost started from her
seat, as Mr. Hattersley burst into the room with a clamorous volley of
oaths in his mouth, which Hargrave endeavoured to check by entreating him
to remember the ladies.
‘Ah! you do well to remind me of the ladies, you dastardly deserter,’
cried he, shaking his formidable fist at his brother-in-law. ‘If it were
not for them, you well know, I’d demolish you in the twinkling of an eye,
and give your body to the fowls of heaven and the lilies of the fields!’
Then, planting a chair by Lady Lowborough’s side, he stationed himself in
it, and began to talk to her with a mixture of absurdity and impudence
that seemed rather to amuse than to offend her; though she affected to
resent his insolence, and to keep him at bay with sallies of smart and
spirited repartee.
Meantime Mr. Grimsby seated himself by me, in the chair vacated by
Hargrave as they entered, and gravely stated that he would thank me for a
cup of tea: and Arthur placed himself beside poor Milicent,
confidentially pushing his head into her face, and drawing in closer to
her as she shrank away from him. He was not so noisy as Hattersley, but
his face was exceedingly flushed: he laughed incessantly, and while I
blushed for all I saw and heard of him, I was glad that he chose to talk
to his companion in so low a tone that no one could hear what he said but
herself.
‘What fools they are!’ drawled Mr. Grimsby, who had been talking away, at
my elbow, with sententious gravity all the time; but I had been too much
absorbed in contemplating the deplorable state of the other
two—especially Arthur—to attend to him.
‘Did you ever hear such nonsense as they talk, Mrs. Huntingdon?’ he
continued. ‘I’m quite ashamed of them for my part: they can’t take so
much as a bottle between them without its getting into their heads—’
‘You are pouring the cream into your saucer, Mr. Grimsby.’
‘Ah! yes, I see, but we’re almost in darkness here. Hargrave, snuff
those candles, will you?’
‘They’re wax; they don’t require snuffing,’ said I.
‘“The light of the body is the eye,”’ observed Hargrave, with a sarcastic
smile. ‘“If thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of
light.”’
Grimsby repulsed him with a solemn wave of the hand, and then turning to
me, continued, with the same drawling tones and strange uncertainty of
utterance and heavy gravity of aspect as before: ‘But as I was saying,
Mrs. Huntingdon, they have no head at all: they can’t take half a bottle
without being affected some way; whereas I—well, I’ve taken three times
as much as they have to-night, and you see I’m perfectly steady. Now
that may strike you as very singular, but I think I can explain it: you
see their brains—I mention no names, but you’ll understand to whom I
allude—their brains are light to begin with, and the fumes of the
fermented liquor render them lighter still, and produce an entire
light-headedness, or giddiness, resulting in intoxication; whereas my
brains, being composed of more solid materials, will absorb a
considerable quantity of this alcoholic vapour without the production of
any sensible result—’
‘I think you will find a sensible result produced on that tea,’
interrupted Mr. Hargrave, ‘by the quantity of sugar you have put into it.
Instead of your usual complement of one lump, you have put in six.’
‘Have I so?’ replied the philosopher, diving with his spoon into the cup,
and bringing up several half-dissolved pieces in confirmation of the
assertion. ‘Hum! I perceive. Thus, Madam, you see the evil of absence
of mind—of thinking too much while engaged in the common concerns of
life. Now, if I had had my wits about me, like ordinary men, instead of
within me like a philosopher, I should not have spoiled this cup of tea,
and been constrained to trouble you for another.’
‘That is the sugar-basin, Mr. Grimsby. Now you have spoiled the sugar
too; and I’ll thank you to ring for some more, for here is Lord
Lowborough at last; and I hope his lordship will condescend to sit down
with us, such as we are, and allow me to give him some tea.’
His lordship gravely bowed in answer to my appeal, but said nothing.
Meantime, Hargrave volunteered to ring for the sugar, while Grimsby
lamented his mistake, and attempted to prove that it was owing to the
shadow of the urn and the badness of the lights.
Lord Lowborough had entered a minute or two before, unobserved by anyone
but me, and had been standing before the door, grimly surveying the
company. He now stepped up to Annabella, who sat with her back towards
him, with Hattersley still beside her, though not now attending to her,
being occupied in vociferously abusing and bullying his host.
‘Well, Annabella,’ said her husband, as he leant over the back of her
chair, ‘which of these three “bold, manly spirits” would you have me to
resemble?’
‘By heaven and earth, you shall resemble us all!’ cried Hattersley,
starting up and rudely seizing him by the arm. ‘Hallo, Huntingdon!’ he
shouted—‘I’ve got him! Come, man, and help me! And d—n me, if I don’t
make him drunk before I let him go! He shall make up for all past
delinquencies as sure as I’m a living soul!’
There followed a disgraceful contest: Lord Lowborough, in desperate
earnest, and pale with anger, silently struggling to release himself from
the powerful madman that was striving to drag him from the room. I
attempted to urge Arthur to interfere in behalf of his outraged guest,
but he could do nothing but laugh.
‘Huntingdon, you fool, come and help me, can’t you!’ cried Hattersley,
himself somewhat weakened by his excesses.
‘I’m wishing you God-speed, Hattersley,’ cried Arthur, ‘and aiding you
with my prayers: I can’t do anything else if my life depended on it! I’m
quite used up. Oh—oh!’ and leaning back in his seat, he clapped his
hands on his sides and groaned aloud.
‘Annabella, give me a candle!’ said Lowborough, whose antagonist had now
got him round the waist and was endeavouring to root him from the
door-post, to which he madly clung with all the energy of desperation.
‘I shall take no part in your rude sports!’ replied the lady coldly
drawing back. ‘I wonder you can expect it.’ But I snatched up a candle
and brought it to him. He took it and held the flame to Hattersley’s
hands, till, roaring like a wild beast, the latter unclasped them and let
him go. He vanished, I suppose to his own apartment, for nothing more
was seen of him till the morning. Swearing and cursing like a maniac,
Hattersley threw himself on to the ottoman beside the window. The door
being now free, Milicent attempted to make her escape from the scene of
her husband’s disgrace; but he called her back, and insisted upon her
coming to him.
‘What do you want, Ralph?’ murmured she, reluctantly approaching him.
‘I want to know what’s the matter with you,’ said he, pulling her on to
his knee like a child. ‘What are you crying for, Milicent?—Tell me!’
‘I’m not crying.’
‘You are,’ persisted he, rudely pulling her hands from her face. ‘How
dare you tell such a lie!’
‘I’m not crying now,’ pleaded she.
‘But you have been, and just this minute too; and I will know what for.
Come, now, you shall tell me!’
‘Do let me alone, Ralph! Remember, we are not at home.’
‘No matter: you shall answer my question!’ exclaimed her tormentor; and
he attempted to extort the confession by shaking her, and remorselessly
crushing her slight arms in the gripe of his powerful fingers.
‘Don’t let him treat your sister in that way,’ said I to Mr. Hargrave.
‘Come now, Hattersley, I can’t allow that,’ said that gentleman, stepping
up to the ill-assorted couple. ‘Let my sister alone, if you please.’
And he made an effort to unclasp the ruffian’s fingers from her arm, but
was suddenly driven backward, and nearly laid upon the floor by a violent
blow on the chest, accompanied with the admonition, ‘Take that for your
insolence! and learn to interfere between me and mine again.’
‘If you were not drunk, I’d have satisfaction for that!’ gasped Hargrave,
white and breathless as much from passion as from the immediate effects
of the blow.
‘Go to the devil!’ responded his brother-in-law. ‘Now, Milicent, tell me
what you were crying for.’
‘I’ll tell you some other time,’ murmured she, ‘when we are alone.’
‘Tell me now!’ said he, with another shake and a squeeze that made her
draw in her breath and bite her lip to suppress a cry of pain.
‘I’ll tell you, Mr. Hattersley,’ said I. ‘She was crying from pure shame
and humiliation for you; because she could not bear to see you conduct
yourself so disgracefully.’
‘Confound you, Madam!’ muttered he, with a stare of stupid amazement at
my ‘impudence.’ ‘It was not that—was it, Milicent?’
She was silent.
‘Come, speak up, child!’
‘I can’t tell now,’ sobbed she.
‘But you can say “yes” or “no” as well as “I can’t tell.”—Come!’
‘Yes,’ she whispered, hanging her head, and blushing at the awful
acknowledgment.
‘Curse you for an impertinent hussy, then!’ cried he, throwing her from
him with such violence that she fell on her side; but she was up again
before either I or her brother could come to her assistance, and made the
best of her way out of the room, and, I suppose, up-stairs, without loss
of time.
The next object of assault was Arthur, who sat opposite, and had, no
doubt, richly enjoyed the whole scene.
‘Now, Huntingdon,’ exclaimed his irascible friend, ‘I will not have you
sitting there and laughing like an idiot!’
‘Oh, Hattersley,’ cried he, wiping his swimming eyes—‘you’ll be the death
of me.’
‘Yes, I will, but not as you suppose: I’ll have the heart out of your
body, man, if you irritate me with any more of that imbecile
laughter!—What! are you at it yet?—There! see if that’ll settle you!’
cried Hattersley, snatching up a footstool and hurting it at the head of
his host; but he as well as missed his aim, and the latter still sat
collapsed and quaking with feeble laughter, with tears running down his
face: a deplorable spectacle indeed.
Hattersley tried cursing and swearing, but it would not do: he then took
a number of books from the table beside him, and threw them, one by one,
at the object of his wrath; but Arthur only laughed the more; and,
finally, Hattersley rushed upon him in a frenzy and seizing him by the
shoulders, gave him a violent shaking, under which he laughed and
shrieked alarmingly. But I saw no more: I thought I had witnessed enough
of my husband’s degradation; and leaving Annabella and the rest to follow
when they pleased, I withdrew, but not to bed. Dismissing Rachel to her
rest, I walked up and down my room, in an agony of misery for what had
been done, and suspense, not knowing what might further happen, or how or
when that unhappy creature would come up to bed.
At last he came, slowly and stumblingly ascending the stairs, supported
by Grimsby and Hattersley, who neither of them walked quite steadily
themselves, but were both laughing and joking at him, and making noise
enough for all the servants to hear. He himself was no longer laughing
now, but sick and stupid. I will write no more about that.
Such disgraceful scenes (or nearly such) have been repeated more than
once. I don’t say much to Arthur about it, for, if I did, it would do
more harm than good; but I let him know that I intensely dislike such
exhibitions; and each time he has promised they should never again be
repeated. But I fear he is losing the little self-command and
self-respect he once possessed: formerly, he would have been ashamed to
act thus—at least, before any other witnesses than his boon companions,
or such as they. His friend Hargrave, with a prudence and
self-government that I envy for him, never disgraces himself by taking
more than sufficient to render him a little ‘elevated,’ and is always the
first to leave the table after Lord Lowborough, who, wiser still,
perseveres in vacating the dining-room immediately after us: but never
once, since Annabella offended him so deeply, has he entered the
drawing-room before the rest; always spending the interim in the library,
which I take care to have lighted for his accommodation; or, on fine
moonlight nights, in roaming about the grounds. But I think she regrets
her misconduct, for she has never repeated it since, and of late she has
comported herself with wonderful propriety towards him, treating him with
more uniform kindness and consideration than ever I have observed her to
do before. I date the time of this improvement from the period when she
ceased to hope and strive for Arthur’s admiration.
CHAPTER XXXII
October 5th.—Esther Hargrave is getting a fine girl. She is not out of
the school-room yet, but her mother frequently brings her over to call in
the mornings when the gentlemen are out, and sometimes she spends an hour
or two in company with her sister and me, and the children; and when we
go to the Grove, I always contrive to see her, and talk more to her than
to any one else, for I am very much attached to my little friend, and so
is she to me. I wonder what she can see to like in me though, for I am
no longer the happy, lively girl I used to be; but she has no other
society, save that of her uncongenial mother, and her governess (as
artificial and conventional a person as that prudent mother could procure
to rectify the pupil’s natural qualities), and, now and then, her
subdued, quiet sister. I often wonder what will be her lot in life, and
so does she; but her speculations on the future are full of buoyant hope;
so were mine once. I shudder to think of her being awakened, like me, to
a sense of their delusive vanity. It seems as if I should feel her
disappointment, even more deeply than my own. I feel almost as if I were
born for such a fate, but she is so joyous and fresh, so light of heart
and free of spirit, and so guileless and unsuspecting too. Oh, it would
be cruel to make her feel as I feel now, and know what I have known!
Her sister trembles for her too. Yesterday morning, one of October’s
brightest, loveliest days, Milicent and I were in the garden enjoying a
brief half-hour together with our children, while Annabella was lying on
the drawing-room sofa, deep in the last new novel. We had been romping
with the little creatures, almost as merry and wild as themselves, and
now paused in the shade of the tall copper beech, to recover breath and
rectify our hair, disordered by the rough play and the frolicsome breeze,
while they toddled together along the broad, sunny walk; my Arthur
supporting the feebler steps of her little Helen, and sagaciously
pointing out to her the brightest beauties of the border as they passed,
with semi-articulate prattle, that did as well for her as any other mode
of discourse. From laughing at the pretty sight, we began to talk of the
children’s future life; and that made us thoughtful. We both relapsed
into silent musing as we slowly proceeded up the walk; and I suppose
Milicent, by a train of associations, was led to think of her sister.
‘Helen,’ said she, ‘you often see Esther, don’t you?’
‘Not very often.’
‘But you have more frequent opportunities of meeting her than I have; and
she loves you, I know, and reverences you too: there is nobody’s opinion
she thinks so much of; and she says you have more sense than mamma.’
‘That is because she is self-willed, and my opinions more generally
coincide with her own than your mamma’s. But what then, Milicent?’
‘Well, since you have so much influence with her, I wish you would
seriously impress it upon her, never, on any account, or for anybody’s
persuasion, to marry for the sake of money, or rank, or establishment, or
any earthly thing, but true affection and well-grounded esteem.’
‘There is no necessity for that,’ said I, ‘for we have had some discourse
on that subject already, and I assure you her ideas of love and matrimony
are as romantic as any one could desire.’
‘But romantic notions will not do: I want her to have true notions.’
‘Very right: but in my judgment, what the world stigmatises as romantic,
is often more nearly allied to the truth than is commonly supposed; for,
if the generous ideas of youth are too often over-clouded by the sordid
views of after-life, that scarcely proves them to be false.’
‘Well, but if you think her ideas are what they ought to be, strengthen
them, will you? and confirm them, as far as you can; for I had romantic
notions once, and—I don’t mean to say that I regret my lot, for I am
quite sure I don’t, but—’
‘I understand you,’ said I; ‘you are contented for yourself, but you
would not have your sister to suffer the same as you.’
‘No—or worse. She might have far worse to suffer than I, for I am really
contented, Helen, though you mayn’t think it: I speak the solemn truth in
saying that I would not exchange my husband for any man on earth, if I
might do it by the plucking of this leaf.’
‘Well, I believe you: now that you have him, you would not exchange him
for another; but then you would gladly exchange some of his qualities for
those of better men.’
‘Yes: just as I would gladly exchange some of my own qualities for those
of better women; for neither he nor I are perfect, and I desire his
improvement as earnestly as my own. And he will improve, don’t you think
so, Helen? he’s only six-and-twenty yet.’
‘He may,’ I answered,
‘He will, he WILL!’ repeated she.
‘Excuse the faintness of my acquiescence, Milicent, I would not
discourage your hopes for the world, but mine have been so often
disappointed, that I am become as cold and doubtful in my expectations as
the flattest of octogenarians.’
‘And yet you do hope, still, even for Mr. Huntingdon?’
‘I do, I confess, “even” for him; for it seems as if life and hope must
cease together. And is he so much worse, Milicent, than Mr. Hattersley?’
‘Well, to give you my candid opinion, I think there is no comparison
between them. But you mustn’t be offended, Helen, for you know I always
speak my mind, and you may speak yours too. I sha’n’t care.’
‘I am not offended, love; and my opinion is, that if there be a
comparison made between the two, the difference, for the most part, is
certainly in Hattersley’s favour.’
Milicent’s own heart told her how much it cost me to make this
acknowledgment; and, with a childlike impulse, she expressed her sympathy
by suddenly kissing my cheek, without a word of reply, and then turning
quickly away, caught up her baby, and hid her face in its frock. How odd
it is that we so often weep for each other’s distresses, when we shed not
a tear for our own! Her heart had been full enough of her own sorrows,
but it overflowed at the idea of mine; and I, too, shed tears at the
sight of her sympathetic emotion, though I had not wept for myself for
many a week.
[Picture: Blake Hall—Side (Grassdale Manor)]
It was one rainy day last week; most of the company were killing time in
the billiard-room, but Milicent and I were with little Arthur and Helen
in the library, and between our books, our children, and each other, we
expected to make out a very agreeable morning. We had not been thus
secluded above two hours, however, when Mr. Hattersley came in,
attracted, I suppose, by the voice of his child, as he was crossing the
hall, for he is prodigiously fond of her, and she of him.
He was redolent of the stables, where he had been regaling himself with
the company of his fellow-creatures the horses ever since breakfast. But
that was no matter to my little namesake; as soon as the colossal person
of her father darkened the door, she uttered a shrill scream of delight,
and, quitting her mother’s side, ran crowing towards him, balancing her
course with outstretched arms, and embracing his knee, threw back her
head and laughed in his face. He might well look smilingly down upon
those small, fair features, radiant with innocent mirth, those clear blue
shining eyes, and that soft flaxen hair cast back upon the little ivory
neck and shoulders. Did he not think how unworthy he was of such a
possession? I fear no such idea crossed his mind. He caught her up, and
there followed some minutes of very rough play, during which it is
difficult to say whether the father or the daughter laughed and shouted
the loudest. At length, however, the boisterous pastime terminated,
suddenly, as might be expected: the little one was hurt, and began to
cry; and the ungentle play-fellow tossed it into its mother’s lap,
bidding her ‘make all straight.’ As happy to return to that gentle
comforter as it had been to leave her, the child nestled in her arms, and
hushed its cries in a moment; and sinking its little weary head on her
bosom, soon dropped asleep.
Meantime Mr. Hattersley strode up to the fire, and interposing his height
and breadth between us and it, stood with arms akimbo, expanding his
chest, and gazing round him as if the house and all its appurtenances and
contents were his own undisputed possessions.
‘Deuced bad weather this!’ he began. ‘There’ll be no shooting to-day, I
guess.’ Then, suddenly lifting up his voice, he regaled us with a few
bars of a rollicking song, which abruptly ceasing, he finished the tune
with a whistle, and then continued:—‘I say, Mrs. Huntingdon, what a fine
stud your husband has! not large, but good. I’ve been looking at them a
bit this morning; and upon my word, Black Boss, and Grey Tom, and that
young Nimrod are the finest animals I’ve seen for many a day!’ Then
followed a particular discussion of their various merits, succeeded by a
sketch of the great things he intended to do in the horse-jockey line,
when his old governor thought proper to quit the stage. ‘Not that I wish
him to close his accounts,’ added he: ‘the old Trojan is welcome to keep
his books open as long as he pleases for me.’
‘I hope so, indeed, Mr. Hattersley.’
‘Oh, yes! It’s only my way of talking. The event must come some time,
and so I look to the bright side of it: that’s the right plan—isn’t it,
Mrs. H.? What are you two doing here? By-the-by, where’s Lady
Lowborough?’
‘In the billiard-room.’
‘What a splendid creature she is!’ continued he, fixing his eyes on his
wife, who changed colour, and looked more and more disconcerted as he
proceeded. ‘What a noble figure she has; and what magnificent black
eyes; and what a fine spirit of her own; and what a tongue of her own,
too, when she likes to use it. I perfectly adore her! But never mind,
Milicent: I wouldn’t have her for my wife, not if she’d a kingdom for her
dowry! I’m better satisfied with the one I have. Now then! what do you
look so sulky for? don’t you believe me?’
‘Yes, I believe you,’ murmured she, in a tone of half sad, half sullen
resignation, as she turned away to stroke the hair of her sleeping
infant, that she had laid on the sofa beside her.
‘Well, then, what makes you so cross? Come here, Milly, and tell me why
you can’t be satisfied with my assurance.’
She went, and putting her little hand within his arm, looked up in his
face, and said softly,—
‘What does it amount to, Ralph? Only to this, that though you admire
Annabella so much, and for qualities that I don’t possess, you would
still rather have me than her for your wife, which merely proves that you
don’t think it necessary to love your wife; you are satisfied if she can
keep your house, and take care of your child. But I’m not cross; I’m
only sorry; for,’ added she, in a low, tremulous accent, withdrawing her
hand from his arm, and bending her looks on the rug, ‘if you don’t love
me, you don’t, and it can’t be helped.’
‘Very true; but who told you I didn’t? Did I say I loved Annabella?’
‘You said you adored her.’
‘True, but adoration isn’t love. I adore Annabella, but I don’t love
her; and I love thee, Milicent, but I don’t adore thee.’ In proof of his
affection, he clutched a handful of her light brown ringlets, and
appeared to twist them unmercifully.
‘Do you really, Ralph?’ murmured she, with a faint smile beaming through
her tears, just putting up her hand to his, in token that he pulled
rather too hard.
‘To be sure I do,’ responded he: ‘only you bother me rather, sometimes.’
‘I bother you!’ cried she, in very natural surprise.
‘Yes, you—but only by your exceeding goodness. When a boy has been
eating raisins and sugar-plums all day, he longs for a squeeze of sour
orange by way of a change. And did you never, Milly, observe the sands
on the sea-shore; how nice and smooth they look, and how soft and easy
they feel to the foot? But if you plod along, for half an hour, over
this soft, easy carpet—giving way at every step, yielding the more the
harder you press,—you’ll find it rather wearisome work, and be glad
enough to come to a bit of good, firm rock, that won’t budge an inch
whether you stand, walk, or stamp upon it; and, though it be hard as the
nether millstone, you’ll find it the easier footing after all.’
‘I know what you mean, Ralph,’ said she, nervously playing with her
watchguard and tracing the figure on the rug with the point of her tiny
foot—‘I know what you mean: but I thought you always liked to be yielded
to, and I can’t alter now.’
‘I do like it,’ replied he, bringing her to him by another tug at her
hair. ‘You mustn’t mind my talk, Milly. A man must have something to
grumble about; and if he can’t complain that his wife harries him to
death with her perversity and ill-humour, he must complain that she wears
him out with her kindness and gentleness.’
‘But why complain at all, unless because you are tired and dissatisfied?’
‘To excuse my own failings, to be sure. Do you think I’ll bear all the
burden of my sins on my own shoulders, as long as there’s another ready
to help me, with none of her own to carry?’
‘There is no such one on earth,’ said she seriously; and then, taking his
hand from her head, she kissed it with an air of genuine devotion, and
tripped away to the door.
‘What now?’ said he. ‘Where are you going?’
‘To tidy my hair,’ she answered, smiling through her disordered locks;
‘you’ve made it all come down.’
‘Off with you then!—An excellent little woman,’ he remarked when she was
gone, ‘but a thought too soft—she almost melts in one’s hands. I
positively think I ill-use her sometimes, when I’ve taken too much—but I
can’t help it, for she never complains, either at the time or after. I
suppose she doesn’t mind it.’
‘I can enlighten you on that subject, Mr. Hattersley,’ said I: ‘she does
mind it; and some other things she minds still more, which yet you may
never hear her complain of.’
‘How do you know?—does she complain to you?’ demanded he, with a sudden
spark of fury ready to burst into a flame if I should answer “yes.”
‘No,’ I replied; ‘but I have known her longer and studied her more
closely than you have done.—And I can tell you, Mr. Hattersley, that
Milicent loves you more than you deserve, and that you have it in your
power to make her very happy, instead of which you are her evil genius,
and, I will venture to say, there is not a single day passes in which you
do not inflict upon her some pang that you might spare her if you would.’
‘Well—it’s not my fault,’ said he, gazing carelessly up at the ceiling
and plunging his hands into his pockets: ‘if my ongoings don’t suit her,
she should tell me so.’
‘Is she not exactly the wife you wanted? Did you not tell Mr. Huntingdon
you must have one that would submit to anything without a murmur, and
never blame you, whatever you did?’
‘True, but we shouldn’t always have what we want: it spoils the best of
us, doesn’t it? How can I help playing the deuce when I see it’s all one
to her whether I behave like a Christian or like a scoundrel, such as
nature made me? and how can I help teasing her when she’s so invitingly
meek and mim, when she lies down like a spaniel at my feet and never so
much as squeaks to tell me that’s enough?’
‘If you are a tyrant by nature, the temptation is strong, I allow; but no
generous mind delights to oppress the weak, but rather to cherish and
protect.’
‘I don’t oppress her; but it’s so confounded flat to be always cherishing
and protecting; and then, how can I tell that I am oppressing her when
she “melts away and makes no sign”? I sometimes think she has no feeling
at all; and then I go on till she cries, and that satisfies me.’
‘Then you do delight to oppress her?’
‘I don’t, I tell you! only when I’m in a bad humour, or a particularly
good one, and want to afflict for the pleasure of comforting; or when she
looks flat and wants shaking up a bit. And sometimes she provokes me by
crying for nothing, and won’t tell me what it’s for; and then, I allow,
it enrages me past bearing, especially when I’m not my own man.’
‘As is no doubt generally the case on such occasions,’ said I. ‘But in
future, Mr. Hattersley, when you see her looking flat, or crying for
“nothing” (as you call it), ascribe it all to yourself: be assured it is
something you have done amiss, or your general misconduct, that
distresses her.’
‘I don’t believe it. If it were, she should tell me so: I don’t like
that way of moping and fretting in silence, and saying nothing: it’s not
honest. How can she expect me to mend my ways at that rate?’
‘Perhaps she gives you credit for having more sense than you possess, and
deludes herself with the hope that you will one day see your own errors
and repair them, if left to your own reflection.’
‘None of your sneers, Mrs. Huntingdon. I have the sense to see that I’m
not always quite correct, but sometimes I think that’s no great matter,
as long as I injure nobody but myself—’
‘It is a great matter,’ interrupted I, ‘both to yourself (as you will
hereafter find to your cost) and to all connected with you, most
especially your wife. But, indeed, it is nonsense to talk about injuring
no one but yourself: it is impossible to injure yourself, especially by
such acts as we allude to, without injuring hundreds, if not thousands,
besides, in a greater or less, degree, either by the evil you do or the
good you leave undone.’ ‘And as I was saying,’ continued he, ‘or would
have said if you hadn’t taken me up so short, I sometimes think I should
do better if I were joined to one that would always remind me when I was
wrong, and give me a motive for doing good and eschewing evil, by
decidedly showing her approval of the one and disapproval of the other.’
‘If you had no higher motive than the approval of your fellow-mortal, it
would do you little good.’
‘Well, but if I had a mate that would not always be yielding, and always
equally kind, but that would have the spirit to stand at bay now and
then, and honestly tell me her mind at all times, such a one as yourself
for instance. Now, if I went on with you as I do with her when I’m in
London, you’d make the house too hot to hold me at times, I’ll be sworn.’
‘You mistake me: I’m no termagant.’
‘Well, all the better for that, for I can’t stand contradiction, in a
general way, and I’m as fond of my own will as another; only I think too
much of it doesn’t answer for any man.’
‘Well, I would never contradict you without a cause, but certainly I
would always let you know what I thought of your conduct; and if you
oppressed me, in body, mind, or estate, you should at least have no
reason to suppose “I didn’t mind it.”’
‘I know that, my lady; and I think if my little wife were to follow the
same plan, it would be better for us both.’
‘I’ll tell her.’
‘No, no, let her be; there’s much to be said on both sides, and, now I
think upon it, Huntingdon often regrets that you are not more like her,
scoundrelly dog that he is, and you see, after all, you can’t reform him:
he’s ten times worse than I. He’s afraid of you, to be sure; that is,
he’s always on his best behaviour in your presence—but—’
‘I wonder what his worst behaviour is like, then?’ I could not forbear
observing.
‘Why, to tell you the truth, it’s very bad indeed—isn’t it, Hargrave?’
said he, addressing that gentleman, who had entered the room unperceived
by me, for I was now standing near the fire, with my back to the door.
‘Isn’t Huntingdon,’ he continued, ‘as great a reprobate as ever was d—d?’
‘His lady will not hear him censured with impunity,’ replied Mr.
Hargrave, coming forward; ‘but I must say, I thank God I am not such
another.’
‘Perhaps it would become you better,’ said I, ‘to look at what you are,
and say, “God be merciful to me a sinner.”’
‘You are severe,’ returned he, bowing slightly and drawing himself up
with a proud yet injured air. Hattersley laughed, and clapped him on the
shoulder. Moving from under his hand with a gesture of insulted dignity,
Mr. Hargrave took himself away to the other end of the rug.
‘Isn’t it a shame, Mrs. Huntingdon?’ cried his brother-in-law; ‘I struck
Walter Hargrave when I was drunk, the second night after we came, and
he’s turned a cold shoulder on me ever since; though I asked his pardon
the very morning after it was done!’
‘Your manner of asking it,’ returned the other, ‘and the clearness with
which you remembered the whole transaction, showed you were not too drunk
to be fully conscious of what you were about, and quite responsible for
the deed.’
‘You wanted to interfere between me and my wife,’ grumbled Hattersley,
‘and that is enough to provoke any man.’
‘You justify it, then?’ said his opponent, darting upon him a most
vindictive glance.
‘No, I tell you I wouldn’t have done it if I hadn’t been under
excitement; and if you choose to bear malice for it after all the
handsome things I’ve said, do so and be d—d!’
‘I would refrain from such language in a lady’s presence, at least,’ said
Mr. Hargrave, hiding his anger under a mask of disgust.
‘What have I said?’ returned Hattersley: ‘nothing but heaven’s truth. He
will be damned, won’t he, Mrs. Huntingdon, if he doesn’t forgive his
brother’s trespasses?’
‘You ought to forgive him, Mr. Hargrave, since he asks you,’ said I.
‘Do you say so? Then I will!’ And, smiling almost frankly, he stepped
forward and offered his hand. It was immediately clasped in that of his
relative, and the reconciliation was apparently cordial on both sides.
‘The affront,’ continued Hargrave, turning to me, ‘owed half its
bitterness to the fact of its being offered in your presence; and since
you bid me forgive it, I will, and forget it too.’
‘I guess the best return I can make will be to take myself off,’ muttered
Hattersley, with a broad grin. His companion smiled, and he left the
room. This put me on my guard. Mr. Hargrave turned seriously to me, and
earnestly began,—
‘Dear Mrs. Huntingdon, how I have longed for, yet dreaded, this hour! Do
not be alarmed,’ he added, for my face was crimson with anger: ‘I am not
about to offend you with any useless entreaties or complaints. I am not
going to presume to trouble you with the mention of my own feelings or
your perfections, but I have something to reveal to you which you ought
to know, and which, yet, it pains me inexpressibly—’
‘Then don’t trouble yourself to reveal it!’
‘But it is of importance—’
‘If so I shall hear it soon enough, especially if it is bad news, as you
seem to consider it. At present I am going to take the children to the
nursery.’
‘But can’t you ring and send them?’
‘No; I want the exercise of a run to the top of the house. Come,
Arthur.’
‘But you will return?’
‘Not yet; don’t wait.’
‘Then when may I see you again?’
‘At lunch,’ said I, departing with little Helen in one arm and leading
Arthur by the hand.
He turned away, muttering some sentence of impatient censure or
complaint, in which ‘heartless’ was the only distinguishable word.
‘What nonsense is this, Mr. Hargrave?’ said I, pausing in the doorway.
‘What do you mean?’
‘Oh, nothing; I did not intend you should hear my soliloquy. But the
fact is, Mrs. Huntingdon, I have a disclosure to make, painful for me to
offer as for you to hear; and I want you to give me a few minutes of your
attention in private at any time and place you like to appoint. It is
from no selfish motive that I ask it, and not for any cause that could
alarm your superhuman purity: therefore you need not kill me with that
look of cold and pitiless disdain. I know too well the feelings with
which the bearers of bad tidings are commonly regarded not to—’
‘What is this wonderful piece of intelligence?’ said I, impatiently
interrupting him. ‘If it is anything of real importance, speak it in
three words before I go.’
‘In three words I cannot. Send those children away and stay with me.’
‘No; keep your bad tidings to yourself. I know it is something I don’t
want to hear, and something you would displease me by telling.’
‘You have divined too truly, I fear; but still, since I know it, I feel
it my duty to disclose it to you.’
‘Oh, spare us both the infliction, and I will exonerate you from the
duty. You have offered to tell; I have refused to hear: my ignorance
will not be charged on you.’
‘Be it so: you shall not hear it from me. But if the blow fall too
suddenly upon you when it comes, remember I wished to soften it!’
I left him. I was determined his words should not alarm me. What could
he, of all men, have to reveal that was of importance for me to hear? It
was no doubt some exaggerated tale about my unfortunate husband that he
wished to make the most of to serve his own bad purposes.
6th.—He has not alluded to this momentous mystery since, and I have seen
no reason to repent of my unwillingness to hear it. The threatened blow
has not been struck yet, and I do not greatly fear it. At present I am
pleased with Arthur: he has not positively disgraced himself for upwards
of a fortnight, and all this last week has been so very moderate in his
indulgence at table that I can perceive a marked difference in his
general temper and appearance. Dare I hope this will continue?
CHAPTER XXXIII
Seventh.—Yes, I will hope! To-night I heard Grimsby and Hattersley
grumbling together about the inhospitality of their host. They did not
know I was near, for I happened to be standing behind the curtain in the
bow of the window, watching the moon rising over the clump of tall dark
elm-trees below the lawn, and wondering why Arthur was so sentimental as
to stand without, leaning against the outer pillar of the portico,
apparently watching it too.
‘So, I suppose we’ve seen the last of our merry carousals in this house,’
said Mr. Hattersley; ‘I thought his good-fellowship wouldn’t last long.
But,’ added he, laughing, ‘I didn’t expect it would meet its end this
way. I rather thought our pretty hostess would be setting up her
porcupine quills, and threatening to turn us out of the house if we
didn’t mind our manners.’
‘You didn’t foresee this, then?’ answered Grimsby, with a guttural
chuckle. ‘But he’ll change again when he’s sick of her. If we come here
a year or two hence, we shall have all our own way, you’ll see.’
‘I don’t know,’ replied the other: ‘she’s not the style of woman you soon
tire of. But be that as it may, it’s devilish provoking now that we
can’t be jolly, because he chooses to be on his good behaviour.’
‘It’s all these cursed women!’ muttered Grimsby: ‘they’re the very bane
of the world! They bring trouble and discomfort wherever they come, with
their false, fair faces and their deceitful tongues.’
At this juncture I issued from my retreat, and smiling on Mr. Grimsby as
I passed, left the room and went out in search of Arthur. Having seen
him bend his course towards the shrubbery, I followed him thither, and
found him just entering the shadowy walk. I was so light of heart, so
overflowing with affection, that I sprang upon him and clasped him in my
arms. This startling conduct had a singular effect upon him: first, he
murmured, ‘Bless you, darling!’ and returned my close embrace with a
fervour like old times, and then he started, and, in a tone of absolute
terror, exclaimed, ‘Helen! what the devil is this?’ and I saw, by the
faint light gleaming through the overshadowing tree, that he was
positively pale with the shock.
How strange that the instinctive impulse of affection should come first,
and then the shock of the surprise! It shows, at least, that the
affection is genuine: he is not sick of me yet.
‘I startled you, Arthur,’ said I, laughing in my glee. ‘How nervous you
are!’
‘What the deuce did you do it for?’ cried he, quite testily, extricating
himself from my arms, and wiping his forehead with his handkerchief. ‘Go
back, Helen—go back directly! You’ll get your death of cold!’
‘I won’t, till I’ve told you what I came for. They are blaming you,
Arthur, for your temperance and sobriety, and I’m come to thank you for
it. They say it is all “these cursed women,” and that we are the bane of
the world; but don’t let them laugh or grumble you out of your good
resolutions, or your affection for me.’
He laughed. I squeezed him in my arms again, and cried in tearful
earnest, ‘Do, do persevere! and I’ll love you better than ever I did
before!’
‘Well, well, I will!’ said he, hastily kissing me. ‘There, now, go. You
mad creature, how could you come out in your light evening dress this
chill autumn night?’
‘It is a glorious night,’ said I.
‘It is a night that will give you your death, in another minute. Run
away, do!’
‘Do you see my death among those trees, Arthur?’ said I, for he was
gazing intently at the shrubs, as if he saw it coming, and I was
reluctant to leave him, in my new-found happiness and revival of hope and
love. But he grew angry at my delay, so I kissed him and ran back to the
house.
I was in such a good humour that night: Milicent told me I was the life
of the party, and whispered she had never seen me so brilliant.
Certainly, I talked enough for twenty, and smiled upon them all.
Grimsby, Hattersley, Hargrave, Lady Lowborough, all shared my sisterly
kindness. Grimsby stared and wondered; Hattersley laughed and jested (in
spite of the little wine he had been suffered to imbibe), but still
behaved as well as he knew how. Hargrave and Annabella, from different
motives and in different ways, emulated me, and doubtless both surpassed
me, the former in his discursive versatility and eloquence, the latter in
boldness and animation at least. Milicent, delighted to see her husband,
her brother, and her over-estimated friend acquitting themselves so well,
was lively and gay too, in her quiet way. Even Lord Lowborough caught
the general contagion: his dark greenish eyes were lighted up beneath
their moody brows; his sombre countenance was beautified by smiles; all
traces of gloom and proud or cold reserve had vanished for the time; and
he astonished us all, not only by his general cheerfulness and animation,
but by the positive flashes of true force and brilliance he emitted from
time to time. Arthur did not talk much, but he laughed, and listened to
the rest, and was in perfect good-humour, though not excited by wine. So
that, altogether, we made a very merry, innocent, and entertaining party.
9th.—Yesterday, when Rachel came to dress me for dinner, I saw that she
had been crying. I wanted to know the cause of it, but she seemed
reluctant to tell. Was she unwell? No. Had she heard bad news from her
friends? No. Had any of the servants vexed her?
‘Oh, no, ma’am!’ she answered; ‘it’s not for myself.’
‘What then, Rachel? Have you been reading novels?’
‘Bless you, no!’ said she, with a sorrowful shake of the head; and then
she sighed and continued: ‘But to tell you the truth, ma’am, I don’t like
master’s ways of going on.’
‘What do you mean, Rachel? He’s going on very properly at present.’
‘Well, ma’am, if you think so, it’s right.’
And she went on dressing my hair, in a hurried way, quite unlike her
usual calm, collected manner, murmuring, half to herself, she was sure it
was beautiful hair: she ‘could like to see ’em match it.’ When it was
done, she fondly stroked it, and gently patted my head.
‘Is that affectionate ebullition intended for my hair, or myself, nurse?’
said I, laughingly turning round upon her; but a tear was even now in her
eye.
‘What do you mean, Rachel?’ I exclaimed.
‘Well, ma’am, I don’t know; but if—’
‘If what?’
‘Well, if I was you, I wouldn’t have that Lady Lowborough in the house
another minute—not another minute I wouldn’t!
I was thunderstruck; but before I could recover from the shock
sufficiently to demand an explanation, Milicent entered my room, as she
frequently does when she is dressed before me; and she stayed with me
till it was time to go down. She must have found me a very unsociable
companion this time, for Rachel’s last words rang in my ears. But still
I hoped, I trusted they had no foundation but in some idle rumour of the
servants from what they had seen in Lady Lowborough’s manner last month;
or perhaps from something that had passed between their master and her
during her former visit. At dinner I narrowly observed both her and
Arthur, and saw nothing extraordinary in the conduct of either, nothing
calculated to excite suspicion, except in distrustful minds, which mine
was not, and therefore I would not suspect.
Almost immediately after dinner Annabella went out with her husband to
share his moonlight ramble, for it was a splendid evening like the last.
Mr. Hargrave entered the drawing-room a little before the others, and
challenged me to a game of chess. He did it without any of that sad but
proud humility he usually assumes in addressing me, unless he is excited
with wine. I looked at his face to see if that was the case now. His
eye met mine keenly, but steadily: there was something about him I did
not understand, but he seemed sober enough. Not choosing to engage with
him, I referred him to Milicent.
‘She plays badly,’ said he, ‘I want to match my skill with yours. Come
now! you can’t pretend you are reluctant to lay down your work. I know
you never take it up except to pass an idle hour, when there is nothing
better you can do.’
‘But chess-players are so unsociable,’ I objected; ‘they are no company
for any but themselves.’
‘There is no one here but Milicent, and she—’
‘Oh, I shall be delighted to watch you!’ cried our mutual friend. ‘Two
such players—it will be quite a treat! I wonder which will conquer.’
I consented.
‘Now, Mrs. Huntingdon,’ said Hargrave, as he arranged the men on the
board, speaking distinctly, and with a peculiar emphasis, as if he had a
double meaning to all his words, ‘you are a good player, but I am a
better: we shall have a long game, and you will give me some trouble; but
I can be as patient as you, and in the end I shall certainly win.’ He
fixed his eyes upon me with a glance I did not like, keen, crafty, bold,
and almost impudent;—already half triumphant in his anticipated success.
‘I hope not, Mr. Hargrave!’ returned I, with vehemence that must have
startled Milicent at least; but he only smiled and murmured, ‘Time will
show.’
We set to work: he sufficiently interested in the game, but calm and
fearless in the consciousness of superior skill: I, intensely eager to
disappoint his expectations, for I considered this the type of a more
serious contest, as I imagined he did, and I felt an almost superstitious
dread of being beaten: at all events, I could ill endure that present
success should add one tittle to his conscious power (his insolent
self-confidence I ought to say), or encourage for a moment his dream of
future conquest. His play was cautious and deep, but I struggled hard
against him. For some time the combat was doubtful: at length, to my
joy, the victory seemed inclining to my side: I had taken several of his
best pieces, and manifestly baffled his projects. He put his hand to his
brow and paused, in evident perplexity. I rejoiced in my advantage, but
dared not glory in it yet. At length, he lifted his head, and quietly
making his move, looked at me and said, calmly, ‘Now you think you will
win, don’t you?’
‘I hope so,’ replied I, taking his pawn that he had pushed into the way
of my bishop with so careless an air that I thought it was an oversight,
but was not generous enough, under the circumstances, to direct his
attention to it, and too heedless, at the moment, to foresee the
after-consequences of my move. ‘It is those bishops that trouble me,’
said he; ‘but the bold knight can overleap the reverend gentlemen,’
taking my last bishop with his knight; ‘and now, those sacred persons
once removed, I shall carry all before me.’
‘Oh, Walter, how you talk!’ cried Milicent; ‘she has far more pieces than
you still.’
‘I intend to give you some trouble yet,’ said I; ‘and perhaps, sir, you
will find yourself checkmated before you are aware. Look to your queen.’
The combat deepened. The game was a long one, and I did give him some
trouble: but he was a better player than I.
‘What keen gamesters you are!’ said Mr. Hattersley, who had now entered,
and been watching us for some time. ‘Why, Mrs. Huntingdon, your hand
trembles as if you had staked your all upon it! and, Walter, you dog, you
look as deep and cool as if you were certain of success, and as keen and
cruel as if you would drain her heart’s blood! But if I were you, I
wouldn’t beat her, for very fear: she’ll hate you if you do—she will, by
heaven! I see it in her eye.’
‘Hold your tongue, will you?’ said I: his talk distracted me, for I was
driven to extremities. A few more moves, and I was inextricably
entangled in the snare of my antagonist.
‘Check,’ cried he: I sought in agony some means of escape. ‘Mate!’ he
added, quietly, but with evident delight. He had suspended the utterance
of that last fatal syllable the better to enjoy my dismay. I was
foolishly disconcerted by the event. Hattersley laughed; Milicent was
troubled to see me so disturbed. Hargrave placed his hand on mine that
rested on the table, and squeezing it with a firm but gentle pressure,
murmured, ‘Beaten, beaten!’ and gazed into my face with a look where
exultation was blended with an expression of ardour and tenderness yet
more insulting.
‘No, never, Mr. Hargrave!’ exclaimed I, quickly withdrawing my hand.
‘Do you deny?’ replied he, smilingly pointing to the board. ‘No, no,’ I
answered, recollecting how strange my conduct must appear: ‘you have
beaten me in that game.’
‘Will you try another, then?’
‘No.’
‘You acknowledge my superiority?’
‘Yes, as a chess-player.’
I rose to resume my work.
‘Where is Annabella?’ said Hargrave, gravely, after glancing round the
room.
‘Gone out with Lord Lowborough,’ answered I, for he looked at me for a
reply.
‘And not yet returned!’ he said, seriously.
‘I suppose not.’
‘Where is Huntingdon?’ looking round again.
‘Gone out with Grimsby, as you know,’ said Hattersley, suppressing a
laugh, which broke forth as he concluded the sentence. Why did he laugh?
Why did Hargrave connect them thus together? Was it true, then? And was
this the dreadful secret he had wished to reveal to me? I must know, and
that quickly. I instantly rose and left the room to go in search of
Rachel and demand an explanation of her words; but Mr. Hargrave followed
me into the anteroom, and before I could open its outer door, gently laid
his hand upon the lock. ‘May I tell you something, Mrs. Huntingdon?’
said he, in a subdued tone, with serious, downcast eyes.
‘If it be anything worth hearing,’ replied I, struggling to be composed,
for I trembled in every limb.
He quietly pushed a chair towards me. I merely leant my hand upon it,
and bid him go on.
‘Do not be alarmed,’ said he: ‘what I wish to say is nothing in itself;
and I will leave you to draw your own inferences from it. You say that
Annabella is not yet returned?’
‘Yes, yes—go on!’ said I, impatiently; for I feared my forced calmness
would leave me before the end of his disclosure, whatever it might be.
‘And you hear,’ continued he, ‘that Huntingdon is gone out with Grimsby?’
‘Well?’
‘I heard the latter say to your husband—or the man who calls himself so—’
‘Go on, sir!’
He bowed submissively, and continued: ‘I heard him say,—“I shall manage
it, you’ll see! They’re gone down by the water; I shall meet them there,
and tell him I want a bit of talk with him about some things that we
needn’t trouble the lady with; and she’ll say she can be walking back to
the house; and then I shall apologise, you know, and all that, and tip
her a wink to take the way of the shrubbery. I’ll keep him talking
there, about those matters I mentioned, and anything else I can think of,
as long as I can, and then bring him round the other way, stopping to
look at the trees, the fields, and anything else I can find to discourse
of.”’ Mr. Hargrave paused, and looked at me.
Without a word of comment or further questioning, I rose, and darted from
the room and out of the house. The torment of suspense was not to be
endured: I would not suspect my husband falsely, on this man’s
accusation, and I would not trust him unworthily—I must know the truth at
once. I flew to the shrubbery. Scarcely had I reached it, when a sound
of voices arrested my breathless speed.
‘We have lingered too long; he will be back,’ said Lady Lowborough’s
voice.
‘Surely not, dearest!’ was his reply; ‘but you can run across the lawn,
and get in as quietly as you can; I’ll follow in a while.’
My knees trembled under me; my brain swam round. I was ready to faint.
She must not see me thus. I shrunk among the bushes, and leant against
the trunk of a tree to let her pass.
‘Ah, Huntingdon!’ said she reproachfully, pausing where I had stood with
him the night before—‘it was here you kissed that woman!’ she looked back
into the leafy shade. Advancing thence, he answered, with a careless
laugh,—
‘Well, dearest, I couldn’t help it. You know I must keep straight with
her as long as I can. Haven’t I seen you kiss your dolt of a husband
scores of times?—and do I ever complain?’
‘But tell me, don’t you love her still—a little?’ said she, placing her
hand on his arm, looking earnestly in his face—for I could see them,
plainly, the moon shining full upon them from between the branches of the
tree that sheltered me.
‘Not one bit, by all that’s sacred!’ he replied, kissing her glowing
cheek.
‘Good heavens, I must be gone!’ cried she, suddenly breaking from him,
and away she flew.
There he stood before me; but I had not strength to confront him now: my
tongue cleaved to the roof of my mouth; I was well-nigh sinking to the
earth, and I almost wondered he did not hear the beating of my heart
above the low sighing of the wind and the fitful rustle of the falling
leaves. My senses seemed to fail me, but still I saw his shadowy form
pass before me, and through the rushing sound in my ears I distinctly
heard him say, as he stood looking up the lawn,—‘There goes the fool!
Run, Annabella, run! There—in with you! Ah,—he didn’t see! That’s
right, Grimsby, keep him back!’ And even his low laugh reached me as he
walked away.
‘God help me now!’ I murmured, sinking on my knees among the damp weeds
and brushwood that surrounded me, and looking up at the moonlit sky,
through the scant foliage above. It seemed all dim and quivering now to
my darkened sight. My burning, bursting heart strove to pour forth its
agony to God, but could not frame its anguish into prayer; until a gust
of wind swept over me, which, while it scattered the dead leaves, like
blighted hopes, around, cooled my forehead, and seemed a little to revive
my sinking frame. Then, while I lifted up my soul in speechless, earnest
supplication, some heavenly influence seemed to strengthen me within: I
breathed more freely; my vision cleared; I saw distinctly the pure moon
shining on, and the light clouds skimming the clear, dark sky; and then I
saw the eternal stars twinkling down upon me; I knew their God was mine,
and He was strong to save and swift to hear. ‘I will never leave thee,
nor forsake thee,’ seemed whispered from above their myriad orbs. No,
no; I felt He would not leave me comfortless: in spite of earth and hell
I should have strength for all my trials, and win a glorious rest at
last!
Refreshed, invigorated, if not composed, I rose and returned to the
house. Much of my new-born strength and courage forsook me, I confess,
as I entered it, and shut out the fresh wind and the glorious sky:
everything I saw and heard seemed to sicken my heart—the hall, the lamp,
the staircase, the doors of the different apartments, the social sound of
talk and laughter from the drawing-room. How could I bear my future
life! In this house, among those people—oh, how could I endure to live!
John just then entered the hall, and seeing me, told me he had been sent
in search of me, adding that he had taken in the tea, and master wished
to know if I were coming.
‘Ask Mrs. Hattersley to be so kind as to make the tea, John,’ said I.
‘Say I am not well to-night, and wish to be excused.’
I retired into the large, empty dining-room, where all was silence and
darkness, but for the soft sighing of the wind without, and the faint
gleam of moonlight that pierced the blinds and curtains; and there I
walked rapidly up and down, thinking of my bitter thoughts alone. How
different was this from the evening of yesterday! That, it seems, was
the last expiring flash of my life’s happiness. Poor, blinded fool that
I was to be so happy! I could now see the reason of Arthur’s strange
reception of me in the shrubbery; the burst of kindness was for his
paramour, the start of horror for his wife. Now, too, I could better
understand the conversation between Hattersley and Grimsby; it was
doubtless of his love for her they spoke, not for me.
I heard the drawing-room door open: a light quick step came out of the
ante-room, crossed the hall, and ascended the stairs. It was Milicent,
poor Milicent, gone to see how I was—no one else cared for me; but she
still was kind. I shed no tears before, but now they came, fast and
free. Thus she did me good, without approaching me. Disappointed in her
search, I heard her come down, more slowly than she had ascended. Would
she come in there, and find me out? No, she turned in the opposite
direction and re-entered the drawing-room. I was glad, for I knew not
how to meet her, or what to say. I wanted no confidante in my distress.
I deserved none, and I wanted none. I had taken the burden upon myself;
let me bear it alone.
As the usual hour of retirement approached I dried my eyes, and tried to
clear my voice and calm my mind. I must see Arthur to-night, and speak
to him; but I would do it calmly: there should be no scene—nothing to
complain or to boast of to his companions—nothing to laugh at with his
lady-love. When the company were retiring to their chambers I gently
opened the door, and just as he passed, beckoned him in.
‘What’s to do with you, Helen?’ said he. ‘Why couldn’t you come to make
tea for us? and what the deuce are you here for, in the dark? What ails
you, young woman: you look like a ghost!’ he continued, surveying me by
the light of his candle.
‘No matter,’ I answered, ‘to you; you have no longer any regard for me it
appears; and I have no longer any for you.’
‘Hal-lo! what the devil is this?’ he muttered. ‘I would leave you
to-morrow,’ continued I, ‘and never again come under this roof, but for
my child’—I paused a moment to steady, my voice.
‘What in the devil’s name is this, Helen?’ cried he. ‘What can you be
driving at?’
‘You know perfectly well. Let us waste no time in useless explanation,
but tell me, will you—?’
He vehemently swore he knew nothing about it, and insisted upon hearing
what poisonous old woman had been blackening his name, and what infamous
lies I had been fool enough to believe.
‘Spare yourself the trouble of forswearing yourself and racking your
brains to stifle truth with falsehood,’ I coldly replied. ‘I have
trusted to the testimony of no third person. I was in the shrubbery this
evening, and I saw and heard for myself.’
This was enough. He uttered a suppressed exclamation of consternation
and dismay, and muttering, ‘I shall catch it now!’ set down his candle on
the nearest chair, and rearing his back against the wall, stood
confronting me with folded arms.
‘Well, what then?’ said he, with the calm insolence of mingled
shamelessness and desperation.
‘Only this,’ returned I; ‘will you let me take our child and what remains
of my fortune, and go?’
‘Go where?’
‘Anywhere, where he will be safe from your contaminating influence, and I
shall be delivered from your presence, and you from mine.’
‘No.’
‘Will you let me have the child then, without the money?’
‘No, nor yourself without the child. Do you think I’m going to be made
the talk of the country for your fastidious caprices?’
‘Then I must stay here, to be hated and despised. But henceforth we are
husband and wife only in the name.’
‘Very good.’
‘I am your child’s mother, and your housekeeper, nothing more. So you
need not trouble yourself any longer to feign the love you cannot feel: I
will exact no more heartless caresses from you, nor offer nor endure them
either. I will not be mocked with the empty husk of conjugal
endearments, when you have given the substance to another!’
‘Very good, if you please. We shall see who will tire first, my lady.’
‘If I tire, it will be of living in the world with you: not of living
without your mockery of love. When you tire of your sinful ways, and
show yourself truly repentant, I will forgive you, and, perhaps, try to
love you again, though that will be hard indeed.’
‘Humph! and meantime you will go and talk me over to Mrs. Hargrave, and
write long letters to aunt Maxwell to complain of the wicked wretch you
have married?’
‘I shall complain to no one. Hitherto I have struggled hard to hide your
vices from every eye, and invest you with virtues you never possessed;
but now you must look to yourself.’
I left him muttering bad language to himself, and went up-stairs.
‘You are poorly, ma’am,’ said Rachel, surveying me with deep anxiety.
‘It is too true, Rachel,’ said I, answering her sad looks rather than her
words.
‘I knew it, or I wouldn’t have mentioned such a thing.’
‘But don’t you trouble yourself about it,’ said I, kissing her pale,
time-wasted cheek. ‘I can bear it better than you imagine.’
‘Yes, you were always for “bearing.” But if I was you I wouldn’t bear
it; I’d give way to it, and cry right hard! and I’d talk too, I just
would—I’d let him know what it was to—’
‘I have talked,’ said I; ‘I’ve said enough.’
‘Then I’d cry,’ persisted she. ‘I wouldn’t look so white and so calm,
and burst my heart with keeping it in.’
‘I have cried,’ said I, smiling, in spite of my misery; ‘and I am calm
now, really: so don’t discompose me again, nurse: let us say no more
about it, and don’t mention it to the servants. There, you may go now.
Good-night; and don’t disturb your rest for me: I shall sleep well—if I
can.’
Notwithstanding this resolution, I found my bed so intolerable that,
before two o’clock, I rose, and lighting my candle by the rushlight that
was still burning, I got my desk and sat down in my dressing-gown to
recount the events of the past evening. It was better to be so occupied
than to be lying in bed torturing my brain with recollections of the far
past and anticipations of the dreadful future. I have found relief in
describing the very circumstances that have destroyed my peace, as well
as the little trivial details attendant upon their discovery. No sleep I
could have got this night would have done so much towards composing my
mind, and preparing me to meet the trials of the day. I fancy so, at
least; and yet, when I cease writing, I find my head aches terribly; and
when I look into the glass, I am startled at my haggard, worn appearance.
Rachel has been to dress me, and says I have had a sad night of it, she
can see. Milicent has just looked in to ask me how I was. I told her I
was better, but to excuse my appearance admitted I had had a restless
night. I wish this day were over! I shudder at the thoughts of going
down to breakfast. How shall I encounter them all? Yet let me remember
it is not I that am guilty: I have no cause to fear; and if they scorn me
as a victim of their guilt, I can pity their folly and despise their
scorn.
CHAPTER XXXIV
Evening.—Breakfast passed well over: I was calm and cool throughout. I
answered composedly all inquiries respecting my health; and whatever was
unusual in my look or manner was generally attributed to the trifling
indisposition that had occasioned my early retirement last night. But
how am I to get over the ten or twelve days that must yet elapse before
they go? Yet why so long for their departure? When they are gone, how
shall I get through the months or years of my future life in company with
that man—my greatest enemy? for none could injure me as he has done. Oh!
when I think how fondly, how foolishly I have loved him, how madly I have
trusted him, how constantly I have laboured, and studied, and prayed, and
struggled for his advantage; and how cruelly he has trampled on my love,
betrayed my trust, scorned my prayers and tears, and efforts for his
preservation, crushed my hopes, destroyed my youth’s best feelings, and
doomed me to a life of hopeless misery, as far as man can do it, it is
not enough to say that I no longer love my husband—I HATE him! The word
stares me in the face like a guilty confession, but it is true: I hate
him—I hate him! But God have mercy on his miserable soul! and make him
see and feel his guilt—I ask no other vengeance! If he could but fully
know and truly feel my wrongs I should be well avenged, and I could
freely pardon all; but he is so lost, so hardened in his heartless
depravity, that in this life I believe he never will. But it is useless
dwelling on this theme: let me seek once more to dissipate reflection in
the minor details of passing events.
Mr. Hargrave has annoyed me all day long with his serious, sympathising,
and (as he thinks) unobtrusive politeness. If it were more obtrusive it
would trouble me less, for then I could snub him; but, as it is, he
contrives to appear so really kind and thoughtful that I cannot do so
without rudeness and seeming ingratitude. I sometimes think I ought to
give him credit for the good feeling he simulates so well; and then
again, I think it is my duty to suspect him under the peculiar
circumstances in which I am placed. His kindness may not all be feigned;
but still, let not the purest impulse of gratitude to him induce me to
forget myself: let me remember the game of chess, the expressions he used
on the occasion, and those indescribable looks of his, that so justly
roused my indignation, and I think I shall be safe enough. I have done
well to record them so minutely.
I think he wishes to find an opportunity of speaking to me alone: he has
seemed to be on the watch all day; but I have taken care to disappoint
him—not that I fear anything he could say, but I have trouble enough
without the addition of his insulting consolations, condolences, or
whatever else he might attempt; and, for Milicent’s sake, I do not wish
to quarrel with him. He excused himself from going out to shoot with the
other gentlemen in the morning, under the pretext of having letters to
write; and instead of retiring for that purpose into the library, he sent
for his desk into the morning-room, where I was seated with Milicent and
Lady Lowborough. They had betaken themselves to their work; I, less to
divert my mind than to deprecate conversation, had provided myself with a
book. Milicent saw that I wished to be quiet, and accordingly let me
alone. Annabella, doubtless, saw it too: but that was no reason why she
should restrain her tongue, or curb her cheerful spirits: she accordingly
chatted away, addressing herself almost exclusively to me, and with the
utmost assurance and familiarity, growing the more animated and friendly
the colder and briefer my answers became. Mr. Hargrave saw that I could
ill endure it, and, looking up from his desk, he answered her questions
and observations for me, as far as he could, and attempted to transfer
her social attentions from me to himself; but it would not do. Perhaps
she thought I had a headache, and could not bear to talk; at any rate,
she saw that her loquacious vivacity annoyed me, as I could tell by the
malicious pertinacity with which she persisted. But I checked it
effectually by putting into her hand the book I had been trying to read,
on the fly-leaf of which I had hastily scribbled,—
‘I am too well acquainted with your character and conduct to feel any
real friendship for you, and as I am without your talent for
dissimulation, I cannot assume the appearance of it. I must, therefore,
beg that hereafter all familiar intercourse may cease between us; and if
I still continue to treat you with civility, as if you were a woman
worthy of consideration and respect, understand that it is out of regard
for your cousin Milicent’s feelings, not for yours.’
Upon perusing this she turned scarlet, and bit her lip. Covertly tearing
away the leaf, she crumpled it up and put it in the fire, and then
employed herself in turning over the pages of the book, and, really or
apparently, perusing its contents. In a little while Milicent announced
it her intention to repair to the nursery, and asked if I would accompany
her.
‘Annabella will excuse us,’ said she; ‘she’s busy reading.’
‘No, I won’t,’ cried Annabella, suddenly looking up, and throwing her
book on the table; ‘I want to speak to Helen a minute. You may go,
Milicent, and she’ll follow in a while.’ (Milicent went.) ‘Will you
oblige me, Helen?’ continued she.
Her impudence astounded me; but I complied, and followed her into the
library. She closed the door, and walked up to the fire.
‘Who told you this?’ said she.
‘No one: I am not incapable of seeing for myself.’
‘Ah, you are suspicious!’ cried she, smiling, with a gleam of hope.
Hitherto there had been a kind of desperation in her hardihood; now she
was evidently relieved.
‘If I were suspicious,’ I replied, ‘I should have discovered your infamy
long before. No, Lady Lowborough, I do not found my charge upon
suspicion.’
‘On what do you found it, then?’ said she, throwing herself into an
arm-chair, and stretching out her feet to the fender, with an obvious
effort to appear composed.
‘I enjoy a moonlight ramble as well as you,’ I answered, steadily fixing
my eyes upon her; ‘and the shrubbery happens to be one of my favourite
resorts.’
She coloured again excessively, and remained silent, pressing her finger
against her teeth, and gazing into the fire. I watched her a few moments
with a feeling of malevolent gratification; then, moving towards the
door, I calmly asked if she had anything more to say.
‘Yes, yes!’ cried she eagerly, starting up from her reclining posture.
‘I want to know if you will tell Lord Lowborough?’
‘Suppose I do?’
‘Well, if you are disposed to publish the matter, I cannot dissuade you,
of course—but there will be terrible work if you do—and if you don’t, I
shall think you the most generous of mortal beings—and if there is
anything in the world I can do for you—anything short of—‘ she hesitated.
‘Short of renouncing your guilty connection with my husband, I suppose
you mean?’ said I.
She paused, in evident disconcertion and perplexity, mingled with anger
she dared not show.
‘I cannot renounce what is dearer than life,’ she muttered, in a low,
hurried tone. Then, suddenly raising her head and fixing her gleaming
eyes upon me, she continued earnestly: ‘But, Helen—or Mrs. Huntingdon, or
whatever you would have me call you—will you tell him? If you are
generous, here is a fitting opportunity for the exercise of your
magnanimity: if you are proud, here am I—your rival—ready to acknowledge
myself your debtor for an act of the most noble forbearance.’
‘I shall not tell him.’
‘You will not!’ cried she, delightedly. ‘Accept my sincere thanks,
then!’
She sprang up, and offered me her hand. I drew back.
‘Give me no thanks; it is not for your sake that I refrain. Neither is
it an act of any forbearance: I have no wish to publish your shame. I
should be sorry to distress your husband with the knowledge of it.’
‘And Milicent? will you tell her?’
‘No: on the contrary, I shall do my utmost to conceal it from her. I
would not for much that she should know the infamy and disgrace of her
relation!’
‘You use hard words, Mrs. Huntingdon, but I can pardon you.’
‘And now, Lady Lowborough,’ continued I, ‘let me counsel you to leave
this house as soon as possible. You must be aware that your continuance
here is excessively disagreeable to me—not for Mr. Huntingdon’s sake,’
said I, observing the dawn of a malicious smile of triumph on her
face—‘you are welcome to him, if you like him, as far as I am
concerned—but because it is painful to be always disguising my true
sentiments respecting you, and straining to keep up an appearance of
civility and respect towards one for whom I have not the most distant
shadow of esteem; and because, if you stay, your conduct cannot possibly
remain concealed much longer from the only two persons in the house who
do not know it already. And, for your husband’s sake, Annabella, and
even for your own, I wish—I earnestly advise and entreat you to break off
this unlawful connection at once, and return to your duty while you may,
before the dreadful consequences—’
‘Yes, yes, of course,’ said she, interrupting me with a gesture of
impatience. ‘But I cannot go, Helen, before the time appointed for our
departure. What possible pretext could I frame for such a thing?
Whether I proposed going back alone—which Lowborough would not hear of—or
taking him with me, the very circumstance itself would be certain to
excite suspicion—and when our visit is so nearly at an end too—little
more than a week—surely you can endure my presence so long! I will not
annoy you with any more of my friendly impertinences.’
‘Well, I have nothing more to say to you.’
‘Have you mentioned this affair to Huntingdon?’ asked she, as I was
leaving the room.
‘How dare you mention his name to me!’ was the only answer I gave.
No words have passed between us since, but such as outward decency or
pure necessity demanded.
CHAPTER XXXV
Nineteenth.—In proportion as Lady Lowborough finds she has nothing to
fear from me, and as the time of departure draws nigh, the more audacious
and insolent she becomes. She does not scruple to speak to my husband
with affectionate familiarity in my presence, when no one else is by, and
is particularly fond of displaying her interest in his health and
welfare, or in anything that concerns him, as if for the purpose of
contrasting her kind solicitude with my cold indifference. And he
rewards her by such smiles and glances, such whispered words, or
boldly-spoken insinuations, indicative of his sense of her goodness and
my neglect, as make the blood rush into my face, in spite of myself—for I
would be utterly regardless of it all—deaf and blind to everything that
passes between them, since the more I show myself sensible of their
wickedness the more she triumphs in her victory, and the more he flatters
himself that I love him devotedly still, in spite of my pretended
indifference. On such occasions I have sometimes been startled by a
subtle, fiendish suggestion inciting me to show him the contrary by a
seeming encouragement of Hargrave’s advances; but such ideas are banished
in a moment with horror and self-abasement; and then I hate him tenfold
more than ever for having brought me to this!—God pardon me for it and
all my sinful thoughts! Instead of being humbled and purified by my
afflictions, I feel that they are turning my nature into gall. This must
be my fault as much as theirs that wrong me. No true Christian could
cherish such bitter feelings as I do against him and her, especially the
latter: him, I still feel that I could pardon—freely, gladly—on the
slightest token of repentance; but she—words cannot utter my abhorrence.
Reason forbids, but passion urges strongly; and I must pray and struggle
long ere I subdue it.
It is well that she is leaving to-morrow, for I could not well endure her
presence for another day. This morning she rose earlier than usual. I
found her in the room alone, when I went down to breakfast.
‘Oh, Helen! is it you?’ said she, turning as I entered.
I gave an involuntary start back on seeing her, at which she uttered a
short laugh, observing, ‘I think we are both disappointed.’
I came forward and busied myself with the breakfast things.
‘This is the last day I shall burden your hospitality,’ said she, as she
seated herself at the table. ‘Ah, here comes one that will not rejoice
at it!’ she murmured, half to herself, as Arthur entered the room.
He shook hands with her and wished her good-morning: then, looking
lovingly in her face, and still retaining her hand in his, murmured
pathetically, ‘The last—last day!’
‘Yes,’ said she with some asperity; ‘and I rose early to make the best of
it—I have been here alone this half-hour, and you—you lazy creature—’
‘Well, I thought I was early too,’ said he; ‘but,’ dropping his voice
almost to a whisper, ‘you see we are not alone.’
‘We never are,’ returned she. But they were almost as good as alone, for
I was now standing at the window, watching the clouds, and struggling to
suppress my wrath.
Some more words passed between them, which, happily, I did not overhear;
but Annabella had the audacity to come and place herself beside me, and
even to put her hand upon my shoulder and say softly, ‘You need not
grudge him to me, Helen, for I love him more than ever you could do.’
This put me beside myself. I took her hand and violently dashed it from
me, with an expression of abhorrence and indignation that could not be
suppressed. Startled, almost appalled, by this sudden outbreak, she
recoiled in silence. I would have given way to my fury and said more,
but Arthur’s low laugh recalled me to myself. I checked the half-uttered
invective, and scornfully turned away, regretting that I had given him so
much amusement. He was still laughing when Mr. Hargrave made his
appearance. How much of the scene he had witnessed I do not know, for
the door was ajar when he entered. He greeted his host and his cousin
both coldly, and me with a glance intended to express the deepest
sympathy mingled with high admiration and esteem.
‘How much allegiance do you owe to that man?’ he asked below his breath,
as he stood beside me at the window, affecting to be making observations
on the weather.
‘None,’ I answered. And immediately returning to the table, I employed
myself in making the tea. He followed, and would have entered into some
kind of conversation with me, but the other guests were now beginning to
assemble, and I took no more notice of him, except to give him his
coffee.
After breakfast, determined to pass as little of the day as possible in
company with Lady Lowborough, I quietly stole away from the company and
retired to the library. Mr. Hargrave followed me thither, under pretence
of coming for a book; and first, turning to the shelves, he selected a
volume, and then quietly, but by no means timidly, approaching me, he
stood beside me, resting his hand on the back of my chair, and said
softly, ‘And so you consider yourself free at last?’
‘Yes,’ said I, without moving, or raising my eyes from my book, ‘free to
do anything but offend God and my conscience.’
There was a momentary pause.
‘Very right,’ said he, ‘provided your conscience be not too morbidly
tender, and your ideas of God not too erroneously severe; but can you
suppose it would offend that benevolent Being to make the happiness of
one who would die for yours?—to raise a devoted heart from purgatorial
torments to a state of heavenly bliss, when you could do it without the
slightest injury to yourself or any other?’
This was spoken in a low, earnest, melting tone, as he bent over me. I
now raised my head; and steadily confronting his gaze, I answered calmly,
‘Mr. Hargrave, do you mean to insult me?’
He was not prepared for this. He paused a moment to recover the shock;
then, drawing himself up and removing his hand from my chair, he
answered, with proud sadness,—‘That was not my intention.’
I just glanced towards the door, with a slight movement of the head, and
then returned to my book. He immediately withdrew. This was better than
if I had answered with more words, and in the passionate spirit to which
my first impulse would have prompted. What a good thing it is to be able
to command one’s temper! I must labour to cultivate this inestimable
quality: God only knows how often I shall need it in this rough, dark
road that lies before me.
In the course of the morning I drove over to the Grove with the two
ladies, to give Milicent an opportunity for bidding farewell to her
mother and sister. They persuaded her to stay with them the rest of the
day, Mrs. Hargrave promising to bring her back in the evening and remain
till the party broke up on the morrow. Consequently, Lady Lowborough and
I had the pleasure of returning _tête-à-tête_ in the carriage together.
For the first mile or two we kept silence, I looking out of my window,
and she leaning back in her corner. But I was not going to restrict
myself to any particular position for her; when I was tired of leaning
forward, with the cold, raw wind in my face, and surveying the russet
hedges and the damp, tangled grass of their banks, I gave it up and leant
back too. With her usual impudence, my companion then made some attempts
to get up a conversation; but the monosyllables ‘yes,’ or ‘no’ or
‘humph,’ were the utmost her several remarks could elicit from me. At
last, on her asking my opinion upon some immaterial point of discussion,
I answered,—‘Why do you wish to talk to me, Lady Lowborough? You must
know what I think of you.’
‘Well, if you will be so bitter against me,’ replied she, ‘I can’t help
it; but I’m not going to sulk for anybody.’ Our short drive was now at
an end. As soon as the carriage door was opened, she sprang out, and
went down the park to meet the gentlemen, who were just returning from
the woods. Of course I did not follow.
But I had not done with her impudence yet: after dinner, I retired to the
drawing-room, as usual, and she accompanied me, but I had the two
children with me, and I gave them my whole attention, and determined to
keep them till the gentlemen came, or till Milicent arrived with her
mother. Little Helen, however, was soon tired of playing, and insisted
upon going to sleep; and while I sat on the sofa with her on my knee, and
Arthur seated beside me, gently playing with her soft, flaxen hair, Lady
Lowborough composedly came and placed herself on the other side.
‘To-morrow, Mrs. Huntingdon,’ said she, ‘you will be delivered from my
presence, which, no doubt, you will be very glad of—it is natural you
should; but do you know I have rendered you a great service? Shall I
tell you what it is?’
‘I shall be glad to hear of any service you have rendered me,’ said I,
determined to be calm, for I knew by the tone of her voice she wanted to
provoke me.
‘Well,’ resumed she, ‘have you not observed the salutary change in Mr.
Huntingdon? Don’t you see what a sober, temperate man he is become? You
saw with regret the sad habits he was contracting, I know: and I know you
did your utmost to deliver him from them, but without success, until I
came to your assistance. I told him in few words that I could not bear
to see him degrade himself so, and that I should cease to—no matter what
I told him, but you see the reformation I have wrought; and you ought to
thank me for it.’
I rose and rang for the nurse.
‘But I desire no thanks,’ she continued; ‘all the return I ask is, that
you will take care of him when I am gone, and not, by harshness and
neglect, drive him back to his old courses.’
I was almost sick with passion, but Rachel was now at the door. I
pointed to the children, for I could not trust myself to speak: she took
them away, and I followed.
‘Will you, Helen?’ continued the speaker.
I gave her a look that blighted the malicious smile on her face, or
checked it, at least for a moment, and departed. In the ante-room I met
Mr. Hargrave. He saw I was in no humour to be spoken to, and suffered me
to pass without a word; but when, after a few minutes’ seclusion in the
library, I had regained my composure, and was returning to join Mrs.
Hargrave and Milicent, whom I had just heard come downstairs and go into
the drawing-room, I found him there still lingering in the dimly-lighted
apartment, and evidently waiting for me.
‘Mrs. Huntingdon,’ said he as I passed, ‘will you allow me one word?’
‘What is it then? be quick, if you please.’
‘I offended you this morning; and I cannot live under your displeasure.’
‘Then go, and sin no more,’ replied I, turning away.
‘No, no!’ said he, hastily, setting himself before me. ‘Pardon me, but I
must have your forgiveness. I leave you to-morrow, and I may not have an
opportunity of speaking to you again. I was wrong to forget myself and
you, as I did; but let me implore you to forget and forgive my rash
presumption, and think of me as if those words had never been spoken;
for, believe me, I regret them deeply, and the loss of your esteem is too
severe a penalty: I cannot bear it.’
‘Forgetfulness is not to be purchased with a wish; and I cannot bestow my
esteem on all who desire it, unless they deserve it too.’
‘I shall think my life well spent in labouring to deserve it, if you will
but pardon this offence—will you?’
‘Yes.’
‘Yes! but that is coldly spoken. Give me your hand and I’ll believe you.
You won’t? Then, Mrs. Huntingdon, you do not forgive me!’
‘Yes; here it is, and my forgiveness with it: only, _sin no more_.’
He pressed my cold hand with sentimental fervour, but said nothing, and
stood aside to let me pass into the room, where all the company were now
assembled. Mr. Grimsby was seated near the door: on seeing me enter,
almost immediately followed by Hargrave, he leered at me with a glance of
intolerable significance, as I passed. I looked him in the face, till he
sullenly turned away, if not ashamed, at least confounded for the moment.
Meantime Hattersley had seized Hargrave by the arm, and was whispering
something in his ear—some coarse joke, no doubt, for the latter neither
laughed nor spoke in answer, but, turning from him with a slight curl of
the lip, disengaged himself and went to his mother, who was telling Lord
Lowborough how many reasons she had to be proud of her son.
Thank heaven, they are all going to-morrow.
CHAPTER XXXVI
December 20th, 1824.—This is the third anniversary of our felicitous
union. It is now two months since our guests left us to the enjoyment of
each other’s society; and I have had nine weeks’ experience of this new
phase of conjugal life—two persons living together, as master and
mistress of the house, and father and mother of a winsome, merry little
child, with the mutual understanding that there is no love, friendship,
or sympathy between them. As far as in me lies, I endeavour to live
peaceably with him: I treat him with unimpeachable civility, give up my
convenience to his, wherever it may reasonably be done, and consult him
in a business-like way on household affairs, deferring to his pleasure
and judgment, even when I know the latter to be inferior to my own.
As for him, for the first week or two, he was peevish and low, fretting,
I suppose, over his dear Annabella’s departure, and particularly
ill-tempered to me: everything I did was wrong; I was cold-hearted, hard,
insensate; my sour, pale face was perfectly repulsive; my voice made him
shudder; he knew not how he could live through the winter with me; I
should kill him by inches. Again I proposed a separation, but it would
not do: he was not going to be the talk of all the old gossips in the
neighbourhood: he would not have it said that he was such a brute his
wife could not live with him. No; he must contrive to bear with me.
‘I must contrive to bear with you, you mean,’ said I; ‘for so long as I
discharge my functions of steward and house-keeper, so conscientiously
and well, without pay and without thanks, you cannot afford to part with
me. I shall therefore remit these duties when my bondage becomes
intolerable.’ This threat, I thought, would serve to keep him in check,
if anything would.
I believe he was much disappointed that I did not feel his offensive
sayings more acutely, for when he had said anything particularly well
calculated to hurt my feelings, he would stare me searchingly in the
face, and then grumble against my ‘marble heart’ or my ‘brutal
insensibility.’ If I had bitterly wept and deplored his lost affection,
he would, perhaps, have condescended to pity me, and taken me into favour
for a while, just to comfort his solitude and console him for the absence
of his beloved Annabella, until he could meet her again, or some more
fitting substitute. Thank heaven, I am not so weak as that! I was
infatuated once with a foolish, besotted affection, that clung to him in
spite of his unworthiness, but it is fairly gone now—wholly crushed and
withered away; and he has none but himself and his vices to thank for it.
At first (in compliance with his sweet lady’s injunctions, I suppose), he
abstained wonderfully well from seeking to solace his cares in wine; but
at length he began to relax his virtuous efforts, and now and then
exceeded a little, and still continues to do so; nay, sometimes, not a
little. When he is under the exciting influence of these excesses, he
sometimes fires up and attempts to play the brute; and then I take little
pains to suppress my scorn and disgust. When he is under the depressing
influence of the after-consequences, he bemoans his sufferings and his
errors, and charges them both upon me; he knows such indulgence injures
his health, and does him more harm than good; but he says I drive him to
it by my unnatural, unwomanly conduct; it will be the ruin of him in the
end, but it is all my fault; and then I am roused to defend myself,
sometimes with bitter recrimination. This is a kind of injustice I
cannot patiently endure. Have I not laboured long and hard to save him
from this very vice? Would I not labour still to deliver him from it if
I could? but could I do so by fawning upon him and caressing him when I
know that he scorns me? Is it my fault that I have lost my influence
with him, or that he has forfeited every claim to my regard? And should
I seek a reconciliation with him, when I feel that I abhor him, and that
he despises me? and while he continues still to correspond with Lady
Lowborough, as I know he does? No, never, never, never! he may drink
himself dead, but it is NOT my fault!
Yet I do my part to save him still: I give him to understand that
drinking makes his eyes dull, and his face red and bloated; and that it
tends to render him imbecile in body and mind; and if Annabella were to
see him as often as I do, she would speedily be disenchanted; and that
she certainly will withdraw her favour from him, if he continues such
courses. Such a mode of admonition wins only coarse abuse for me—and,
indeed, I almost feel as if I deserved it, for I hate to use such
arguments; but they sink into his stupefied heart, and make him pause,
and ponder, and abstain, more than anything else I could say.
At present I am enjoying a temporary relief from his presence: he is gone
with Hargrave to join a distant hunt, and will probably not be back
before to-morrow evening. How differently I used to feel his absence!
Mr. Hargrave is still at the Grove. He and Arthur frequently meet to
pursue their rural sports together: he often calls upon us here, and
Arthur not unfrequently rides over to him. I do not think either of
these soi-disant friends is overflowing with love for the other; but such
intercourse serves to get the time on, and I am very willing it should
continue, as it saves me some hours of discomfort in Arthur’s society,
and gives him some better employment than the sottish indulgence of his
sensual appetites. The only objection I have to Mr. Hargrave’s being in
the neighbourhood, is that the fear of meeting him at the Grove prevents
me from seeing his sister so often as I otherwise should; for, of late,
he has conducted himself towards me with such unerring propriety, that I
have almost forgotten his former conduct. I suppose he is striving to
‘win my esteem.’ If he continue to act in this way, he may win it; but
what then? The moment he attempts to demand anything more, he will lose
it again.
February 10th.—It is a hard, embittering thing to have one’s kind
feelings and good intentions cast back in one’s teeth. I was beginning
to relent towards my wretched partner; to pity his forlorn, comfortless
condition, unalleviated as it is by the consolations of intellectual
resources and the answer of a good conscience towards God; and to think I
ought to sacrifice my pride, and renew my efforts once again to make his
home agreeable and lead him back to the path of virtue; not by false
professions of love, and not by pretended remorse, but by mitigating my
habitual coldness of manner, and commuting my frigid civility into
kindness wherever an opportunity occurred; and not only was I beginning
to think so, but I had already begun to act upon the thought—and what was
the result? No answering spark of kindness, no awakening penitence, but
an unappeasable ill-humour, and a spirit of tyrannous exaction that
increased with indulgence, and a lurking gleam of self-complacent triumph
at every detection of relenting softness in my manner, that congealed me
to marble again as often as it recurred; and this morning he finished the
business:—I think the petrifaction is so completely effected at last that
nothing can melt me again. Among his letters was one which he perused
with symptoms of unusual gratification, and then threw it across the
table to me, with the admonition,—
‘There! read that, and take a lesson by it!’
It was in the free, dashing hand of Lady Lowborough. I glanced at the
first page; it seemed full of extravagant protestations of affection;
impetuous longings for a speedy reunion—and impious defiance of God’s
mandates, and railings against His providence for having cast their lot
asunder, and doomed them both to the hateful bondage of alliance with
those they could not love. He gave a slight titter on seeing me change
colour. I folded up the letter, rose, and returned it to him, with no
remark, but—
‘Thank you, I will take a lesson by it!’
My little Arthur was standing between his knees, delightedly playing with
the bright, ruby ring on his finger. Urged by a sudden, imperative
impulse to deliver my son from that contaminating influence, I caught him
up in my arms and carried him with me out of the room. Not liking this
abrupt removal, the child began to pout and cry. This was a new stab to
my already tortured heart. I would not let him go; but, taking him with
me into the library, I shut the door, and, kneeling on the floor beside
him, I embraced him, kissed him, wept over with him with passionate
fondness. Rather frightened than consoled by this, he turned struggling
from me, and cried out aloud for his papa. I released him from my arms,
and never were more bitter tears than those that now concealed him from
my blinded, burning eyes. Hearing his cries, the father came to the
room. I instantly turned away, lest he should see and misconstrue my
emotion. He swore at me, and took the now pacified child away.
It is hard that my little darling should love him more than me; and that,
when the well-being and culture of my son is all I have to live for, I
should see my influence destroyed by one whose selfish affection is more
injurious than the coldest indifference or the harshest tyranny could be.
If I, for his good, deny him some trifling indulgence, he goes to his
father, and the latter, in spite of his selfish indolence, will even give
himself some trouble to meet the child’s desires: if I attempt to curb
his will, or look gravely on him for some act of childish disobedience,
he knows his other parent will smile and take his part against me. Thus,
not only have I the father’s spirit in the son to contend against, the
germs of his evil tendencies to search out and eradicate, and his
corrupting intercourse and example in after-life to counteract, but
already he counteracts my arduous labour for the child’s advantage,
destroys my influence over his tender mind, and robs me of his very love;
I had no earthly hope but this, and he seems to take a diabolical delight
in tearing it away.
But it is wrong to despair; I will remember the counsel of the inspired
writer to him ‘that feareth the Lord and obeyeth the voice of his
servant, that sitteth in darkness and hath no light; let him trust in the
name of the Lord, and stay upon his God!’
CHAPTER XXXVII
December 20th, 1825.—Another year is past; and I am weary of this life.
And yet I cannot wish to leave it: whatever afflictions assail me here, I
cannot wish to go and leave my darling in this dark and wicked world
alone, without a friend to guide him through its weary mazes, to warn him
of its thousand snares, and guard him from the perils that beset him on
every hand. I am not well fitted to be his only companion, I know; but
there is no other to supply my place. I am too grave to minister to his
amusements and enter into his infantile sports as a nurse or a mother
ought to do, and often his bursts of gleeful merriment trouble and alarm
me; I see in them his father’s spirit and temperament, and I tremble for
the consequences; and too often damp the innocent mirth I ought to share.
That father, on the contrary, has no weight of sadness on his mind; is
troubled with no fears, no scruples concerning his son’s future welfare;
and at evenings especially, the times when the child sees him the most
and the oftenest, he is always particularly jocund and open-hearted:
ready to laugh and to jest with anything or anybody but me, and I am
particularly silent and sad: therefore, of course, the child dotes upon
his seemingly joyous amusing, ever-indulgent papa, and will at any time
gladly exchange my company for his. This disturbs me greatly; not so
much for the sake of my son’s affection (though I do prize that highly,
and though I feel it is my right, and know I have done much to earn it)
as for that influence over him which, for his own advantage, I would
strive to purchase and retain, and which for very spite his father
delights to rob me of, and, from motives of mere idle egotism, is pleased
to win to himself; making no use of it but to torment me and ruin the
child. My only consolation is, that he spends comparatively little of
his time at home, and, during the months he passes in London or
elsewhere, I have a chance of recovering the ground I had lost, and
overcoming with good the evil he has wrought by his wilful mismanagement.
But then it is a bitter trial to behold him, on his return, doing his
utmost to subvert my labours and transform my innocent, affectionate,
tractable darling into a selfish, disobedient, and mischievous boy;
thereby preparing the soil for those vices he has so successfully
cultivated in his own perverted nature.
Happily, there were none of Arthur’s ‘friends’ invited to Grassdale last
autumn: he took himself off to visit some of them instead. I wish he
would always do so, and I wish his friends were numerous and loving
enough to keep him amongst them all the year round. Mr. Hargrave,
considerably to my annoyance, did not go with him; but I think I have
done with that gentleman at last.
For seven or eight months he behaved so remarkably well, and managed so
skilfully too, that I was almost completely off my guard, and was really
beginning to look upon him as a friend, and even to treat him as such,
with certain prudent restrictions (which I deemed scarcely necessary);
when, presuming upon my unsuspecting kindness, he thought he might
venture to overstep the bounds of decent moderation and propriety that
had so long restrained him. It was on a pleasant evening at the close of
May: I was wandering in the park, and he, on seeing me there as he rode
past, made bold to enter and approach me, dismounting and leaving his
horse at the gate. This was the first time he had ventured to come
within its inclosure since I had been left alone, without the sanction of
his mother’s or sister’s company, or at least the excuse of a message
from them. But he managed to appear so calm and easy, so respectful and
self-possessed in his friendliness, that, though a little surprised, I
was neither alarmed nor offended at the unusual liberty, and he walked
with me under the ash-trees and by the water-side, and talked, with
considerable animation, good taste, and intelligence, on many subjects,
before I began to think about getting rid of him. Then, after a pause,
during which we both stood gazing on the calm, blue water—I revolving in
my mind the best means of politely dismissing my companion, he, no doubt,
pondering other matters equally alien to the sweet sights and sounds that
alone were present to his senses,—he suddenly electrified me by
beginning, in a peculiar tone, low, soft, but perfectly distinct, to pour
forth the most unequivocal expressions of earnest and passionate love;
pleading his cause with all the bold yet artful eloquence he could summon
to his aid. But I cut short his appeal, and repulsed him so
determinately, so decidedly, and with such a mixture of scornful
indignation, tempered with cool, dispassionate sorrow and pity for his
benighted mind, that he withdrew, astonished, mortified, and
discomforted; and, a few days after, I heard that he had departed for
London. He returned, however, in eight or nine weeks, and did not
entirely keep aloof from me, but comported himself in so remarkable a
manner that his quick-sighted sister could not fail to notice the change.
‘What have you done to Walter, Mrs. Huntingdon?’ said she one morning,
when I had called at the Grove, and he had just left the room after
exchanging a few words of the coldest civility. ‘He has been so
extremely ceremonious and stately of late, I can’t imagine what it is all
about, unless you have desperately offended him. Tell me what it is,
that I may be your mediator, and make you friends again.’
‘I have done nothing willingly to offend him,’ said I. ‘If he is
offended, he can best tell you himself what it is about.’
‘I’ll ask him,’ cried the giddy girl, springing up and putting her head
out of the window: ‘he’s only in the garden—Walter!’
‘No, no, Esther! you will seriously displease me if you do; and I shall
leave you immediately, and not come again for months—perhaps years.’
‘Did you call, Esther?’ said her brother, approaching the window from
without.
‘Yes; I wanted to ask you—’
‘Good-morning, Esther,’ said I, taking her hand and giving it a severe
squeeze.
‘To ask you,’ continued she, ‘to get me a rose for Mrs. Huntingdon.’ He
departed. ‘Mrs. Huntingdon,’ she exclaimed, turning to me and still
holding me fast by the hand, ‘I’m quite shocked at you—you’re just as
angry, and distant, and cold as he is: and I’m determined you shall be as
good friends as ever before you go.’
‘Esther, how can you be so rude!’ cried Mrs. Hargrave, who was seated
gravely knitting in her easy-chair. ‘Surely, you never will learn to
conduct yourself like a lady!’
‘Well, mamma, you said yourself—‘ But the young lady was silenced by the
uplifted finger of her mamma, accompanied with a very stern shake of the
head.
‘Isn’t she cross?’ whispered she to me; but, before I could add my share
of reproof, Mr. Hargrave reappeared at the window with a beautiful
moss-rose in his hand.
‘Here, Esther, I’ve brought you the rose,’ said he, extending it towards
her.
‘Give it her yourself, you blockhead!’ cried she, recoiling with a spring
from between us.
‘Mrs. Huntingdon would rather receive it from you,’ replied he, in a very
serious tone, but lowering his voice that his mother might not hear. His
sister took the rose and gave it to me.
‘My brother’s compliments, Mrs. Huntingdon, and he hopes you and he will
come to a better understanding by-and-by. Will that do, Walter?’ added
the saucy girl, turning to him and putting her arm round his neck, as he
stood leaning upon the sill of the window—‘or should I have said that you
are sorry you were so touchy? or that you hope she will pardon your
offence?’
‘You silly girl! you don’t know what you are talking about,’ replied he
gravely.
‘Indeed I don’t: for I’m quite in the dark!’
‘Now, Esther,’ interposed Mrs. Hargrave, who, if equally benighted on the
subject of our estrangement, saw at least that her daughter was behaving
very improperly, ‘I must insist upon your leaving the room!’
‘Pray don’t, Mrs. Hargrave, for I’m going to leave it myself,’ said I,
and immediately made my adieux.
About a week after Mr. Hargrave brought his sister to see me. He
conducted himself, at first, with his usual cold, distant, half-stately,
half-melancholy, altogether injured air; but Esther made no remark upon
it this time: she had evidently been schooled into better manners. She
talked to me, and laughed and romped with little Arthur, her loved and
loving playmate. He, somewhat to my discomfort, enticed her from the
room to have a run in the hall, and thence into the garden. I got up to
stir the fire. Mr. Hargrave asked if I felt cold, and shut the door—a
very unseasonable piece of officiousness, for I had meditated following
the noisy playfellows if they did not speedily return. He then took the
liberty of walking up to the fire himself, and asking me if I were aware
that Mr. Huntingdon was now at the seat of Lord Lowborough, and likely to
continue there some time.
‘No; but it’s no matter,’ I answered carelessly; and if my cheek glowed
like fire, it was rather at the question than the information it
conveyed.
‘You don’t object to it?’ he said.
‘Not at all, if Lord Lowborough likes his company.’
‘You have no love left for him, then?’
‘Not the least.’
‘I knew that—I knew you were too high-minded and pure in your own nature
to continue to regard one so utterly false and polluted with any feelings
but those of indignation and scornful abhorrence!’
‘Is he not your friend?’ said I, turning my eyes from the fire to his
face, with perhaps a slight touch of those feelings he assigned to
another.
‘He was,’ replied he, with the same calm gravity as before; ‘but do not
wrong me by supposing that I could continue my friendship and esteem to a
man who could so infamously, so impiously forsake and injure one so
transcendently—well, I won’t speak of it. But tell me, do you never
think of revenge?’
‘Revenge! No—what good would that do?—it would make him no better, and
me no happier.’
‘I don’t know how to talk to you, Mrs. Huntingdon,’ said he, smiling;
‘you are only half a woman—your nature must be half human, half angelic.
Such goodness overawes me; I don’t know what to make of it.’
‘Then, sir, I fear you must be very much worse than you should be, if I,
a mere ordinary mortal, am, by your own confession, so vastly your
superior; and since there exists so little sympathy between us, I think
we had better each look out for some more congenial companion.’ And
forthwith moving to the window, I began to look out for my little son and
his gay young friend.
‘No, I am the ordinary mortal, I maintain,’ replied Mr. Hargrave. ‘I
will not allow myself to be worse than my fellows; but you, Madam—I
equally maintain there is nobody like you. But are you happy?’ he asked
in a serious tone.
‘As happy as some others, I suppose.’
‘Are you as happy as you desire to be?’
‘No one is so blest as that comes to on this side of eternity.’
‘One thing I know,’ returned he, with a deep sad sigh; ‘you are
immeasurably happier than I am.’
‘I am very sorry for you, then,’ I could not help replying.
‘Are you, indeed? No, for if you were you would be glad to relieve me.’
‘And so I should if I could do so without injuring myself or any other.’
‘And can you suppose that I should wish you to injure yourself? No: on
the contrary, it is your own happiness I long for more than mine. You
are miserable now, Mrs. Huntingdon,’ continued he, looking me boldly in
the face. ‘You do not complain, but I see—and feel—and know that you are
miserable—and must remain so as long as you keep those walls of
impenetrable ice about your still warm and palpitating heart; and I am
miserable, too. Deign to smile on me and I am happy: trust me, and you
shall be happy also, for if you are a woman I can make you so—and I will
do it in spite of yourself!’ he muttered between his teeth; ‘and as for
others, the question is between ourselves alone: you cannot injure your
husband, you know, and no one else has any concern in the matter.’
‘I have a son, Mr. Hargrave, and you have a mother,’ said I, retiring
from the window, whither he had followed me.
‘They need not know,’ he began; but before anything more could be said on
either side, Esther and Arthur re-entered the room. The former glanced
at Walter’s flushed, excited countenance, and then at mine—a little
flushed and excited too, I daresay, though from far different causes.
She must have thought we had been quarrelling desperately, and was
evidently perplexed and disturbed at the circumstance; but she was too
polite or too much afraid of her brother’s anger to refer to it. She
seated herself on the sofa, and putting back her bright, golden ringlets,
that were scattered in wild profusion over her face, she immediately
began to talk about the garden and her little playfellow, and continued
to chatter away in her usual strain till her brother summoned her to
depart.
‘If I have spoken too warmly, forgive me,’ he murmured on taking his
leave, ‘or I shall never forgive myself.’ Esther smiled and glanced at
me: I merely bowed, and her countenance fell. She thought it a poor
return for Walter’s generous concession, and was disappointed in her
friend. Poor child, she little knows the world she lives in!
Mr. Hargrave had not an opportunity of meeting me again in private for
several weeks after this; but when he did meet me there was less of pride
and more of touching melancholy in his manner than before. Oh, how he
annoyed me! I was obliged at last almost entirely to remit my visits to
the Grove, at the expense of deeply offending Mrs. Hargrave and seriously
afflicting poor Esther, who really values my society for want of better,
and who ought not to suffer for the fault of her brother. But that
indefatigable foe was not yet vanquished: he seemed to be always on the
watch. I frequently saw him riding lingeringly past the premises,
looking searchingly round him as he went—or, if I did not, Rachel did.
That sharp-sighted woman soon guessed how matters stood between us, and
descrying the enemy’s movements from her elevation at the nursery-window,
she would give me a quiet intimation if she saw me preparing for a walk
when she had reason to believe he was about, or to think it likely that
he would meet or overtake me in the way I meant to traverse. I would
then defer my ramble, or confine myself for that day to the park and
gardens, or, if the proposed excursion was a matter of importance, such
as a visit to the sick or afflicted, I would take Rachel with me, and
then I was never molested.
But one mild, sunshiny day, early in November, I had ventured forth alone
to visit the village school and a few of the poor tenants, and on my
return I was alarmed at the clatter of a horse’s feet behind me,
approaching at a rapid, steady trot. There was no stile or gap at hand
by which I could escape into the fields, so I walked quietly on, saying
to myself, ‘It may not be he after all; and if it is, and if he do annoy
me, it shall be for the last time, I am determined, if there be power in
words and looks against cool impudence and mawkish sentimentality so
inexhaustible as his.’
The horse soon overtook me, and was reined up close beside me. It was
Mr. Hargrave. He greeted me with a smile intended to be soft and
melancholy, but his triumphant satisfaction at having caught me at last
so shone through that it was quite a failure. After briefly answering
his salutation and inquiring after the ladies at the Grove, I turned away
and walked on; but he followed and kept his horse at my side: it was
evident he intended to be my companion all the way.
‘Well! I don’t much care. If you want another rebuff, take it—and
welcome,’ was my inward remark. ‘Now, sir, what next?’
This question, though unspoken, was not long unanswered; after a few
passing observations upon indifferent subjects, he began in solemn tones
the following appeal to my humanity:—
‘It will be four years next April since I first saw you, Mrs.
Huntingdon—you may have forgotten the circumstance, but I never can. I
admired you then most deeply, but I dared not love you. In the following
autumn I saw so much of your perfections that I could not fail to love
you, though I dared not show it. For upwards of three years I have
endured a perfect martyrdom. From the anguish of suppressed emotions,
intense and fruitless longings, silent sorrow, crushed hopes, and
trampled affections, I have suffered more than I can tell, or you
imagine—and you were the cause of it, and not altogether the innocent
cause. My youth is wasting away; my prospects are darkened; my life is a
desolate blank; I have no rest day or night: I am become a burden to
myself and others, and you might save me by a word—a glance, and will not
do it—is this right?’
‘In the first place, I don’t believe you,’ answered I; ‘in the second, if
you will be such a fool, I can’t hinder it.’
‘If you affect,’ replied he, earnestly, ‘to regard as folly the best, the
strongest, the most godlike impulses of our nature, I don’t believe you.
I know you are not the heartless, icy being you pretend to be—you had a
heart once, and gave it to your husband. When you found him utterly
unworthy of the treasure, you reclaimed it; and you will not pretend that
you loved that sensual, earthly-minded profligate so deeply, so
devotedly, that you can never love another? I know that there are
feelings in your nature that have never yet been called forth; I know,
too, that in your present neglected lonely state you are and must be
miserable. You have it in your power to raise two human beings from a
state of actual suffering to such unspeakable beatitude as only generous,
noble, self-forgetting love can give (for you can love me if you will);
you may tell me that you scorn and detest me, but, since you have set me
the example of plain speaking, I will answer that I do not believe you.
But you will not do it! you choose rather to leave us miserable; and you
coolly tell me it is the will of God that we should remain so. You may
call this religion, but I call it wild fanaticism!’
‘There is another life both for you and for me,’ said I. ‘If it be the
will of God that we should sow in tears now, it is only that we may reap
in joy hereafter. It is His will that we should not injure others by the
gratification of our own earthly passions; and you have a mother, and
sisters, and friends who would be seriously injured by your disgrace; and
I, too, have friends, whose peace of mind shall never be sacrificed to my
enjoyment, or yours either, with my consent; and if I were alone in the
world, I have still my God and my religion, and I would sooner die than
disgrace my calling and break my faith with heaven to obtain a few brief
years of false and fleeting happiness—happiness sure to end in misery
even here—for myself or any other!’
‘There need be no disgrace, no misery or sacrifice in any quarter,’
persisted he. ‘I do not ask you to leave your home or defy the world’s
opinion.’ But I need not repeat all his arguments. I refuted them to
the best of my power; but that power was provokingly small, at the
moment, for I was too much flurried with indignation—and even shame—that
he should thus dare to address me, to retain sufficient command of
thought and language to enable me adequately to contend against his
powerful sophistries. Finding, however, that he could not be silenced by
reason, and even covertly exulted in his seeming advantage, and ventured
to deride those assertions I had not the coolness to prove, I changed my
course and tried another plan.
‘Do you really love me?’ said I, seriously, pausing and looking him
calmly in the face.
‘Do I love you!’ cried he.
‘Truly?’ I demanded.
His countenance brightened; he thought his triumph was at hand. He
commenced a passionate protestation of the truth and fervour of his
attachment, which I cut short by another question:—
‘But is it not a selfish love? Have you enough disinterested affection
to enable you to sacrifice your own pleasure to mine?’
‘I would give my life to serve you.’
‘I don’t want your life; but have you enough real sympathy for my
afflictions to induce you to make an effort to relieve them, at the risk
of a little discomfort to yourself?’
‘Try me, and see.’
‘If you have, never mention this subject again. You cannot recur to it
in any way without doubling the weight of those sufferings you so
feelingly deplore. I have nothing left me but the solace of a good
conscience and a hopeful trust in heaven, and you labour continually to
rob me of these. If you persist, I must regard you as my deadliest foe.’
‘But hear me a moment—’
‘No, sir! You said you would give your life to serve me; I only ask your
silence on one particular point. I have spoken plainly; and what I say I
mean. If you torment me in this way any more, I must conclude that your
protestations are entirely false, and that you hate me in your heart as
fervently as you profess to love me!’
He bit his lip, and bent his eyes upon the ground in silence for a while.
‘Then I must leave you,’ said he at length, looking steadily upon me, as
if with the last hope of detecting some token of irrepressible anguish or
dismay awakened by those solemn words. ‘I must leave you. I cannot live
here, and be for ever silent on the all-absorbing subject of my thoughts
and wishes.’
‘Formerly, I believe, you spent but little of your time at home,’ I
answered; ‘it will do you no harm to absent yourself again, for a
while—if that be really necessary.’
‘If that be really possible,’ he muttered; ‘and can you bid me go so
coolly? Do you really wish it?’
‘Most certainly I do. If you cannot see me without tormenting me as you
have lately done, I would gladly say farewell and never see you more.’
He made no answer, but, bending from his horse, held out his hand towards
me. I looked up at his face, and saw therein such a look of genuine
agony of soul, that, whether bitter disappointment, or wounded pride, or
lingering love, or burning wrath were uppermost, I could not hesitate to
put my hand in his as frankly as if I bade a friend farewell. He grasped
it very hard, and immediately put spurs to his horse and galloped away.
Very soon after, I learned that he was gone to Paris, where he still is;
and the longer he stays there the better for me.
I thank God for this deliverance!
CHAPTER XXXVIII
December 20th, 1826.—The fifth anniversary of my wedding-day, and, I
trust, the last I shall spend under this roof. My resolution is formed,
my plan concocted, and already partly put in execution. My conscience
does not blame me, but while the purpose ripens let me beguile a few of
these long winter evenings in stating the case for my own satisfaction: a
dreary amusement enough, but having the air of a useful occupation, and
being pursued as a task, it will suit me better than a lighter one.
In September, quiet Grassdale was again alive with a party of ladies and
gentlemen (so called), consisting of the same individuals as those
invited the year before last, with the addition of two or three others,
among whom were Mrs. Hargrave and her younger daughter. The gentlemen
and Lady Lowborough were invited for the pleasure and convenience of the
host; the other ladies, I suppose, for the sake of appearances, and to
keep me in check, and make me discreet and civil in my demeanour. But
the ladies stayed only three weeks; the gentlemen, with two exceptions,
above two months: for their hospitable entertainer was loth to part with
them and be left alone with his bright intellect, his stainless
conscience, and his loved and loving wife.
On the day of Lady Lowborough’s arrival, I followed her into her chamber,
and plainly told her that, if I found reason to believe that she still
continued her criminal connection with Mr. Huntingdon, I should think it
my absolute duty to inform her husband of the circumstance—or awaken his
suspicions at least—however painful it might be, or however dreadful the
consequences. She was startled at first by the declaration, so
unexpected, and so determinately yet calmly delivered; but rallying in a
moment, she coolly replied that, if I saw anything at all reprehensible
or suspicious in her conduct, she would freely give me leave to tell his
lordship all about it. Willing to be satisfied with this, I left her;
and certainly I saw nothing thenceforth particularly reprehensible or
suspicious in her demeanour towards her host; but then I had the other
guests to attend to, and I did not watch them narrowly—for, to confess
the truth, I feared to see anything between them. I no longer regarded
it as any concern of mine, and if it was my duty to enlighten Lord
Lowborough, it was a painful duty, and I dreaded to be called to perform
it.
But my fears were brought to an end in a manner I had not anticipated.
One evening, about a fortnight after the visitors’ arrival, I had retired
into the library to snatch a few minutes’ respite from forced
cheerfulness and wearisome discourse, for after so long a period of
seclusion, dreary indeed as I had often found it, I could not always bear
to be doing violence to my feelings, and goading my powers to talk, and
smile and listen, and play the attentive hostess, or even the cheerful
friend: I had just ensconced myself within the bow of the window, and was
looking out upon the west, where the darkening hills rose sharply defined
against the clear amber light of evening, that gradually blended and
faded away into the pure, pale blue of the upper sky, where one bright
star was shining through, as if to promise—‘When that dying light is
gone, the world will not be left in darkness, and they who trust in God,
whose minds are unbeclouded by the mists of unbelief and sin, are never
wholly comfortless,’—when I heard a hurried step approaching, and Lord
Lowborough entered. This room was still his favourite resort. He flung
the door to with unusual violence, and cast his hat aside regardless
where it fell. What could be the matter with him? His face was ghastly
pale; his eyes were fixed upon the ground; his teeth clenched: his
forehead glistened with the dews of agony. It was plain he knew his
wrongs at last!
Unconscious of my presence, he began to pace the room in a state of
fearful agitation, violently wringing his hands and uttering low groans
or incoherent ejaculations. I made a movement to let him know that he
was not alone; but he was too preoccupied to notice it. Perhaps, while
his back was towards me, I might cross the room and slip away unobserved.
I rose to make the attempt, but then he perceived me. He started and
stood still a moment; then wiped his streaming forehead, and, advancing
towards me, with a kind of unnatural composure, said in a deep, almost
sepulchral tone,—‘Mrs. Huntingdon, I must leave you to-morrow.’
‘To-morrow!’ I repeated. ‘I do not ask the cause.’
‘You know it then, and you can be so calm!’ said he, surveying me with
profound astonishment, not unmingled with a kind of resentful bitterness,
as it appeared to me.
‘I have so long been aware of—‘ I paused in time, and added, ‘of my
husband’s character, that nothing shocks me.’
‘But this—how long have you been aware of this?’ demanded he, laying his
clenched hand on the table beside him, and looking me keenly and fixedly
in the face.
I felt like a criminal.
‘Not long,’ I answered.
‘You knew it!’ cried he, with bitter vehemence—‘and you did not tell me!
You helped to deceive me!’
‘My lord, I did not help to deceive you.’
‘Then why did you not tell me?’
‘Because I knew it would be painful to you. I hoped she would return to
her duty, and then there would be no need to harrow your feelings with
such—’
‘O God! how long has this been going on? How long has it been, Mrs.
Huntingdon?—Tell me—I must know!’ exclaimed, with intense and fearful
eagerness.
‘Two years, I believe.’
‘Great heaven! and she has duped me all this time!’ He turned away with
a suppressed groan of agony, and paced the room again in a paroxysm of
renewed agitation. My heart smote me; but I would try to console him,
though I knew not how to attempt it.
‘She is a wicked woman,’ I said. ‘She has basely deceived and betrayed
you. She is as little worthy of your regret as she was of your
affection. Let her injure you no further; abstract yourself from her,
and stand alone.’
‘And you, Madam,’ said he sternly, arresting himself, and turning round
upon me, ‘you have injured me too by this ungenerous concealment!’
There was a sudden revulsion in my feelings. Something rose within me,
and urged me to resent this harsh return for my heartfelt sympathy, and
defend myself with answering severity. Happily, I did not yield to the
impulse. I saw his anguish as, suddenly smiting his forehead, he turned
abruptly to the window, and, looking upward at the placid sky, murmured
passionately, ‘O God, that I might die!’—and felt that to add one drop of
bitterness to that already overflowing cup would be ungenerous indeed.
And yet I fear there was more coldness than gentleness in the quiet tone
of my reply:—‘I might offer many excuses that some would admit to be
valid, but I will not attempt to enumerate them—’
‘I know them,’ said he hastily: ‘you would say that it was no business of
yours: that I ought to have taken care of myself; that if my own
blindness has led me into this pit of hell, I have no right to blame
another for giving me credit for a larger amount of sagacity than I
possessed—’
‘I confess I was wrong,’ continued I, without regarding this bitter
interruption; ‘but whether want of courage or mistaken kindness was the
cause of my error, I think you blame me too severely. I told Lady
Lowborough two weeks ago, the very hour she came, that I should certainly
think it my duty to inform you if she continued to deceive you: she gave
me full liberty to do so if I should see anything reprehensible or
suspicious in her conduct; I have seen nothing; and I trusted she had
altered her course.’
He continued gazing from the window while I spoke, and did not answer,
but, stung by the recollections my words awakened, stamped his foot upon
the floor, ground his teeth, and corrugated his brow, like one under the
influence of acute physical pain.
‘It was wrong, it was wrong!’ he muttered at length. ‘Nothing can excuse
it; nothing can atone for it,—for nothing can recall those years of
cursed credulity; nothing obliterate them!—nothing, nothing!’ he repeated
in a whisper, whose despairing bitterness precluded all resentment.
‘When I put the case to myself, I own it was wrong,’ I answered; ‘but I
can only now regret that I did not see it in this light before, and that,
as you say, nothing can recall the past.’
Something in my voice or in the spirit of this answer seemed to alter his
mood. Turning towards me, and attentively surveying my face by the dim
light, he said, in a milder tone than he had yet employed,—‘You, too,
have suffered, I suppose.’
‘I suffered much, at first.’
‘When was that?’
‘Two years ago; and two years hence you will be as calm as I am now, and
far, far happier, I trust, for you are a man, and free to act as you
please.’
Something like a smile, but a very bitter one, crossed his face for a
moment.
‘You have not been happy, lately?’ he said, with a kind of effort to
regain composure, and a determination to waive the further discussion of
his own calamity.
‘Happy?’ I repeated, almost provoked at such a question. ‘Could I be so,
with such a husband?’
‘I have noticed a change in your appearance since the first years of your
marriage,’ pursued he: ‘I observed it to—to that infernal demon,’ he
muttered between his teeth; ‘and he said it was your own sour temper that
was eating away your bloom: it was making you old and ugly before your
time, and had already made his fireside as comfortless as a convent cell.
You smile, Mrs. Huntingdon; nothing moves you. I wish my nature were as
calm as yours.’
‘My nature was not originally calm,’ said I. ‘I have learned to appear
so by dint of hard lessons and many repeated efforts.’
At this juncture Mr. Hattersley burst into the room.
‘Hallo, Lowborough!’ he began—‘Oh! I beg your pardon,’ he exclaimed on
seeing me. ‘I didn’t know it was a _tête-à-tête_. Cheer up, man,’ he
continued, giving Lord Lowborough a thump on the back, which caused the
latter to recoil from him with looks of ineffable disgust and irritation.
‘Come, I want to speak with you a bit.’
‘Speak, then.’
‘But I’m not sure it would be quite agreeable to the lady what I have to
say.’
‘Then it would not be agreeable to me,’ said his lordship, turning to
leave the room.
‘Yes, it would,’ cried the other, following him into the hall. ‘If
you’ve the heart of a man, it would be the very ticket for you. It’s
just this, my lad,’ he continued, rather lowering his voice, but not
enough to prevent me from hearing every word he said, though the
half-closed door stood between us. ‘I think you’re an ill-used man—nay,
now, don’t flare up; I don’t want to offend you: it’s only my rough way
of talking. I must speak right out, you know, or else not at all; and
I’m come—stop now! let me explain—I’m come to offer you my services, for
though Huntingdon is my friend, he’s a devilish scamp, as we all know,
and I’ll be your friend for the nonce. I know what it is you want, to
make matters straight: it’s just to exchange a shot with him, and then
you’ll feel yourself all right again; and if an accident happens—why,
that’ll be all right too, I daresay, to a desperate fellow like you.
Come now, give me your hand, and don’t look so black upon it. Name time
and place, and I’ll manage the rest.’
‘That,’ answered the more low, deliberate voice of Lord Lowborough, ‘is
just the remedy my own heart, or the devil within it, suggested—to meet
him, and not to part without blood. Whether I or he should fall, or
both, it would be an inexpressible relief to me, if—’
‘Just so! Well then,—’
‘No!’ exclaimed his lordship, with deep, determined emphasis. ‘Though I
hate him from my heart, and should rejoice at any calamity that could
befall him, I’ll leave him to God; and though I abhor my own life, I’ll
leave that, too, to Him that gave it.’
‘But you see, in this case,’ pleaded Hattersley—
‘I’ll not hear you!’ exclaimed his companion, hastily turning away. ‘Not
another word! I’ve enough to do against the fiend within me.’
‘Then you’re a white-livered fool, and I wash my hands of you,’ grumbled
the tempter, as he swung himself round and departed.
‘Right, right, Lord Lowborough,’ cried I, darting out and clasping his
burning hand, as he was moving away to the stairs. ‘I begin to think the
world is not worthy of you!’ Not understanding this sudden ebullition,
he turned upon me with a stare of gloomy, bewildered amazement, that made
me ashamed of the impulse to which I had yielded; but soon a more
humanised expression dawned upon his countenance, and before I could
withdraw my hand, he pressed it kindly, while a gleam of genuine feeling
flashed from his eyes as he murmured, ‘God help us both!’
‘Amen!’ responded I; and we parted.
I returned to the drawing-room, where, doubtless, my presence would be
expected by most, desired by one or two. In the ante-room was Mr.
Hattersley, railing against Lord Lowborough’s poltroonery before a select
audience, viz. Mr. Huntingdon, who was lounging against the table,
exulting in his own treacherous villainy, and laughing his victim to
scorn, and Mr. Grimsby, standing by, quietly rubbing his hands and
chuckling with fiendish satisfaction.
In the drawing-room I found Lady Lowborough, evidently in no very
enviable state of mind, and struggling hard to conceal her discomposure
by an overstrained affectation of unusual cheerfulness and vivacity, very
uncalled-for under the circumstances, for she had herself given the
company to understand that her husband had received unpleasant
intelligence from home, which necessitated his immediate departure, and
that he had suffered it so to bother his mind that it had brought on a
bilious headache, owing to which, and the preparations he judged
necessary to hasten his departure, she believed they would not have the
pleasure of seeing him to-night. However, she asserted, it was only a
business concern, and so she did not intend it should trouble her. She
was just saying this as I entered, and she darted upon me such a glance
of hardihood and defiance as at once astonished and revolted me.
‘But I am troubled,’ continued she, ‘and vexed too, for I think it my
duty to accompany his lordship, and of course I am very sorry to part
with all my kind friends so unexpectedly and so soon.’
‘And yet, Annabella,’ said Esther, who was sitting beside her, ‘I never
saw you in better spirits in my life.’
‘Precisely so, my love: because I wish to make the best of your society,
since it appears this is to be the last night I am to enjoy it till
heaven knows when; and I wish to leave a good impression on you all,’—she
glanced round, and seeing her aunt’s eye fixed upon her, rather too
scrutinizingly, as she probably thought, she started up and continued:
‘To which end I’ll give you a song—shall I, aunt? shall I, Mrs.
Huntingdon? shall I ladies and gentlemen all? Very well. I’ll do my
best to amuse you.’
She and Lord Lowborough occupied the apartments next to mine. I know not
how she passed the night, but I lay awake the greater part of it
listening to his heavy step pacing monotonously up and down his
dressing-room, which was nearest my chamber. Once I heard him pause and
throw something out of the window with a passionate ejaculation; and in
the morning, after they were gone, a keen-bladed clasp-knife was found on
the grass-plot below; a razor, likewise, was snapped in two and thrust
deep into the cinders of the grate, but partially corroded by the
decaying embers. So strong had been the temptation to end his miserable
life, so determined his resolution to resist it.
My heart bled for him as I lay listening to that ceaseless tread.
Hitherto I had thought too much of myself, too little of him: now I
forgot my own afflictions, and thought only of his; of the ardent
affection so miserably wasted, the fond faith so cruelly betrayed,
the—no, I will not attempt to enumerate his wrongs—but I hated his wife
and my husband more intensely than ever, and not for my sake, but for
his.
They departed early in the morning, before any one else was down, except
myself, and just as I was leaving my room Lord Lowborough was descending
to take his place in the carriage, where his lady was already ensconced;
and Arthur (or Mr. Huntingdon, as I prefer calling him, for the other is
my child’s name) had the gratuitous insolence to come out in his
dressing-gown to bid his ‘friend’ good-by.
‘What, going already, Lowborough!’ said he. ‘Well, good-morning.’ He
smilingly offered his hand.
I think the other would have knocked him down, had he not instinctively
started back before that bony fist quivering with rage and clenched till
the knuckles gleamed white and glistening through the skin. Looking upon
him with a countenance livid with furious hate, Lord Lowborough muttered
between his closed teeth a deadly execration he would not have uttered
had he been calm enough to choose his words, and departed.
‘I call that an unchristian spirit now,’ said the villain. ‘But I’d
never give up an old friend for the sake of a wife. You may have mine if
you like, and I call that handsome; I can do no more than offer
restitution, can I?’
But Lowborough had gained the bottom of the stairs, and was now crossing
the hall; and Mr. Huntingdon, leaning over the banisters, called out,
‘Give my love to Annabella! and I wish you both a happy journey,’ and
withdrew, laughing, to his chamber.
He subsequently expressed himself rather glad she was gone. ‘She was so
deuced imperious and exacting,’ said he. ‘Now I shall be my own man
again, and feel rather more at my ease.’
CHAPTER XXXIX
My greatest source of uneasiness, in this time of trial, was my son, whom
his father and his father’s friends delighted to encourage in all the
embryo vices a little child can show, and to instruct in all the evil
habits he could acquire—in a word, to ‘make a man of him’ was one of
their staple amusements; and I need say no more to justify my alarm on
his account, and my determination to deliver him at any hazard from the
hands of such instructors. I first attempted to keep him always with me,
or in the nursery, and gave Rachel particular injunctions never to let
him come down to dessert as long as these ‘gentlemen’ stayed; but it was
no use: these orders were immediately countermanded and overruled by his
father; he was not going to have the little fellow moped to death between
an old nurse and a cursed fool of a mother. So the little fellow came
down every evening in spite of his cross mamma, and learned to tipple
wine like papa, to swear like Mr. Hattersley, and to have his own way
like a man, and sent mamma to the devil when she tried to prevent him.
To see such things done with the roguish naïveté of that pretty little
child, and hear such things spoken by that small infantile voice, was as
peculiarly piquant and irresistibly droll to them as it was inexpressibly
distressing and painful to me; and when he had set the table in a roar he
would look round delightedly upon them all, and add his shrill laugh to
theirs. But if that beaming blue eye rested on me, its light would
vanish for a moment, and he would say, in some concern, ‘Mamma, why don’t
you laugh? Make her laugh, papa—she never will.’
Hence was I obliged to stay among these human brutes, watching an
opportunity to get my child away from them instead of leaving them
immediately after the removal of the cloth, as I should always otherwise
have done. He was never willing to go, and I frequently had to carry him
away by force, for which he thought me very cruel and unjust; and
sometimes his father would insist upon my letting him remain; and then I
would leave him to his kind friends, and retire to indulge my bitterness
and despair alone, or to rack my brains for a remedy to this great evil.
But here again I must do Mr. Hargrave the justice to acknowledge that I
never saw him laugh at the child’s misdemeanours, nor heard him utter a
word of encouragement to his aspirations after manly accomplishments.
But when anything very extraordinary was said or done by the infant
profligate, I noticed, at times, a peculiar expression in his face that I
could neither interpret nor define: a slight twitching about the muscles
of the mouth; a sudden flash in the eye, as he darted a sudden glance at
the child and then at me: and then I could fancy there arose a gleam of
hard, keen, sombre satisfaction in his countenance at the look of
impotent wrath and anguish he was too certain to behold in mine. But on
one occasion, when Arthur had been behaving particularly ill, and Mr.
Huntingdon and his guests had been particularly provoking and insulting
to me in their encouragement of him, and I particularly anxious to get
him out of the room, and on the very point of demeaning myself by a burst
of uncontrollable passion—Mr. Hargrave suddenly rose from his seat with
an aspect of stern determination, lifted the child from his father’s
knee, where he was sitting half-tipsy, cocking his head and laughing at
me, and execrating me with words he little knew the meaning of, handed
him out of the room, and, setting him down in the hall, held the door
open for me, gravely bowed as I withdrew, and closed it after me. I
heard high words exchanged between him and his already half-inebriated
host as I departed, leading away my bewildered and disconcerted boy.
But this should not continue: my child must not be abandoned to this
corruption: better far that he should live in poverty and obscurity, with
a fugitive mother, than in luxury and affluence with such a father.
These guests might not be with us long, but they would return again: and
he, the most injurious of the whole, his child’s worst enemy, would still
remain. I could endure it for myself, but for my son it must be borne no
longer: the world’s opinion and the feelings of my friends must be alike
unheeded here, at least—alike unable to deter me from my duty. But where
should I find an asylum, and how obtain subsistence for us both? Oh, I
would take my precious charge at early dawn, take the coach to M—, flee
to the port of —, cross the Atlantic, and seek a quiet, humble home in
New England, where I would support myself and him by the labour of my
hands. The palette and the easel, my darling playmates once, must be my
sober toil-fellows now. But was I sufficiently skilful as an artist to
obtain my livelihood in a strange land, without friends and without
recommendation? No; I must wait a little; I must labour hard to improve
my talent, and to produce something worth while as a specimen of my
powers, something to speak favourably for me, whether as an actual
painter or a teacher. Brilliant success, of course, I did not look for,
but some degree of security from positive failure was indispensable: I
must not take my son to starve. And then I must have money for the
journey, the passage, and some little to support us in our retreat in
case I should be unsuccessful at first: and not too little either: for
who could tell how long I might have to struggle with the indifference or
neglect of others, or my own inexperience or inability to suit their
tastes?
What should I do then? Apply to my brother and explain my circumstances
and my resolves to him? No, no: even if I told him all my grievances,
which I should be very reluctant to do, he would be certain to disapprove
of the step: it would seem like madness to him, as it would to my uncle
and aunt, or to Milicent. No; I must have patience and gather a hoard of
my own. Rachel should be my only confidante—I thought I could persuade
her into the scheme; and she should help me, first, to find out a
picture-dealer in some distant town; then, through her means, I would
privately sell what pictures I had on hand that would do for such a
purpose, and some of those I should thereafter paint. Besides this, I
would contrive to dispose of my jewels, not the family jewels, but the
few I brought with me from home, and those my uncle gave me on my
marriage. A few months’ arduous toil might well be borne by me with such
an end in view; and in the interim my son could not be much more injured
than he was already.
Having formed this resolution, I immediately set to work to accomplish
it, I might possibly have been induced to wax cool upon it afterwards, or
perhaps to keep weighing the pros and cons in my mind till the latter
overbalanced the former, and I was driven to relinquish the project
altogether, or delay the execution of it to an indefinite period, had not
something occurred to confirm me in that determination, to which I still
adhere, which I still think I did well to form, and shall do better to
execute.
Since Lord Lowborough’s departure I had regarded the library as entirely
my own, a secure retreat at all hours of the day. None of our gentlemen
had the smallest pretensions to a literary taste, except Mr. Hargrave;
and he, at present, was quite contented with the newspapers and
periodicals of the day. And if, by any chance, he should look in here, I
felt assured he would soon depart on seeing me, for, instead of becoming
less cool and distant towards me, he had become decidedly more so since
the departure of his mother and sisters, which was just what I wished.
Here, then, I set up my easel, and here I worked at my canvas from
daylight till dusk, with very little intermission, saving when pure
necessity, or my duties to little Arthur, called me away: for I still
thought proper to devote some portion of every day exclusively to his
instruction and amusement. But, contrary to my expectation, on the third
morning, while I was thus employed, Mr. Hargrave did look in, and did not
immediately withdraw on seeing me. He apologized for his intrusion, and
said he was only come for a book; but when he had got it, he condescended
to cast a glance over my picture. Being a man of taste, he had something
to say on this subject as well as another, and having modestly commented
on it, without much encouragement from me, he proceeded to expatiate on
the art in general. Receiving no encouragement in that either, he
dropped it, but did not depart.
‘You don’t give us much of your company, Mrs. Huntingdon,’ observed he,
after a brief pause, during which I went on coolly mixing and tempering
my colours; ‘and I cannot wonder at it, for you must be heartily sick of
us all. I myself am so thoroughly ashamed of my companions, and so weary
of their irrational conversation and pursuits—now that there is no one to
humanize them and keep them in check, since you have justly abandoned us
to our own devices—that I think I shall presently withdraw from amongst
them, probably within this week; and I cannot suppose you will regret my
departure.’
He paused. I did not answer.
‘Probably,’ he added, with a smile, ‘your only regret on the subject will
be that I do not take all my companions along with me. I flatter myself,
at times, that though among them I am not of them; but it is natural that
you should be glad to get rid of me. I may regret this, but I cannot
blame you for it.’
‘I shall not rejoice at your departure, for you can conduct yourself like
a gentleman,’ said I, thinking it but right to make some acknowledgment
for his good behaviour; ‘but I must confess I shall rejoice to bid adieu
to the rest, inhospitable as it may appear.’
‘No one can blame you for such an avowal,’ replied he gravely: ‘not even
the gentlemen themselves, I imagine. I’ll just tell you,’ he continued,
as if actuated by a sudden resolution, ‘what was said last night in the
dining-room, after you left us: perhaps you will not mind it, as you’re
so very philosophical on certain points,’ he added with a slight sneer.
‘They were talking about Lord Lowborough and his delectable lady, the
cause of whose sudden departure is no secret amongst them; and her
character is so well known to them all, that, nearly related to me as she
is, I could not attempt to defend it. Curse me!’ he muttered, par
parenthese, ‘if I don’t have vengeance for this! If the villain must
disgrace the family, must he blazon it abroad to every low-bred knave of
his acquaintance? I beg your pardon, Mrs. Huntingdon. Well, they were
talking of these things, and some of them remarked that, as she was
separated from her husband, he might see her again when he pleased.’
‘“Thank you,” said he; “I’ve had enough of her for the present: I’ll not
trouble to see her, unless she comes to me.”
‘“Then what do you mean to do, Huntingdon, when we’re gone?” said Ralph
Hattersley. “Do you mean to turn from the error of your ways, and be a
good husband, a good father, and so forth; as I do, when I get shut of
you and all these rollicking devils you call your friends? I think it’s
time; and your wife is fifty times too good for you, you know—”
‘And he added some praise of you, which you would not thank me for
repeating, nor him for uttering; proclaiming it aloud, as he did, without
delicacy or discrimination, in an audience where it seemed profanation to
utter your name: himself utterly incapable of understanding or
appreciating your real excellences. Huntingdon, meanwhile, sat quietly
drinking his wine,—or looking smilingly into his glass and offering no
interruption or reply, till Hattersley shouted out,—“Do you hear me,
man?”
‘“Yes, go on,” said he.
‘“Nay, I’ve done,” replied the other: “I only want to know if you intend
to take my advice.”
‘“What advice?”
‘“To turn over a new leaf, you double-dyed scoundrel,” shouted Ralph,
“and beg your wife’s pardon, and be a good boy for the future.”
‘“My wife! what wife? I have no wife,” replied Huntingdon, looking
innocently up from his glass, “or if I have, look you, gentlemen: I value
her so highly that any one among you, that can fancy her, may have her
and welcome: you may, by Jove, and my blessing into the bargain!”
‘I—hem—someone asked if he really meant what he said; upon which he
solemnly swore he did, and no mistake. What do you think of that, Mrs.
Huntingdon?’ asked Mr. Hargrave, after a short pause, during which I had
felt he was keenly examining my half-averted face.
‘I say,’ replied I, calmly, ‘that what he prizes so lightly will not be
long in his possession.’
‘You cannot mean that you will break your heart and die for the
detestable conduct of an infamous villain like that!’
‘By no means: my heart is too thoroughly dried to be broken in a hurry,
and I mean to live as long as I can.’
‘Will you leave him then?’
‘Yes.’
‘When: and how?’ asked he, eagerly.
‘When I am ready, and how I can manage it most effectually.’
‘But your child?’
‘My child goes with me.’
‘He will not allow it.’
‘I shall not ask him.’
‘Ah, then, it is a secret flight you meditate! but with whom, Mrs.
Huntingdon?’
‘With my son: and possibly, his nurse.’
‘Alone—and unprotected! But where can you go? what can you do? He will
follow you and bring you back.’
‘I have laid my plans too well for that. Let me once get clear of
Grassdale, and I shall consider myself safe.’
Mr. Hargrave advanced one step towards me, looked me in the face, and
drew in his breath to speak; but that look, that heightened colour, that
sudden sparkle of the eye, made my blood rise in wrath: I abruptly turned
away, and, snatching up my brush, began to dash away at my canvas with
rather too much energy for the good of the picture.
‘Mrs. Huntingdon,’ said he with bitter solemnity, ‘you are cruel—cruel to
me—cruel to yourself.’
‘Mr. Hargrave, remember your promise.’
‘I must speak: my heart will burst if I don’t! I have been silent long
enough, and you must hear me!’ cried he, boldly intercepting my retreat
to the door. ‘You tell me you owe no allegiance to your husband; he
openly declares himself weary of you, and calmly gives you up to anybody
that will take you; you are about to leave him; no one will believe that
you go alone; all the world will say, “She has left him at last, and who
can wonder at it? Few can blame her, fewer still can pity him; but who
is the companion of her flight?” Thus you will have no credit for your
virtue (if you call it such): even your best friends will not believe in
it; because it is monstrous, and not to be credited but by those who
suffer, from the effects of it, such cruel torments that they know it to
be indeed reality. But what can you do in the cold, rough world alone?
you, a young and inexperienced woman, delicately nurtured, and utterly—’
‘In a word, you would advise me to stay where I am,’ interrupted I.
‘Well, I’ll see about it.’
‘By all means, leave him!’ cried he earnestly; ‘but NOT alone! Helen! let
me protect you!’
‘Never! while heaven spares my reason,’ replied I, snatching away the
hand he had presumed to seize and press between his own. But he was in
for it now; he had fairly broken the barrier: he was completely roused,
and determined to hazard all for victory.
‘I must not be denied!’ exclaimed he, vehemently; and seizing both my
hands, he held them very tight, but dropped upon his knee, and looked up
in my face with a half-imploring, half-imperious gaze. ‘You have no
reason now: you are flying in the face of heaven’s decrees. God has
designed me to be your comfort and protector—I feel it, I know it as
certainly as if a voice from heaven declared, “Ye twain shall be one
flesh”—and you spurn me from you—’
‘Let me go, Mr. Hargrave!’ said I, sternly. But he only tightened his
grasp.
‘Let me go!’ I repeated, quivering with indignation.
His face was almost opposite the window as he knelt. With a slight
start, I saw him glance towards it; and then a gleam of malicious triumph
lit up his countenance. Looking over my shoulder, I beheld a shadow just
retiring round the corner.
‘That is Grimsby,’ said he deliberately. ‘He will report what he has
seen to Huntingdon and all the rest, with such embellishments as he
thinks proper. He has no love for you, Mrs. Huntingdon—no reverence for
your sex, no belief in virtue, no admiration for its image. He will give
such a version of this story as will leave no doubt at all about your
character, in the minds of those who hear it. Your fair fame is gone;
and nothing that I or you can say can ever retrieve it. But give me the
power to protect you, and show me the villain that dares to insult!’
‘No one has ever dared to insult me as you are doing now!’ said I, at
length releasing my hands, and recoiling from him.
‘I do not insult you,’ cried he: ‘I worship you. You are my angel, my
divinity! I lay my powers at your feet, and you must and shall accept
them!’ he exclaimed, impetuously starting to his feet. ‘I will be your
consoler and defender! and if your conscience upbraid you for it, say I
overcame you, and you could not choose but yield!’
I never saw a man go terribly excited. He precipitated himself towards
me. I snatched up my palette-knife and held it against him. This
startled him: he stood and gazed at me in astonishment; I daresay I
looked as fierce and resolute as he. I moved to the bell, and put my
hand upon the cord. This tamed him still more. With a
half-authoritative, half-deprecating wave of the hand, he sought to deter
me from ringing.
‘Stand off, then!’ said I; he stepped back. ‘And listen to me. I don’t
like you,’ I continued, as deliberately and emphatically as I could, to
give the greater efficacy to my words; ‘and if I were divorced from my
husband, or if he were dead, I would not marry you. There now! I hope
you’re satisfied.’
His face grew blanched with anger.
‘I am satisfied,’ he replied, with bitter emphasis, ‘that you are the
most cold-hearted, unnatural, ungrateful woman I ever yet beheld!’
‘Ungrateful, sir?’
‘Ungrateful.’
‘No, Mr. Hargrave, I am not. For all the good you ever did me, or ever
wished to do, I most sincerely thank you: for all the evil you have done
me, and all you would have done, I pray God to pardon you, and make you
of a better mind.’ Here the door was thrown open, and Messrs. Huntingdon
and Hattersley appeared without. The latter remained in the hall, busy
with his ramrod and his gun; the former walked in, and stood with his
back to the fire, surveying Mr. Hargrave and me, particularly the former,
with a smile of insupportable meaning, accompanied as it was by the
impudence of his brazen brow, and the sly, malicious, twinkle of his eye.
‘Well, sir?’ said Hargrave, interrogatively, and with the air of one
prepared to stand on the defensive.
‘Well, sir,’ returned his host.
‘We want to know if you are at liberty to join us in a go at the
pheasants, Walter,’ interposed Hattersley from without. ‘Come! there
shall be nothing shot besides, except a puss or two; I’ll vouch for
that.’
Walter did not answer, but walked to the window to collect his faculties.
Arthur uttered a low whistle, and followed him with his eyes. A slight
flush of anger rose to Hargrave’s cheek; but in a moment he turned calmly
round, and said carelessly:
‘I came here to bid farewell to Mrs. Huntingdon, and tell her I must go
to-morrow.’
‘Humph! You’re mighty sudden in your resolution. What takes you off so
soon, may I ask?’
‘Business,’ returned he, repelling the other’s incredulous sneer with a
glance of scornful defiance.
‘Very good,’ was the reply; and Hargrave walked away. Thereupon Mr.
Huntingdon, gathering his coat-laps under his arms, and setting his
shoulder against the mantel-piece, turned to me, and, addressing me in a
low voice, scarcely above his breath, poured forth a volley of the vilest
and grossest abuse it was possible for the imagination to conceive or the
tongue to utter. I did not attempt to interrupt him; but my spirit
kindled within me, and when he had done, I replied, ‘If your accusation
were true, Mr. Huntingdon, how dare you blame me?’
‘She’s hit it, by Jove!’ cried Hattersley, rearing his gun against the
wall; and, stepping into the room, he took his precious friend by the
arm, and attempted to drag him away. ‘Come, my lad,’ he muttered; ‘true
or false, you’ve no right to blame her, you know, nor him either; after
what you said last night. So come along.’
There was something implied here that I could not endure.
‘Dare you suspect me, Mr. Hattersley?’ said I, almost beside myself with
fury.
‘Nay, nay, I suspect nobody. It’s all right, it’s all right. So come
along, Huntingdon, you blackguard.’
‘She can’t deny it!’ cried the gentleman thus addressed, grinning in
mingled rage and triumph. ‘She can’t deny it if her life depended on
it!’ and muttering some more abusive language, he walked into the hall,
and took up his hat and gun from the table.
‘I scorn to justify myself to you!’ said I. ‘But you,’ turning to
Hattersley, ‘if you presume to have any doubts on the subject, ask Mr.
Hargrave.’
At this they simultaneously burst into a rude laugh that made my whole
frame tingle to the fingers’ ends.
‘Where is he? I’ll ask him myself!’ said I, advancing towards them.
Suppressing a new burst of merriment, Hattersley pointed to the outer
door. It was half open. His brother-in-law was standing on the front
without.
‘Mr. Hargrave, will you please to step this way?’ said I.
He turned and looked at me in grave surprise.
‘Step this way, if you please!’ I repeated, in so determined a manner
that he could not, or did not choose to resist its authority. Somewhat
reluctantly he ascended the steps and advanced a pace or two into the
hall.
‘And tell those gentlemen,’ I continued—‘these men, whether or not I
yielded to your solicitations.’
‘I don’t understand you, Mrs. Huntingdon.’
‘You do understand me, sir; and I charge you, upon your honour as a
gentleman (if you have any), to answer truly. Did I, or did I not?’
‘No,’ muttered he, turning away.
‘Speak up, sir; they can’t hear you. Did I grant your request?
‘You did not.’
‘No, I’ll be sworn she didn’t,’ said Hattersley, ‘or he’d never look so
black.’
‘I’m willing to grant you the satisfaction of a gentleman, Huntingdon,’
said Mr. Hargrave, calmly addressing his host, but with a bitter sneer
upon his countenance.
‘Go to the deuce!’ replied the latter, with an impatient jerk of the
head. Hargrave withdrew with a look of cold disdain, saying,—‘You know
where to find me, should you feel disposed to send a friend.’
Muttered oaths and curses were all the answer this intimation obtained.
‘Now, Huntingdon, you see!’ said Hattersley. ‘Clear as the day.’
‘I don’t care what he sees,’ said I, ‘or what he imagines; but you, Mr.
Hattersley, when you hear my name belied and slandered, will you defend
it?’
‘I will.’
I instantly departed and shut myself into the library. What could
possess me to make such a request of such a man I cannot tell; but
drowning men catch at straws: they had driven me desperate between them;
I hardly knew what I said. There was no other to preserve my name from
being blackened and aspersed among this nest of boon companions, and
through them, perhaps, into the world; and beside my abandoned wretch of
a husband, the base, malignant Grimsby, and the false villain Hargrave,
this boorish ruffian, coarse and brutal as he was, shone like a glow-worm
in the dark, among its fellow worms.
What a scene was this! Could I ever have imagined that I should be
doomed to bear such insults under my own roof—to hear such things spoken
in my presence; nay, spoken to me and of me; and by those who arrogated
to themselves the name of gentlemen? And could I have imagined that I
should have been able to endure it as calmly, and to repel their insults
as firmly and as boldly as I had done? A hardness such as this is taught
by rough experience and despair alone.
Such thoughts as these chased one another through my mind, as I paced to
and fro the room, and longed—oh, how I longed—to take my child and leave
them now, without an hour’s delay! But it could not be; there was work
before me: hard work, that must be done.
‘Then let me do it,’ said I, ‘and lose not a moment in vain repinings and
idle chafings against my fate, and those who influence it.’
And conquering my agitation with a powerful effort, I immediately resumed
my task, and laboured hard all day.
Mr. Hargrave did depart on the morrow; and I have never seen him since.
The others stayed on for two or three weeks longer; but I kept aloof from
them as much as possible, and still continued my labour, and have
continued it, with almost unabated ardour, to the present day. I soon
acquainted Rachel with my design, confiding all my motives and intentions
to her ear, and, much to my agreeable surprise, found little difficulty
in persuading her to enter into my views. She is a sober, cautious
woman, but she so hates her master, and so loves her mistress and her
nursling, that after several ejaculations, a few faint objections, and
many tears and lamentations that I should be brought to such a pass, she
applauded my resolution and consented to aid me with all her might: on
one condition only: that she might share my exile: otherwise, she was
utterly inexorable, regarding it as perfect madness for me and Arthur to
go alone. With touching generosity, she modestly offered to aid me with
her little hoard of savings, hoping I would ‘excuse her for the liberty,
but really, if I would do her the favour to accept it as a loan, she
would be very happy.’ Of course I could not think of such a thing; but
now, thank heaven, I have gathered a little hoard of my own, and my
preparations are so far advanced that I am looking forward to a speedy
emancipation. Only let the stormy severity of this winter weather be
somewhat abated, and then, some morning, Mr. Huntingdon will come down to
a solitary breakfast-table, and perhaps be clamouring through the house
for his invisible wife and child, when they are some fifty miles on their
way to the Western world, or it may be more: for we shall leave him hours
before the dawn, and it is not probable he will discover the loss of both
until the day is far advanced.
I am fully alive to the evils that may and must result upon the step I am
about to take; but I never waver in my resolution, because I never forget
my son. It was only this morning, while I pursued my usual employment,
he was sitting at my feet, quietly playing with the shreds of canvas I
had thrown upon the carpet; but his mind was otherwise occupied, for, in
a while, he looked up wistfully in my face, and gravely asked,—‘Mamma,
why are you wicked?’
‘Who told you I was wicked, love?’
‘Rachel.’
‘No, Arthur, Rachel never said so, I am certain.’
‘Well, then, it was papa,’ replied he, thoughtfully. Then, after a
reflective pause, he added, ‘At least, I’ll tell you how it was I got to
know: when I’m with papa, if I say mamma wants me, or mamma says I’m not
to do something that he tells me to do, he always says, “Mamma be
damned,” and Rachel says it’s only wicked people that are damned. So,
mamma, that’s why I think you must be wicked: and I wish you wouldn’t.’
‘My dear child, I am not. Those are bad words, and wicked people often
say them of others better than themselves. Those words cannot make
people be damned, nor show that they deserve it. God will judge us by
our own thoughts and deeds, not by what others say about us. And when
you hear such words spoken, Arthur, remember never to repeat them: it is
wicked to say such things of others, not to have them said against you.’
‘Then it’s papa that’s wicked,’ said he, ruefully.
‘Papa is wrong to say such things, and you will be very wrong to imitate
him now that you know better.’
‘What is imitate?’
‘To do as he does.’
‘Does he know better?’
‘Perhaps he does; but that is nothing to you.’
‘If he doesn’t, you ought to tell him, mamma.’
‘I have told him.’
The little moralist paused and pondered. I tried in vain to divert his
mind from the subject.
‘I’m sorry papa’s wicked,’ said he mournfully, at length, ‘for I don’t
want him to go to hell.’ And so saying he burst into tears.
I consoled him with the hope that perhaps his papa would alter and become
good before he died—; but is it not time to deliver him from such a
parent?
CHAPTER XL
January 10th, 1827.—While writing the above, yesterday evening, I sat in
the drawing-room. Mr. Huntingdon was present, but, as I thought, asleep
on the sofa behind me. He had risen, however, unknown to me, and,
actuated by some base spirit of curiosity, been looking over my shoulder
for I know not how long; for when I had laid aside my pen, and was about
to close the book, he suddenly placed his hand upon it, and saying,—‘With
your leave, my dear, I’ll have a look at this,’ forcibly wrested it from
me, and, drawing a chair to the table, composedly sat down to examine it:
turning back leaf after leaf to find an explanation of what he had read.
Unluckily for me, he was more sober that night than he usually is at such
an hour.
Of course I did not leave him to pursue this occupation in quiet: I made
several attempts to snatch the book from his hands, but he held it too
firmly for that; I upbraided him in bitterness and scorn for his mean and
dishonourable conduct, but that had no effect upon him; and, finally, I
extinguished both the candles, but he only wheeled round to the fire, and
raising a blaze sufficient for his purposes, calmly continued the
investigation. I had serious thoughts of getting a pitcher of water and
extinguishing that light too; but it was evident his curiosity was too
keenly excited to be quenched by that, and the more I manifested my
anxiety to baffle his scrutiny, the greater would be his determination to
persist in it, besides it was too late.
‘It seems very interesting, love,’ said he, lifting his head and turning
to where I stood, wringing my hands in silent rage and anguish; ‘but it’s
rather long; I’ll look at it some other time; and meanwhile I’ll trouble
you for your keys, my dear.’
‘What keys?’
‘The keys of your cabinet, desk, drawers, and whatever else you possess,’
said he, rising and holding out his hand.
‘I’ve not got them,’ I replied. The key of my desk, in fact, was at that
moment in the lock, and the others were attached to it.
‘Then you must send for them,’ said he; ‘and if that old devil, Rachel,
doesn’t immediately deliver them up, she tramps bag and baggage
tomorrow.’
‘She doesn’t know where they are,’ I answered, quietly placing my hand
upon them, and taking them from the desk, as I thought, unobserved. ‘I
know, but I shall not give them up without a reason.’
‘And I know, too,’ said he, suddenly seizing my closed hand and rudely
abstracting them from it. He then took up one of the candles and
relighted it by thrusting it into the fire.
‘Now, then,’ sneered he, ‘we must have a confiscation of property. But,
first, let us take a peep into the studio.’
And putting the keys into his pocket, he walked into the library. I
followed, whether with the dim idea of preventing mischief, or only to
know the worst, I can hardly tell. My painting materials were laid
together on the corner table, ready for to-morrow’s use, and only covered
with a cloth. He soon spied them out, and putting down the candle,
deliberately proceeded to cast them into the fire: palette, paints,
bladders, pencils, brushes, varnish: I saw them all consumed: the
palette-knives snapped in two, the oil and turpentine sent hissing and
roaring up the chimney. He then rang the bell.
‘Benson, take those things away,’ said he, pointing to the easel, canvas,
and stretcher; ‘and tell the housemaid she may kindle the fire with them:
your mistress won’t want them any more.’
Benson paused aghast and looked at me.
‘Take them away, Benson,’ said I; and his master muttered an oath.
‘And this and all, sir?’ said the astonished servant, referring to the
half-finished picture.
‘That and all,’ replied the master; and the things were cleared away.
Mr. Huntingdon then went up-stairs. I did not attempt to follow him, but
remained seated in the arm-chair, speechless, tearless, and almost
motionless, till he returned about half-an-hour after, and walking up to
me, held the candle in my face and peered into my eyes with looks and
laughter too insulting to be borne. With a sudden stroke of my hand I
dashed the candle to the floor.
‘Hal-lo!’ muttered he, starting back; ‘she’s the very devil for spite.
Did ever any mortal see such eyes?—they shine in the dark like a cat’s.
Oh, you’re a sweet one!’ So saying, he gathered up the candle and the
candlestick. The former being broken as well as extinguished, he rang
for another.
‘Benson, your mistress has broken the candle; bring another.’
‘You expose yourself finely,’ observed I, as the man departed.
‘I didn’t say I’d broken it, did I?’ returned he. He then threw my keys
into my lap, saying,—‘There! you’ll find nothing gone but your money, and
the jewels, and a few little trifles I thought it advisable to take into
my own possession, lest your mercantile spirit should be tempted to turn
them into gold. I’ve left you a few sovereigns in your purse, which I
expect to last you through the month; at all events, when you want more
you will be so good as to give me an account of how that’s spent. I
shall put you upon a small monthly allowance, in future, for your own
private expenses; and you needn’t trouble yourself any more about my
concerns; I shall look out for a steward, my dear—I won’t expose you to
the temptation. And as for the household matters, Mrs. Greaves must be
very particular in keeping her accounts; we must go upon an entirely new
plan—’
‘What great discovery have you made now, Mr. Huntingdon? Have I
attempted to defraud you?’
‘Not in money matters, exactly, it seems; but it’s best to keep out of
the way of temptation.’
Here Benson entered with the candles, and there followed a brief interval
of silence; I sitting still in my chair, and he standing with his back to
the fire, silently triumphing in my despair.
‘And so,’ said he at length, ‘you thought to disgrace me, did you, by
running away and turning artist, and supporting yourself by the labour of
your hands, forsooth? And you thought to rob me of my son, too, and
bring him up to be a dirty Yankee tradesman, or a low, beggarly painter?’
‘Yes, to obviate his becoming such a gentleman as his father.’
‘It’s well you couldn’t keep your own secret—ha, ha! It’s well these
women must be blabbing. If they haven’t a friend to talk to, they must
whisper their secrets to the fishes, or write them on the sand, or
something; and it’s well, too, I wasn’t over full to-night, now I think
of it, or I might have snoozed away and never dreamt of looking what my
sweet lady was about; or I might have lacked the sense or the power to
carry my point like a man, as I have done.’
Leaving him to his self-congratulations, I rose to secure my manuscript,
for I now remembered it had been left upon the drawing-room table, and I
determined, if possible, to save myself the humiliation of seeing it in
his hands again. I could not bear the idea of his amusing himself over
my secret thoughts and recollections; though, to be sure, he would find
little good of himself therein indited, except in the former part; and
oh, I would sooner burn it all than he should read what I had written
when I was such a fool as to love him!
‘And by-the-by,’ cried he, as I was leaving the room, ‘you’d better tell
that d—d old sneak of a nurse to keep out of my way for a day or two; I’d
pay her her wages and send her packing to-morrow, but I know she’d do
more mischief out of the house than in it.’
And as I departed, he went on cursing and abusing my faithful friend and
servant with epithets I will not defile this paper with repeating. I
went to her as soon as I had put away my book, and told her how our
project was defeated. She was as much distressed and horrified as I
was—and more so than I was that night, for I was partly stunned by the
blow, and partly excited and supported against it by the bitterness of my
wrath. But in the morning, when I woke without that cheering hope that
had been my secret comfort and support so long, and all this day, when I
have wandered about restless and objectless, shunning my husband,
shrinking even from my child, knowing that I am unfit to be his teacher
or companion, hoping nothing for his future life, and fervently wishing
he had never been born,—I felt the full extent of my calamity, and I feel
it now. I know that day after day such feelings will return upon me. I
am a slave—a prisoner—but that is nothing; if it were myself alone I
would not complain, but I am forbidden to rescue my son from ruin, and
what was once my only consolation is become the crowning source of my
despair.
Have I no faith in God? I try to look to Him and raise my heart to
heaven, but it will cleave to the dust. I can only say, ‘He hath hedged
me about, that I cannot get out: He hath made my chain heavy. He hath
filled me with bitterness—He hath made me drunken with wormwood.’ I
forget to add, ‘But though He cause grief, yet will He have compassion
according to the multitude of His mercies. For He doth not afflict
willingly nor grieve the children of men.’ I ought to think of this; and
if there be nothing but sorrow for me in this world, what is the longest
life of misery to a whole eternity of peace? And for my little
Arthur—has he no friend but me? Who was it said, ‘It is not the will of
your Father which is in heaven that one of these little ones should
perish?’
CHAPTER XLI
March 20th.—Having now got rid of Mr. Huntingdon for a season, my spirits
begin to revive. He left me early in February; and the moment he was
gone, I breathed again, and felt my vital energy return; not with the
hope of escape—he has taken care to leave me no visible chance of
that—but with a determination to make the best of existing circumstances.
Here was Arthur left to me at last; and rousing from my despondent
apathy, I exerted all my powers to eradicate the weeds that had been
fostered in his infant mind, and sow again the good seed they had
rendered unproductive. Thank heaven, it is not a barren or a stony soil;
if weeds spring fast there, so do better plants. His apprehensions are
more quick, his heart more overflowing with affection than ever his
father’s could have been, and it is no hopeless task to bend him to
obedience and win him to love and know his own true friend, as long as
there is no one to counteract my efforts.
I had much trouble at first in breaking him of those evil habits his
father had taught him to acquire, but already that difficulty is nearly
vanquished now: bad language seldom defiles his mouth, and I have
succeeded in giving him an absolute disgust for all intoxicating liquors,
which I hope not even his father or his father’s friends will be able to
overcome. He was inordinately fond of them for so young a creature, and,
remembering my unfortunate father as well as his, I dreaded the
consequences of such a taste. But if I had stinted him, in his usual
quantity of wine, or forbidden him to taste it altogether, that would
only have increased his partiality for it, and made him regard it as a
greater treat than ever. I therefore gave him quite as much as his
father was accustomed to allow him; as much, indeed, as he desired to
have—but into every glass I surreptitiously introduced a small quantity
of tartar-emetic, just enough to produce inevitable nausea and depression
without positive sickness. Finding such disagreeable consequences
invariably to result from this indulgence, he soon grew weary of it, but
the more he shrank from the daily treat the more I pressed it upon him,
till his reluctance was strengthened to perfect abhorrence. When he was
thoroughly disgusted with every kind of wine, I allowed him, at his own
request, to try brandy-and-water, and then gin-and-water, for the little
toper was familiar with them all, and I was determined that all should be
equally hateful to him. This I have now effected; and since he declares
that the taste, the smell, the sight of any one of them is sufficient to
make him sick, I have given up teasing him about them, except now and
then as objects of terror in cases of misbehaviour. ‘Arthur, if you’re
not a good boy I shall give you a glass of wine,’ or ‘Now, Arthur, if you
say that again you shall have some brandy-and-water,’ is as good as any
other threat; and once or twice, when he was sick, I have obliged the
poor child to swallow a little wine-and-water without the tartar-emetic,
by way of medicine; and this practice I intend to continue for some time
to come; not that I think it of any real service in a physical sense, but
because I am determined to enlist all the powers of association in my
service; I wish this aversion to be so deeply grounded in his nature that
nothing in after-life may be able to overcome it.
Thus, I flatter myself, I shall secure him from this one vice; and for
the rest, if on his father’s return I find reason to apprehend that my
good lessons will be all destroyed—if Mr. Huntingdon commence again the
game of teaching the child to hate and despise his mother, and emulate
his father’s wickedness—I will yet deliver my son from his hands. I have
devised another scheme that might be resorted to in such a case; and if I
could but obtain my brother’s consent and assistance, I should not doubt
of its success. The old hall where he and I were born, and where our
mother died, is not now inhabited, nor yet quite sunk into decay, as I
believe. Now, if I could persuade him to have one or two rooms made
habitable, and to let them to me as a stranger, I might live there, with
my child, under an assumed name, and still support myself by my favourite
art. He should lend me the money to begin with, and I would pay him
back, and live in lowly independence and strict seclusion, for the house
stands in a lonely place, and the neighbourhood is thinly inhabited, and
he himself should negotiate the sale of my pictures for me. I have
arranged the whole plan in my head: and all I want is to persuade
Frederick to be of the same mind as myself. He is coming to see me soon,
and then I will make the proposal to him, having first enlightened him
upon my circumstances sufficiently to excuse the project.
Already, I believe, he knows much more of my situation than I have told
him. I can tell this by the air of tender sadness pervading his letters;
and by the fact of his so seldom mentioning my husband, and generally
evincing a kind of covert bitterness when he does refer to him; as well
as by the circumstance of his never coming to see me when Mr. Huntingdon
is at home. But he has never openly expressed any disapprobation of him
or sympathy for me; he has never asked any questions, or said anything to
invite my confidence. Had he done so, I should probably have had but few
concealments from him. Perhaps he feels hurt at my reserve. He is a
strange being; I wish we knew each other better. He used to spend a
month at Staningley every year, before I was married; but, since our
father’s death, I have only seen him once, when he came for a few days
while Mr. Huntingdon was away. He shall stay many days this time, and
there shall be more candour and cordiality between us than ever there was
before, since our early childhood. My heart clings to him more than
ever; and my soul is sick of solitude.
April 16th.—He is come and gone. He would not stay above a fortnight.
The time passed quickly, but very, very happily, and it has done me good.
I must have a bad disposition, for my misfortunes have soured and
embittered me exceedingly: I was beginning insensibly to cherish very
unamiable feelings against my fellow-mortals, the male part of them
especially; but it is a comfort to see there is at least one among them
worthy to be trusted and esteemed; and doubtless there are more, though I
have never known them, unless I except poor Lord Lowborough, and he was
bad enough in his day. But what would Frederick have been, if he had
lived in the world, and mingled from his childhood with such men as these
of my acquaintance? and what will Arthur be, with all his natural
sweetness of disposition, if I do not save him from that world and those
companions? I mentioned my fears to Frederick, and introduced the
subject of my plan of rescue on the evening after his arrival, when I
presented my little son to his uncle.
‘He is like you, Frederick,’ said I, ‘in some of his moods: I sometimes
think he resembles you more than his father; and I am glad of it.’
‘You flatter me, Helen,’ replied he, stroking the child’s soft, wavy
locks.
‘No, you will think it no compliment when I tell you I would rather have
him to resemble Benson than his father.’ He slightly elevated his
eyebrows, but said nothing.
‘Do you know what sort of man Mr. Huntingdon is?’ said I.
‘I think I have an idea.’
‘Have you so clear an idea that you can hear, without surprise or
disapproval, that I meditate escaping with that child to some secret
asylum, where we can live in peace, and never see him again?’
‘Is it really so?’
‘If you have not,’ continued I, ‘I’ll tell you something more about him’;
and I gave a sketch of his general conduct, and a more particular account
of his behaviour with regard to his child, and explained my apprehensions
on the latter’s account, and my determination to deliver him from his
father’s influence.
Frederick was exceedingly indignant against Mr. Huntingdon, and very much
grieved for me; but still he looked upon my project as wild and
impracticable. He deemed my fears for Arthur disproportioned to the
circumstances, and opposed so many objections to my plan, and devised so
many milder methods for ameliorating my condition, that I was obliged to
enter into further details to convince him that my husband was utterly
incorrigible, and that nothing could persuade him to give up his son,
whatever became of me, he being as fully determined the child should not
leave him, as I was not to leave the child; and that, in fact, nothing
would answer but this, unless I fled the country, as I had intended
before. To obviate that, he at length consented to have one wing of the
old hall put into a habitable condition, as a place of refuge against a
time of need; but hoped I would not take advantage of it unless
circumstances should render it really necessary, which I was ready enough
to promise: for though, for my own sake, such a hermitage appears like
paradise itself, compared with my present situation, yet for my friends’
sakes, for Milicent and Esther, my sisters in heart and affection, for
the poor tenants of Grassdale, and, above all, for my aunt, I will stay
if I possibly can.
July 29th.—Mrs. Hargrave and her daughter are come back from London.
Esther is full of her first season in town; but she is still heart-whole
and unengaged. Her mother sought out an excellent match for her, and
even brought the gentleman to lay his heart and fortune at her feet; but
Esther had the audacity to refuse the noble gifts. He was a man of good
family and large possessions, but the naughty girl maintained he was old
as Adam, ugly as sin, and hateful as—one who shall be nameless.
‘But, indeed, I had a hard time of it,’ said she: ‘mamma was very greatly
disappointed at the failure of her darling project, and very, very angry
at my obstinate resistance to her will, and is so still; but I can’t help
it. And Walter, too, is so seriously displeased at my perversity and
absurd caprice, as he calls it, that I fear he will never forgive me—I
did not think he could be so unkind as he has lately shown himself. But
Milicent begged me not to yield, and I’m sure, Mrs. Huntingdon, if you
had seen the man they wanted to palm upon me, you would have advised me
not to take him too.’
‘I should have done so whether I had seen him or not,’ said I; ‘it is
enough that you dislike him.’
‘I knew you would say so; though mamma affirmed you would be quite
shocked at my undutiful conduct. You can’t imagine how she lectures me:
I am disobedient and ungrateful; I am thwarting her wishes, wronging my
brother, and making myself a burden on her hands. I sometimes fear
she’ll overcome me after all. I have a strong will, but so has she, and
when she says such bitter things, it provokes me to such a pass that I
feel inclined to do as she bids me, and then break my heart and say,
“There, mamma, it’s all your fault!”’
‘Pray don’t!’ said I. ‘Obedience from such a motive would be positive
wickedness, and certain to bring the punishment it deserves. Stand firm,
and your mamma will soon relinquish her persecution; and the gentleman
himself will cease to pester you with his addresses if he finds them
steadily rejected.’
‘Oh, no! mamma will weary all about her before she tires herself with her
exertions; and as for Mr. Oldfield, she has given him to understand that
I have refused his offer, not from any dislike of his person, but merely
because I am giddy and young, and cannot at present reconcile myself to
the thoughts of marriage under any circumstances: but by next season, she
has no doubt, I shall have more sense, and hopes my girlish fancies will
be worn away. So she has brought me home, to school me into a proper
sense of my duty, against the time comes round again. Indeed, I believe
she will not put herself to the expense of taking me up to London again,
unless I surrender: she cannot afford to take me to town for pleasure and
nonsense, she says, and it is not every rich gentleman that will consent
to take me without a fortune, whatever exalted ideas I may have of my own
attractions.’
‘Well, Esther, I pity you; but still, I repeat, stand firm. You might as
well sell yourself to slavery at once, as marry a man you dislike. If
your mother and brother are unkind to you, you may leave them, but
remember you are bound to your husband for life.’
‘But I cannot leave them unless I get married, and I cannot get married
if nobody sees me. I saw one or two gentlemen in London that I might
have liked, but they were younger sons, and mamma would not let me get to
know them—one especially, who I believe rather liked me—but she threw
every possible obstacle in the way of our better acquaintance. Wasn’t it
provoking?’
‘I have no doubt you would feel it so, but it is possible that if you
married him, you might have more reason to regret it hereafter than if
you married Mr. Oldfield. When I tell you not to marry without love, I
do not advise you to marry for love alone: there are many, many other
things to be considered. Keep both heart and hand in your own
possession, till you see good reason to part with them; and if such an
occasion should never present itself, comfort your mind with this
reflection, that though in single life your joys may not be very many,
your sorrows, at least, will not be more than you can bear. Marriage may
change your circumstances for the better, but, in my private opinion, it
is far more likely to produce a contrary result.’
‘So thinks Milicent; but allow me to say I think otherwise. If I thought
myself doomed to old-maidenhood, I should cease to value my life. The
thoughts of living on, year after year, at the Grove—a hanger-on upon
mamma and Walter, a mere cumberer of the ground (now that I know in what
light they would regard it), is perfectly intolerable; I would rather run
away with the butler.’
‘Your circumstances are peculiar, I allow; but have patience, love; do
nothing rashly. Remember you are not yet nineteen, and many years are
yet to pass before any one can set you down as an old maid: you cannot
tell what Providence may have in store for you. And meantime, remember
you have a right to the protection and support of your mother and
brother, however they may seem to grudge it.’
‘You are so grave, Mrs. Huntingdon,’ said Esther, after a pause. ‘When
Milicent uttered the same discouraging sentiments concerning marriage, I
asked if she was happy: she said she was; but I only half believed her;
and now I must put the same question to you.’
‘It is a very impertinent question,’ laughed I, ‘from a young girl to a
married woman so many years her senior, and I shall not answer it.’
‘Pardon me, dear madam,’ said she, laughingly throwing herself into my
arms, and kissing me with playful affection; but I felt a tear on my
neck, as she dropped her head on my bosom and continued, with an odd
mixture of sadness and levity, timidity and audacity,—‘I know you are not
so happy as I mean to be, for you spend half your life alone at
Grassdale, while Mr. Huntingdon goes about enjoying himself where and how
he pleases. I shall expect my husband to have no pleasures but what he
shares with me; and if his greatest pleasure of all is not the enjoyment
of my company, why, it will be the worse for him, that’s all.’
‘If such are your expectations of matrimony, Esther, you must, indeed, be
careful whom you marry—or rather, you must avoid it altogether.’
CHAPTER XLII
September 1st.—No Mr. Huntingdon yet. Perhaps he will stay among his
friends till Christmas; and then, next spring, he will be off again. If
he continue this plan, I shall be able to stay at Grassdale well
enough—that is, I shall be able to stay, and that is enough; even an
occasional bevy of friends at the shooting season may be borne, if Arthur
get so firmly attached to me, so well established in good sense and
principles before they come that I shall be able, by reason and
affection, to keep him pure from their contaminations. Vain hope, I
fear! but still, till such a time of trial comes I will forbear to think
of my quiet asylum in the beloved old hall.
Mr. and Mrs. Hattersley have been staying at the Grove a fortnight: and
as Mr. Hargrave is still absent, and the weather was remarkably fine, I
never passed a day without seeing my two friends, Milicent and Esther,
either there or here. On one occasion, when Mr. Hattersley had driven
them over to Grassdale in the phaeton, with little Helen and Ralph, and
we were all enjoying ourselves in the garden—I had a few minutes’
conversation with that gentleman, while the ladies were amusing
themselves with the children.
‘Do you want to hear anything of your husband, Mrs. Huntingdon?’ said he.
‘No, unless you can tell me when to expect him home.’
‘I can’t.—You don’t want him, do you?’ said he, with a broad grin.
‘No.’
‘Well, I think you’re better without him, sure enough—for my part, I’m
downright weary of him. I told him I’d leave him if he didn’t mend his
manners, and he wouldn’t; so I left him. You see, I’m a better man than
you think me; and, what’s more, I have serious thoughts of washing my
hands of him entirely, and the whole set of ’em, and comporting myself
from this day forward with all decency and sobriety, as a Christian and
the father of a family should do. What do you think of that?’
‘It is a resolution you ought to have formed long ago.’
‘Well, I’m not thirty yet; it isn’t too late, is it?’
‘No; it is never too late to reform, as long as you have the sense to
desire it, and the strength to execute your purpose.’
‘Well, to tell you the truth, I’ve thought of it often and often before;
but he’s such devilish good company, is Huntingdon, after all. You can’t
imagine what a jovial good fellow he is when he’s not fairly drunk, only
just primed or half-seas-over. We all have a bit of a liking for him at
the bottom of our hearts, though we can’t respect him.’
‘But should you wish yourself to be like him?’
‘No, I’d rather be like myself, bad as I am.’
‘You can’t continue as bad as you are without getting worse and more
brutalised every day, and therefore more like him.’
I could not help smiling at the comical, half-angry, half-confounded look
he put on at this rather unusual mode of address.
‘Never mind my plain speaking,’ said I; ‘it is from the best of motives.
But tell me, should you wish your sons to be like Mr. Huntingdon—or even
like yourself?’
‘Hang it! no.’
‘Should you wish your daughter to despise you—or, at least, to feel no
vestige of respect for you, and no affection but what is mingled with the
bitterest regret?’
‘Oh, no! I couldn’t stand that.’
‘And, finally, should you wish your wife to be ready to sink into the
earth when she hears you mentioned; and to loathe the very sound of your
voice, and shudder at your approach?’
‘She never will; she likes me all the same, whatever I do.’
‘Impossible, Mr. Hattersley! you mistake her quiet submission for
affection.’
‘Fire and fury—’
‘Now don’t burst into a tempest at that. I don’t mean to say she does
not love you—she does, I know, a great deal better than you deserve; but
I am quite sure, that if you behave better, she will love you more, and
if you behave worse, she will love you less and less, till all is lost in
fear, aversion, and bitterness of soul, if not in secret hatred and
contempt. But, dropping the subject of affection, should you wish to be
the tyrant of her life—to take away all the sunshine from her existence,
and make her thoroughly miserable?’
‘Of course not; and I don’t, and I’m not going to.’
‘You have done more towards it than you suppose.’
‘Pooh, pooh! she’s not the susceptible, anxious, worriting creature you
imagine: she’s a little meek, peaceable, affectionate body; apt to be
rather sulky at times, but quiet and cool in the main, and ready to take
things as they come.’
‘Think of what she was five years ago, when you married her, and what she
is now.’
‘I know she was a little plump lassie then, with a pretty pink and white
face: now she’s a poor little bit of a creature, fading and melting away
like a snow-wreath. But hang it!—that’s not my fault.’
‘What is the cause of it then? Not years, for she’s only
five-and-twenty.’
‘It’s her own delicate health, and confound it, madam! what would you
make of me?—and the children, to be sure, that worry her to death between
them.’
‘No, Mr. Hattersley, the children give her more pleasure than pain: they
are fine, well-dispositioned children—’
‘I know they are—bless them!’
‘Then why lay the blame on them?—I’ll tell you what it is: it’s silent
fretting and constant anxiety on your account, mingled, I suspect, with
something of bodily fear on her own. When you behave well, she can only
rejoice with trembling; she has no security, no confidence in your
judgment or principles; but is continually dreading the close of such
short-lived felicity; when you behave ill, her causes of terror and
misery are more than any one can tell but herself. In patient endurance
of evil, she forgets it is our duty to admonish our neighbours of their
transgressions. Since you will mistake her silence for indifference,
come with me, and I’ll show you one or two of her letters—no breach of
confidence, I hope, since you are her other half.’
He followed me into the library. I sought out and put into his hands two
of Milicent’s letters: one dated from London, and written during one of
his wildest seasons of reckless dissipation; the other in the country,
during a lucid interval. The former was full of trouble and anguish; not
accusing him, but deeply regretting his connection with his profligate
companions, abusing Mr. Grimsby and others, insinuating bitter things
against Mr. Huntingdon, and most ingeniously throwing the blame of her
husband’s misconduct on to other men’s shoulders. The latter was full of
hope and joy, yet with a trembling consciousness that this happiness
would not last; praising his goodness to the skies, but with an evident,
though but half-expressed wish, that it were based on a surer foundation
than the natural impulses of the heart, and a half-prophetic dread of the
fall of that house so founded on the sand,—which fall had shortly after
taken place, as Hattersley must have been conscious while he read.
Almost at the commencement of the first letter I had the unexpected
pleasure of seeing him blush; but he immediately turned his back to me,
and finished the perusal at the window. At the second, I saw him, once
or twice, raise his hand, and hurriedly pass it across his face. Could
it be to dash away a tear? When he had done, there was an interval spent
in clearing his throat and staring out of the window, and then, after
whistling a few bars of a favourite air, he turned round, gave me back
the letters, and silently shook me by the hand.
‘I’ve been a cursed rascal, God knows,’ said he, as he gave it a hearty
squeeze, ‘but you see if I don’t make amends for it—d—n me if I don’t!’
‘Don’t curse yourself, Mr. Hattersley; if God had heard half your
invocations of that kind, you would have been in hell long before now—and
you cannot make amends for the past by doing your duty for the future,
inasmuch as your duty is only what you owe to your Maker, and you cannot
do more than fulfil it: another must make amends for your past
delinquencies. If you intend to reform, invoke God’s blessing, His
mercy, and His aid; not His curse.’
‘God help me, then—for I’m sure I need it. Where’s Milicent?’
‘She’s there, just coming in with her sister.’
He stepped out at the glass door, and went to meet them. I followed at a
little distance. Somewhat to his wife’s astonishment, he lifted her off
from the ground, and saluted her with a hearty kiss and a strong embrace;
then placing his two hands on her shoulders, he gave her, I suppose, a
sketch of the great things he meant to do, for she suddenly threw her
arms round him, and burst into tears, exclaiming,—‘Do, do, Ralph—we shall
be so happy! How very, very good you are!’
‘Nay, not I,’ said he, turning her round, and pushing her towards me.
‘Thank her; it’s her doing.’
Milicent flew to thank me, overflowing with gratitude. I disclaimed all
title to it, telling her her husband was predisposed to amendment before
I added my mite of exhortation and encouragement, and that I had only
done what she might, and ought to have done herself.
‘Oh, no!’ cried she; ‘I couldn’t have influenced him, I’m sure, by
anything that I could have said. I should only have bothered him by my
clumsy efforts at persuasion, if I had made the attempt.’
‘You never tried me, Milly,’ said he.
Shortly after they took their leave. They are now gone on a visit to
Hattersley’s father. After that they will repair to their country home.
I hope his good resolutions will not fall through, and poor Milicent will
not be again disappointed. Her last letter was full of present bliss,
and pleasing anticipations for the future; but no particular temptation
has yet occurred to put his virtue to the test. Henceforth, however, she
will doubtless be somewhat less timid and reserved, and he more kind and
thoughtful.—Surely, then, her hopes are not unfounded; and I have one
bright spot, at least, whereon to rest my thoughts.
CHAPTER XLIII
October 10th.—Mr. Huntingdon returned about three weeks ago. His
appearance, his demeanour and conversation, and my feelings with regard
to him, I shall not trouble myself to describe. The day after his
arrival, however, he surprised me by the announcement of an intention to
procure a governess for little Arthur: I told him it was quite
unnecessary, not to say ridiculous, at the present season: I thought I
was fully competent to the task of teaching him myself—for some years to
come, at least: the child’s education was the only pleasure and business
of my life; and since he had deprived me of every other occupation, he
might surely leave me that.
He said I was not fit to teach children, or to be with them: I had
already reduced the boy to little better than an automaton; I had broken
his fine spirit with my rigid severity; and I should freeze all the
sunshine out of his heart, and make him as gloomy an ascetic as myself,
if I had the handling of him much longer. And poor Rachel, too, came in
for her share of abuse, as usual; he cannot endure Rachel, because he
knows she has a proper appreciation of him.
I calmly defended our several qualifications as nurse and governess, and
still resisted the proposed addition to our family; but he cut me short
by saying it was no use bothering about the matter, for he had engaged a
governess already, and she was coming next week; so that all I had to do
was to get things ready for her reception. This was a rather startling
piece of intelligence. I ventured to inquire her name and address, by
whom she had been recommended, or how he had been led to make choice of
her.
‘She is a very estimable, pious young person,’ said he; ‘you needn’t be
afraid. Her name is Myers, I believe; and she was recommended to me by a
respectable old dowager: a lady of high repute in the religious world. I
have not seen her myself, and therefore cannot give you a particular
account of her person and conversation, and so forth; but, if the old
lady’s eulogies are correct, you will find her to possess all desirable
qualifications for her position: an inordinate love of children among the
rest.’
All this was gravely and quietly spoken, but there was a laughing demon
in his half-averted eye that boded no good, I imagined. However, I
thought of my asylum in —shire, and made no further objections.
When Miss Myers arrived, I was not prepared to give her a very cordial
reception. Her appearance was not particularly calculated to produce a
favourable impression at first sight, nor did her manners and subsequent
conduct, in any degree, remove the prejudice I had already conceived
against her. Her attainments were limited, her intellect noways above
mediocrity. She had a fine voice, and could sing like a nightingale, and
accompany herself sufficiently well on the piano; but these were her only
accomplishments. There was a look of guile and subtlety in her face, a
sound of it in her voice. She seemed afraid of me, and would start if I
suddenly approached her. In her behaviour she was respectful and
complaisant, even to servility: she attempted to flatter and fawn upon me
at first, but I soon checked that. Her fondness for her little pupil was
overstrained, and I was obliged to remonstrate with her on the subject of
over-indulgence and injudicious praise; but she could not gain his heart.
Her piety consisted in an occasional heaving of sighs, and uplifting of
eyes to the ceiling, and the utterance of a few cant phrases. She told
me she was a clergyman’s daughter, and had been left an orphan from her
childhood, but had had the good fortune to obtain a situation in a very
pious family; and then she spoke so gratefully of the kindness she had
experienced from its different members, that I reproached myself for my
uncharitable thoughts and unfriendly conduct, and relented for a time,
but not for long: my causes of dislike were too rational, my suspicions
too well founded for that; and I knew it was my duty to watch and
scrutinize till those suspicions were either satisfactorily removed or
confirmed.
I asked the name and residence of the kind and pious family. She
mentioned a common name, and an unknown and distant place of abode, but
told me they were now on the Continent, and their present address was
unknown to her. I never saw her speak much to Mr. Huntingdon; but he
would frequently look into the school-room to see how little Arthur got
on with his new companion, when I was not there. In the evening, she sat
with us in the drawing-room, and would sing and play to amuse him or us,
as she pretended, and was very attentive to his wants, and watchful to
anticipate them, though she only talked to me; indeed, he was seldom in a
condition to be talked to. Had she been other than she was, I should
have felt her presence a great relief to come between us thus, except,
indeed, that I should have been thoroughly ashamed for any decent person
to see him as he often was.
I did not mention my suspicions to Rachel; but she, having sojourned for
half a century in this land of sin and sorrow, has learned to be
suspicious herself. She told me from the first she was ‘down of that new
governess,’ and I soon found she watched her quite as narrowly as I did;
and I was glad of it, for I longed to know the truth: the atmosphere of
Grassdale seemed to stifle me, and I could only live by thinking of
Wildfell Hall.
At last, one morning, she entered my chamber with such intelligence that
my resolution was taken before she had ceased to speak. While she
dressed me I explained to her my intentions and what assistance I should
require from her, and told her which of my things she was to pack up, and
what she was to leave behind for herself, as I had no other means of
recompensing her for this sudden dismissal after her long and faithful
service: a circumstance I most deeply regretted, but could not avoid.
‘And what will you do, Rachel?’ said I; ‘will you go home, or seek
another place?’
‘I have no home, ma’am, but with you,’ she replied; ‘and if I leave you
I’ll never go into place again as long as I live.’
‘But I can’t afford to live like a lady now,’ returned I: ‘I must be my
own maid and my child’s nurse.’
‘What signifies!’ replied she, in some excitement. ‘You’ll want somebody
to clean and wash, and cook, won’t you? I can do all that; and never
mind the wages: I’ve my bits o’ savings yet, and if you wouldn’t take me
I should have to find my own board and lodging out of ’em somewhere, or
else work among strangers: and it’s what I’m not used to: so you can
please yourself, ma’am.’ Her voice quavered as she spoke, and the tears
stood in her eyes.
‘I should like it above all things, Rachel, and I’d give you such wages
as I could afford: such as I should give to any servant-of-all-work I
might employ: but don’t you see I should be dragging you down with me
when you have done nothing to deserve it?’
‘Oh, fiddle!’ ejaculated she.
‘And, besides, my future way of living will be so widely different to the
past: so different to all you have been accustomed to—’
‘Do you think, ma’am, I can’t bear what my missis can? surely I’m not so
proud and so dainty as that comes to; and my little master, too, God
bless him!’
‘But I’m young, Rachel; I sha’n’t mind it; and Arthur is young too: it
will be nothing to him.’
‘Nor me either: I’m not so old but what I can stand hard fare and hard
work, if it’s only to help and comfort them as I’ve loved like my own
bairns: for all I’m too old to bide the thoughts o’ leaving ’em in
trouble and danger, and going amongst strangers myself.’
‘Then you sha’n’t, Rachel!’ cried I, embracing my faithful friend.
‘We’ll all go together, and you shall see how the new life suits you.’
‘Bless you, honey!’ cried she, affectionately returning my embrace.
‘Only let us get shut of this wicked house, and we’ll do right enough,
you’ll see.’
‘So think I,’ was my answer; and so that point was settled.
By that morning’s post I despatched a few hasty lines to Frederick,
beseeching him to prepare my asylum for my immediate reception: for I
should probably come to claim it within a day after the receipt of that
note: and telling him, in few words, the cause of my sudden resolution.
I then wrote three letters of adieu: the first to Esther Hargrave, in
which I told her that I found it impossible to stay any longer at
Grassdale, or to leave my son under his father’s protection; and, as it
was of the last importance that our future abode should be unknown to him
and his acquaintance, I should disclose it to no one but my brother,
through the medium of whom I hoped still to correspond with my friends.
I then gave her his address, exhorted her to write frequently, reiterated
some of my former admonitions regarding her own concerns, and bade her a
fond farewell.
The second was to Milicent; much to the same effect, but a little more
confidential, as befitted our longer intimacy, and her greater experience
and better acquaintance with my circumstances.
The third was to my aunt: a much more difficult and painful undertaking,
and therefore I had left it to the last; but I must give her some
explanation of that extraordinary step I had taken: and that quickly, for
she and my uncle would no doubt hear of it within a day or two after my
disappearance, as it was probable that Mr. Huntingdon would speedily
apply to them to know what was become of me. At last, however, I told
her I was sensible of my error: I did not complain of its punishment, and
I was sorry to trouble my friends with its consequences; but in duty to
my son I must submit no longer; it was absolutely necessary that he
should be delivered from his father’s corrupting influence. I should not
disclose my place of refuge even to her, in order that she and my uncle
might be able, with truth, to deny all knowledge concerning it; but any
communications addressed to me under cover to my brother would be certain
to reach me. I hoped she and my uncle would pardon the step I had taken,
for if they knew all, I was sure they would not blame me; and I trusted
they would not afflict themselves on my account, for if I could only
reach my retreat in safety and keep it unmolested, I should be very
happy, but for the thoughts of them; and should be quite contented to
spend my life in obscurity, devoting myself to the training up of my
child, and teaching him to avoid the errors of both his parents.
These things were done yesterday: I have given two whole days to the
preparation for our departure, that Frederick may have more time to
prepare the rooms, and Rachel to pack up the things: for the latter task
must be done with the utmost caution and secrecy, and there is no one but
me to assist her. I can help to get the articles together, but I do not
understand the art of stowing them into the boxes, so as to take up the
smallest possible space; and there are her own things to do, as well as
mine and Arthur’s. I can ill afford to leave anything behind, since I
have no money, except a few guineas in my purse; and besides, as Rachel
observed, whatever I left would most likely become the property of Miss
Myers, and I should not relish that.
But what trouble I have had throughout these two days, struggling to
appear calm and collected, to meet him and her as usual, when I was
obliged to meet them, and forcing myself to leave my little Arthur in her
hands for hours together! But I trust these trials are over now: I have
laid him in my bed for better security, and never more, I trust, shall
his innocent lips be defiled by their contaminating kisses, or his young
ears polluted by their words. But shall we escape in safety? Oh, that
the morning were come, and we were on our way at least! This evening,
when I had given Rachel all the assistance I could, and had nothing left
me but to wait, and wish and tremble, I became so greatly agitated that I
knew not what to do. I went down to dinner, but I could not force myself
to eat. Mr. Huntingdon remarked the circumstance.
‘What’s to do with you now?’ said he, when the removal of the second
course gave him time to look about him.
‘I am not well,’ I replied: ‘I think I must lie down a little; you won’t
miss me much?’
‘Not the least: if you leave your chair, it’ll do just as well—better, a
trifle,’ he muttered, as I left the room, ‘for I can fancy somebody else
fills it.’
‘Somebody else may fill it to-morrow,’ I thought, but did not say.
‘There! I’ve seen the last of you, I hope,’ I muttered, as I closed the
door upon him.
Rachel urged me to seek repose at once, to recruit my strength for
to-morrow’s journey, as we must be gone before the dawn; but in my
present state of nervous excitement that was entirely out of the
question. It was equally out of the question to sit, or wander about my
room, counting the hours and the minutes between me and the appointed
time of action, straining my ears and trembling at every sound, lest
someone should discover and betray us after all. I took up a book and
tried to read: my eyes wandered over the pages, but it was impossible to
bind my thoughts to their contents. Why not have recourse to the old
expedient, and add this last event to my chronicle? I opened its pages
once more, and wrote the above account—with difficulty, at first, but
gradually my mind became more calm and steady. Thus several hours have
passed away: the time is drawing near; and now my eyes feel heavy and my
frame exhausted. I will commend my cause to God, and then lie down and
gain an hour or two of sleep; and then!—
Little Arthur sleeps soundly. All the house is still: there can be no
one watching. The boxes were all corded by Benson, and quietly conveyed
down the back stairs after dusk, and sent away in a cart to the M—
coach-office. The name upon the cards was Mrs. Graham, which appellation
I mean henceforth to adopt. My mother’s maiden name was Graham, and
therefore I fancy I have some claim to it, and prefer it to any other,
except my own, which I dare not resume.
CHAPTER XLIV
October 24th.—Thank heaven, I am free and safe at last. Early we rose,
swiftly and quietly dressed, slowly and stealthily descended to the hall,
where Benson stood ready with a light, to open the door and fasten it
after us. We were obliged to let one man into our secret on account of
the boxes, &c. All the servants were but too well acquainted with their
master’s conduct, and either Benson or John would have been willing to
serve me; but as the former was more staid and elderly, and a crony of
Rachel’s besides, I of course directed her to make choice of him as her
assistant and confidant on the occasion, as far as necessity demanded, I
only hope he may not be brought into trouble thereby, and only wish I
could reward him for the perilous service he was so ready to undertake.
I slipped two guineas into his hand, by way of remembrance, as he stood
in the doorway, holding the candle to light our departure, with a tear in
his honest grey eye, and a host of good wishes depicted on his solemn
countenance. Alas! I could offer no more: I had barely sufficient
remaining for the probable expenses of the journey.
What trembling joy it was when the little wicket closed behind us, as we
issued from the park! Then, for one moment, I paused, to inhale one
draught of that cool, bracing air, and venture one look back upon the
house. All was dark and still: no light glimmered in the windows, no
wreath of smoke obscured the stars that sparkled above it in the frosty
sky. As I bade farewell for ever to that place, the scene of so much
guilt and misery, I felt glad that I had not left it before, for now
there was no doubt about the propriety of such a step—no shadow of
remorse for him I left behind. There was nothing to disturb my joy but
the fear of detection; and every step removed us further from the chance
of that.
We had left Grassdale many miles behind us before the round red sun arose
to welcome our deliverance; and if any inhabitant of its vicinity had
chanced to see us then, as we bowled along on the top of the coach, I
scarcely think they would have suspected our identity. As I intend to be
taken for a widow, I thought it advisable to enter my new abode in
mourning: I was, therefore, attired in a plain black silk dress and
mantle, a black veil (which I kept carefully over my face for the first
twenty or thirty miles of the journey), and a black silk bonnet, which I
had been constrained to borrow of Rachel, for want of such an article
myself. It was not in the newest fashion, of course; but none the worse
for that, under present circumstances. Arthur was clad in his plainest
clothes, and wrapped in a coarse woollen shawl; and Rachel was muffled in
a grey cloak and hood that had seen better days, and gave her more the
appearance of an ordinary though decent old woman, than of a lady’s-maid.
Oh, what delight it was to be thus seated aloft, rumbling along the
broad, sunshiny road, with the fresh morning breeze in my face,
surrounded by an unknown country, all smiling—cheerfully, gloriously
smiling in the yellow lustre of those early beams; with my darling child
in my arms, almost as happy as myself, and my faithful friend beside me:
a prison and despair behind me, receding further, further back at every
clatter of the horses’ feet; and liberty and hope before! I could hardly
refrain from praising God aloud for my deliverance, or astonishing my
fellow-passengers by some surprising outburst of hilarity.
But the journey was a very long one, and we were all weary enough before
the close of it. It was far into the night when we reached the town of
L—, and still we were seven miles from our journey’s end; and there was
no more coaching, nor any conveyance to be had, except a common cart, and
that with the greatest difficulty, for half the town was in bed. And a
dreary ride we had of it, that last stage of the journey, cold and weary
as we were; sitting on our boxes, with nothing to cling to, nothing to
lean against, slowly dragged and cruelly shaken over the rough, hilly
roads. But Arthur was asleep in Rachel’s lap, and between us we managed
pretty well to shield him from the cold night air.
At last we began to ascend a terribly steep and stony lane, which, in
spite of the darkness, Rachel said she remembered well: she had often
walked there with me in her arms, and little thought to come again so
many years after, under such circumstances as the present. Arthur being
now awakened by the jolting and the stoppages, we all got out and walked.
We had not far to go; but what if Frederick should not have received my
letter? or if he should not have had time to prepare the rooms for our
reception, and we should find them all dark, damp, and comfortless,
destitute of food, fire, and furniture, after all our toil?
At length the grim, dark pile appeared before us. The lane conducted us
round by the back way. We entered the desolate court, and in breathless
anxiety surveyed the ruinous mass. Was it all blackness and desolation?
No; one faint red glimmer cheered us from a window where the lattice was
in good repair. The door was fastened, but after due knocking and
waiting, and some parleying with a voice from an upper window, we were
admitted by an old woman who had been commissioned to air and keep the
house till our arrival, into a tolerably snug little apartment, formerly
the scullery of the mansion, which Frederick had now fitted up as a
kitchen. Here she procured us a light, roused the fire to a cheerful
blaze, and soon prepared a simple repast for our refreshment; while we
disencumbered ourselves of our travelling-gear, and took a hasty survey
of our new abode. Besides the kitchen, there were two bedrooms, a
good-sized parlour, and another smaller one, which I destined for my
studio, all well aired and seemingly in good repair, but only partly
furnished with a few old articles, chiefly of ponderous black oak, the
veritable ones that had been there before, and which had been kept as
antiquarian relics in my brother’s present residence, and now, in all
haste, transported back again.
The old woman brought my supper and Arthur’s into the parlour, and told
me, with all due formality, that ‘the master desired his compliments to
Mrs. Graham, and he had prepared the rooms as well as he could upon so
short a notice; but he would do himself the pleasure of calling upon her
to-morrow, to receive her further commands.’
I was glad to ascend the stern-looking stone staircase, and lie down in
the gloomy, old-fashioned bed, beside my little Arthur. He was asleep in
a minute; but, weary as I was, my excited feelings and restless
cogitations kept me awake till dawn began to struggle with the darkness;
but sleep was sweet and refreshing when it came, and the waking was
delightful beyond expression. It was little Arthur that roused me, with
his gentle kisses. He was here, then, safely clasped in my arms, and
many leagues away from his unworthy father! Broad daylight illumined the
apartment, for the sun was high in heaven, though obscured by rolling
masses of autumnal vapour.
The scene, indeed, was not remarkably cheerful in itself, either within
or without. The large bare room, with its grim old furniture, the
narrow, latticed windows, revealing the dull, grey sky above and the
desolate wilderness below, where the dark stone walls and iron gate, the
rank growth of grass and weeds, and the hardy evergreens of preternatural
forms, alone remained to tell that there had been once a garden,—and the
bleak and barren fields beyond might have struck me as gloomy enough at
another time; but now, each separate object seemed to echo back my own
exhilarating sense of hope and freedom: indefinite dreams of the far past
and bright anticipations of the future seemed to greet me at every turn.
I should rejoice with more security, to be sure, had the broad sea rolled
between my present and my former homes; but surely in this lonely spot I
might remain unknown; and then I had my brother here to cheer my solitude
with his occasional visits.
He came that morning; and I have had several interviews with him since;
but he is obliged to be very cautious when and how he comes; not even his
servants or his best friends must know of his visits to Wildfell—except
on such occasions as a landlord might be expected to call upon a stranger
tenant—lest suspicion should be excited against me, whether of the truth
or of some slanderous falsehood.
I have now been here nearly a fortnight, and, but for one disturbing
care, the haunting dread of discovery, I am comfortably settled in my new
home: Frederick has supplied me with all requisite furniture and painting
materials: Rachel has sold most of my clothes for me, in a distant town,
and procured me a wardrobe more suitable to my present position: I have a
second-hand piano, and a tolerably well-stocked bookcase in my parlour;
and my other room has assumed quite a professional, business-like
appearance already. I am working hard to repay my brother for all his
expenses on my account; not that there is the slightest necessity for
anything of the kind, but it pleases me to do so: I shall have so much
more pleasure in my labour, my earnings, my frugal fare, and household
economy, when I know that I am paying my way honestly, and that what
little I possess is legitimately all my own; and that no one suffers for
my folly—in a pecuniary way at least. I shall make him take the last
penny I owe him, if I can possibly effect it without offending him too
deeply. I have a few pictures already done, for I told Rachel to pack up
all I had; and she executed her commission but too well—for among the
rest, she put up a portrait of Mr. Huntingdon that I had painted in the
first year of my marriage. It struck me with dismay, at the moment, when
I took it from the box and beheld those eyes fixed upon me in their
mocking mirth, as if exulting still in his power to control my fate, and
deriding my efforts to escape.
How widely different had been my feelings in painting that portrait to
what they now were in looking upon it! How I had studied and toiled to
produce something, as I thought, worthy of the original! what mingled
pleasure and dissatisfaction I had had in the result of my
labours!—pleasure for the likeness I had caught; dissatisfaction, because
I had not made it handsome enough. Now, I see no beauty in it—nothing
pleasing in any part of its expression; and yet it is far handsomer and
far more agreeable—far less repulsive I should rather say—than he is now:
for these six years have wrought almost as great a change upon himself as
on my feelings regarding him. The frame, however, is handsome enough; it
will serve for another painting. The picture itself I have not
destroyed, as I had first intended; I have put it aside; not, I think,
from any lurking tenderness for the memory of past affection, nor yet to
remind me of my former folly, but chiefly that I may compare my son’s
features and countenance with this, as he grows up, and thus be enabled
to judge how much or how little he resembles his father—if I may be
allowed to keep him with me still, and never to behold that father’s face
again—a blessing I hardly dare reckon upon.
It seems Mr. Huntingdon is making every exertion to discover the place of
my retreat. He has been in person to Staningley, seeking redress for his
grievances—expecting to hear of his victims, if not to find them
there—and has told so many lies, and with such unblushing coolness, that
my uncle more than half believes him, and strongly advocates my going
back to him and being friends again. But my aunt knows better: she is
too cool and cautious, and too well acquainted with both my husband’s
character and my own to be imposed upon by any specious falsehoods the
former could invent. But he does not want me back; he wants my child;
and gives my friends to understand that if I prefer living apart from
him, he will indulge the whim and let me do so unmolested, and even
settle a reasonable allowance on me, provided I will immediately deliver
up his son. But heaven help me! I am not going to sell my child for
gold, though it were to save both him and me from starving: it would be
better that he should die with me than that he should live with his
father.
Frederick showed me a letter he had received from that gentleman, full of
cool impudence such as would astonish any one who did not know him, but
such as, I am convinced, none would know better how to answer than my
brother. He gave me no account of his reply, except to tell me that he
had not acknowledged his acquaintance with my place of refuge, but rather
left it to be inferred that it was quite unknown to him, by saying it was
useless to apply to him, or any other of my relations, for information on
the subject, as it appeared I had been driven to such extremity that I
had concealed my retreat even from my best friends; but that if he had
known it, or should at any time be made aware of it, most certainly Mr.
Huntingdon would be the last person to whom he should communicate the
intelligence; and that he need not trouble himself to bargain for the
child, for he (Frederick) fancied he knew enough of his sister to enable
him to declare, that wherever she might be, or however situated, no
consideration would induce her to deliver him up.
30th.—Alas! my kind neighbours will not let me alone. By some means they
have ferreted me out, and I have had to sustain visits from three
different families, all more or less bent upon discovering who and what I
am, whence I came, and why I have chosen such a home as this. Their
society is unnecessary to me, to say the least, and their curiosity
annoys and alarms me: if I gratify it, it may lead to the ruin of my son,
and if I am too mysterious it will only excite their suspicions, invite
conjecture, and rouse them to greater exertions—and perhaps be the means
of spreading my fame from parish to parish, till it reach the ears of
some one who will carry it to the Lord of Grassdale Manor.
I shall be expected to return their calls, but if, upon inquiry, I find
that any of them live too far away for Arthur to accompany me, they must
expect in vain for a while, for I cannot bear to leave him, unless it be
to go to church, and I have not attempted that yet: for—it may be foolish
weakness, but I am under such constant dread of his being snatched away,
that I am never easy when he is not by my side; and I fear these nervous
terrors would so entirely disturb my devotions, that I should obtain no
benefit from the attendance. I mean, however, to make the experiment
next Sunday, and oblige myself to leave him in charge of Rachel for a few
hours. It will be a hard task, but surely no imprudence; and the vicar
has been to scold me for my neglect of the ordinances of religion. I had
no sufficient excuse to offer, and I promised, if all were well, he
should see me in my pew next Sunday; for I do not wish to be set down as
an infidel; and, besides, I know I should derive great comfort and
benefit from an occasional attendance at public worship, if I could only
have faith and fortitude to compose my thoughts in conformity with the
solemn occasion, and forbid them to be for ever dwelling on my absent
child, and on the dreadful possibility of finding him gone when I return;
and surely God in His mercy will preserve me from so severe a trial: for
my child’s own sake, if not for mine, He will not suffer him to be torn
away.
November 3rd.—I have made some further acquaintance with my neighbours.
The fine gentleman and beau of the parish and its vicinity (in his own
estimation, at least) is a young . . . .
* * * * *
Here it ended. The rest was torn away. How cruel, just when she was
going to mention me! for I could not doubt it was your humble servant she
was about to mention, though not very favourably, of course. I could
tell that, as well by those few words as by the recollection of her whole
aspect and demeanour towards me in the commencement of our acquaintance.
Well! I could readily forgive her prejudice against me, and her hard
thoughts of our sex in general, when I saw to what brilliant specimens
her experience had been limited.
Respecting me, however, she had long since seen her error, and perhaps
fallen into another in the opposite extreme: for if, at first, her
opinion of me had been lower than I deserved, I was convinced that now my
deserts were lower than her opinion; and if the former part of this
continuation had been torn away to avoid wounding my feelings, perhaps
the latter portion had been removed for fear of ministering too much to
my self-conceit. At any rate, I would have given much to have seen it
all—to have witnessed the gradual change, and watched the progress of her
esteem and friendship for me, and whatever warmer feeling she might have;
to have seen how much of love there was in her regard, and how it had
grown upon her in spite of her virtuous resolutions and strenuous
exertions to—but no, I had no right to see it: all this was too sacred
for any eyes but her own, and she had done well to keep it from me.
CHAPTER XLV
Well, Halford, what do you think of all this? and while you read it, did
you ever picture to yourself what my feelings would probably be during
its perusal? Most likely not; but I am not going to descant upon them
now: I will only make this acknowledgment, little honourable as it may be
to human nature, and especially to myself,—that the former half of the
narrative was, to me, more painful than the latter, not that I was at all
insensible to Mrs. Huntingdon’s wrongs or unmoved by her sufferings, but,
I must confess, I felt a kind of selfish gratification in watching her
husband’s gradual decline in her good graces, and seeing how completely
he extinguished all her affection at last. The effect of the whole,
however, in spite of all my sympathy for her, and my fury against him,
was to relieve my mind of an intolerable burden, and fill my heart with
joy, as if some friend had roused me from a dreadful nightmare.
It was now near eight o’clock in the morning, for my candle had expired
in the midst of my perusal, leaving me no alternative but to get another,
at the expense of alarming the house, or to go to bed, and wait the
return of daylight. On my mother’s account, I chose the latter; but how
willingly I sought my pillow, and how much sleep it brought me, I leave
you to imagine.
At the first appearance of dawn, I rose, and brought the manuscript to
the window, but it was impossible to read it yet. I devoted half an hour
to dressing, and then returned to it again. Now, with a little
difficulty, I could manage; and with intense and eager interest, I
devoured the remainder of its contents. When it was ended, and my
transient regret at its abrupt conclusion was over, I opened the window
and put out my head to catch the cooling breeze, and imbibe deep draughts
of the pure morning air. A splendid morning it was; the half-frozen dew
lay thick on the grass, the swallows were twittering round me, the rooks
cawing, and cows lowing in the distance; and early frost and summer
sunshine mingled their sweetness in the air. But I did not think of
that: a confusion of countless thoughts and varied emotions crowded upon
me while I gazed abstractedly on the lovely face of nature. Soon,
however, this chaos of thoughts and passions cleared away, giving place
to two distinct emotions: joy unspeakable that my adored Helen was all I
wished to think her—that through the noisome vapours of the world’s
aspersions and my own fancied convictions, her character shone bright,
and clear, and stainless as that sun I could not bear to look on; and
shame and deep remorse for my own conduct.
Immediately after breakfast I hurried over to Wildfell Hall. Rachel had
risen many degrees in my estimation since yesterday. I was ready to
greet her quite as an old friend; but every kindly impulse was checked by
the look of cold distrust she cast upon me on opening the door. The old
virgin had constituted herself the guardian of her lady’s honour, I
suppose, and doubtless she saw in me another Mr. Hargrave, only the more
dangerous in being more esteemed and trusted by her mistress.
‘Missis can’t see any one to-day, sir—she’s poorly,’ said she, in answer
to my inquiry for Mrs. Graham.
‘But I must see her, Rachel,’ said I, placing my hand on the door to
prevent its being shut against me.
‘Indeed, sir, you can’t,’ replied she, settling her countenance in still
more iron frigidity than before.
‘Be so good as to announce me.’
‘It’s no manner of use, Mr. Markham; she’s poorly, I tell you.’
Just in time to prevent me from committing the impropriety of taking the
citadel by storm, and pushing forward unannounced, an inner door opened,
and little Arthur appeared with his frolicsome playfellow, the dog. He
seized my hand between both his, and smilingly drew me forward.
‘Mamma says you’re to come in, Mr. Markham,’ said he, ‘and I am to go out
and play with Rover.’
Rachel retired with a sigh, and I stepped into the parlour and shut the
door. There, before the fire-place, stood the tall, graceful figure,
wasted with many sorrows. I cast the manuscript on the table, and looked
in her face. Anxious and pale, it was turned towards me; her clear, dark
eyes were fixed on mine with a gaze so intensely earnest that they bound
me like a spell.
‘Have you looked it over?’ she murmured. The spell was broken.
‘I’ve read it through,’ said I, advancing into the room,—‘and I want to
know if you’ll forgive me—if you can forgive me?’
She did not answer, but her eyes glistened, and a faint red mantled on
her lip and cheek. As I approached, she abruptly turned away, and went
to the window. It was not in anger, I was well assured, but only to
conceal or control her emotion. I therefore ventured to follow and stand
beside her there,—but not to speak. She gave me her hand, without
turning her head, and murmured in a voice she strove in vain to
steady,—‘Can you forgive me?’
It might be deemed a breach of trust, I thought, to convey that lily hand
to my lips, so I only gently pressed it between my own, and smilingly
replied,—‘I hardly can. You should have told me this before. It shows a
want of confidence—’
‘Oh, no,’ cried she, eagerly interrupting me; ‘it was not that. It was
no want of confidence in you; but if I had told you anything of my
history, I must have told you all, in order to excuse my conduct; and I
might well shrink from such a disclosure, till necessity obliged me to
make it. But you forgive me?—I have done very, very wrong, I know; but,
as usual, I have reaped the bitter fruits of my own error,—and must reap
them to the end.’
Bitter, indeed, was the tone of anguish, repressed by resolute firmness,
in which this was spoken. Now, I raised her hand to my lips, and
fervently kissed it again and again; for tears prevented any other reply.
She suffered these wild caresses without resistance or resentment; then,
suddenly turning from me, she paced twice or thrice through the room. I
knew by the contraction of her brow, the tight compression of her lips,
and wringing of her hands, that meantime a violent conflict between
reason and passion was silently passing within. At length she paused
before the empty fire-place, and turning to me, said calmly—if that might
be called calmness which was so evidently the result of a violent
effort,—‘Now, Gilbert, you must leave me—not this moment, but soon—and
you must never come again.’
‘Never again, Helen? just when I love you more than ever.’
‘For that very reason, if it be so, we should not meet again. I thought
this interview was necessary—at least, I persuaded myself it was so—that
we might severally ask and receive each other’s pardon for the past; but
there can be no excuse for another. I shall leave this place, as soon as
I have means to seek another asylum; but our intercourse must end here.’
‘End here!’ echoed I; and approaching the high, carved chimney-piece, I
leant my hand against its heavy mouldings, and dropped my forehead upon
it in silent, sullen despondency.
‘You must not come again,’ continued she. There was a slight tremor in
her voice, but I thought her whole manner was provokingly composed,
considering the dreadful sentence she pronounced. ‘You must know why I
tell you so,’ she resumed; ‘and you must see that it is better to part at
once: —if it be hard to say adieu for ever, you ought to help me.’ She
paused. I did not answer. ‘Will you promise not to come?—if you won’t,
and if you do come here again, you will drive me away before I know where
to find another place of refuge—or how to seek it.’
‘Helen,’ said I, turning impatiently towards her, ‘I cannot discuss the
matter of eternal separation calmly and dispassionately as you can do.
It is no question of mere expedience with me; it is a question of life
and death!’
She was silent. Her pale lips quivered, and her fingers trembled with
agitation, as she nervously entwined them in the hair-chain to which was
appended her small gold watch—the only thing of value she had permitted
herself to keep. I had said an unjust and cruel thing; but I must needs
follow it up with something worse.
‘But, Helen!’ I began in a soft, low tone, not daring to raise my eyes to
her face, ‘that man is not your husband: in the sight of heaven he has
forfeited all claim to—‘ She seized my arm with a grasp of startling
energy.
‘Gilbert, don’t!’ she cried, in a tone that would have pierced a heart of
adamant. ‘For God’s sake, don’t you attempt these arguments! No fiend
could torture me like this!’
‘I won’t, I won’t!’ said I, gently laying my hand on hers; almost as much
alarmed at her vehemence as ashamed of my own misconduct.
‘Instead of acting like a true friend,’ continued she, breaking from me,
and throwing herself into the old arm-chair, ‘and helping me with all
your might—or rather taking your own part in the struggle of right
against passion—you leave all the burden to me;—and not satisfied with
that, you do your utmost to fight against me—when you know that!—‘ she
paused, and hid her face in her handkerchief.
‘Forgive me, Helen!’ pleaded I. ‘I will never utter another word on the
subject. But may we not still meet as friends?’
‘It will not do,’ she replied, mournfully shaking her head; and then she
raised her eyes to mine, with a mildly reproachful look that seemed to
say, ‘You must know that as well as I.’
‘Then what must we do?’ cried I, passionately. But immediately I added
in a quieter tone—‘I’ll do whatever you desire; only don’t say that this
meeting is to be our last.’
‘And why not? Don’t you know that every time we meet the thoughts of the
final parting will become more painful? Don’t you feel that every
interview makes us dearer to each other than the last?’
The utterance of this last question was hurried and low, and the downcast
eyes and burning blush too plainly showed that she, at least, had felt
it. It was scarcely prudent to make such an admission, or to add—as she
presently did—‘I have power to bid you go, now: another time it might be
different,’—but I was not base enough to attempt to take advantage of her
candour.
‘But we may write,’ I timidly suggested. ‘You will not deny me that
consolation?’
‘We can hear of each other through my brother.’
‘Your brother!’ A pang of remorse and shame shot through me. She had
not heard of the injury he had sustained at my hands; and I had not the
courage to tell her. ‘Your brother will not help us,’ I said: ‘he would
have all communion between us to be entirely at an end.’
‘And he would be right, I suppose. As a friend of both, he would wish us
both well; and every friend would tell us it was our interest, as well as
our duty, to forget each other, though we might not see it ourselves.
But don’t be afraid, Gilbert,’ she added, smiling sadly at my manifest
discomposure; ‘there is little chance of my forgetting you. But I did
not mean that Frederick should be the means of transmitting messages
between us—only that each might know, through him, of the other’s
welfare;—and more than this ought not to be: for you are young, Gilbert,
and you ought to marry—and will some time, though you may think it
impossible now: and though I hardly can say I wish you to forget me, I
know it is right that you should, both for your own happiness, and that
of your future wife;—and therefore I must and will wish it,’ she added
resolutely.
‘And you are young too, Helen,’ I boldly replied; ‘and when that
profligate scoundrel has run through his career, you will give your hand
to me—I’ll wait till then.’
But she would not leave me this support. Independently of the moral evil
of basing our hopes upon the death of another, who, if unfit for this
world, was at least no less so for the next, and whose amelioration would
thus become our bane and his greatest transgression our greatest
benefit,—she maintained it to be madness: many men of Mr. Huntingdon’s
habits had lived to a ripe though miserable old age. ‘And if I,’ said
she, ‘am young in years, I am old in sorrow; but even if trouble should
fail to kill me before vice destroys him, think, if he reached but fifty
years or so, would you wait twenty or fifteen—in vague uncertainty and
suspense—through all the prime of youth and manhood—and marry at last a
woman faded and worn as I shall be—without ever having seen me from this
day to that?—You would not,’ she continued, interrupting my earnest
protestations of unfailing constancy,—‘or if you would, you should not.
Trust me, Gilbert; in this matter I know better than you. You think me
cold and stony-hearted, and you may, but—’
‘I don’t, Helen.’
‘Well, never mind: you might if you would: but I have not spent my
solitude in utter idleness, and I am not speaking now from the impulse of
the moment, as you do. I have thought of all these matters again and
again; I have argued these questions with myself, and pondered well our
past, and present, and future career; and, believe me, I have come to the
right conclusion at last. Trust my words rather than your own feelings
now, and in a few years you will see that I was right—though at present I
hardly can see it myself,’ she murmured with a sigh as she rested her
head on her hand. ‘And don’t argue against me any more: all you can say
has been already said by my own heart and refuted by my reason. It was
hard enough to combat those suggestions as they were whispered within me;
in your mouth they are ten times worse, and if you knew how much they
pain me you would cease at once, I know. If you knew my present
feelings, you would even try to relieve them at the expense of your own.’
‘I will go—in a minute, if that can relieve you—and NEVER return!’ said
I, with bitter emphasis. ‘But, if we may never meet, and never hope to
meet again, is it a crime to exchange our thoughts by letter? May not
kindred spirits meet, and mingle in communion, whatever be the fate and
circumstances of their earthly tenements?’
‘They may, they may!’ cried she, with a momentary burst of glad
enthusiasm. ‘I thought of that too, Gilbert, but I feared to mention it,
because I feared you would not understand my views upon the subject. I
fear it even now—I fear any kind friend would tell us we are both
deluding ourselves with the idea of keeping up a spiritual intercourse
without hope or prospect of anything further—without fostering vain
regrets and hurtful aspirations, and feeding thoughts that should be
sternly and pitilessly left to perish of inanition.’
‘Never mind our kind friends: if they can part our bodies, it is enough;
in God’s name, let them not sunder our souls!’ cried I, in terror lest
she should deem it her duty to deny us this last remaining consolation.
‘But no letters can pass between us here,’ said she, ‘without giving
fresh food for scandal; and when I departed, I had intended that my new
abode should be unknown to you as to the rest of the world; not that I
should doubt your word if you promised not to visit me, but I thought you
would be more tranquil in your own mind if you knew you could not do it,
and likely to find less difficulty in abstracting yourself from me if you
could not picture my situation to your mind. But listen,’ said she,
smilingly putting up her finger to check my impatient reply: ‘in six
months you shall hear from Frederick precisely where I am; and if you
still retain your wish to write to me, and think you can maintain a
correspondence all thought, all spirit—such as disembodied souls or
unimpassioned friends, at least, might hold,—write, and I will answer
you.’
‘Six months!’
‘Yes, to give your present ardour time to cool, and try the truth and
constancy of your soul’s love for mine. And now, enough has been said
between us. Why can’t we part at once?’ exclaimed she, almost wildly,
after a moment’s pause, as she suddenly rose from her chair, with her
hands resolutely clasped together. I thought it was my duty to go
without delay; and I approached and half extended my hand as if to take
leave—she grasped it in silence. But this thought of final separation
was too intolerable: it seemed to squeeze the blood out of my heart; and
my feet were glued to the floor.
‘And must we never meet again?’ I murmured, in the anguish of my soul.
‘We shall meet in heaven. Let us think of that,’ said she in a tone of
desperate calmness; but her eyes glittered wildly, and her face was
deadly pale.
‘But not as we are now,’ I could not help replying. ‘It gives me little
consolation to think I shall next behold you as a disembodied spirit, or
an altered being, with a frame perfect and glorious, but not like
this!—and a heart, perhaps, entirely estranged from me.’
‘No, Gilbert, there is perfect love in heaven!’
‘So perfect, I suppose, that it soars above distinctions, and you will
have no closer sympathy with me than with any one of the ten thousand
thousand angels and the innumerable multitude of happy spirits round us.’
‘Whatever I am, you will be the same, and, therefore, cannot possibly
regret it; and whatever that change may be we know it must be for the
better.’
‘But if I am to be so changed that I shall cease to adore you with my
whole heart and soul, and love you beyond every other creature, I shall
not be myself; and though, if ever I win heaven at all, I must, I know,
be infinitely better and happier than I am now, my earthly nature cannot
rejoice in the anticipation of such beatitude, from which itself and its
chief joy must be excluded.’
‘Is your love all earthly, then?’
‘No, but I am supposing we shall have no more intimate communion with
each other than with the rest.’
‘If so, it will be because we love them more, and not each other less.
Increase of love brings increase of happiness, when it is mutual, and
pure as that will be.’
‘But can you, Helen, contemplate with delight this prospect of losing me
in a sea of glory?’
‘I own I cannot; but we know not that it will be so;—and I do know that
to regret the exchange of earthly pleasures for the joys of heaven, is as
if the grovelling caterpillar should lament that it must one day quit the
nibbled leaf to soar aloft and flutter through the air, roving at will
from flower to flower, sipping sweet honey from their cups, or basking in
their sunny petals. If these little creatures knew how great a change
awaited them, no doubt they would regret it; but would not all such
sorrow be misplaced? And if that illustration will not move you, here is
another:—We are children now; we feel as children, and we understand as
children; and when we are told that men and women do not play with toys,
and that our companions will one day weary of the trivial sports and
occupations that interest them and us so deeply now, we cannot help being
saddened at the thoughts of such an alteration, because we cannot
conceive that as we grow up our own minds will become so enlarged and
elevated that we ourselves shall then regard as trifling those objects
and pursuits we now so fondly cherish, and that, though our companions
will no longer join us in those childish pastimes, they will drink with
us at other fountains of delight, and mingle their souls with ours in
higher aims and nobler occupations beyond our present comprehension, but
not less deeply relished or less truly good for that, while yet both we
and they remain essentially the same individuals as before. But,
Gilbert, can you really derive no consolation from the thought that we
may meet together where there is no more pain and sorrow, no more
striving against sin, and struggling of the spirit against the flesh;
where both will behold the same glorious truths, and drink exalted and
supreme felicity from the same fountain of light and goodness—that Being
whom both will worship with the same intensity of holy ardour—and where
pure and happy creatures both will love with the same divine affection?
If you cannot, never write to me!’
‘Helen, I can! if faith would never fail.’
‘Now, then,’ exclaimed she, ‘while this hope is strong within us—’
‘We will part,’ I cried. ‘You shall not have the pain of another effort
to dismiss me. I will go at once; but—’
I did not put my request in words: she understood it instinctively, and
this time she yielded too—or rather, there was nothing so deliberate as
requesting or yielding in the matter: there was a sudden impulse that
neither could resist. One moment I stood and looked into her face, the
next I held her to my heart, and we seemed to grow together in a close
embrace from which no physical or mental force could rend us. A
whispered ‘God bless you!’ and ‘Go—go!’ was all she said; but while she
spoke she held me so fast that, without violence, I could not have obeyed
her. At length, however, by some heroic effort, we tore ourselves apart,
and I rushed from the house.
I have a confused remembrance of seeing little Arthur running up the
garden-walk to meet me, and of bolting over the wall to avoid him—and
subsequently running down the steep fields, clearing the stone fences and
hedges as they came in my way, till I got completely out of sight of the
old hall and down to the bottom of the hill; and then of long hours spent
in bitter tears and lamentations, and melancholy musings in the lonely
valley, with the eternal music in my ears, of the west wind rushing
through the overshadowing trees, and the brook babbling and gurgling
along its stony bed; my eyes, for the most part, vacantly fixed on the
deep, chequered shades restlessly playing over the bright sunny grass at
my feet, where now and then a withered leaf or two would come dancing to
share the revelry; but my heart was away up the hill in that dark room
where she was weeping desolate and alone—she whom I was not to comfort,
not to see again, till years or suffering had overcome us both, and torn
our spirits from their perishing abodes of clay.
There was little business done that day, you may be sure. The farm was
abandoned to the labourers, and the labourers were left to their own
devices. But one duty must be attended to; I had not forgotten my
assault upon Frederick Lawrence; and I must see him to apologise for the
unhappy deed. I would fain have put it off till the morrow; but what if
he should denounce me to his sister in the meantime? No, no! I must ask
his pardon to-day, and entreat him to be lenient in his accusation, if
the revelation must be made. I deferred it, however, till the evening,
when my spirits were more composed, and when—oh, wonderful perversity of
human nature!—some faint germs of indefinite hopes were beginning to rise
in my mind; not that I intended to cherish them, after all that had been
said on the subject, but there they must lie for a while, uncrushed
though not encouraged, till I had learnt to live without them.
Arrived at Woodford, the young squire’s abode, I found no little
difficulty in obtaining admission to his presence. The servant that
opened the door told me his master was very ill, and seemed to think it
doubtful whether he would be able to see me. I was not going to be
baulked, however. I waited calmly in the hall to be announced, but
inwardly determined to take no denial. The message was such as I
expected—a polite intimation that Mr. Lawrence could see no one; he was
feverish, and must not be disturbed.
‘I shall not disturb him long,’ said I; ‘but I must see him for a moment:
it is on business of importance that I wish to speak to him.’
‘I’ll tell him, sir,’ said the man. And I advanced further into the hall
and followed him nearly to the door of the apartment where his master
was—for it seemed he was not in bed. The answer returned was that Mr.
Lawrence hoped I would be so good as to leave a message or a note with
the servant, as he could attend to no business at present.
‘He may as well see me as you,’ said I; and, stepping past the astonished
footman, I boldly rapped at the door, entered, and closed it behind me.
The room was spacious and handsomely furnished—very comfortably, too, for
a bachelor. A clear, red fire was burning in the polished grate: a
superannuated greyhound, given up to idleness and good living, lay
basking before it on the thick, soft rug, on one corner of which, beside
the sofa, sat a smart young springer, looking wistfully up in its
master’s face—perhaps asking permission to share his couch, or, it might
be, only soliciting a caress from his hand or a kind word from his lips.
The invalid himself looked very interesting as he lay reclining there, in
his elegant dressing-gown, with a silk handkerchief bound across his
temples. His usually pale face was flushed and feverish; his eyes were
half closed, until he became sensible of my presence—and then he opened
them wide enough: one hand was thrown listlessly over the back of the
sofa, and held a small volume, with which, apparently, he had been vainly
attempting to beguile the weary hours. He dropped it, however, in his
start of indignant surprise as I advanced into the room and stood before
him on the rug. He raised himself on his pillows, and gazed upon me with
equal degrees of nervous horror, anger, and amazement depicted on his
countenance.
‘Mr. Markham, I scarcely expected this!’ he said; and the blood left his
cheek as he spoke.
‘I know you didn’t,’ answered I; ‘but be quiet a minute, and I’ll tell
you what I came for.’ Unthinkingly, I advanced a step or two nearer. He
winced at my approach, with an expression of aversion and instinctive
physical fear anything but conciliatory to my feelings. I stepped back,
however.
‘Make your story a short one,’ said he, putting his hand on the small
silver bell that stood on the table beside him, ‘or I shall be obliged to
call for assistance. I am in no state to bear your brutalities now, or
your presence either.’ And in truth the moisture started from his pores
and stood on his pale forehead like dew.
Such a reception was hardly calculated to diminish the difficulties of my
unenviable task. It must be performed however, in some fashion; and so I
plunged into it at once, and floundered through it as I could.
‘The truth is, Lawrence,’ said I, ‘I have not acted quite correctly
towards you of late—especially on this last occasion; and I’m come to—in
short, to express my regret for what has been done, and to beg your
pardon. If you don’t choose to grant it,’ I added hastily, not liking
the aspect of his face, ‘it’s no matter; only I’ve done my duty—that’s
all.’
‘It’s easily done,’ replied he, with a faint smile bordering on a sneer:
‘to abuse your friend and knock him on the head without any assignable
cause, and then tell him the deed was not quite correct, but it’s no
matter whether he pardons it or not.’
‘I forgot to tell you that it was in consequence of a mistake,’—muttered
I. ‘I should have made a very handsome apology, but you provoked me so
confoundedly with your—. Well, I suppose it’s my fault. The fact is, I
didn’t know that you were Mrs. Graham’s brother, and I saw and heard some
things respecting your conduct towards her which were calculated to
awaken unpleasant suspicions, that, allow me to say, a little candour and
confidence on your part might have removed; and, at last, I chanced to
overhear a part of a conversation between you and her that made me think
I had a right to hate you.’
‘And how came you to know that I was her brother?’ asked he, in some
anxiety.
‘She told me herself. She told me all. She knew I might be trusted.
But you needn’t disturb yourself about that, Mr. Lawrence, for I’ve seen
the last of her!’
‘The last! Is she gone, then?’
‘No; but she has bid adieu to me, and I have promised never to go near
that house again while she inhabits it.’ I could have groaned aloud at
the bitter thoughts awakened by this turn in the discourse. But I only
clenched my hands and stamped my foot upon the rug. My companion,
however, was evidently relieved.
‘You have done right,’ he said, in a tone of unqualified approbation,
while his face brightened into almost a sunny expression. ‘And as for
the mistake, I am sorry for both our sakes that it should have occurred.
Perhaps you can forgive my want of candour, and remember, as some partial
mitigation of the offence, how little encouragement to friendly
confidence you have given me of late.’
‘Yes, yes—I remember it all: nobody can blame me more than I blame myself
in my own heart; at any rate, nobody can regret more sincerely than I do
the result of my brutality, as you rightly term it.’
‘Never mind that,’ said he, faintly smiling; ‘let us forget all
unpleasant words on both sides, as well as deeds, and consign to oblivion
everything that we have cause to regret. Have you any objection to take
my hand, or you’d rather not?’ It trembled through weakness as he held
it out, and dropped before I had time to catch it and give it a hearty
squeeze, which he had not the strength to return.
‘How dry and burning your hand is, Lawrence,’ said I. ‘You are really
ill, and I have made you worse by all this talk.’
‘Oh, it is nothing; only a cold got by the rain.’
‘My doing, too.’
‘Never mind that. But tell me, did you mention this affair to my
sister?’
‘To confess the truth, I had not the courage to do so; but when you tell
her, will you just say that I deeply regret it, and—?’
‘Oh, never fear! I shall say nothing against you, as long as you keep
your good resolution of remaining aloof from her. She has not heard of
my illness, then, that you are aware of?’
‘I think not.’
‘I’m glad of that, for I have been all this time tormenting myself with
the fear that somebody would tell her I was dying, or desperately ill,
and she would be either distressing herself on account of her inability
to hear from me or do me any good, or perhaps committing the madness of
coming to see me. I must contrive to let her know something about it, if
I can,’ continued he, reflectively, ‘or she will be hearing some such
story. Many would be glad to tell her such news, just to see how she
would take it; and then she might expose herself to fresh scandal.’
‘I wish I had told her,’ said I. ‘If it were not for my promise, I would
tell her now.’
‘By no means! I am not dreaming of that;—but if I were to write a short
note, now, not mentioning you, Markham, but just giving a slight account
of my illness, by way of excuse for my not coming to see her, and to put
her on her guard against any exaggerated reports she may hear,—and
address it in a disguised hand—would you do me the favour to slip it into
the post-office as you pass? for I dare not trust any of the servants in
such a case.’
Most willingly I consented, and immediately brought him his desk. There
was little need to disguise his hand, for the poor fellow seemed to have
considerable difficulty in writing at all, so as to be legible. When the
note was done, I thought it time to retire, and took leave, after asking
if there was anything in the world I could do for him, little or great,
in the way of alleviating his sufferings, and repairing the injury I had
done.
‘No,’ said he; ‘you have already done much towards it; you have done more
for me than the most skilful physician could do: for you have relieved my
mind of two great burdens—anxiety on my sister’s account, and deep regret
upon your own: for I do believe these two sources of torment have had
more effect in working me up into a fever than anything else; and I am
persuaded I shall soon recover now. There is one more thing you can do
for me, and that is, come and see me now and then—for you see I am very
lonely here, and I promise your entrance shall not be disputed again.’
I engaged to do so, and departed with a cordial pressure of the hand. I
posted the letter on my way home, most manfully resisting the temptation
of dropping in a word from myself at the same time.
CHAPTER XLVI
I felt strongly tempted, at times, to enlighten my mother and sister on
the real character and circumstances of the persecuted tenant of Wildfell
Hall, and at first I greatly regretted having omitted to ask that lady’s
permission to do so; but, on due reflection, I considered that if it were
known to them, it could not long remain a secret to the Millwards and
Wilsons, and such was my present appreciation of Eliza Millward’s
disposition, that, if once she got a clue to the story, I should fear she
would soon find means to enlighten Mr. Huntingdon upon the place of his
wife’s retreat. I would therefore wait patiently till these weary six
months were over, and then, when the fugitive had found another home, and
I was permitted to write to her, I would beg to be allowed to clear her
name from these vile calumnies: at present I must content myself with
simply asserting that I knew them to be false, and would prove it some
day, to the shame of those who slandered her. I don’t think anybody
believed me, but everybody soon learned to avoid insinuating a word
against her, or even mentioning her name in my presence. They thought I
was so madly infatuated by the seductions of that unhappy lady that I was
determined to support her in the very face of reason; and meantime I grow
insupportably morose and misanthropical from the idea that every one I
met was harbouring unworthy thoughts of the supposed Mrs. Graham, and
would express them if he dared. My poor mother was quite distressed
about me; but I couldn’t help it—at least I thought I could not, though
sometimes I felt a pang of remorse for my undutiful conduct to her, and
made an effort to amend, attended with some partial success; and indeed I
was generally more humanised in my demeanour to her than to any one else,
Mr. Lawrence excepted. Rose and Fergus usually shunned my presence; and
it was well they did, for I was not fit company for them, nor they for
me, under the present circumstances.
Mrs. Huntingdon did not leave Wildfell Hall till above two months after
our farewell interview. During that time she never appeared at church,
and I never went near the house: I only knew she was still there by her
brother’s brief answers to my many and varied inquiries respecting her.
I was a very constant and attentive visitor to him throughout the whole
period of his illness and convalescence; not only from the interest I
took in his recovery, and my desire to cheer him up and make the utmost
possible amends for my former ‘brutality,’ but from my growing attachment
to himself, and the increasing pleasure I found in his society—partly
from his increased cordiality to me, but chiefly on account of his close
connection, both in blood and in affection, with my adored Helen. I
loved him for it better than I liked to express: and I took a secret
delight in pressing those slender white fingers, so marvellously like her
own, considering he was not a woman, and in watching the passing changes
in his fair, pale features, and observing the intonations of his voice,
detecting resemblances which I wondered had never struck me before. He
provoked me at times, indeed, by his evident reluctance to talk to me
about his sister, though I did not question the friendliness of his
motives in wishing to discourage my remembrance of her.
His recovery was not quite so rapid as he had expected it to be; he was
not able to mount his pony till a fortnight after the date of our
reconciliation; and the first use he made of his returning strength was
to ride over by night to Wildfell Hall, to see his sister. It was a
hazardous enterprise both for him and for her, but he thought it
necessary to consult with her on the subject of her projected departure,
if not to calm her apprehensions respecting his health, and the worst
result was a slight relapse of his illness, for no one knew of the visit
but the inmates of the old Hall, except myself; and I believe it had not
been his intention to mention it to me, for when I came to see him the
next day, and observed he was not so well as he ought to have been, he
merely said he had caught cold by being out too late in the evening.
‘You’ll never be able to see your sister, if you don’t take care of
yourself,’ said I, a little provoked at the circumstance on her account,
instead of commiserating him.
‘I’ve seen her already,’ said he, quietly.
‘You’ve seen her!’ cried I, in astonishment.
‘Yes.’ And then he told me what considerations had impelled him to make
the venture, and with what precautions he had made it.
‘And how was she?’ I eagerly asked.
‘As usual,’ was the brief though sad reply.
‘As usual—that is, far from happy and far from strong.’
‘She is not positively ill,’ returned he; ‘and she will recover her
spirits in a while, I have no doubt—but so many trials have been almost
too much for her. How threatening those clouds look,’ continued he,
turning towards the window. ‘We shall have thunder-showers before night,
I imagine, and they are just in the midst of stacking my corn. Have you
got yours all in yet?’
‘No. And, Lawrence, did she—did your sister mention me?’
‘She asked if I had seen you lately.’
‘And what else did she say?’
‘I cannot tell you all she said,’ replied he, with a slight smile; ‘for
we talked a good deal, though my stay was but short; but our conversation
was chiefly on the subject of her intended departure, which I begged her
to delay till I was better able to assist her in her search after another
home.’
‘But did she say no more about me?’
‘She did not say much about you, Markham. I should not have encouraged
her to do so, had she been inclined; but happily she was not: she only
asked a few questions concerning you, and seemed satisfied with my brief
answers, wherein she showed herself wiser than her friend; and I may tell
you, too, that she seemed to be far more anxious lest you should think
too much of her, than lest you should forget her.’
‘She was right.’
‘But I fear your anxiety is quite the other way respecting her.’
‘No, it is not: I wish her to be happy; but I don’t wish her to forget me
altogether. She knows it is impossible that I should forget her; and she
is right to wish me not to remember her too well. I should not desire
her to regret me too deeply; but I can scarcely imagine she will make
herself very unhappy about me, because I know I am not worthy of it,
except in my appreciation of her.’
‘You are neither of you worthy of a broken heart,—nor of all the sighs,
and tears, and sorrowful thoughts that have been, and I fear will be,
wasted upon you both; but, at present, each has a more exalted opinion of
the other than, I fear, he or she deserves; and my sister’s feelings are
naturally full as keen as yours, and I believe more constant; but she has
the good sense and fortitude to strive against them in this particular;
and I trust she will not rest till she has entirely weaned her thoughts—‘
he hesitated.
‘From me,’ said I.
‘And I wish you would make the like exertions,’ continued he.
‘Did she tell you that that was her intention?’
‘No; the question was not broached between us: there was no necessity for
it, for I had no doubt that such was her determination.’
‘To forget me?’
‘Yes, Markham! Why not?’
‘Oh, well!’ was my only audible reply; but I internally answered,—‘No,
Lawrence, you’re wrong there: she is not determined to forget me. It
would be wrong to forget one so deeply and fondly devoted to her, who can
so thoroughly appreciate her excellencies, and sympathise with all her
thoughts, as I can do, and it would be wrong in me to forget so excellent
and divine a piece of God’s creation as she, when I have once so truly
loved and known her.’ But I said no more to him on that subject. I
instantly started a new topic of conversation, and soon took leave of my
companion, with a feeling of less cordiality towards him than usual.
Perhaps I had no right to be annoyed at him, but I was so nevertheless.
In little more than a week after this I met him returning from a visit to
the Wilsons’; and I now resolved to do him a good turn, though at the
expense of his feelings, and perhaps at the risk of incurring that
displeasure which is so commonly the reward of those who give
disagreeable information, or tender their advice unasked. In this,
believe me, I was actuated by no motives of revenge for the occasional
annoyances I had lately sustained from him,—nor yet by any feeling of
malevolent enmity towards Miss Wilson, but purely by the fact that I
could not endure that such a woman should be Mrs. Huntingdon’s sister,
and that, as well for his own sake as for hers, I could not bear to think
of his being deceived into a union with one so unworthy of him, and so
utterly unfitted to be the partner of his quiet home, and the companion
of his life. He had had uncomfortable suspicions on that head himself, I
imagined; but such was his inexperience, and such were the lady’s powers
of attraction, and her skill in bringing them to bear upon his young
imagination, that they had not disturbed him long; and I believe the only
effectual causes of the vacillating indecision that had preserved him
hitherto from making an actual declaration of love, was the consideration
of her connections, and especially of her mother, whom he could not
abide. Had they lived at a distance, he might have surmounted the
objection, but within two or three miles of Woodford it was really no
light matter.
‘You’ve been to call on the Wilsons, Lawrence,’ said I, as I walked
beside his pony.
‘Yes,’ replied he, slightly averting his face: ‘I thought it but civil to
take the first opportunity of returning their kind attentions, since they
have been so very particular and constant in their inquiries throughout
the whole course of my illness.’
‘It’s all Miss Wilson’s doing.’
‘And if it is,’ returned he, with a very perceptible blush, ‘is that any
reason why I should not make a suitable acknowledgment?’
‘It is a reason why you should not make the acknowledgment she looks
for.’
‘Let us drop that subject if you please,’ said he, in evident
displeasure.
‘No, Lawrence, with your leave we’ll continue it a while longer; and I’ll
tell you something, now we’re about it, which you may believe or not as
you choose—only please to remember that it is not my custom to speak
falsely, and that in this case I can have no motive for misrepresenting
the truth—’
‘Well, Markham, what now?’
‘Miss Wilson hates your sister. It may be natural enough that, in her
ignorance of the relationship, she should feel some degree of enmity
against her, but no good or amiable woman would be capable of evincing
that bitter, cold-blooded, designing malice towards a fancied rival that
I have observed in her.’
‘Markham!’
‘Yes—and it is my belief that Eliza Millward and she, if not the very
originators of the slanderous reports that have been propagated, were
designedly the encouragers and chief disseminators of them. She was not
desirous to mix up your name in the matter, of course, but her delight
was, and still is, to blacken your sister’s character to the utmost of
her power, without risking too greatly the exposure of her own
malevolence!’
‘I cannot believe it,’ interrupted my companion, his face burning with
indignation.
‘Well, as I cannot prove it, I must content myself with asserting that it
is so to the best of my belief; but as you would not willingly marry Miss
Wilson if it were so, you will do well to be cautious, till you have
proved it to be otherwise.’
‘I never told you, Markham, that I intended to marry Miss Wilson,’ said
he, proudly.
‘No, but whether you do or not, she intends to marry you.’
‘Did she tell you so?’
‘No, but—’
‘Then you have no right to make such an assertion respecting her.’ He
slightly quickened his pony’s pace, but I laid my hand on its mane,
determined he should not leave me yet.
‘Wait a moment, Lawrence, and let me explain myself; and don’t be so
very—I don’t know what to call it—inaccessible as you are.—I know what
you think of Jane Wilson; and I believe I know how far you are mistaken
in your opinion: you think she is singularly charming, elegant, sensible,
and refined: you are not aware that she is selfish, cold-hearted,
ambitious, artful, shallow-minded—’
‘Enough, Markham—enough!’
‘No; let me finish:—you don’t know that, if you married her, your home
would be rayless and comfortless; and it would break your heart at last
to find yourself united to one so wholly incapable of sharing your
tastes, feelings, and ideas—so utterly destitute of sensibility, good
feeling, and true nobility of soul.’
‘Have you done?’ asked my companion quietly.
‘Yes;—I know you hate me for my impertinence, but I don’t care if it only
conduces to preserve you from that fatal mistake.’
‘Well!’ returned he, with a rather wintry smile—‘I’m glad you have
overcome or forgotten your own afflictions so far as to be able to study
so deeply the affairs of others, and trouble your head so unnecessarily
about the fancied or possible calamities of their future life.’
We parted—somewhat coldly again: but still we did not cease to be
friends; and my well-meant warning, though it might have been more
judiciously delivered, as well as more thankfully received, was not
wholly unproductive of the desired effect: his visit to the Wilsons was
not repeated, and though, in our subsequent interviews, he never
mentioned her name to me, nor I to him,—I have reason to believe he
pondered my words in his mind, eagerly though covertly sought information
respecting the fair lady from other quarters, secretly compared my
character of her with what he had himself observed and what he heard from
others, and finally came to the conclusion that, all things considered,
she had much better remain Miss Wilson of Ryecote Farm than be transmuted
into Mrs. Lawrence of Woodford Hall. I believe, too, that he soon
learned to contemplate with secret amazement his former predilection, and
to congratulate himself on the lucky escape he had made; but he never
confessed it to me, or hinted one word of acknowledgment for the part I
had had in his deliverance, but this was not surprising to any one that
knew him as I did.
As for Jane Wilson, she, of course, was disappointed and embittered by
the sudden cold neglect and ultimate desertion of her former admirer.
Had I done wrong to blight her cherished hopes? I think not; and
certainly my conscience has never accused me, from that day to this, of
any evil design in the matter.
CHAPTER XLVII
One morning, about the beginning of November, while I was inditing some
business letters, shortly after breakfast, Eliza Millward came to call
upon my sister. Rose had neither the discrimination nor the virulence to
regard the little demon as I did, and they still preserved their former
intimacy. At the moment of her arrival, however, there was no one in the
room but Fergus and myself, my mother and sister being both of them
absent, ‘on household cares intent’; but I was not going to lay myself
out for her amusement, whoever else might so incline: I merely honoured
her with a careless salutation and a few words of course, and then went
on with my writing, leaving my brother to be more polite if he chose.
But she wanted to tease me.
‘What a pleasure it is to find you at home, Mr. Markham!’ said she, with
a disingenuously malicious smile. ‘I so seldom see you now, for you
never come to the vicarage. Papa, is quite offended, I can tell you,’
she added playfully, looking into my face with an impertinent laugh, as
she seated herself, half beside and half before my desk, off the corner
of the table.
‘I have had a good deal to do of late,’ said I, without looking up from
my letter.
‘Have you, indeed! Somebody said you had been strangely neglecting your
business these last few months.’
‘Somebody said wrong, for, these last two months especially, I have been
particularly plodding and diligent.’
‘Ah! well, there’s nothing like active employment, I suppose, to console
the afflicted;—and, excuse me, Mr. Markham, but you look so very far from
well, and have been, by all accounts, so moody and thoughtful of late,—I
could almost think you have some secret care preying on your spirits.
Formerly,’ said she timidly, ‘I could have ventured to ask you what it
was, and what I could do to comfort you: I dare not do it now.’
‘You’re very kind, Miss Eliza. When I think you can do anything to
comfort me, I’ll make bold to tell you.’
‘Pray do!—I suppose I mayn’t guess what it is that troubles you?’
‘There’s no necessity, for I’ll tell you plainly. The thing that
troubles me the most at present is a young lady sitting at my elbow, and
preventing me from finishing my letter, and, thereafter, repairing to my
daily business.’
Before she could reply to this ungallant speech, Rose entered the room;
and Miss Eliza rising to greet her, they both seated themselves near the
fire, where that idle lad Fergus was standing, leaning his shoulder
against the corner of the chimney-piece, with his legs crossed and his
hands in his breeches-pockets.
‘Now, Rose, I’ll tell you a piece of news—I hope you have not heard it
before: for good, bad, or indifferent, one always likes to be the first
to tell. It’s about that sad Mrs. Graham—’
‘Hush-sh-sh!’ whispered Fergus, in a tone of solemn import. ‘“We never
mention her; her name is never heard.”’ And glancing up, I caught him
with his eye askance on me, and his finger pointed to his forehead; then,
winking at the young lady with a doleful shake of the head, he
whispered—‘A monomania—but don’t mention it—all right but that.’
‘I should be sorry to injure any one’s feelings,’ returned she, speaking
below her breath. ‘Another time, perhaps.’
‘Speak out, Miss Eliza!’ said I, not deigning to notice the other’s
buffooneries: ‘you needn’t fear to say anything in my presence.’
‘Well,’ answered she, ‘perhaps you know already that Mrs. Graham’s
husband is not really dead, and that she had run away from him?’ I
started, and felt my face glow; but I bent it over my letter, and went on
folding it up as she proceeded. ‘But perhaps you did not know that she
is now gone back to him again, and that a perfect reconciliation has
taken place between them? Only think,’ she continued, turning to the
confounded Rose, ‘what a fool the man must be!’
‘And who gave you this piece of intelligence, Miss Eliza?’ said I,
interrupting my sister’s exclamations.
‘I had it from a very authentic source.’
‘From whom, may I ask?’
‘From one of the servants at Woodford.’
‘Oh! I was not aware that you were on such intimate terms with Mr.
Lawrence’s household.’
‘It was not from the man himself that I heard it, but he told it in
confidence to our maid Sarah, and Sarah told it to me.’
‘In confidence, I suppose? And you tell it in confidence to us? But I
can tell you that it is but a lame story after all, and scarcely one-half
of it true.’
While I spoke I completed the sealing and direction of my letters, with a
somewhat unsteady hand, in spite of all my efforts to retain composure,
and in spite of my firm conviction that the story was a lame one—that the
supposed Mrs. Graham, most certainly, had not voluntarily gone back to
her husband, or dreamt of a reconciliation. Most likely she was gone
away, and the tale-bearing servant, not knowing what was become of her,
had conjectured that such was the case, and our fair visitor had detailed
it as a certainty, delighted with such an opportunity of tormenting me.
But it was possible—barely possible—that some one might have betrayed
her, and she had been taken away by force. Determined to know the worst,
I hastily pocketed my two letters, and muttered something about being too
late for the post, left the room, rushed into the yard, and vociferously
called for my horse. No one being there, I dragged him out of the stable
myself, strapped the saddle on to his back and the bridle on to his head,
mounted, and speedily galloped away to Woodford. I found its owner
pensively strolling in the grounds.
‘Is your sister gone?’ were my first words as I grasped his hand, instead
of the usual inquiry after his health.
‘Yes, she’s gone,’ was his answer, so calmly spoken that my terror was at
once removed.
‘I suppose I mayn’t know where she is?’ said I, as I dismounted, and
relinquished my horse to the gardener, who, being the only servant within
call, had been summoned by his master, from his employment of raking up
the dead leaves on the lawn, to take him to the stables.
My companion gravely took my arm, and leading me away to the garden, thus
answered my question,—‘She is at Grassdale Manor, in —shire.’
‘Where?’ cried I, with a convulsive start.
‘At Grassdale Manor.’
‘How was it?’ I gasped. ‘Who betrayed her?’
‘She went of her own accord.’
‘Impossible, Lawrence! She could not be so frantic!’ exclaimed I,
vehemently grasping his arm, as if to force him to unsay those hateful
words.
‘She did,’ persisted he in the same grave, collected manner as before;
‘and not without reason,’ he continued, gently disengaging himself from
my grasp. ‘Mr. Huntingdon is ill.’
‘And so she went to nurse him?’
‘Yes.’
‘Fool!’ I could not help exclaiming, and Lawrence looked up with a rather
reproachful glance. ‘Is he dying, then?’
‘I think not, Markham.’
‘And how many more nurses has he? How many ladies are there besides to
take care of him?’
‘None; he was alone, or she would not have gone.’
‘Oh, confound it! This is intolerable!’
‘What is? That he should be alone?’
I attempted no reply, for I was not sure that this circumstance did not
partly conduce to my distraction. I therefore continued to pace the walk
in silent anguish, with my hand pressed to my forehead; then suddenly
pausing and turning to my companion, I impatiently exclaimed, ‘Why did
she take this infatuated step? What fiend persuaded her to it?’
‘Nothing persuaded her but her own sense of duty.’
‘Humbug!’
‘I was half inclined to say so myself, Markham, at first. I assure you
it was not by my advice that she went, for I detest that man as fervently
as you can do,—except, indeed, that his reformation would give me much
greater pleasure than his death; but all I did was to inform her of the
circumstance of his illness (the consequence of a fall from his horse in
hunting), and to tell her that that unhappy person, Miss Myers, had left
him some time ago.’
‘It was ill done! Now, when he finds the convenience of her presence, he
will make all manner of lying speeches and false, fair promises for the
future, and she will believe him, and then her condition will be ten
times worse and ten times more irremediable than before.’
‘There does not appear to be much ground for such apprehensions at
present,’ said he, producing a letter from his pocket. ‘From the account
I received this morning, I should say—’
It was her writing! By an irresistible impulse I held out my hand, and
the words, ‘Let me see it,’ involuntarily passed my lips. He was
evidently reluctant to grant the request, but while he hesitated I
snatched it from his hand. Recollecting myself, however, the minute
after, I offered to restore it.
‘Here, take it,’ said I, ‘if you don’t want me to read it.’
‘No,’ replied he, ‘you may read it if you like.’
I read it, and so may you.
Grassdale, Nov. 4th.
DEAR FREDERICK,—I know you will be anxious to hear from me, and I will
tell you all I can. Mr. Huntingdon is very ill, but not dying, or in any
immediate danger; and he is rather better at present than he was when I
came. I found the house in sad confusion: Mrs. Greaves, Benson, every
decent servant had left, and those that were come to supply their places
were a negligent, disorderly set, to say no worse—I must change them
again, if I stay. A professional nurse, a grim, hard old woman, had been
hired to attend the wretched invalid. He suffers much, and has no
fortitude to bear him through. The immediate injuries he sustained from
the accident, however, were not very severe, and would, as the doctor
says, have been but trifling to a man of temperate habits, but with him
it is very different. On the night of my arrival, when I first entered
his room, he was lying in a kind of half delirium. He did not notice me
till I spoke, and then he mistook me for another.
‘Is it you, Alice, come again?’ he murmured. ‘What did you leave me
for?’
‘It is I, Arthur—it is Helen, your wife,’ I replied.
‘My wife!’ said he, with a start. ‘For heaven’s sake, don’t mention
her—I have none. Devil take her,’ he cried, a moment after, ‘and you,
too! What did you do it for?’
I said no more; but observing that he kept gazing towards the foot of the
bed, I went and sat there, placing the light so as to shine full upon me,
for I thought he might be dying, and I wanted him to know me. For a long
time he lay silently looking upon me, first with a vacant stare, then
with a fixed gaze of strange growing intensity. At last he startled me
by suddenly raising himself on his elbow and demanding in a horrified
whisper, with his eyes still fixed upon me, ‘Who is it?’
‘It is Helen Huntingdon,’ said I, quietly rising at the same time, and
removing to a less conspicuous position.
‘I must be going mad,’ cried he, ‘or something—delirious, perhaps; but
leave me, whoever you are. I can’t bear that white face, and those eyes.
For God’s sake go, and send me somebody else that doesn’t look like
that!’
I went at once, and sent the hired nurse; but next morning I ventured to
enter his chamber again, and, taking the nurse’s place by his bedside, I
watched him and waited on him for several hours, showing myself as little
as possible, and only speaking when necessary, and then not above my
breath. At first he addressed me as the nurse, but, on my crossing the
room to draw up the window-blinds, in obedience to his directions, he
said, ‘No, it isn’t nurse; it’s Alice. Stay with me, do! That old hag
will be the death of me.’
‘I mean to stay with you,’ said I. And after that he would call me
Alice, or some other name almost equally repugnant to my feelings. I
forced myself to endure it for a while, fearing a contradiction might
disturb him too much; but when, having asked for a glass of water, while
I held it to his lips, he murmured, ‘Thanks, dearest!’ I could not help
distinctly observing, ‘You would not say so if you knew me,’ intending to
follow that up with another declaration of my identity; but he merely
muttered an incoherent reply, so I dropped it again, till some time
after, when, as I was bathing his forehead and temples with vinegar and
water to relieve the heat and pain in his head, he observed, after
looking earnestly upon me for some minutes, ‘I have such strange
fancies—I can’t get rid of them, and they won’t let me rest; and the most
singular and pertinacious of them all is your face and voice—they seem
just like hers. I could swear at this moment that she was by my side.’
‘She is,’ said I.
‘That seems comfortable,’ continued he, without noticing my words; ‘and
while you do it, the other fancies fade away—but this only
strengthens.—Go on—go on, till it vanishes, too. I can’t stand such a
mania as this; it would kill me!’
‘It never will vanish,’ said I, distinctly, ‘for it is the truth!’
‘The truth!’ he cried, starting, as if an asp had stung him. ‘You don’t
mean to say that you are really she?’
‘I do; but you needn’t shrink away from me, as if I were your greatest
enemy: I am come to take care of you, and do what none of them would do.’
‘For God’s sake, don’t torment me now!’ cried he in pitiable agitation;
and then he began to mutter bitter curses against me, or the evil fortune
that had brought me there; while I put down the sponge and basin, and
resumed my seat at the bed-side.
‘Where are they?’ said he: ‘have they all left me—servants and all?’
‘There are servants within call if you want them; but you had better lie
down now and be quiet: none of them could or would attend you as
carefully as I shall do.’
‘I can’t understand it at all,’ said he, in bewildered perplexity. ‘Was
it a dream that—‘ and he covered his eyes with his hands, as if trying to
unravel the mystery.
‘No, Arthur, it was not a dream, that your conduct was such as to oblige
me to leave you; but I heard that you were ill and alone, and I am come
back to nurse you. You need not fear to trust me: tell me all your
wants, and I will try to satisfy them. There is no one else to care for
you; and I shall not upbraid you now.’
‘Oh! I see,’ said he, with a bitter smile; ‘it’s an act of Christian
charity, whereby you hope to gain a higher seat in heaven for yourself,
and scoop a deeper pit in hell for me.’
‘No; I came to offer you that comfort and assistance your situation
required; and if I could benefit your soul as well as your body, and
awaken some sense of contrition and—’
‘Oh, yes; if you could overwhelm me with remorse and confusion of face,
now’s the time. What have you done with my son?’
‘He is well, and you may see him some time, if you will compose yourself,
but not now.’
‘Where is he?’
‘He is safe.’
‘Is he here?’
‘Wherever he is, you will not see him till you have promised to leave him
entirely under my care and protection, and to let me take him away
whenever and wherever I please, if I should hereafter judge it necessary
to remove him again. But we will talk of that to-morrow: you must be
quiet now.’
‘No, let me see him now, I promise, if it must be so.’
‘No—’
‘I swear it, as God is in heaven! Now, then, let me see him.’
‘But I cannot trust your oaths and promises: I must have a written
agreement, and you must sign it in presence of a witness: but not
to-day—to-morrow.’
‘No, to-day; now,’ persisted he: and he was in such a state of feverish
excitement, and so bent upon the immediate gratification of his wish,
that I thought it better to grant it at once, as I saw he would not rest
till I did. But I was determined my son’s interest should not be
forgotten; and having clearly written out the promise I wished Mr.
Huntingdon to give upon a slip of paper, I deliberately read it over to
him, and made him sign it in the presence of Rachel. He begged I would
not insist upon this: it was a useless exposure of my want of faith in
his word to the servant. I told him I was sorry, but since he had
forfeited my confidence, he must take the consequence. He next pleaded
inability to hold the pen. ‘Then we must wait until you can hold it,’
said I. Upon which he said he would try; but then he could not see to
write. I placed my finger where the signature was to be, and told him he
might write his name in the dark, if he only knew where to put it. But
he had not power to form the letters. ‘In that case, you must be too ill
to see the child,’ said I; and finding me inexorable, he at length
managed to ratify the agreement; and I bade Rachel send the boy.
All this may strike you as harsh, but I felt I must not lose my present
advantage, and my son’s future welfare should not be sacrificed to any
mistaken tenderness for this man’s feelings. Little Arthur had not
forgotten his father, but thirteen months of absence, during which he had
seldom been permitted to hear a word about him, or hardly to whisper his
name, had rendered him somewhat shy; and when he was ushered into the
darkened room where the sick man lay, so altered from his former self,
with fiercely flushed face and wildly-gleaming eyes—he instinctively
clung to me, and stood looking on his father with a countenance
expressive of far more awe than pleasure.
‘Come here, Arthur,’ said the latter, extending his hand towards him.
The child went, and timidly touched that burning hand, but almost started
in alarm, when his father suddenly clutched his arm and drew him nearer
to his side.
‘Do you know me?’ asked Mr. Huntingdon, intently perusing his features.
‘Yes.’
‘Who am I?’
‘Papa.’
‘Are you glad to see me?’
‘Yes.’
‘You’re not!’ replied the disappointed parent, relaxing his hold, and
darting a vindictive glance at me.
Arthur, thus released, crept back to me and put his hand in mine. His
father swore I had made the child hate him, and abused and cursed me
bitterly. The instant he began I sent our son out of the room; and when
he paused to breathe, I calmly assured him that he was entirely mistaken;
I had never once attempted to prejudice his child against him.
‘I did indeed desire him to forget you,’ I said, ‘and especially to
forget the lessons you taught him; and for that cause, and to lessen the
danger of discovery, I own I have generally discouraged his inclination
to talk about you; but no one can blame me for that, I think.’
The invalid only replied by groaning aloud, and rolling his head on a
pillow in a paroxysm of impatience.
‘I am in hell, already!’ cried he. ‘This cursed thirst is burning my
heart to ashes! Will nobody—?’
Before he could finish the sentence I had poured out a glass of some
acidulated, cooling drink that was on the table, and brought it to him.
He drank it greedily, but muttered, as I took away the glass,—‘I suppose
you’re heaping coals of fire on my head, you think?’
Not noticing this speech, I asked if there was anything else I could do
for him.
‘Yes; I’ll give you another opportunity of showing your Christian
magnanimity,’ sneered he: ‘set my pillow straight, and these confounded
bed-clothes.’ I did so. ‘There: now get me another glass of that slop.’
I complied. ‘This is delightful, isn’t it?’ said he with a malicious
grin, as I held it to his lips; ‘you never hoped for such a glorious
opportunity?’
‘Now, shall I stay with you?’ said I, as I replaced the glass on the
table: ‘or will you be more quiet if I go and send the nurse?’
‘Oh, yes, you’re wondrous gentle and obliging! But you’ve driven me mad
with it all!’ responded he, with an impatient toss.
‘I’ll leave you, then,’ said I; and I withdrew, and did not trouble him
with my presence again that day, except for a minute or two at a time,
just to see how he was and what he wanted.
Next morning the doctor ordered him to be bled; and after that he was
more subdued and tranquil. I passed half the day in his room at
different intervals. My presence did not appear to agitate or irritate
him as before, and he accepted my services quietly, without any bitter
remarks: indeed, he scarcely spoke at all, except to make known his
wants, and hardly then. But on the morrow, that is to say, in proportion
as he recovered from the state of exhaustion and stupefaction, his
ill-nature appeared to revive.
‘Oh, this sweet revenge!’ cried he, when I had been doing all I could to
make him comfortable and to remedy the carelessness of his nurse. ‘And
you can enjoy it with such a quiet conscience too, because it’s all in
the way of duty.’
‘It is well for me that I am doing my duty,’ said I, with a bitterness I
could not repress, ‘for it is the only comfort I have; and the
satisfaction of my own conscience, it seems, is the only reward I need
look for!’
He looked rather surprised at the earnestness of my manner.
‘What reward did you look for?’ he asked.
‘You will think me a liar if I tell you; but I did hope to benefit you:
as well to better your mind as to alleviate your present sufferings; but
it appears I am to do neither; your own bad spirit will not let me. As
far as you are concerned, I have sacrificed my own feelings, and all the
little earthly comfort that was left me, to no purpose; and every little
thing I do for you is ascribed to self-righteous malice and refined
revenge!’
‘It’s all very fine, I daresay,’ said he, eyeing me with stupid
amazement; ‘and of course I ought to be melted to tears of penitence and
admiration at the sight of so much generosity and superhuman goodness;
but you see I can’t manage it. However, pray do me all the good you can,
if you do really find any pleasure in it; for you perceive I am almost as
miserable just now as you need wish to see me. Since you came, I
confess, I have had better attendance than before, for these wretches
neglected me shamefully, and all my old friends seem to have fairly
forsaken me. I’ve had a dreadful time of it, I assure you: I sometimes
thought I should have died: do you think there’s any chance?’
‘There’s always a chance of death; and it is always well to live with
such a chance in view.’
‘Yes, yes! but do you think there’s any likelihood that this illness will
have a fatal termination?’
‘I cannot tell; but, supposing it should, how are you prepared to meet
the event?’
‘Why, the doctor told me I wasn’t to think about it, for I was sure to
get better if I stuck to his regimen and prescriptions.’
‘I hope you may, Arthur; but neither the doctor nor I can speak with
certainty in such a case; there is internal injury, and it is difficult
to know to what extent.’
‘There now! you want to scare me to death.’
‘No; but I don’t want to lull you to false security. If a consciousness
of the uncertainty of life can dispose you to serious and useful
thoughts, I would not deprive you of the benefit of such reflections,
whether you do eventually recover or not. Does the idea of death appal
you very much?’
‘It’s just the only thing I can’t bear to think of; so if you’ve any—’
‘But it must come some time,’ interrupted I, ‘and if it be years hence,
it will as certainly overtake you as if it came to-day,—and no doubt be
as unwelcome then as now, unless you—’
‘Oh, hang it! don’t torment me with your preachments now, unless you want
to kill me outright. I can’t stand it, I tell you. I’ve sufferings
enough without that. If you think there’s danger, save me from it; and
then, in gratitude, I’ll hear whatever you like to say.’
I accordingly dropped the unwelcome topic. And now, Frederick, I think I
may bring my letter to a close. From these details you may form your own
judgment of the state of my patient, and of my own position and future
prospects. Let me hear from you soon, and I will write again to tell you
how we get on; but now that my presence is tolerated, and even required,
in the sick-room, I shall have but little time to spare between my
husband and my son,—for I must not entirely neglect the latter: it would
not do to keep him always with Rachel, and I dare not leave him for a
moment with any of the other servants, or suffer him to be alone, lest he
should meet them. If his father get worse, I shall ask Esther Hargrave
to take charge of him for a time, till I have reorganised the household
at least; but I greatly prefer keeping him under my own eye.
I find myself in rather a singular position: I am exerting my utmost
endeavours to promote the recovery and reformation of my husband, and if
I succeed, what shall I do? My duty, of course,—but how? No matter; I
can perform the task that is before me now, and God will give me strength
to do whatever He requires hereafter. Good-by, dear Frederick.
HELEN HUNTINGDON.
‘What do you think of it?’ said Lawrence, as I silently refolded the
letter.
‘It seems to me,’ returned I, ‘that she is casting her pearls before
swine. May they be satisfied with trampling them under their feet, and
not turn again and rend her! But I shall say no more against her: I see
that she was actuated by the best and noblest motives in what she has
done; and if the act is not a wise one, may heaven protect her from its
consequences! May I keep this letter, Lawrence?—you see she has never
once mentioned me throughout—or made the most distant allusion to me;
therefore, there can be no impropriety or harm in it.’
‘And, therefore, why should you wish to keep it?’
‘Were not these characters written by her hand? and were not these words
conceived in her mind, and many of them spoken by her lips?’
‘Well,’ said he. And so I kept it; otherwise, Halford, you could never
have become so thoroughly acquainted with its contents.
‘And when you write,’ said I, ‘will you have the goodness to ask her if I
may be permitted to enlighten my mother and sister on her real history
and circumstance, just so far as is necessary to make the neighbourhood
sensible of the shameful injustice they have done her? I want no tender
messages, but just ask her that, and tell her it is the greatest favour
she could do me; and tell her—no, nothing more. You see I know the
address, and I might write to her myself, but I am so virtuous as to
refrain.’
‘Well, I’ll do this for you, Markham.’
‘And as soon as you receive an answer, you’ll let me know?’
‘If all be well, I’ll come myself and tell you immediately.’
CHAPTER XLVIII
Five or six days after this Mr. Lawrence paid us the honour of a call;
and when he and I were alone together—which I contrived as soon as
possible by bringing him out to look at my cornstacks—he showed me
another letter from his sister. This one he was quite willing to submit
to my longing gaze; he thought, I suppose, it would do me good. The only
answer it gave to my message was this:—
‘Mr. Markham is at liberty to make such revelations concerning me as he
judges necessary. He will know that I should wish but little to be said
on the subject. I hope he is well; but tell him he must not think of
me.’
I can give you a few extracts from the rest of the letter, for I was
permitted to keep this also—perhaps, as an antidote to all pernicious
hopes and fancies.
* * * * *
He is decidedly better, but very low from the depressing effects of his
severe illness and the strict regimen he is obliged to observe—so
opposite to all his previous habits. It is deplorable to see how
completely his past life has degenerated his once noble constitution, and
vitiated the whole system of his organization. But the doctor says he
may now be considered out of danger, if he will only continue to observe
the necessary restrictions. Some stimulating cordials he must have, but
they should be judiciously diluted and sparingly used; and I find it very
difficult to keep him to this. At first, his extreme dread of death
rendered the task an easy one; but in proportion as he feels his acute
suffering abating, and sees the danger receding, the more intractable he
becomes. Now, also, his appetite for food is beginning to return; and
here, too, his long habits of self-indulgence are greatly against him. I
watch and restrain him as well as I can, and often get bitterly abused
for my rigid severity; and sometimes he contrives to elude my vigilance,
and sometimes acts in opposition to my will. But he is now so completely
reconciled to my attendance in general that he is never satisfied when I
am not by his side. I am obliged to be a little stiff with him
sometimes, or he would make a complete slave of me; and I know it would
be unpardonable weakness to give up all other interests for him. I have
the servants to overlook, and my little Arthur to attend to,—and my own
health too, all of which would be entirely neglected were I to satisfy
his exorbitant demands. I do not generally sit up at night, for I think
the nurse who has made it her business is better qualified for such
undertakings than I am;—but still, an unbroken night’s rest is what I but
seldom enjoy, and never can venture to reckon upon; for my patient makes
no scruple of calling me up at an hour when his wants or his fancies
require my presence. But he is manifestly afraid of my displeasure; and
if at one time he tries my patience by his unreasonable exactions, and
fretful complaints and reproaches, at another he depresses me by his
abject submission and deprecatory self-abasement when he fears he has
gone too far. But all this I can readily pardon; I know it is chiefly
the result of his enfeebled frame and disordered nerves. What annoys me
the most, is his occasional attempts at affectionate fondness that I can
neither credit nor return; not that I hate him: his sufferings and my own
laborious care have given him some claim to my regard—to my affection
even, if he would only be quiet and sincere, and content to let things
remain as they are; but the more he tries to conciliate me, the more I
shrink from him and from the future.
‘Helen, what do you mean to do when I get well?’ he asked this morning.
‘Will you run away again?’
‘It entirely depends upon your own conduct.’
‘Oh, I’ll be very good.’
‘But if I find it necessary to leave you, Arthur, I shall not “run away”:
you know I have your own promise that I may go whenever I please, and
take my son with me.’
‘Oh, but you shall have no cause.’ And then followed a variety of
professions, which I rather coldly checked.
‘Will you not forgive me, then?’ said he.
‘Yes,—I have forgiven you: but I know you cannot love me as you once
did—and I should be very sorry if you were to, for I could not pretend to
return it: so let us drop the subject, and never recur to it again. By
what I have done for you, you may judge of what I will do—if it be not
incompatible with the higher duty I owe to my son (higher, because he
never forfeited his claims, and because I hope to do more good to him
than I can ever do to you); and if you wish me to feel kindly towards
you, it is deeds not words which must purchase my affection and esteem.’
His sole reply to this was a slight grimace, and a scarcely perceptible
shrug. Alas, unhappy man! words, with him, are so much cheaper than
deeds; it was as if I had said, ‘Pounds, not pence, must buy the article
you want.’ And then he sighed a querulous, self-commiserating sigh, as
if in pure regret that he, the loved and courted of so many worshippers,
should be now abandoned to the mercy of a harsh, exacting, cold-hearted
woman like that, and even glad of what kindness she chose to bestow.
‘It’s a pity, isn’t it?’ said I; and whether I rightly divined his
musings or not, the observation chimed in with his thoughts, for he
answered—‘It can’t be helped,’ with a rueful smile at my penetration.
* * * * *
I have seen Esther Hargrave twice. She is a charming creature, but her
blithe spirit is almost broken, and her sweet temper almost spoiled, by
the still unremitting persecutions of her mother in behalf of her
rejected suitor—not violent, but wearisome and unremitting like a
continual dropping. The unnatural parent seems determined to make her
daughter’s life a burden, if she will not yield to her desires.
‘Mamma does all she can,’ said she, ‘to make me feel myself a burden and
incumbrance to the family, and the most ungrateful, selfish, and
undutiful daughter that ever was born; and Walter, too, is as stern and
cold and haughty as if he hated me outright. I believe I should have
yielded at once if I had known, from the beginning, how much resistance
would have cost me; but now, for very obstinacy’s sake, I will stand
out!’
‘A bad motive for a good resolve,’ I answered. ‘But, however, I know you
have better motives, really, for your perseverance: and I counsel you to
keep them still in view.’
‘Trust me I will. I threaten mamma sometimes that I’ll run away, and
disgrace the family by earning my own livelihood, if she torments me any
more; and then that frightens her a little. But I will do it, in good
earnest, if they don’t mind.’
‘Be quiet and patient a while,’ said I, ‘and better times will come.’
Poor girl! I wish somebody that was worthy to possess her would come and
take her away—don’t you, Frederick?
* * * * *
If the perusal of this letter filled me with dismay for Helen’s future
life and mine, there was one great source of consolation: it was now in
my power to clear her name from every foul aspersion. The Millwards and
the Wilsons should see with their own eyes the bright sun bursting from
the cloud—and they should be scorched and dazzled by its beams;—and my
own friends too should see it—they whose suspicions had been such gall
and wormwood to my soul. To effect this I had only to drop the seed into
the ground, and it would soon become a stately, branching herb: a few
words to my mother and sister, I knew, would suffice to spread the news
throughout the whole neighbourhood, without any further exertion on my
part.
Rose was delighted; and as soon as I had told her all I thought
proper—which was all I affected to know—she flew with alacrity to put on
her bonnet and shawl, and hasten to carry the glad tidings to the
Millwards and Wilsons—glad tidings, I suspect, to none but herself and
Mary Millward—that steady, sensible girl, whose sterling worth had been
so quickly perceived and duly valued by the supposed Mrs. Graham, in
spite of her plain outside; and who, on her part, had been better able to
see and appreciate that lady’s true character and qualities than the
brightest genius among them.
As I may never have occasion to mention her again, I may as well tell you
here that she was at this time privately engaged to Richard Wilson—a
secret, I believe, to every one but themselves. That worthy student was
now at Cambridge, where his most exemplary conduct and his diligent
perseverance in the pursuit of learning carried him safely through, and
eventually brought him with hard-earned honours, and an untarnished
reputation, to the close of his collegiate career. In due time he became
Mr. Millward’s first and only curate—for that gentleman’s declining years
forced him at last to acknowledge that the duties of his extensive parish
were a little too much for those vaunted energies which he was wont to
boast over his younger and less active brethren of the cloth. This was
what the patient, faithful lovers had privately planned and quietly
waited for years ago; and in due time they were united, to the
astonishment of the little world they lived in, that had long since
declared them both born to single blessedness; affirming it impossible
that the pale, retiring bookworm should ever summon courage to seek a
wife, or be able to obtain one if he did, and equally impossible that the
plain-looking, plain-dealing, unattractive, unconciliating Miss Millward
should ever find a husband.
They still continued to live at the vicarage, the lady dividing her time
between her father, her husband, and their poor parishioners,—and
subsequently her rising family; and now that the Reverend Michael
Millward has been gathered to his fathers, full of years and honours, the
Reverend Richard Wilson has succeeded him to the vicarage of Linden-hope,
greatly to the satisfaction of its inhabitants, who had so long tried and
fully proved his merits, and those of his excellent and well-loved
partner.
If you are interested in the after fate of that lady’s sister, I can only
tell you—what perhaps you have heard from another quarter—that some
twelve or thirteen years ago she relieved the happy couple of her
presence by marrying a wealthy tradesman of L—; and I don’t envy him his
bargain. I fear she leads him a rather uncomfortable life, though,
happily, he is too dull to perceive the extent of his misfortune. I have
little enough to do with her myself: we have not met for many years; but,
I am well assured, she has not yet forgotten or forgiven either her
former lover, or the lady whose superior qualities first opened his eyes
to the folly of his boyish attachment.
As for Richard Wilson’s sister, she, having been wholly unable to
recapture Mr. Lawrence, or obtain any partner rich and elegant enough to
suit her ideas of what the husband of Jane Wilson ought to be, is yet in
single blessedness. Shortly after the death of her mother she withdrew
the light of her presence from Ryecote Farm, finding it impossible any
longer to endure the rough manners and unsophisticated habits of her
honest brother Robert and his worthy wife, or the idea of being
identified with such vulgar people in the eyes of the world, and took
lodgings in — the county town, where she lived, and still lives, I
suppose, in a kind of close-fisted, cold, uncomfortable gentility, doing
no good to others, and but little to herself; spending her days in
fancy-work and scandal; referring frequently to her ‘brother the vicar,’
and her ‘sister, the vicar’s lady,’ but never to her brother the farmer
and her sister the farmer’s wife; seeing as much company as she can
without too much expense, but loving no one and beloved by none—a
cold-hearted, supercilious, keenly, insidiously censorious old maid.
CHAPTER XLIX
Though Mr. Lawrence’s health was now quite re-established, my visits to
Woodford were as unremitting as ever; though often less protracted than
before. We seldom talked about Mrs. Huntingdon; but yet we never met
without mentioning her, for I never sought his company but with the hope
of hearing something about her, and he never sought mine at all, because
he saw me often enough without. But I always began to talk of other
things, and waited first to see if he would introduce the subject. If he
did not, I would casually ask, ‘Have you heard from your sister lately?’
If he said ‘No,’ the matter was dropped: if he said ‘Yes,’ I would
venture to inquire, ‘How is she?’ but never ‘How is her husband?’ though
I might be burning to know; because I had not the hypocrisy to profess
any anxiety for his recovery, and I had not the face to express any
desire for a contrary result. Had I any such desire?—I fear I must plead
guilty; but since you have heard my confession, you must hear my
justification as well —a few of the excuses, at least, wherewith I sought
to pacify my own accusing conscience.
In the first place, you see, his life did harm to others, and evidently
no good to himself; and though I wished it to terminate, I would not have
hastened its close if, by the lifting of a finger, I could have done so,
or if a spirit had whispered in my ear that a single effort of the will
would be enough,—unless, indeed, I had the power to exchange him for some
other victim of the grave, whose life might be of service to his race,
and whose death would be lamented by his friends. But was there any harm
in wishing that, among the many thousands whose souls would certainly be
required of them before the year was over, this wretched mortal might be
one? I thought not; and therefore I wished with all my heart that it
might please heaven to remove him to a better world, or if that might not
be, still to take him out of this; for if he were unfit to answer the
summons now, after a warning sickness, and with such an angel by his
side, it seemed but too certain that he never would be—that, on the
contrary, returning health would bring returning lust and villainy, and
as he grew more certain of recovery, more accustomed to her generous
goodness, his feelings would become more callous, his heart more flinty
and impervious to her persuasive arguments—but God knew best. Meantime,
however, I could not but be anxious for the result of His decrees;
knowing, as I did, that (leaving myself entirely out of the question),
however Helen might feel interested in her husband’s welfare, however she
might deplore his fate, still while he lived she must be miserable.
A fortnight passed away, and my inquiries were always answered in the
negative. At length a welcome ‘yes’ drew from me the second question.
Lawrence divined my anxious thoughts, and appreciated my reserve. I
feared, at first, he was going to torture me by unsatisfactory replies,
and either leave me quite in the dark concerning what I wanted to know,
or force me to drag the information out of him, morsel by morsel, by
direct inquiries. ‘And serve you right,’ you will say; but he was more
merciful; and in a little while he put his sister’s letter into my hand.
I silently read it, and restored it to him without comment or remark.
This mode of procedure suited him so well, that thereafter he always
pursued the plan of showing me her letters at once, when ‘inquired’ after
her, if there were any to show—it was so much less trouble than to tell
me their contents; and I received such confidences so quietly and
discreetly that he was never induced to discontinue them.
But I devoured those precious letters with my eyes, and never let them go
till their contents were stamped upon my mind; and when I got home, the
most important passages were entered in my diary among the remarkable
events of the day.
The first of these communications brought intelligence of a serious
relapse in Mr. Huntingdon’s illness, entirely the result of his own
infatuation in persisting in the indulgence of his appetite for
stimulating drink. In vain had she remonstrated, in vain she had mingled
his wine with water: her arguments and entreaties were a nuisance, her
interference was an insult so intolerable that, at length, on finding she
had covertly diluted the pale port that was brought him, he threw the
bottle out of the window, swearing he would not be cheated like a baby,
ordered the butler, on pain of instant dismissal, to bring a bottle of
the strongest wine in the cellar, and affirming that he should have been
well long ago if he had been let to have his own way, but she wanted to
keep him weak in order that she might have him under her thumb—but, by
the Lord Harry, he would have no more humbug—seized a glass in one hand
and the bottle in the other, and never rested till he had drunk it dry.
Alarming symptoms were the immediate result of this ‘imprudence,’ as she
mildly termed it—symptoms which had rather increased than diminished
since; and this was the cause of her delay in writing to her brother.
Every former feature of his malady had returned with augmented virulence:
the slight external wound, half healed, had broken out afresh; internal
inflammation had taken place, which might terminate fatally if not soon
removed. Of course, the wretched sufferer’s temper was not improved by
this calamity—in fact, I suspect it was well nigh insupportable, though
his kind nurse did not complain; but she said she had been obliged at
last to give her son in charge to Esther Hargrave, as her presence was so
constantly required in the sick-room that she could not possibly attend
to him herself; and though the child had begged to be allowed to continue
with her there, and to help her to nurse his papa, and though she had no
doubt he would have been very good and quiet, she could not think of
subjecting his young and tender feelings to the sight of so much
suffering, or of allowing him to witness his father’s impatience, or hear
the dreadful language he was wont to use in his paroxysms of pain or
irritation.
The latter (continued she) most deeply regrets the step that has
occasioned his relapse; but, as usual, he throws the blame upon me. If I
had reasoned with him like a rational creature, he says, it never would
have happened; but to be treated like a baby or a fool was enough to put
any man past his patience, and drive him to assert his independence even
at the sacrifice of his own interest. He forgets how often I had
reasoned him ‘past his patience’ before. He appears to be sensible of
his danger; but nothing can induce him to behold it in the proper light.
The other night, while I was waiting on him, and just as I had brought
him a draught to assuage his burning thirst, he observed, with a return
of his former sarcastic bitterness, ‘Yes, you’re mighty attentive now! I
suppose there’s nothing you wouldn’t do for me now?’
‘You know,’ said I, a little surprised at his manner, ‘that I am willing
to do anything I can to relieve you.’
‘Yes, now, my immaculate angel; but when once you have secured your
reward, and find yourself safe in heaven, and me howling in hell-fire,
catch you lifting a finger to serve me then! No, you’ll look
complacently on, and not so much as dip the tip of your finger in water
to cool my tongue!’
‘If so, it will be because of the great gulf over which I cannot pass;
and if I could look complacently on in such a case, it would be only from
the assurance that you were being purified from your sins, and fitted to
enjoy the happiness I felt.—But are you determined, Arthur, that I shall
not meet you in heaven?’
‘Humph! What should I do there, I should like to know?’
‘Indeed, I cannot tell; and I fear it is too certain that your tastes and
feelings must be widely altered before you can have any enjoyment there.
But do you prefer sinking, without an effort, into the state of torment
you picture to yourself?’
‘Oh, it’s all a fable,’ said he, contemptuously.
‘Are you sure, Arthur? are you quite sure? Because, if there is any
doubt, and if you should find yourself mistaken after all, when it is too
late to turn—’
‘It would be rather awkward, to be sure,’ said he; ‘but don’t bother me
now—I’m not going to die yet. I can’t and won’t,’ he added vehemently,
as if suddenly struck with the appalling aspect of that terrible event.
‘Helen, you must save me!’ And he earnestly seized my hand, and looked
into my face with such imploring eagerness that my heart bled for him,
and I could not speak for tears.
* * * * *
The next letter brought intelligence that the malady was fast increasing;
and the poor sufferer’s horror of death was still more distressing than
his impatience of bodily pain. All his friends had not forsaken him; for
Mr. Hattersley, hearing of his danger, had come to see him from his
distant home in the north. His wife had accompanied him, as much for the
pleasure of seeing her dear friend, from whom she had been parted so
long, as to visit her mother and sister.
Mrs. Huntingdon expressed herself glad to see Milicent once more, and
pleased to behold her so happy and well. She is now at the Grove,
continued the letter, but she often calls to see me. Mr. Hattersley
spends much of his time at Arthur’s bed-side. With more good feeling
than I gave him credit for, he evinces considerable sympathy for his
unhappy friend, and is far more willing than able to comfort him.
Sometimes he tries to joke and laugh with him, but that will not do;
sometimes he endeavours to cheer him with talk about old times, and this
at one time may serve to divert the sufferer from his own sad thoughts;
at another, it will only plunge him into deeper melancholy than before;
and then Hattersley is confounded, and knows not what to say, unless it
be a timid suggestion that the clergyman might be sent for. But Arthur
will never consent to that: he knows he has rejected the clergyman’s
well-meant admonitions with scoffing levity at other times, and cannot
dream of turning to him for consolation now.
Mr. Hattersley sometimes offers his services instead of mine, but Arthur
will not let me go: that strange whim still increases, as his strength
declines—the fancy to have me always by his side. I hardly ever leave
him, except to go into the next room, where I sometimes snatch an hour or
so of sleep when he is quiet; but even then the door is left ajar, that
he may know me to be within call. I am with him now, while I write, and
I fear my occupation annoys him; though I frequently break off to attend
to him, and though Mr. Hattersley is also by his side. That gentleman
came, as he said, to beg a holiday for me, that I might have a run in the
park, this fine frosty morning, with Milicent and Esther and little
Arthur, whom he had driven over to see me. Our poor invalid evidently
felt it a heartless proposition, and would have felt it still more
heartless in me to accede to it. I therefore said I would only go and
speak to them a minute, and then come back. I did but exchange a few
words with them, just outside the portico, inhaling the fresh, bracing
air as I stood, and then, resisting the earnest and eloquent entreaties
of all three to stay a little longer, and join them in a walk round the
garden, I tore myself away and returned to my patient. I had not been
absent five minutes, but he reproached me bitterly for my levity and
neglect. His friend espoused my cause.
‘Nay, nay, Huntingdon,’ said he, ‘you’re too hard upon her; she must have
food and sleep, and a mouthful of fresh air now and then, or she can’t
stand it, I tell you. Look at her, man! she’s worn to a shadow already.’
‘What are her sufferings to mine?’ said the poor invalid. ‘You don’t
grudge me these attentions, do you, Helen?’
‘No, Arthur, if I could really serve you by them. I would give my life
to save you, if I might.’
‘Would you, indeed? No!’
‘Most willingly I would.’
‘Ah! that’s because you think yourself more fit to die!’
There was a painful pause. He was evidently plunged in gloomy
reflections; but while I pondered for something to say that might benefit
without alarming him, Hattersley, whose mind had been pursuing almost the
same course, broke silence with, ‘I say, Huntingdon, I would send for a
parson of some sort: if you didn’t like the vicar, you know, you could
have his curate, or somebody else.’
‘No; none of them can benefit me if she can’t,’ was the answer. And the
tears gushed from his eyes as he earnestly exclaimed, ‘Oh, Helen, if I
had listened to you, it never would have come to this! and if I had heard
you long ago—oh, God! how different it would have been!’
‘Hear me now, then, Arthur,’ said I, gently pressing his hand.
‘It’s too late now,’ said he despondingly. And after that another
paroxysm of pain came on; and then his mind began to wander, and we
feared his death was approaching: but an opiate was administered: his
sufferings began to abate, he gradually became more composed, and at
length sank into a kind of slumber. He has been quieter since; and now
Hattersley has left him, expressing a hope that he shall find him better
when he calls to-morrow.
‘Perhaps I may recover,’ he replied; ‘who knows? This may have been the
crisis. What do you think, Helen?’ Unwilling to depress him, I gave the
most cheering answer I could, but still recommended him to prepare for
the possibility of what I inly feared was but too certain. But he was
determined to hope. Shortly after he relapsed into a kind of doze, but
now he groans again.
There is a change. Suddenly he called me to his side, with such a
strange, excited manner, that I feared he was delirious, but he was not.
‘That was the crisis, Helen!’ said he, delightedly. ‘I had an infernal
pain here—it is quite gone now. I never was so easy since the fall—quite
gone, by heaven!’ and he clasped and kissed my hand in the very fulness
of his heart; but finding I did not participate in his joy, he quickly
flung it from him, and bitterly cursed my coldness and insensibility.
How could I reply? Kneeling beside him, I took his hand and fondly
pressed it to my lips—for the first time since our separation—and told
him, as well as tears would let me speak, that it was not that that kept
me silent: it was the fear that this sudden cessation of pain was not so
favourable a symptom as he supposed. I immediately sent for the doctor:
we are now anxiously awaiting him. I will tell you what he says. There
is still the same freedom from pain, the same deadness to all sensation
where the suffering was most acute.
My worst fears are realised: mortification has commenced. The doctor has
told him there is no hope. No words can describe his anguish. I can
write no more.
* * * * *
The next was still more distressing in the tenor of its contents. The
sufferer was fast approaching dissolution—dragged almost to the verge of
that awful chasm he trembled to contemplate, from which no agony of
prayers or tears could save him. Nothing could comfort him now;
Hattersley’s rough attempts at consolation were utterly in vain. The
world was nothing to him: life and all its interests, its petty cares and
transient pleasures, were a cruel mockery. To talk of the past was to
torture him with vain remorse; to refer to the future was to increase his
anguish; and yet to be silent was to leave him a prey to his own regrets
and apprehensions. Often he dwelt with shuddering minuteness on the fate
of his perishing clay—the slow, piecemeal dissolution already invading
his frame: the shroud, the coffin, the dark, lonely grave, and all the
horrors of corruption.
‘If I try,’ said his afflicted wife, ‘to divert him from these things—to
raise his thoughts to higher themes, it is no better:—“Worse and worse!”
he groans. “If there be really life beyond the tomb, and judgment after
death, how can I face it?”—I cannot do him any good; he will neither be
enlightened, nor roused, nor comforted by anything I say; and yet he
clings to me with unrelenting pertinacity—with a kind of childish
desperation, as if I could save him from the fate he dreads. He keeps me
night and day beside him. He is holding my left hand now, while I write;
he has held it thus for hours: sometimes quietly, with his pale face
upturned to mine: sometimes clutching my arm with violence—the big drops
starting from his forehead at the thoughts of what he sees, or thinks he
sees, before him. If I withdraw my hand for a moment it distresses him.
‘“Stay with me, Helen,” he says; “let me hold you so: it seems as if harm
could not reach me while you are here. But death will come—it is coming
now—fast, fast!—and—oh, if I could believe there was nothing after!”
‘“Don’t try to believe it, Arthur; there is joy and glory after, if you
will but try to reach it!”
‘“What, for me?” he said, with something like a laugh. “Are we not to be
judged according to the deeds done in the body? Where’s the use of a
probationary existence, if a man may spend it as he pleases, just
contrary to God’s decrees, and then go to heaven with the best—if the
vilest sinner may win the reward of the holiest saint, by merely saying,
“I repent!””’
‘“But if you sincerely repent—”
‘“I can’t repent; I only fear.”
‘“You only regret the past for its consequences to yourself?”
‘“Just so—except that I’m sorry to have wronged you, Nell, because you’re
so good to me.”
‘“Think of the goodness of God, and you cannot but be grieved to have
offended Him.”
‘“What is God?—I cannot see Him or hear Him.—God is only an idea.”
‘“God is Infinite Wisdom, and Power, and Goodness—and LOVE; but if this
idea is too vast for your human faculties—if your mind loses itself in
its overwhelming infinitude, fix it on Him who condescended to take our
nature upon Him, who was raised to heaven even in His glorified human
body, in whom the fulness of the Godhead shines.”
‘But he only shook his head and sighed. Then, in another paroxysm of
shuddering horror, he tightened his grasp on my hand and arm, and,
groaning and lamenting, still clung to me with that wild, desperate
earnestness so harrowing to my soul, because I know I cannot help him. I
did my best to soothe and comfort him.
‘“Death is so terrible,” he cried, “I cannot bear it! You don’t know,
Helen—you can’t imagine what it is, because you haven’t it before you!
and when I’m buried, you’ll return to your old ways and be as happy as
ever, and all the world will go on just as busy and merry as if I had
never been; while I—” He burst into tears.
‘“You needn’t let that distress you,” I said; “we shall all follow you
soon enough.”
‘“I wish to God I could take you with me now!” he exclaimed: “you should
plead for me.”
‘“No man can deliver his brother, nor make agreement unto God for him,” I
replied: “it cost more to redeem their souls—it cost the blood of an
incarnate God, perfect and sinless in Himself, to redeem us from the
bondage of the evil one:—let Him plead for you.”
‘But I seem to speak in vain. He does not now, as formerly, laugh these
blessed truths to scorn: but still he cannot trust, or will not
comprehend them. He cannot linger long. He suffers dreadfully, and so
do those that wait upon him. But I will not harass you with further
details: I have said enough, I think, to convince you that I did well to
go to him.’
* * * * *
Poor, poor Helen! dreadful indeed her trials must have been! And I could
do nothing to lessen them—nay, it almost seemed as if I had brought them
upon her myself by my own secret desires; and whether I looked at her
husband’s sufferings or her own, it seemed almost like a judgment upon
myself for having cherished such a wish.
The next day but one there came another letter. That too was put into my
hands without a remark, and these are its contents:—
Dec. 5th.
He is gone at last. I sat beside him all night, with my hand fast locked
in his, watching the changes of his features and listening to his failing
breath. He had been silent a long time, and I thought he would never
speak again, when he murmured, faintly but distinctly,—‘Pray for me,
Helen!’
‘I do pray for you, every hour and every minute, Arthur; but you must
pray for yourself.’
His lips moved, but emitted no sound;—then his looks became unsettled;
and, from the incoherent, half-uttered words that escaped him from time
to time, supposing him to be now unconscious, I gently disengaged my hand
from his, intending to steal away for a breath of air, for I was almost
ready to faint; but a convulsive movement of the fingers, and a faintly
whispered ‘Don’t leave me!’ immediately recalled me: I took his hand
again, and held it till he was no more—and then I fainted. It was not
grief; it was exhaustion, that, till then, I had been enabled
successfully to combat. Oh, Frederick! none can imagine the miseries,
bodily and mental, of that death-bed! How could I endure to think that
that poor trembling soul was hurried away to everlasting torment? it
would drive me mad. But, thank God, I have hope—not only from a vague
dependence on the possibility that penitence and pardon might have
reached him at the last, but from the blessed confidence that, through
whatever purging fires the erring spirit may be doomed to pass—whatever
fate awaits it—still it is not lost, and God, who hateth nothing that He
hath made, will bless it in the end!
His body will be consigned on Thursday to that dark grave he so much
dreaded; but the coffin must be closed as soon as possible. If you will
attend the funeral, come quickly, for I need help.
HELEN HUNTINGDON.
CHAPTER L
On reading this I had no reason to disguise my joy and hope from
Frederick Lawrence, for I had none to be ashamed of. I felt no joy but
that his sister was at length released from her afflictive, overwhelming
toil—no hope but that she would in time recover from the effects of it,
and be suffered to rest in peace and quietness, at least, for the
remainder of her life. I experienced a painful commiseration for her
unhappy husband (though fully aware that he had brought every particle of
his sufferings upon himself, and but too well deserved them all), and a
profound sympathy for her own afflictions, and deep anxiety for the
consequences of those harassing cares, those dreadful vigils, that
incessant and deleterious confinement beside a living corpse—for I was
persuaded she had not hinted half the sufferings she had had to endure.
‘You will go to her, Lawrence?’ said I, as I put the letter into his
hand.
‘Yes, immediately.’
‘That’s right! I’ll leave you, then, to prepare for your departure.’
‘I’ve done that already, while you were reading the letter, and before
you came; and the carriage is now coming round to the door.’
Inly approving his promptitude, I bade him good-morning, and withdrew.
He gave me a searching glance as we pressed each other’s hands at
parting; but whatever he sought in my countenance, he saw there nothing
but the most becoming gravity—it might be mingled with a little sternness
in momentary resentment at what I suspected to be passing in his mind.
Had I forgotten my own prospects, my ardent love, my pertinacious hopes?
It seemed like sacrilege to revert to them now, but I had not forgotten
them. It was, however, with a gloomy sense of the darkness of those
prospects, the fallacy of those hopes, and the vanity of that affection,
that I reflected on those things as I remounted my horse and slowly
journeyed homewards. Mrs. Huntingdon was free now; it was no longer a
crime to think of her—but did she ever think of me? Not now—of course it
was not to be expected—but would she when this shock was over? In all
the course of her correspondence with her brother (our mutual friend, as
she herself had called him) she had never mentioned me but once—and that
was from necessity. This alone afforded strong presumption that I was
already forgotten; yet this was not the worst: it might have been her
sense of duty that had kept her silent: she might be only trying to
forget; but in addition to this, I had a gloomy conviction that the awful
realities she had seen and felt, her reconciliation with the man she had
once loved, his dreadful sufferings and death, must eventually efface
from her mind all traces of her passing love for me. She might recover
from these horrors so far as to be restored to her former health, her
tranquillity, her cheerfulness even—but never to those feelings which
would appear to her, henceforth, as a fleeting fancy, a vain, illusive
dream; especially as there was no one to remind her of my existence—no
means of assuring her of my fervent constancy, now that we were so far
apart, and delicacy forbade me to see her or to write to her, for months
to come at least. And how could I engage her brother in my behalf? how
could I break that icy crust of shy reserve? Perhaps he would disapprove
of my attachment now as highly as before; perhaps he would think me too
poor—too lowly born, to match with his sister. Yes, there was another
barrier: doubtless there was a wide distinction between the rank and
circumstances of Mrs. Huntingdon, the lady of Grassdale Manor, and those
of Mrs. Graham, the artist, the tenant of Wildfell Hall. And it might be
deemed presumption in me to offer my hand to the former, by the world, by
her friends, if not by herself; a penalty I might brave, if I were
certain she loved me; but otherwise, how could I? And, finally, her
deceased husband, with his usual selfishness, might have so constructed
his will as to place restrictions upon her marrying again. So that you
see I had reasons enough for despair if I chose to indulge it.
Nevertheless, it was with no small degree of impatience that I looked
forward to Mr. Lawrence’s return from Grassdale: impatience that
increased in proportion as his absence was prolonged. He stayed away
some ten or twelve days. All very right that he should remain to comfort
and help his sister, but he might have written to tell me how she was, or
at least to tell me when to expect his return; for he might have known I
was suffering tortures of anxiety for her, and uncertainty for my own
future prospects. And when he did return, all he told me about her was,
that she had been greatly exhausted and worn by her unremitting exertions
in behalf of that man who had been the scourge of her life, and had
dragged her with him nearly to the portals of the grave, and was still
much shaken and depressed by his melancholy end and the circumstances
attendant upon it; but no word in reference to me; no intimation that my
name had ever passed her lips, or even been spoken in her presence. To
be sure, I asked no questions on the subject; I could not bring my mind
to do so, believing, as I did, that Lawrence was indeed averse to the
idea of my union with his sister.
I saw that he expected to be further questioned concerning his visit, and
I saw too, with the keen perception of awakened jealousy, or alarmed
self-esteem, or by whatever name I ought to call it, that he rather
shrank from that impending scrutiny, and was no less pleased than
surprised to find it did not come. Of course, I was burning with anger,
but pride obliged me to suppress my feelings, and preserve a smooth face,
or at least a stoic calmness, throughout the interview. It was well it
did, for, reviewing the matter in my sober judgment, I must say it would
have been highly absurd and improper to have quarrelled with him on such
an occasion. I must confess, too, that I wronged him in my heart: the
truth was, he liked me very well, but he was fully aware that a union
between Mrs. Huntingdon and me would be what the world calls a
mesalliance; and it was not in his nature to set the world at defiance;
especially in such a case as this, for its dread laugh, or ill opinion,
would be far more terrible to him directed against his sister than
himself. Had he believed that a union was necessary to the happiness of
both, or of either, or had he known how fervently I loved her, he would
have acted differently; but seeing me so calm and cool, he would not for
the world disturb my philosophy; and though refraining entirely from any
active opposition to the match, he would yet do nothing to bring it
about, and would much rather take the part of prudence, in aiding us to
overcome our mutual predilections, than that of feeling, to encourage
them. ‘And he was in the right of it,’ you will say. Perhaps he was; at
any rate, I had no business to feel so bitterly against him as I did; but
I could not then regard the matter in such a moderate light; and, after a
brief conversation upon indifferent topics, I went away, suffering all
the pangs of wounded pride and injured friendship, in addition to those
resulting from the fear that I was indeed forgotten, and the knowledge
that she I loved was alone and afflicted, suffering from injured health
and dejected spirits, and I was forbidden to console or assist her:
forbidden even to assure her of my sympathy, for the transmission of any
such message through Mr. Lawrence was now completely out of the question.
But what should I do? I would wait, and see if she would notice me,
which of course she would not, unless by some kind message intrusted to
her brother, that, in all probability, he would not deliver, and then,
dreadful thought! she would think me cooled and changed for not returning
it, or, perhaps, he had already given her to understand that I had ceased
to think of her. I would wait, however, till the six months after our
parting were fairly passed (which would be about the close of February),
and then I would send her a letter, modestly reminding her of her former
permission to write to her at the close of that period, and hoping I
might avail myself of it—at least to express my heartfelt sorrow for her
late afflictions, my just appreciation of her generous conduct, and my
hope that her health was now completely re-established, and that she
would, some time, be permitted to enjoy those blessings of a peaceful,
happy life, which had been denied her so long, but which none could more
truly be said to merit than herself—adding a few words of kind
remembrance to my little friend Arthur, with a hope that he had not
forgotten me, and perhaps a few more in reference to bygone times, to the
delightful hours I had passed in her society, and my unfading
recollection of them, which was the salt and solace of my life, and a
hope that her recent troubles had not entirely banished me from her mind.
If she did not answer this, of course I should write no more: if she did
(as surely she would, in some fashion), my future proceedings should be
regulated by her reply.
Ten weeks was long to wait in such a miserable state of uncertainty; but
courage! it must be endured! and meantime I would continue to see
Lawrence now and then, though not so often as before, and I would still
pursue my habitual inquiries after his sister, if he had lately heard
from her, and how she was, but nothing more.
I did so, and the answers I received were always provokingly limited to
the letter of the inquiry: she was much as usual: she made no complaints,
but the tone of her last letter evinced great depression of mind: she
said she was better: and, finally, she said she was well, and very busy
with her son’s education, and with the management of her late husband’s
property, and the regulation of his affairs. The rascal had never told
me how that property was disposed, or whether Mr. Huntingdon had died
intestate or not; and I would sooner die than ask him, lest he should
misconstrue into covetousness my desire to know. He never offered to
show me his sister’s letters now, and I never hinted a wish to see them.
February, however, was approaching; December was past; January, at
length, was almost over—a few more weeks, and then, certain despair or
renewal of hope would put an end to this long agony of suspense.
But alas! it was just about that time she was called to sustain another
blow in the death of her uncle—a worthless old fellow enough in himself,
I daresay, but he had always shown more kindness and affection to her
than to any other creature, and she had always been accustomed to regard
him as a parent. She was with him when he died, and had assisted her
aunt to nurse him during the last stage of his illness. Her brother went
to Staningley to attend the funeral, and told me, upon his return, that
she was still there, endeavouring to cheer her aunt with her presence,
and likely to remain some time. This was bad news for me, for while she
continued there I could not write to her, as I did not know the address,
and would not ask it of him. But week followed week, and every time I
inquired about her she was still at Staningley.
‘Where is Staningley?’ I asked at last.
‘In —shire,’ was the brief reply; and there was something so cold and dry
in the manner of it, that I was effectually deterred from requesting a
more definite account.
‘When will she return to Grassdale?’ was my next question.
‘I don’t know.’
‘Confound it!’ I muttered.
‘Why, Markham?’ asked my companion, with an air of innocent surprise.
But I did not deign to answer him, save by a look of silent, sullen
contempt, at which he turned away, and contemplated the carpet with a
slight smile, half pensive, half amused; but quickly looking up, he began
to talk of other subjects, trying to draw me into a cheerful and friendly
conversation, but I was too much irritated to discourse with him, and
soon took leave.
You see Lawrence and I somehow could not manage to get on very well
together. The fact is, I believe, we were both of us a little too
touchy. It is a troublesome thing, Halford, this susceptibility to
affronts where none are intended. I am no martyr to it now, as you can
bear me witness: I have learned to be merry and wise, to be more easy
with myself and more indulgent to my neighbours, and I can afford to
laugh at both Lawrence and you.
Partly from accident, partly from wilful negligence on my part (for I was
really beginning to dislike him), several weeks elapsed before I saw my
friend again. When we did meet, it was he that sought me out. One
bright morning, early in June, he came into the field, where I was just
commencing my hay harvest.
‘It is long since I saw you, Markham,’ said he, after the first few words
had passed between us. ‘Do you never mean to come to Woodford again?’
‘I called once, and you were out.’
‘I was sorry, but that was long since; I hoped you would call again, and
now I have called, and you were out, which you generally are, or I would
do myself the pleasure of calling more frequently; but being determined
to see you this time, I have left my pony in the lane, and come over
hedge and ditch to join you; for I am about to leave Woodford for a
while, and may not have the pleasure of seeing you again for a month or
two.’
‘Where are you going?’
‘To Grassdale first,’ said he, with a half-smile he would willingly have
suppressed if he could.
‘To Grassdale! Is she there, then?’
‘Yes, but in a day or two she will leave it to accompany Mrs. Maxwell to
F— for the benefit of the sea air, and I shall go with them.’ (F— was at
that time a quiet but respectable watering-place: it is considerably more
frequented now.)
Lawrence seemed to expect me to take advantage of this circumstance to
entrust him with some sort of a message to his sister; and I believe he
would have undertaken to deliver it without any material objections, if I
had had the sense to ask him, though of course he would not offer to do
so, if I was content to let it alone. But I could not bring myself to
make the request, and it was not till after he was gone, that I saw how
fair an opportunity I had lost; and then, indeed, I deeply regretted my
stupidity and my foolish pride, but it was now too late to remedy the
evil.
He did not return till towards the latter end of August. He wrote to me
twice or thrice from F—, but his letters were most provokingly
unsatisfactory, dealing in generalities or in trifles that I cared
nothing about, or replete with fancies and reflections equally unwelcome
to me at the time, saying next to nothing about his sister, and little
more about himself. I would wait, however, till he came back; perhaps I
could get something more out of him then. At all events, I would not
write to her now, while she was with him and her aunt, who doubtless
would be still more hostile to my presumptuous aspirations than himself.
When she was returned to the silence and solitude of her own home, it
would be my fittest opportunity.
When Lawrence came, however, he was as reserved as ever on the subject of
my keen anxiety. He told me that his sister had derived considerable
benefit from her stay at F— that her son was quite well, and—alas! that
both of them were gone, with Mrs. Maxwell, back to Staningley, and there
they stayed at least three months. But instead of boring you with my
chagrin, my expectations and disappointments, my fluctuations of dull
despondency and flickering hope, my varying resolutions, now to drop it,
and now to persevere—now to make a bold push, and now to let things pass
and patiently abide my time,—I will employ myself in settling the
business of one or two of the characters introduced in the course of this
narrative, whom I may not have occasion to mention again.
Some time before Mr. Huntingdon’s death Lady Lowborough eloped with
another gallant to the Continent, where, having lived a while in reckless
gaiety and dissipation, they quarrelled and parted. She went dashing on
for a season, but years came and money went: she sunk, at length, in
difficulty and debt, disgrace and misery; and died at last, as I have
heard, in penury, neglect, and utter wretchedness. But this might be
only a report: she may be living yet for anything I or any of her
relatives or former acquaintances can tell; for they have all lost sight
of her long years ago, and would as thoroughly forget her if they could.
Her husband, however, upon this second misdemeanour, immediately sought
and obtained a divorce, and, not long after, married again. It was well
he did, for Lord Lowborough, morose and moody as he seemed, was not the
man for a bachelor’s life. No public interests, no ambitious projects,
or active pursuits,—or ties of friendship even (if he had had any
friends), could compensate to him for the absence of domestic comforts
and endearments. He had a son and a nominal daughter, it is true, but
they too painfully reminded him of their mother, and the unfortunate
little Annabella was a source of perpetual bitterness to his soul. He
had obliged himself to treat her with paternal kindness: he had forced
himself not to hate her, and even, perhaps, to feel some degree of kindly
regard for her, at last, in return for her artless and unsuspecting
attachment to himself; but the bitterness of his self-condemnation for
his inward feelings towards that innocent being, his constant struggles
to subdue the evil promptings of his nature (for it was not a generous
one), though partly guessed at by those who knew him, could be known to
God and his own heart alone;—so also was the hardness of his conflicts
with the temptation to return to the vice of his youth, and seek oblivion
for past calamities, and deadness to the present misery of a blighted
heart a joyless, friendless life, and a morbidly disconsolate mind, by
yielding again to that insidious foe to health, and sense, and virtue,
which had so deplorably enslaved and degraded him before.
The second object of his choice was widely different from the first.
Some wondered at his taste; some even ridiculed it—but in this their
folly was more apparent than his. The lady was about his own age—_i.e._,
between thirty and forty—remarkable neither for beauty, nor wealth, nor
brilliant accomplishments; nor any other thing that I ever heard of,
except genuine good sense, unswerving integrity, active piety,
warm-hearted benevolence, and a fund of cheerful spirits. These
qualities, however, as you may readily imagine, combined to render her an
excellent mother to the children, and an invaluable wife to his lordship.
He, with his usual self-depreciation, thought her a world too good for
him, and while he wondered at the kindness of Providence in conferring
such a gift upon him, and even at her taste in preferring him to other
men, he did his best to reciprocate the good she did him, and so far
succeeded that she was, and I believe still is, one of the happiest and
fondest wives in England; and all who question the good taste of either
partner may be thankful if their respective selections afford them half
the genuine satisfaction in the end, or repay their preference with
affection half as lasting and sincere.
If you are at all interested in the fate of that low scoundrel, Grimsby,
I can only tell you that he went from bad to worse, sinking from bathos
to bathos of vice and villainy, consorting only with the worst members of
his club and the lowest dregs of society—happily for the rest of the
world—and at last met his end in a drunken brawl, from the hands, it is
said, of some brother scoundrel he had cheated at play.
As for Mr. Hattersley, he had never wholly forgotten his resolution to
‘come out from among them,’ and behave like a man and a Christian, and
the last illness and death of his once jolly friend Huntingdon so deeply
and seriously impressed him with the evil of their former practices, that
he never needed another lesson of the kind. Avoiding the temptations of
the town, he continued to pass his life in the country, immersed in the
usual pursuits of a hearty, active, country gentleman; his occupations
being those of farming, and breeding horses and cattle, diversified with
a little hunting and shooting, and enlivened by the occasional
companionship of his friends (better friends than those of his youth),
and the society of his happy little wife (now cheerful and confiding as
heart could wish), and his fine family of stalwart sons and blooming
daughters. His father, the banker, having died some years ago and left
him all his riches, he has now full scope for the exercise of his
prevailing tastes, and I need not tell you that Ralph Hattersley, Esq.,
is celebrated throughout the country for his noble breed of horses.
CHAPTER LI
We will now turn to a certain still, cold, cloudy afternoon about the
commencement of December, when the first fall of snow lay thinly
scattered over the blighted fields and frozen roads, or stored more
thickly in the hollows of the deep cart-ruts and footsteps of men and
horses impressed in the now petrified mire of last month’s drenching
rains. I remember it well, for I was walking home from the vicarage with
no less remarkable a personage than Miss Eliza Millward by my side. I
had been to call upon her father,—a sacrifice to civility undertaken
entirely to please my mother, not myself, for I hated to go near the
house; not merely on account of my antipathy to the once so bewitching
Eliza, but because I had not half forgiven the old gentleman himself for
his ill opinion of Mrs. Huntingdon; for though now constrained to
acknowledge himself mistaken in his former judgment, he still maintained
that she had done wrong to leave her husband; it was a violation of her
sacred duties as a wife, and a tempting of Providence by laying herself
open to temptation; and nothing short of bodily ill-usage (and that of no
trifling nature) could excuse such a step—nor even that, for in such a
case she ought to appeal to the laws for protection. But it was not of
him I intended to speak; it was of his daughter Eliza. Just as I was
taking leave of the vicar, she entered the room, ready equipped for a
walk.
‘I was just coming to see, your sister, Mr. Markham,’ said she; ‘and so,
if you have no objection, I’ll accompany you home. I like company when
I’m walking out—don’t you?’
‘Yes, when it’s agreeable.’
‘That of course,’ rejoined the young lady, smiling archly.
So we proceeded together.
‘Shall I find Rose at home, do you think?’ said she, as we closed the
garden gate, and set our faces towards Linden-Car.
‘I believe so.’
‘I trust I shall, for I’ve a little bit of news for her—if you haven’t
forestalled me.’
‘I?’
‘Yes: do you know what Mr. Lawrence is gone for?’ She looked up
anxiously for my reply.
‘Is he gone?’ said I; and her face brightened.
‘Ah! then he hasn’t told you about his sister?’
‘What of her?’ I demanded in terror, lest some evil should have befallen
her.
‘Oh, Mr. Markham, how you blush!’ cried she, with a tormenting laugh.
‘Ha, ha, you have not forgotten her yet. But you had better be quick
about it, I can tell you, for—alas, alas!—she’s going to be married next
Thursday!’
‘No, Miss Eliza, that’s false.’
‘Do you charge me with a falsehood, sir?’
‘You are misinformed.’
‘Am I? Do you know better, then?’
‘I think I do.’
‘What makes you look so pale then?’ said she, smiling with delight at my
emotion. ‘Is it anger at poor me for telling such a fib? Well, I only
“tell the tale as ’twas told to me:” I don’t vouch for the truth of it;
but at the same time, I don’t see what reason Sarah should have for
deceiving me, or her informant for deceiving her; and that was what she
told me the footman told her:—that Mrs. Huntingdon was going to be
married on Thursday, and Mr. Lawrence was gone to the wedding. She did
tell me the name of the gentleman, but I’ve forgotten that. Perhaps you
can assist me to remember it. Is there not some one that lives near—or
frequently visits the neighbourhood, that has long been attached to
her?—a Mr.—oh, dear! Mr.—’
‘Hargrave?’ suggested I, with a bitter smile.
‘You’re right,’ cried she; ‘that was the very name.’
‘Impossible, Miss Eliza!’ I exclaimed, in a tone that made her start.
‘Well, you know, that’s what they told me,’ said she, composedly staring
me in the face. And then she broke out into a long shrill laugh that put
me to my wit’s end with fury.
‘Really you must excuse me,’ cried she. ‘I know it’s very rude, but ha,
ha, ha!—did you think to marry her yourself? Dear, dear, what a
pity!—ha, ha, ha! Gracious, Mr. Markham, are you going to faint? Oh,
mercy! shall I call this man? Here, Jacob—‘ But checking the word on
her lips, I seized her arm and gave it, I think, a pretty severe squeeze,
for she shrank into herself with a faint cry of pain or terror; but the
spirit within her was not subdued: instantly rallying, she continued,
with well-feigned concern, ‘What can I do for you? Will you have some
water—some brandy? I daresay they have some in the public-house down
there, if you’ll let me run.’
‘Have done with this nonsense!’ cried I, sternly. She looked
confounded—almost frightened again, for a moment. ‘You know I hate such
jests,’ I continued.
‘Jests indeed! I wasn’t jesting!’
‘You were laughing, at all events; and I don’t like to be laughed at,’
returned I, making violent efforts to speak with proper dignity and
composure, and to say nothing but what was coherent and sensible. ‘And
since you are in such a merry mood, Miss Eliza, you must be good enough
company for yourself; and therefore I shall leave you to finish your walk
alone—for, now I think of it, I have business elsewhere; so
good-evening.’
With that I left her (smothering her malicious laughter) and turned aside
into the fields, springing up the bank, and pushing through the nearest
gap in the hedge. Determined at once to prove the truth—or rather the
falsehood—of her story, I hastened to Woodford as fast as my legs could
carry me; first veering round by a circuitous course, but the moment I
was out of sight of my fair tormentor cutting away across the country,
just as a bird might fly, over pasture-land, and fallow, and stubble, and
lane, clearing hedges and ditches and hurdles, till I came to the young
squire’s gates. Never till now had I known the full fervour of my
love—the full strength of my hopes, not wholly crushed even in my hours
of deepest despondency, always tenaciously clinging to the thought that
one day she might be mine, or, if not that, at least that something of my
memory, some slight remembrance of our friendship and our love, would be
for ever cherished in her heart. I marched up to the door, determined,
if I saw the master, to question him boldly concerning his sister, to
wait and hesitate no longer, but cast false delicacy and stupid pride
behind my back, and know my fate at once.
‘Is Mr. Lawrence at home?’ I eagerly asked of the servant that opened the
door.
‘No, sir, master went yesterday,’ replied he, looking very alert.
‘Went where?’
‘To Grassdale, sir—wasn’t you aware, sir? He’s very close, is master,’
said the fellow, with a foolish, simpering grin. ‘I suppose, sir—’
But I turned and left him, without waiting to hear what he supposed. I
was not going to stand there to expose my tortured feelings to the
insolent laughter and impertinent curiosity of a fellow like that.
But what was to be done now? Could it be possible that she had left me
for that man? I could not believe it. Me she might forsake, but not to
give herself to him! Well, I would know the truth; to no concerns of
daily life could I attend while this tempest of doubt and dread, of
jealousy and rage, distracted me. I would take the morning coach from L—
(the evening one would be already gone), and fly to Grassdale—I must be
there before the marriage. And why? Because a thought struck me that
perhaps I might prevent it—that if I did not, she and I might both lament
it to the latest moment of our lives. It struck me that someone might
have belied me to her: perhaps her brother; yes, no doubt her brother had
persuaded her that I was false and faithless, and taking advantage of her
natural indignation, and perhaps her desponding carelessness about her
future life, had urged her, artfully, cruelly, on to this other marriage,
in order to secure her from me. If this was the case, and if she should
only discover her mistake when too late to repair it—to what a life of
misery and vain regret might she be doomed as well as me; and what
remorse for me to think my foolish scruples had induced it all! Oh, I
must see her—she must know my truth even if I told it at the church door!
I might pass for a madman or an impertinent fool—even she might be
offended at such an interruption, or at least might tell me it was now
too late. But if I could save her, if she might be mine!—it was too
rapturous a thought!
Winged by this hope, and goaded by these fears, I hurried homewards to
prepare for my departure on the morrow. I told my mother that urgent
business which admitted no delay, but which I could not then explain,
called me away.
My deep anxiety and serious preoccupation could not be concealed from her
maternal eyes; and I had much ado to calm her apprehensions of some
disastrous mystery.
That night there came a heavy fall of snow, which so retarded the
progress of the coaches on the following day that I was almost driven to
distraction. I travelled all night, of course, for this was Wednesday:
to-morrow morning, doubtless, the marriage would take place. But the
night was long and dark: the snow heavily clogged the wheels and balled
the horses’ feet; the animals were consumedly lazy; the coachman most
execrably cautious; the passengers confoundedly apathetic in their supine
indifference to the rate of our progression. Instead of assisting me to
bully the several coachmen and urge them forward, they merely stared and
grinned at my impatience: one fellow even ventured to rally me upon
it—but I silenced him with a look that quelled him for the rest of the
journey; and when, at the last stage, I would have taken the reins into
my own hand, they all with one accord opposed it.
It was broad daylight when we entered M— and drew up at the ‘Rose and
Crown.’ I alighted and called aloud for a post-chaise to Grassdale.
There was none to be had: the only one in the town was under repair. ‘A
gig, then—a fly—car—anything—only be quick!’ There was a gig, but not a
horse to spare. I sent into the town to seek one: but they were such an
intolerable time about it that I could wait no longer—I thought my own
feet could carry me sooner; and bidding them send the conveyance after
me, if it were ready within an hour, I set off as fast as I could walk.
The distance was little more than six miles, but the road was strange,
and I had to keep stopping to inquire my way; hallooing to carters and
clodhoppers, and frequently invading the cottages, for there were few
abroad that winter’s morning; sometimes knocking up the lazy people from
their beds, for where so little work was to be done, perhaps so little
food and fire to be had, they cared not to curtail their slumbers. I had
no time to think of them, however; aching with weariness and desperation,
I hurried on. The gig did not overtake me: and it was well I had not
waited for it; vexatious rather, that I had been fool enough to wait so
long.
At length, however, I entered the neighbourhood of Grassdale. I
approached the little rural church—but lo! there stood a train of
carriages before it; it needed not the white favours bedecking the
servants and horses, nor the merry voices of the village idlers assembled
to witness the show, to apprise me that there was a wedding within. I
ran in among them, demanding, with breathless eagerness, had the ceremony
long commenced? They only gaped and stared. In my desperation, I pushed
past them, and was about to enter the churchyard gate, when a group of
ragged urchins, that had been hanging like bees to the window, suddenly
dropped off and made a rush for the porch, vociferating in the uncouth
dialect of their country something which signified, ‘It’s over—they’re
coming out!’
If Eliza Millward had seen me then she might indeed have been delighted.
I grasped the gate-post for support, and stood intently gazing towards
the door to take my last look on my soul’s delight, my first on that
detested mortal who had torn her from my heart, and doomed her, I was
certain, to a life of misery and hollow, vain repining—for what happiness
could she enjoy with him? I did not wish to shock her with my presence
now, but I had not power to move away. Forth came the bride and
bridegroom. Him I saw not; I had eyes for none but her. A long veil
shrouded half her graceful form, but did not hide it; I could see that
while she carried her head erect, her eyes were bent upon the ground, and
her face and neck were suffused with a crimson blush; but every feature
was radiant with smiles, and gleaming through the misty whiteness of her
veil were clusters of golden ringlets! Oh, heavens! it was not my Helen!
The first glimpse made me start—but my eyes were darkened with exhaustion
and despair. Dare I trust them? ‘Yes—it is not she! It was a younger,
slighter, rosier beauty—lovely indeed, but with far less dignity and
depth of soul—without that indefinable grace, that keenly spiritual yet
gentle charm, that ineffable power to attract and subjugate the heart—my
heart at least. I looked at the bridegroom—it was Frederick Lawrence! I
wiped away the cold drops that were trickling down my forehead, and
stepped back as he approached; but, his eyes fell upon me, and he knew
me, altered as my appearance must have been.
‘Is that you, Markham?’ said he, startled and confounded at the
apparition—perhaps, too, at the wildness of my looks.
‘Yes, Lawrence; is that you?’ I mustered the presence of mind to reply.
He smiled and coloured, as if half-proud and half-ashamed of his
identity; and if he had reason to be proud of the sweet lady on his arm,
he had no less cause to be ashamed of having concealed his good fortune
so long.
‘Allow me to introduce you to my bride,’ said he, endeavouring to hide
his embarrassment by an assumption of careless gaiety. ‘Esther, this is
Mr. Markham; my friend Markham, Mrs. Lawrence, late Miss Hargrave.’
I bowed to the bride, and vehemently wrung the bridegroom’s hand.
‘Why did you not tell me of this?’ I said, reproachfully, pretending a
resentment I did not feel (for in truth I was almost wild with joy to
find myself so happily mistaken, and overflowing with affection to him
for this and for the base injustice I felt that I had done him in my
mind—he might have wronged me, but not to that extent; and as I had hated
him like a demon for the last forty hours, the reaction from such a
feeling was so great that I could pardon all offences for the moment—and
love him in spite of them too).
‘I did tell you,’ said he, with an air of guilty confusion; ‘you received
my letter?’
‘What letter?’
‘The one announcing my intended marriage.’
‘I never received the most distant hint of such an intention.’
‘It must have crossed you on your way then—it should have reached you
yesterday morning—it was rather late, I acknowledge. But what brought
you here, then, if you received no information?’
It was now my turn to be confounded; but the young lady, who had been
busily patting the snow with her foot during our short sotto-voce
colloquy, very opportunely came to my assistance by pinching her
companion’s arm and whispering a suggestion that his friend should be
invited to step into the carriage and go with them; it being scarcely
agreeable to stand there among so many gazers, and keeping their friends
waiting into the bargain.
‘And so cold as it is too!’ said he, glancing with dismay at her slight
drapery, and immediately handing her into the carriage. ‘Markham, will
you come? We are going to Paris, but we can drop you anywhere between
this and Dover.’
‘No, thank you. Good-by—I needn’t wish you a pleasant journey; but I
shall expect a very handsome apology, some time, mind, and scores of
letters, before we meet again.’
He shook my hand, and hastened to take his place beside his lady. This
was no time or place for explanation or discourse: we had already stood
long enough to excite the wonder of the village sight-seers, and perhaps
the wrath of the attendant bridal party; though, of course, all this
passed in a much shorter time than I have taken to relate, or even than
you will take to read it. I stood beside the carriage, and, the window
being down, I saw my happy friend fondly encircle his companion’s waist
with his arm, while she rested her glowing cheek on his shoulder, looking
the very impersonation of loving, trusting bliss. In the interval
between the footman’s closing the door and taking his place behind she
raised her smiling brown eyes to his face, observing, playfully,—‘I fear
you must think me very insensible, Frederick: I know it is the custom for
ladies to cry on these occasions, but I couldn’t squeeze a tear for my
life.’
He only answered with a kiss, and pressed her still closer to his bosom.
‘But what is this?’ he murmured. ‘Why, Esther, you’re crying now!’
‘Oh, it’s nothing—it’s only too much happiness—and the wish,’ sobbed she,
‘that our dear Helen were as happy as ourselves.’
‘Bless you for that wish!’ I inwardly responded, as the carriage rolled
away—‘and heaven grant it be not wholly vain!’
I thought a cloud had suddenly darkened her husband’s face as she spoke.
What did he think? Could he grudge such happiness to his dear sister and
his friend as he now felt himself? At such a moment it was impossible.
The contrast between her fate and his must darken his bliss for a time.
Perhaps, too, he thought of me: perhaps he regretted the part he had had
in preventing our union, by omitting to help us, if not by actually
plotting against us. I exonerated him from that charge now, and deeply
lamented my former ungenerous suspicions; but he had wronged us, still—I
hoped, I trusted that he had. He had not attempted to cheek the course
of our love by actually damming up the streams in their passage, but he
had passively watched the two currents wandering through life’s arid
wilderness, declining to clear away the obstructions that divided them,
and secretly hoping that both would lose themselves in the sand before
they could be joined in one. And meantime he had been quietly proceeding
with his own affairs; perhaps, his heart and head had been so full of his
fair lady that he had had but little thought to spare for others.
Doubtless he had made his first acquaintance with her—his first intimate
acquaintance at least—during his three months’ sojourn at F—, for I now
recollected that he had once casually let fall an intimation that his
aunt and sister had a young friend staying with them at the time, and
this accounted for at least one-half his silence about all transactions
there. Now, too, I saw a reason for many little things that had slightly
puzzled me before; among the rest, for sundry departures from Woodford,
and absences more or less prolonged, for which he never satisfactorily
accounted, and concerning which he hated to be questioned on his return.
Well might the servant say his master was ‘very close.’ But why this
strange reserve to me? Partly, from that remarkable idiosyncrasy to
which I have before alluded; partly, perhaps, from tenderness to my
feelings, or fear to disturb my philosophy by touching upon the
infectious theme of love.
CHAPTER LII
The tardy gig had overtaken me at last. I entered it, and bade the man
who brought it drive to Grassdale Manor—I was too busy with my own
thoughts to care to drive it myself. I would see Mrs. Huntingdon—there
could be no impropriety in that now that her husband had been dead above
a year—and by her indifference or her joy at my unexpected arrival I
could soon tell whether her heart was truly mine. But my companion, a
loquacious, forward fellow, was not disposed to leave me to the
indulgence of my private cogitations.
‘There they go!’ said he, as the carriages filed away before us.
‘There’ll be brave doings on yonder to-day, as what come to-morra.—Know
anything of that family, sir? or you’re a stranger in these parts?’
‘I know them by report.’
‘Humph! There’s the best of ’em gone, anyhow. And I suppose the old
missis is agoing to leave after this stir’s gotten overed, and take
herself off, somewhere, to live on her bit of a jointure; and the young
’un—at least the new ’un (she’s none so very young)—is coming down to
live at the Grove.’
‘Is Mr. Hargrave married, then?’
‘Ay, sir, a few months since. He should a been wed afore, to a widow
lady, but they couldn’t agree over the money: she’d a rare long purse,
and Mr. Hargrave wanted it all to hisself; but she wouldn’t let it go,
and so then they fell out. This one isn’t quite as rich, nor as handsome
either, but she hasn’t been married before. She’s very plain, they say,
and getting on to forty or past, and so, you know, if she didn’t jump at
this hopportunity, she thought she’d never get a better. I guess she
thought such a handsome young husband was worth all ‘at ever she had, and
he might take it and welcome, but I lay she’ll rue her bargain afore
long. They say she begins already to see ‘at he isn’t not altogether
that nice, generous, perlite, delightful gentleman ‘at she thought him
afore marriage—he begins a being careless and masterful already. Ay, and
she’ll find him harder and carelesser nor she thinks on.’
‘You seem to be well acquainted with him,’ I observed.
‘I am, sir; I’ve known him since he was quite a young gentleman; and a
proud ’un he was, and a wilful. I was servant yonder for several years;
but I couldn’t stand their niggardly ways—she got ever longer and worse,
did missis, with her nipping and screwing, and watching and grudging; so
I thought I’d find another place.’
‘Are we not near the house?’ said I, interrupting him.
‘Yes, sir; yond’s the park.’
My heart sank within me to behold that stately mansion in the midst of
its expansive grounds. The park as beautiful now, in its wintry garb, as
it could be in its summer glory: the majestic sweep, the undulating swell
and fall, displayed to full advantage in that robe of dazzling purity,
stainless and printless—save one long, winding track left by the trooping
deer—the stately timber-trees with their heavy-laden branches gleaming
white against the dull, grey sky; the deep, encircling woods; the broad
expanse of water sleeping in frozen quiet; and the weeping ash and willow
drooping their snow-clad boughs above it—all presented a picture,
striking indeed, and pleasing to an unencumbered mind, but by no means
encouraging to me. There was one comfort, however,—all this was entailed
upon little Arthur, and could not under any circumstances, strictly
speaking, be his mother’s. But how was she situated? Overcoming with a
sudden effort my repugnance to mention her name to my garrulous
companion, I asked him if he knew whether her late husband had left a
will, and how the property had been disposed of. Oh, yes, he knew all
about it; and I was quickly informed that to her had been left the full
control and management of the estate during her son’s minority, besides
the absolute, unconditional possession of her own fortune (but I knew
that her father had not given her much), and the small additional sum
that had been settled upon her before marriage.
Before the close of the explanation we drew up at the park-gates. Now
for the trial. If I should find her within—but alas! she might be still
at Staningley: her brother had given me no intimation to the contrary. I
inquired at the porter’s lodge if Mrs. Huntingdon were at home. No, she
was with her aunt in —shire, but was expected to return before Christmas.
She usually spent most of her time at Staningley, only coming to
Grassdale occasionally, when the management of affairs, or the interest
of her tenants and dependents, required her presence.
‘Near what town is Staningley situated?’ I asked. The requisite
information was soon obtained. ‘Now then, my man, give me the reins, and
we’ll return to M—. I must have some breakfast at the “Rose and Crown,”
and then away to Staningley by the first coach for —.’
At M— I had time before the coach started to replenish my forces with a
hearty breakfast, and to obtain the refreshment of my usual morning’s
ablutions, and the amelioration of some slight change in my toilet, and
also to despatch a short note to my mother (excellent son that I was), to
assure her that I was still in existence, and to excuse my non-appearance
at the expected time. It was a long journey to Staningley for those
slow-travelling days, but I did not deny myself needful refreshment on
the road, nor even a night’s rest at a wayside inn, choosing rather to
brook a little delay than to present myself worn, wild, and
weather-beaten before my mistress and her aunt, who would be astonished
enough to see me without that. Next morning, therefore, I not only
fortified myself with as substantial a breakfast as my excited feelings
would allow me to swallow, but I bestowed a little more than usual time
and care upon my toilet; and, furnished with a change of linen from my
small carpet-bag, well-brushed clothes, well-polished boots, and neat new
gloves, I mounted ‘The Lightning,’ and resumed my journey. I had nearly
two stages yet before me, but the coach, I was informed, passed through
the neighbourhood of Staningley, and having desired to be set down as
near the Hall as possible, I had nothing to do but to sit with folded
arms and speculate upon the coming hour.
It was a clear, frosty morning. The very fact of sitting exalted aloft,
surveying the snowy landscape and sweet sunny sky, inhaling the pure,
bracing air, and crunching away over the crisp frozen snow, was
exhilarating enough in itself; but add to this the idea of to what goal I
was hastening, and whom I expected to meet, and you may have some faint
conception of my frame of mind at the time—only a faint one, though: for
my heart swelled with unspeakable delight, and my spirits rose almost to
madness, in spite of my prudent endeavours to bind them down to a
reasonable platitude by thinking of the undeniable difference between
Helen’s rank and mine; of all that she had passed through since our
parting; of her long, unbroken silence; and, above all, of her cool,
cautious aunt, whose counsels she would doubtless be careful not to
slight again. These considerations made my heart flutter with anxiety,
and my chest heave with impatience to get the crisis over; but they could
not dim her image in my mind, or mar the vivid recollection of what had
been said and felt between us, or destroy the keen anticipation of what
was to be: in fact, I could not realise their terrors now. Towards the
close of the journey, however, a couple of my fellow-passengers kindly
came to my assistance, and brought me low enough.
‘Fine land this,’ said one of them, pointing with his umbrella to the
wide fields on the right, conspicuous for their compact hedgerows, deep,
well-cut ditches, and fine timber-trees, growing sometimes on the
borders, sometimes in the midst of the enclosure: ‘very fine land, if you
saw it in the summer or spring.’
‘Ay,’ responded the other, a gruff elderly man, with a drab greatcoat
buttoned up to the chin, and a cotton umbrella between his knees. ‘It’s
old Maxwell’s, I suppose.’
‘It was his, sir; but he’s dead now, you’re aware, and has left it all to
his niece.’
‘All?’
‘Every rood of it, and the mansion-house and all! every hatom of his
worldly goods, except just a trifle, by way of remembrance, to his nephew
down in —shire, and an annuity to his wife.’
‘It’s strange, sir!’
‘It is, sir; and she wasn’t his own niece neither. But he had no near
relations of his own—none but a nephew he’d quarrelled with; and he
always had a partiality for this one. And then his wife advised him to
it, they say: she’d brought most of the property, and it was her wish
that this lady should have it.’
‘Humph! She’ll be a fine catch for somebody.’
‘She will so. She’s a widow, but quite young yet, and uncommon handsome:
a fortune of her own, besides, and only one child, and she’s nursing a
fine estate for him in —. There’ll be lots to speak for her! ’fraid
there’s no chance for uz’—(facetiously jogging me with his elbow, as well
as his companion)—‘ha, ha, ha! No offence, sir, I hope?’—(to me).
‘Ahem! I should think she’ll marry none but a nobleman myself. Look ye,
sir,’ resumed he, turning to his other neighbour, and pointing past me
with his umbrella, ‘that’s the Hall: grand park, you see, and all them
woods—plenty of timber there, and lots of game. Hallo! what now?’
This exclamation was occasioned by the sudden stoppage of the coach at
the park-gates.
‘Gen’leman for Staningley Hall?’ cried the coachman and I rose and threw
my carpet-bag on to the ground, preparatory to dropping myself down after
it.
‘Sickly, sir?’ asked my talkative neighbour, staring me in the face. I
daresay it was white enough.
‘No. Here, coachman!’
‘Thank’ee, sir.—All right!’
The coachman pocketed his fee and drove away, leaving me, not walking up
the park, but pacing to and fro before its gates, with folded arms, and
eyes fixed upon the ground, an overwhelming force of images, thoughts,
impressions crowding on my mind, and nothing tangibly distinct but this:
My love had been cherished in vain—my hope was gone for ever; I must tear
myself away at once, and banish or suppress all thoughts of her, like the
remembrance of a wild, mad dream. Gladly would I have lingered round the
place for hours, in the hope of catching at least one distant glimpse of
her before I went, but it must not be—I must not suffer her to see me;
for what could have brought me hither but the hope of reviving her
attachment, with a view hereafter to obtain her hand? And could I bear
that she should think me capable of such a thing?—of presuming upon the
acquaintance—the love, if you will—accidentally contracted, or rather
forced upon her against her will, when she was an unknown fugitive,
toiling for her own support, apparently without fortune, family, or
connections; to come upon her now, when she was reinstated in her proper
sphere, and claim a share in her prosperity, which, had it never failed
her, would most certainly have kept her unknown to me for ever? And
this, too, when we had parted sixteen months ago, and she had expressly
forbidden me to hope for a re-union in this world, and never sent me a
line or a message from that day to this. No! The very idea was
intolerable.
And even if she should have a lingering affection for me still, ought I
to disturb her peace by awakening those feelings? to subject her to the
struggles of conflicting duty and inclination—to whichsoever side the
latter might allure, or the former imperatively call her—whether she
should deem it her duty to risk the slights and censures of the world,
the sorrow and displeasure of those she loved, for a romantic idea of
truth and constancy to me, or to sacrifice her individual wishes to the
feelings of her friends and her own sense of prudence and the fitness of
things? No—and I would not! I would go at once, and she should never
know that I had approached the place of her abode: for though I might
disclaim all idea of ever aspiring to her hand, or even of soliciting a
place in her friendly regard, her peace should not be broken by my
presence, nor her heart afflicted by the sight of my fidelity.
‘Adieu then, dear Helen, forever! Forever adieu!’
So said I—and yet I could not tear myself away. I moved a few paces, and
then looked back, for one last view of her stately home, that I might
have its outward form, at least, impressed upon my mind as indelibly as
her own image, which, alas! I must not see again—then walked a few steps
further; and then, lost in melancholy musings, paused again and leant my
back against a rough old tree that grew beside the road.
CHAPTER LIII
While standing thus, absorbed in my gloomy reverie, a gentleman’s
carriage came round the corner of the road. I did not look at it; and
had it rolled quietly by me, I should not have remembered the fact of its
appearance at all; but a tiny voice from within it roused me by
exclaiming, ‘Mamma, mamma, here’s Mr. Markham!’
I did not hear the reply, but presently the same voice answered, ‘It is
indeed, mamma—look for yourself.’
I did not raise my eyes, but I suppose mamma looked, for a clear
melodious voice, whose tones thrilled through my nerves, exclaimed, ‘Oh,
aunt! here’s Mr. Markham, Arthur’s friend! Stop, Richard!’
There was such evidence of joyous though suppressed excitement in the
utterance of those few words—especially that tremulous, ‘Oh, aunt’—that
it threw me almost off my guard. The carriage stopped immediately, and I
looked up and met the eye of a pale, grave, elderly lady surveying me
from the open window. She bowed, and so did I, and then she withdrew her
head, while Arthur screamed to the footman to let him out; but before
that functionary could descend from his box a hand was silently put forth
from the carriage window. I knew that hand, though a black glove
concealed its delicate whiteness and half its fair proportions, and
quickly seizing it, I pressed it in my own—ardently for a moment, but
instantly recollecting myself, I dropped it, and it was immediately
withdrawn.
‘Were you coming to see us, or only passing by?’ asked the low voice of
its owner, who, I felt, was attentively surveying my countenance from
behind the thick black veil which, with the shadowing panels, entirely
concealed her own from me.
‘I—I came to see the place,’ faltered I.
‘The place,’ repeated she, in a tone which betokened more displeasure or
disappointment than surprise.
‘Will you not enter it, then?’
‘If you wish it.’
‘Can you doubt?’
‘Yes, yes! he must enter,’ cried Arthur, running round from the other
door; and seizing my hand in both his, he shook it heartily.
‘Do you remember me, sir?’ said he.
‘Yes, full well, my little man, altered though you are,’ replied I,
surveying the comparatively tall, slim young gentleman, with his mother’s
image visibly stamped upon his fair, intelligent features, in spite of
the blue eyes beaming with gladness, and the bright locks clustering
beneath his cap.
‘Am I not grown?’ said he, stretching himself up to his full height.
‘Grown! three inches, upon my word!’
‘I was seven last birthday,’ was the proud rejoinder. ‘In seven years
more I shall be as tall as you nearly.’
‘Arthur,’ said his mother, ‘tell him to come in. Go on, Richard.’
There was a touch of sadness as well as coldness in her voice, but I knew
not to what to ascribe it. The carriage drove on and entered the gates
before us. My little companion led me up the park, discoursing merrily
all the way. Arrived at the hall-door, I paused on the steps and looked
round me, waiting to recover my composure, if possible—or, at any rate,
to remember my new-formed resolutions and the principles on which they
were founded; and it was not till Arthur had been for some time gently
pulling my coat, and repeating his invitations to enter, that I at length
consented to accompany him into the apartment where the ladies awaited
us.
Helen eyed me as I entered with a kind of gentle, serious scrutiny, and
politely asked after Mrs. Markham and Rose. I respectfully answered her
inquiries. Mrs. Maxwell begged me to be seated, observing it was rather
cold, but she supposed I had not travelled far that morning.
‘Not quite twenty miles,’ I answered.
‘Not on foot!’
‘No, Madam, by coach.’
‘Here’s Rachel, sir,’ said Arthur, the only truly happy one amongst us,
directing my attention to that worthy individual, who had just entered to
take her mistress’s things. She vouchsafed me an almost friendly smile
of recognition—a favour that demanded, at least, a civil salutation on my
part, which was accordingly given and respectfully returned—she had seen
the error of her former estimation of my character.
When Helen was divested of her lugubrious bonnet and veil, her heavy
winter cloak, &c., she looked so like herself that I knew not how to bear
it. I was particularly glad to see her beautiful black hair, unstinted
still, and unconcealed in its glossy luxuriance.
‘Mamma has left off her widow’s cap in honour of uncle’s marriage,’
observed Arthur, reading my looks with a child’s mingled simplicity and
quickness of observation. Mamma looked grave and Mrs. Maxwell shook her
head. ‘And aunt Maxwell is never going to leave off hers,’ persisted the
naughty boy; but when he saw that his pertness was seriously displeasing
and painful to his aunt, he went and silently put his arm round her neck,
kissed her cheek, and withdrew to the recess of one of the great
bay-windows, where he quietly amused himself with his dog, while Mrs.
Maxwell gravely discussed with me the interesting topics of the weather,
the season, and the roads. I considered her presence very useful as a
check upon my natural impulses—an antidote to those emotions of
tumultuous excitement which would otherwise have carried me away against
my reason and my will; but just then I felt the restraint almost
intolerable, and I had the greatest difficulty in forcing myself to
attend to her remarks and answer them with ordinary politeness; for I was
sensible that Helen was standing within a few feet of me beside the fire.
I dared not look at her, but I felt her eye was upon me, and from one
hasty, furtive glance, I thought her cheek was slightly flushed, and that
her fingers, as she played with her watch-chain, were agitated with that
restless, trembling motion which betokens high excitement.
‘Tell me,’ said she, availing herself of the first pause in the attempted
conversation between her aunt and me, and speaking fast and low, with her
eyes bent on the gold chain—for I now ventured another glance—‘Tell me
how you all are at Linden-hope—has nothing happened since I left you?’
‘I believe not.’
‘Nobody dead? nobody married?’
‘No.’
‘Or—or expecting to marry?—No old ties dissolved or new ones formed? no
old friends forgotten or supplanted?’
She dropped her voice so low in the last sentence that no one could have
caught the concluding words but myself, and at the same time turned her
eyes upon me with a dawning smile, most sweetly melancholy, and a look of
timid though keen inquiry that made my cheeks tingle with inexpressible
emotions.
‘I believe not,’ I answered. ‘Certainly not, if others are as little
changed as I.’ Her face glowed in sympathy with mine.
‘And you really did not mean to call?’ she exclaimed.
‘I feared to intrude.’
‘To intrude!’ cried she, with an impatient gesture. ‘What—‘ but as if
suddenly recollecting her aunt’s presence, she checked herself, and,
turning to that lady, continued—‘Why, aunt, this man is my brother’s
close friend, and was my own intimate acquaintance (for a few short
months at least), and professed a great attachment to my boy—and when he
passes the house, so many scores of miles from his home, he declines to
look in for fear of intruding!’
‘Mr. Markham is over-modest,’ observed Mrs. Maxwell.
‘Over-ceremonious rather,’ said her niece—‘over—well, it’s no matter.’
And turning from me, she seated herself in a chair beside the table, and
pulling a book to her by the cover, began to turn over the leaves in an
energetic kind of abstraction.
‘If I had known,’ said I, ‘that you would have honoured me by remembering
me as an intimate acquaintance, I most likely should not have denied
myself the pleasure of calling upon you, but I thought you had forgotten
me long ago.’
‘You judged of others by yourself,’ muttered she without raising her eyes
from the book, but reddening as she spoke, and hastily turning over a
dozen leaves at once.
There was a pause, of which Arthur thought he might venture to avail
himself to introduce his handsome young setter, and show me how
wonderfully it was grown and improved, and to ask after the welfare of
its father Sancho. Mrs. Maxwell then withdrew to take off her things.
Helen immediately pushed the book from her, and after silently surveying
her son, his friend, and his dog for a few moments, she dismissed the
former from the room under pretence of wishing him to fetch his last new
book to show me. The child obeyed with alacrity; but I continued
caressing the dog. The silence might have lasted till its master’s
return, had it depended on me to break it; but, in half a minute or less,
my hostess impatiently rose, and, taking her former station on the rug
between me and the chimney corner, earnestly exclaimed—
‘Gilbert, what is the matter with you?—why are you so changed? It is a
very indiscreet question, I know,’ she hastened to add: ‘perhaps a very
rude one—don’t answer it if you think so—but I hate mysteries and
concealments.’
‘I am not changed, Helen—unfortunately I am as keen and passionate as
ever—it is not I, it is circumstances that are changed.’
‘What circumstances? Do tell me!’ Her cheek was blanched with the very
anguish of anxiety—could it be with the fear that I had rashly pledged my
faith to another?
‘I’ll tell you at once,’ said I. ‘I will confess that I came here for
the purpose of seeing you (not without some monitory misgivings at my own
presumption, and fears that I should be as little welcome as expected
when I came), but I did not know that this estate was yours until
enlightened on the subject of your inheritance by the conversation of two
fellow-passengers in the last stage of my journey; and then I saw at once
the folly of the hopes I had cherished, and the madness of retaining them
a moment longer; and though I alighted at your gates, I determined not to
enter within them; I lingered a few minutes to see the place, but was
fully resolved to return to M— without seeing its mistress.’
‘And if my aunt and I had not been just returning from our morning drive,
I should have seen and heard no more of you?’
‘I thought it would be better for both that we should not meet,’ replied
I, as calmly as I could, but not daring to speak above my breath, from
conscious inability to steady my voice, and not daring to look in her
face lest my firmness should forsake me altogether. ‘I thought an
interview would only disturb your peace and madden me. But I am glad,
now, of this opportunity of seeing you once more and knowing that you
have not forgotten me, and of assuring you that I shall never cease to
remember you.’
There was a moment’s pause. Mrs. Huntingdon moved away, and stood in the
recess of the window. Did she regard this as an intimation that modesty
alone prevented me from asking her hand? and was she considering how to
repulse me with the smallest injury to my feelings? Before I could speak
to relieve her from such a perplexity, she broke the silence herself by
suddenly turning towards me and observing—
‘You might have had such an opportunity before—as far, I mean, as regards
assuring me of your kindly recollections, and yourself of mine, if you
had written to me.’
‘I would have done so, but I did not know your address, and did not like
to ask your brother, because I thought he would object to my writing; but
this would not have deterred me for a moment, if I could have ventured to
believe that you expected to hear from me, or even wasted a thought upon
your unhappy friend; but your silence naturally led me to conclude myself
forgotten.’
‘Did you expect me to write to you, then?’
‘No, Helen—Mrs. Huntingdon,’ said I, blushing at the implied imputation,
‘certainly not; but if you had sent me a message through your brother, or
even asked him about me now and then—’
‘I did ask about you frequently. I was not going to do more,’ continued
she, smiling, ‘so long as you continued to restrict yourself to a few
polite inquiries about my health.’
‘Your brother never told me that you had mentioned my name.’
‘Did you ever ask him?’
‘No; for I saw he did not wish to be questioned about you, or to afford
the slightest encouragement or assistance to my too obstinate
attachment.’ Helen did not reply. ‘And he was perfectly right,’ added
I. But she remained in silence, looking out upon the snowy lawn. ‘Oh, I
will relieve her of my presence,’ thought I; and immediately I rose and
advanced to take leave, with a most heroic resolution—but pride was at
the bottom of it, or it could not have carried me through.
‘Are you going already?’ said she, taking the hand I offered, and not
immediately letting it go.
‘Why should I stay any longer?’
‘Wait till Arthur comes, at least.’
Only too glad to obey, I stood and leant against the opposite side of the
window.
‘You told me you were not changed,’ said my companion: ‘you are—very much
so.’
‘No, Mrs. Huntingdon, I only ought to be.’
‘Do you mean to maintain that you have the same regard for me that you
had when last we met?’
‘I have; but it would be wrong to talk of it now.’
‘It was wrong to talk of it then, Gilbert; it would not now—unless to do
so would be to violate the truth.’
I was too much agitated to speak; but, without waiting for an answer, she
turned away her glistening eye and crimson cheek, and threw up the window
and looked out, whether to calm her own, excited feelings, or to relieve
her embarrassment, or only to pluck that beautiful half-blown
Christmas-rose that grew upon the little shrub without, just peeping from
the snow that had hitherto, no doubt, defended it from the frost, and was
now melting away in the sun. Pluck it, however, she did, and having
gently dashed the glittering powder from its leaves, approached it to her
lips and said:
‘This rose is not so fragrant as a summer flower, but it has stood
through hardships none of them could bear: the cold rain of winter has
sufficed to nourish it, and its faint sun to warm it; the bleak winds
have not blanched it, or broken its stem, and the keen frost has not
blighted it. Look, Gilbert, it is still fresh and blooming as a flower
can be, with the cold snow even now on its petals.—Will you have it?’
I held out my hand: I dared not speak lest my emotion should overmaster
me. She laid the rose across my palm, but I scarcely closed my fingers
upon it, so deeply was I absorbed in thinking what might be the meaning
of her words, and what I ought to do or say upon the occasion; whether to
give way to my feelings or restrain them still. Misconstruing this
hesitation into indifference—or reluctance even—to accept her gift, Helen
suddenly snatched it from my hand, threw it out on to the snow, shut down
the window with an emphasis, and withdrew to the fire.
‘Helen, what means this?’ I cried, electrified at this startling change
in her demeanour.
‘You did not understand my gift,’ said she—‘or, what is worse, you
despised it. I’m sorry I gave it you; but since I did make such a
mistake, the only remedy I could think of was to take it away.’
‘You misunderstood me cruelly,’ I replied, and in a minute I had opened
the window again, leaped out, picked up the flower, brought it in, and
presented it to her, imploring her to give it me again, and I would keep
it for ever for her sake, and prize it more highly than anything in the
world I possessed.
‘And will this content you?’ said she, as she took it in her hand.
‘It shall,’ I answered.
‘There, then; take it.’
I pressed it earnestly to my lips, and put it in my bosom, Mrs.
Huntingdon looking on with a half-sarcastic smile.
‘Now, are you going?’ said she.
‘I will if—if I must.’
‘You are changed,’ persisted she—‘you are grown either very proud or very
indifferent.’
‘I am neither, Helen—Mrs. Huntingdon. If you could see my heart—’
‘You must be one,—if not both. And why Mrs. Huntingdon?—why not Helen,
as before?’
‘Helen, then—dear Helen!’ I murmured. I was in an agony of mingled love,
hope, delight, uncertainty, and suspense.
‘The rose I gave you was an emblem of my heart,’ said she; ‘would you
take it away and leave me here alone?’
‘Would you give me your hand too, if I asked it?’
‘Have I not said enough?’ she answered, with a most enchanting smile. I
snatched her hand, and would have fervently kissed it, but suddenly
checked myself, and said,—
‘But have you considered the consequences?’
‘Hardly, I think, or I should not have offered myself to one too proud to
take me, or too indifferent to make his affection outweigh my worldly
goods.’
Stupid blockhead that I was!—I trembled to clasp her in my arms, but
dared not believe in so much joy, and yet restrained myself to say,—
‘But if you should repent!’
‘It would be your fault,’ she replied: ‘I never shall, unless you
bitterly disappoint me. If you have not sufficient confidence in my
affection to believe this, let me alone.’
‘My darling angel—my own Helen,’ cried I, now passionately kissing the
hand I still retained, and throwing my left arm around her, ‘you never
shall repent, if it depend on me alone. But have you thought of your
aunt?’ I trembled for the answer, and clasped her closer to my heart in
the instinctive dread of losing my new-found treasure.
‘My aunt must not know of it yet,’ said she. ‘She would think it a rash,
wild step, because she could not imagine how well I know you; but she
must know you herself, and learn to like you. You must leave us now,
after lunch, and come again in spring, and make a longer stay, and
cultivate her acquaintance, and I know you will like each other.’
‘And then you will be mine,’ said I, printing a kiss upon her lips, and
another, and another; for I was as daring and impetuous now as I had been
backward and constrained before.
‘No—in another year,’ replied she, gently disengaging herself from my
embrace, but still fondly clasping my hand.
‘Another year! Oh, Helen, I could not wait so long!’
‘Where is your fidelity?’
‘I mean I could not endure the misery of so long a separation.’
‘It would not be a separation: we will write every day: my spirit shall
be always with you, and sometimes you shall see me with your bodily eye.
I will not be such a hypocrite as to pretend that I desire to wait so
long myself, but as my marriage is to please myself, alone, I ought to
consult my friends about the time of it.’
‘Your friends will disapprove.’
‘They will not greatly disapprove, dear Gilbert,’ said she, earnestly
kissing my hand; ‘they cannot, when they know you, or, if they could,
they would not be true friends—I should not care for their estrangement.
Now are you satisfied?’ She looked up in my face with a smile of
ineffable tenderness.
‘Can I be otherwise, with your love? And you do love me, Helen?’ said I,
not doubting the fact, but wishing to hear it confirmed by her own
acknowledgment. ‘If you loved as I do,’ she earnestly replied, ‘you
would not have so nearly lost me—these scruples of false delicacy and
pride would never thus have troubled you—you would have seen that the
greatest worldly distinctions and discrepancies of rank, birth, and
fortune are as dust in the balance compared with the unity of accordant
thoughts and feelings, and truly loving, sympathising hearts and souls.’
‘But this is too much happiness,’ said I, embracing her again; ‘I have
not deserved it, Helen—I dare not believe in such felicity: and the
longer I have to wait, the greater will be my dread that something will
intervene to snatch you from me—and think, a thousand things may happen
in a year!—I shall be in one long fever of restless terror and impatience
all the time. And besides, winter is such a dreary season.’
‘I thought so too,’ replied she gravely: ‘I would not be married in
winter—in December, at least,’ she added, with a shudder—for in that
month had occurred both the ill-starred marriage that had bound her to
her former husband, and the terrible death that released her—‘and
therefore I said another year, in spring.’
‘Next spring?’
‘No, no—next autumn, perhaps.’
‘Summer, then?’
‘Well, the close of summer. There now! be satisfied.’
While she was speaking Arthur re-entered the room—good boy for keeping
out so long.
‘Mamma, I couldn’t find the book in either of the places you told me to
look for it’ (there was a conscious something in mamma’s smile that
seemed to say, ‘No, dear, I knew you could not’), ‘but Rachel got it for
me at last. Look, Mr. Markham, a natural history, with all kinds of
birds and beasts in it, and the reading as nice as the pictures!’
In great good humour I sat down to examine the book, and drew the little
fellow between my knees. Had he come a minute before I should have
received him less graciously, but now I affectionately stroked his
curling locks, and even kissed his ivory forehead: he was my own Helen’s
son, and therefore mine; and as such I have ever since regarded him.
That pretty child is now a fine young man: he has realised his mother’s
brightest expectations, and is at present residing in Grassdale Manor
with his young wife—the merry little Helen Hattersley of yore.
I had not looked through half the book before Mrs. Maxwell appeared to
invite me into the other room to lunch. That lady’s cool, distant
manners rather chilled me at first; but I did my best to propitiate her,
and not entirely without success, I think, even in that first short
visit; for when I talked cheerfully to her, she gradually became more
kind and cordial, and when I departed she bade me a gracious adieu,
hoping ere long to have the pleasure of seeing me again.
‘But you must not go till you have seen the conservatory, my aunt’s
winter garden,’ said Helen, as I advanced to take leave of her, with as
much philosophy and self-command as I could summon to my aid.
I gladly availed myself of such a respite, and followed her into a large
and beautiful conservatory, plentifully furnished with flowers,
considering the season—but, of course, I had little attention to spare
for them. It was not, however, for any tender colloquy that my companion
had brought me there:—
‘My aunt is particularly fond of flowers,’ she observed, ‘and she is fond
of Staningley too: I brought you here to offer a petition in her behalf,
that this may be her home as long as she lives, and—if it be not our home
likewise—that I may often see her and be with her; for I fear she will be
sorry to lose me; and though she leads a retired and contemplative life,
she is apt to get low-spirited if left too much alone.’
‘By all means, dearest Helen!—do what you will with your own. I should
not dream of wishing your aunt to leave the place under any
circumstances; and we will live either here or elsewhere as you and she
may determine, and you shall see her as often as you like. I know she
must be pained to part with you, and I am willing to make any reparation
in my power. I love her for your sake, and her happiness shall be as
dear to me as that of my own mother.’
‘Thank you, darling! you shall have a kiss for that. Good-by. There
now—there, Gilbert—let me go—here’s Arthur; don’t astonish his infantile
brain with your madness.’
* * * * *
But it is time to bring my narrative to a close. Any one but you would
say I had made it too long already. But for your satisfaction I will add
a few words more; because I know you will have a fellow-feeling for the
old lady, and will wish to know the last of her history. I did come
again in spring, and, agreeably to Helen’s injunctions, did my best to
cultivate her acquaintance. She received me very kindly, having been,
doubtless, already prepared to think highly of my character by her
niece’s too favourable report. I turned my best side out, of course, and
we got along marvellously well together. When my ambitious intentions
were made known to her, she took it more sensibly than I had ventured to
hope. Her only remark on the subject, in my hearing, was—
‘And so, Mr. Markham, you are going to rob me of my niece, I understand.
Well! I hope God will prosper your union, and make my dear girl happy at
last. Could she have been contented to remain single, I own I should
have been better satisfied; but if she must marry again, I know of no
one, now living and of a suitable age, to whom I would more willingly
resign her than yourself, or who would be more likely to appreciate her
worth and make, her truly happy, as far as I can tell.’
Of course I was delighted with the compliment, and hoped to show her that
she was not mistaken in her favourable judgment.
‘I have, however, one request to offer,’ continued she. ‘It seems I am
still to look on Staningley as my home: I wish you to make it yours
likewise, for Helen is attached to the place and to me—as I am to her.
There are painful associations connected with Grassdale, which she cannot
easily overcome; and I shall not molest you with my company or
interference here: I am a very quiet person, and shall keep my own
apartments, and attend to my own concerns, and only see you now and
then.’
Of course I most readily consented to this; and we lived in the greatest
harmony with our dear aunt until the day of her death, which melancholy
event took place a few years after—melancholy, not to herself (for it
came quietly upon her, and she was glad to reach her journey’s end), but
only to the few loving friends and grateful dependents she left behind.
To return, however, to my own affairs: I was married in summer, on a
glorious August morning. It took the whole eight months, and all Helen’s
kindness and goodness to boot, to overcome my mother’s prejudices against
my bride-elect, and to reconcile her to the idea of my leaving Linden
Grange and living so far away. Yet she was gratified at her son’s good
fortune after all, and proudly attributed it all to his own superior
merits and endowments. I bequeathed the farm to Fergus, with better
hopes of its prosperity than I should have had a year ago under similar
circumstances; for he had lately fallen in love with the Vicar of L—’s
eldest daughter—a lady whose superiority had roused his latent virtues,
and stimulated him to the most surprising exertions, not only to gain her
affection and esteem, and to obtain a fortune sufficient to aspire to her
hand, but to render himself worthy of her, in his own eyes, as well as in
those of her parents; and in the end he was successful, as you already
know. As for myself, I need not tell you how happily my Helen and I have
lived together, and how blessed we still are in each other’s society, and
in the promising young scions that are growing up about us. We are just
now looking forward to the advent of you and Rose, for the time of your
annual visit draws nigh, when you must leave your dusty, smoky, noisy,
toiling, striving city for a season of invigorating relaxation and social
retirement with us.
Till then, farewell,
GILBERT MARKHAM.
STANINGLEY: _June_ 10_th_, 1847.
* * * * *
THE END
* * * * *
Printed by SPOTTISWOODE, BALLENTYNE & CO. LTD.
Colchester, London & Eton, England.
Footnotes:
{0} Introduction to _Wuthering Heights_, p. xl. ‘Still, as I mused the
naked room,’ &c.
{1} This Preface is now printed here for the first time in a collected
edition of the works of the Brontë sisters.
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